I’m sure everyone has heard the song Hotel California before, whether it be on the radio, TikTok, or it’s one of your dad’s favorite songs. The jaw-dropping guitar solo and lyricism is pretty hard to forget. But who even sings that song? What band is behind the guitar solo and vocals? The answer would be Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Don Felder, Joe Walsh, and Randy Meisner, otherwise known as the Eagles.

It all started in 1972 California, when the band was founded by Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Bernie Landon, and Randy Meisner. Henley and Frey met while working for Linda Ronstadt, an American singer. The two decided to construct a band of their own, and Ronstadt suggested they recruit Bernie Landon and Randy Meisner. And so the Eagles were born.

The band’s first album, Eagles, released in 1972 by Olympic Studios, was a success. The album had three singles: “Take It Easy,” “”Witchy Woman,”  and “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” each of which reached the Top 40. 

The next year, the group released their second album, Desperado. The songs on the album were based on themes of the Old West. Glenn Frey also claimed that the songs were about ‘anti-heroes’. The album contains some of their best work, like “Desperado” and “Tequila Sunrise.”

The Eagles then went on to release an album every year, until 1976. They released their album, The Greatest Hits 1971-1975, in February, and later released their most famous album, Hotel California, that December. The album was a total success, getting the Eagles to the top of the US Billboard charts. The title track won Record of the Year, and the album was nominated for Album of the Year, but lost to Fleetwood Mac’s, Rumours. 

During their entire career, the band has released seven studio albums, made over $100 million, and continues to tour today! Though many things have changed over the years, like band members leaving and the death of Glenn Frey, the Eagles have shown to be one of the most talented and successful bands of all time. The group played a major role in the popularization of the ‘country-rock’ sound, which can be heard all around nowadays!