The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TAKING IT TO THE LIMIT
Here’s your do-you-feel-old-yet moment for today: One of the bands that helped build the legendary 1970s rock music scene released its first album 50 years ago when the Eagles’ self-titled debut LP hit record stores. Three singles from the album would reach the Top 40 singles chart and the album would go on to sell more than a million copies. The Eagles themselves would pick up a few more members and then score five No. 1 singles and four No. 1 albums before the end of the 1970s.
BERNIE LEADON
GUITARS AND VOCALS
Age in June 1972: 24
Had played with the Flying Burrito Brothers and Dillard-Clark. Leadon did session work with a series of bands until he met up with Don Henley and Glenn Frey. Leadon’s childhood friend and guitarist DON FELDER would join the group in 1974.
Leadon would leave the Eagles in 1976 and would be replaced with JOE WALSH, who had played with The James Gang and who had released several solo albums.
RANDY MEISNER
BASS GUITAR AND VOCALS Age in June 1972: 26
Had played with Ricky Nelson, was a founding member of Poco and did a lot of session work in Los Angeles — which brought him into contact with Leadon and Linda Ronstadt’s band. Meisner would leave the Eagles in 1977 and would be replaced by TIMOTHY B. SCHMIT, who had followed Meisner in Poco.
DON HENLEY
DRUMS AND VOCALS Age in June 1972: 24
While still in high school, he formed a group called Shiloh that met with limited success. He became a session drummer in L.A. and was eventually hired by Ronstadt’s band.
As a solo artist, Henley had eight Top 40 singles and six No. 1 albums and won two Grammy Awards.
GLENN FREY
GUITARS AND VOCALS
Age in June 1972: 23
A prolific songwriter, Frey had played with Bob Seger and J.D. Souther. He teamed up with Henley in Ronstadt’s band and then became the primary songwriters for the Eagles. During the Eagles’ hiatus between 1980 and 1994, Frey embarked on a successful solo career with seven Top 40 singles and two gold albums. Frey died in 2016.