Glenn Frey 1948 - 2016: Founder and guitarist of the record-breaking band Eagles passes away
Glenn Frey, a founding member of Eagles, one of the most successful bands of all time, has passed away in New York at the age of 67.
The singer and writer of some the bands biggest hits, had been suffering from intestinal problems for several months.
A statement confirming the news was posted on the band's Facebook page last night that read: "Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community and millions of fans worldwide."
The band hold the Guinness World Records title for Best-selling album in the USA by a group.
Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)(Elektra, 1976) has been certified 29x Platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), meaning it has shipped more than 29 million units.
Frey co-founded the band with drummer and fellow vocalist Don Henley in LA in the early 1970s along with guitarist Bernie Leadon and bassist Randy Meisner.
The band’s blending of country and rock soon saw them become one of the great forces of popular music during that decade alongside the likes of Led Zeppelin and Fleetwood Mac, with hits such as "Hotel California" and "Life in the Fast Lane".
In the US, they scored five number one singles and four number one albums, notching up more than 150 million album sales worldwide, with Frey acting as one the group’s main songwriters.
Despite their incredible success, the band broke up in 1980 in acrimonious circumstances.
Following the group’s split, Frey enjoyed success as a solo artist, with his track The Heat is On, recorded for the 1984 film Beverly Hills Cop, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March 1985.
Henley had infamously vowed the Eagles would reunite only when "hell freezes over", a line which would become the title of the 1994 album when they eventually re-formed.
Paying tribute to his fellow band member, Henley praised Frey's work ethic and “encyclopaedic” knowledge of music.
“He was like a brother to me; we were family, and like most families, there was some dysfunction.
“Glenn was the one who started it all. He was the spark plug, the man with the plan”
He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of popular music and a work ethic that wouldn’t quit. He was funny, bullheaded, mercurial, generous, deeply talented and driven.”
Guinness World Records would like to extend our condolences to Glenn’s family and friends, as well as his many fans around the world.