Founding member and guitarist of the world-renowned band The Eagles, Glenn Frey, has died on Monday at the age of 67.
Just 18 days into the year 2016, and the world mourns yet another celebrity loss. This time it's Glenn Frey, founding member and guitarist of the wildly successful band, The Eagles.
The Eagles website confirmed the death of Frey in New York City at the age of 67 today.
It Is With The Heaviest of Hearts That We Announce the passing of our comrade, Eagles founder, Glenn Frey, in New York City on Monday, January 18th, 2016.
Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia. The Frey family would like to thank everyone who joined Glenn to fight this fight and hoped and prayed for his recovery. Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community & millions of fans worldwide. Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia. The Frey family would like to thank everyone who joined Glenn to fight this fight and hoped and prayed for his recovery. Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community & millions of fans worldwide.
Cindy Frey | Taylor Frey | Deacon Frey | Otis Frey| Don Henley | Joe Walsh | Timothy B. Schmit | Bernie Leadon | Irving Azoff
TMZ has reported that cause of death was due to a combinations of rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis, and pneumonia.
The most recent news to fans surrounding Frey and health concerns were raised about a year ago. The band was due to be recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors in December, but announced they would have to back out of the official ceremony.
A month prior in November, this was the official statement released:
In early November, they said "The Eagles will be unable to participate in the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors on December 6th due to Glenn Frey’s health,” adding that “Mr. Frey has had a recurrence of previous intestinal issues, which will require major surgery and a lengthy recovery period. The Kennedy Center has graciously agreed to postpone the Eagles’ award presentation until next year, when all four Eagles, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmit, can attend.”
Frey grew up in Royal Oak, Michigan and always had both ears to the music scene. He studied the keyboard with concert pianist John Harrison and was heavily involved in the mid-1960s rock scene.
After meeting drummer Don Henley in 1970, a year later Frey formed The Eagles, a band responsible for such classics as Take It Easy, Peaceful Easy Feeling, and Lyin' Eyes. The band went on to enjoy worldwide fame through the decade of the 1970s, especially with their hit album Hotel California in 1976.
Frey's solo career, while it did enjoy some highlights, didn't live up to the hype in the 1980s as band success did for him the previous decade. He also dabbled in the world of acting, once guest-starring on an episode of the very popular Miami Vice.
Frey is survived by his wife Cindy and their three children.