Eagles legend Glenn Frey dies at 67: Some of the greatest hits by the popular American rock band

A file picture dated Jan 19, 2013, shows Glenn Frey talking to the press as he arrives for the premiere of the movie, History of The Eagles Part 1, at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, USA. PHOTO: EPA

Glenn Frey, with Don Henley in the background, performs the song New Kid In Town during a sold-out show on the band's Farewell I tour at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada in this Aug 9, 2003, file photo. PHOTO: REUTERS

The original Eagles band in the 1970s comprising (from left) Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, Randy Meisner and Glenn Frey. PHOTO: WARNER MUSIC

Updated

Published

Jan 19, 2016, 09:05 AM

Eagles founding member and guitarist, Glenn Frey, died on Monday (Jan 18) at the age of 67.

He died of complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia, leaving behind his wife and three children.

The Eagles were formed in Los Angeles in 1971 when Frey and Don Henley met as members of Linda Ronstadt's backing band.

The iconic American rock band also comprises Timothy BSchmit and Joe Walsh.

The Straits Times lists some of their most popular songs.

HOTEL CALIFORNIA (1976)

Album: Hotel California

The title track of the album warns listeners of the two most dangerous things known to man - women and California. They turn the Beach Boys' plea from 1965 ("I wish they all could be California girls") on its head. Apparently something drastic happened to girls from the Golden State between 1965 and 1976. By the time they wrote Hotel California, the Eagles had come to the conclusion that the "cutest girls in the world" also came with a lot of baggage.

THE HEAT IS ON (1984)

Album: Beverly Hills Cop: Music From the Motion Picture Soundtrack

As MTV was picking up steam in America, movie producers started putting extra effort into their soundtracks. This song was written for the film by Harold Faltermeyer and Keith Forsey, and they needed a popular artist to sing it. Frey went to audition for the lead vocal for the song for fun, yet Harold shocked Frey by picking him, making this song Frey's biggest solo hit.

YOU BELONG TO THE CITY (1985)

This song was written specifically for the television show Miami Vice in 1985. It is about how a crowded city can be a very lonely place.

LYIN' EYES (1975)

Album: One of These Nights

This song is about a woman who cheats on her husband, inspired by the band's observation of a young woman in a bar hanging out with a much older, fat and rich man. As they were half laughing at them, Frey commented: "Look at her, she can't even hide those lyin eyes!"

The band realised they had a song title and began grabbing cocktail napkins to write down the rest of the lyrics.

I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY (1979)

Album: The Long Run

This song is about a rocky relationship but the song has no real conclusion because the couple in the song are neither reconciled nor torn apart.

Sources: scmoop.com, songfacts.com

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