Tributes have been paid to the Eagles guitarist and founder member Glenn Frey, who has died at the age of 67.
He died in New York City from complications arising from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia. The band confirmed his death in a statement posted on the group’s website.
Glenn Frey co-founded The Eagles with Don Henley in 1971
"Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia," said the statement.
"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," the statement continued.
Detroit-born Frey and drummer and singer Don Henley co-founded the Eagles in 1971 in Los Angeles after playing as a backup band for singer Linda Ronstadt.
The group blended rock with country music influences to become one of the most popular bands of the 1970s, with hit songs such as Hotel California, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Already Gone and Take It Easy. The band broke up in 1980.
Frey co-wrote Hotel California with Henley and penned several of the band's biggest songs on his own, including Heartache Tonight and Lyin' Eyes.
"He was like a brother to me; we were family, and like most families, there was some dysfunction," Henley said in a statement.
"But, the bond we forged 45 years ago was never broken, even during the 14 years that the Eagles were dissolved."
Don Henley onstage with Glenn Frey in New Orleans in 2012 - "He was like a brother to me"
After the Eagles disbanded, Frey had a successful solo career, recording the songs The One You Love, You Belong to the City, Smuggler's Blues and The Heat Is On.
He also appeared in one of the best Miami Vice episodes - inspired and named after his song Smuggler's Blues - as the pilot Jimmy Cole.
In 1992 he recorded Glenn Frey Live at The National Stadium in Dublin and two years later, after much speculation, The Eagles reunited and released an album entitled Hell Freezes Over. The name jokingly referred to Henley's previous statement that the band would only get back together when "hell freezes over".
The Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
"I'm not sure I believe in fate, but I know that crossing paths with Glenn Lewis Frey in 1970 changed my life forever, and it eventually had an impact on the lives of millions of other people all over the planet," Henley said
What's going on? We've lost so many fab musicians already in 2016. In memory of #Glenn
— Khoury Branco (@khourbran) January 18, 2016
You will be always an eagle, soar free #Glenn Frey, open your wings and fly in peace, for ever in our heart and soul, so so sad cafe tonight
— Nigéa Lezane (@nigealezane) January 18, 2016
RIP #Glenn Frey
— Phaidra⚾️ (@SF2CntralValley) January 18, 2016
