30 Fascinating Facts Every Fan Should Know About The Eagles

26 January 2019, 2:38 pm EST By Ruby Karnick

The Eagles, formed in Los Angeles in the year 1971, are one of the world's best-selling bands in history. The founding members include Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner, while the current line-up includes Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit. Here are some little known facts about the American rock band:

With more than 150 million records sold the band were one of the most successful musical acts of the 1970s, being the fifth-highest-selling music act and the highest-selling American band in U.S. history.
The group initially disbanded in July 1980, only after 10 years in the limelight, but again reunited in the year 1994, for their most famous album "Hell Freezes Over."
Following the death of Frey in January 2016, the original guitarist of the band, the band members were not sure if the band would perform ever again, but continued their musical journey in the year 2017, with guest musicians Deacon Frey, who was the son of the late Frey and Vince Gill.
The band's famous albums "Their Greatest Hits" and "Hotel California," were ranked among the 20 best-selling albums in the United States, as per the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
In the 2004 edition of Rolling Stone magazine's "100 Greatest Artists of All Time, The Eagles were ranked at # 75, while their album "Hotel California," was ranked at #37 in the magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time."
The Eagles have five American Music Awards and six Grammy Awards, along with five number one singles and six number one albums to their name.
The original guitarist and one of the lead vocalists Glenn Frey, who was supposed to play bass in the band, actually did not even join the band, when his mother caught him smoking pot with his friend and banned him from joining any rock band at all. It was nearly two years later, that he became one of the founding members of the band.
The bands members were totally against the release of their "Greatest Hits," which was proposed by their record label, as they were in the process of getting "Hotel California," to release. However, the record label's thought of making quick cash, gave the most successful album of their career.
Their "Greatest Hits" album is the third best-selling album in history only behind Michael Jackson’s "Thriller" and Pink Floyd’s "Dark Side of the Moon," and went 29-times platinum in the United States.
Following the initially disbandment, the members went their separate ways as their friendships were destroyed and had claimed that they would never get back together. However, in the year 1994, the country singer Travis Tritt took the chance and asked the members to be in his video covering the band’s “Take It Easy.” This led to the reunion of the band.

When the band broke up, Fey even refused to speak to other members and Henley went on to make a public comment that they would reunite only when hell freezes over. So, when they decide to have a reunion tour and a brand new album, they chose the title "Hell Freezes Over."
Walsh, once in an interview, said that if not for Eagles reunion, he would have died, as he had started to slide into a dangerous lifestyle of drugs and alcohol and had even hit rock bottom with the alcohol abuse.
For their most famous album "Hotel California," the band made a decision to move away from their style of country rock to more of rock and roll, and wrote songs like "Victim of Love” and “Life in the Fast Lane.”
For their album "The Long Run," they spent over three years as well as $800,000. However, they were often fighting over one word and realized that they require a break from the group.
The song “Long Road out of Eden” which was exclusively sold at Walmart, was the actual follow up to their album "The Long Run." Other retailers purchased it in bulk and sold it for $20.
The front cover of their album "Hotel California" is a photograph of the Beverly Hills Hotel by David Alexander. It was taken from 60 feet above Sunset Boulevard on top of a cherry picker, a totally unfamiliar position in fading light. This made it unrecognizable and when it became known that it was Beverly Hills Hotel, the hotel threatened legal action over the use of the picture.
It was Don Henley's mom who bought him his first set of drums, as a reward for blowing up the family’s laundry tub with a cherry bomb. As a result the family got their first washing machine.
In the year 2001, Don Felder sued the band, after being actually fired for asking too many questions. The members settled the matter out of court and stated that they were not allowed to discuss the matter any further.
The back cover of the album "Hotel California" was taken in the lobby of the Lido Hotel in Hollywood. The gatefold picture shows the same lobby but with the band members and their friends.
The Eagles were actually the first ever band to charge over $100 for arena tickets, during their "Hell Freezes Over," tour in the year 1994. It was following them, that other bands including Rolling Stones decided to increase the rate.

Their famous album "Hotel California" is the last album to feature founding member Randy Meisner, whose stomach ulcers had flared up during their extensive touring for eleven months.
The band sued the American Eagle Foundation for using their domain name, eagles.org and for using their phone number, 1-800-2EAGLES. However, the case was dismissed because the band members kept missing the court dates.
It was reported that Henley moved to California with a record deal in hand from fellow Texan Kenny Rogers, who signed the pre-Eagles group Shiloh, while Frey formed Longbranch Pennywhistle coming from Michigan.
Before forming The Eagles, Frey and Henley played in the backup band for Linda Ronstadt. It was she who suggested that they start their own band and get Bernie Leadon.
The band played at the California Jam festival billed as "the Woodstock of the West Coast," in Ontario, California on April 6, 1974, which attracted more than 300,000 fans.
"One of These Nights" was their last album to feature founding member Bernie Leadon, who co-wrote three songs including "I Wish You Peace," written with girlfriend Patti Davis.
Their self-titled debut album released in the year 1972, spawned three top 40 singles - "Take it Easy," "Witchy Woman," and "Peaceful Easy Feeling." The album reached No 22 on the charts.
Following the Eagles break up, all the members pursued solo careers, and even the rights to their solo albums where owned by the Elektra, the band's long-time record label.
The band performed at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on December 28 and 29, 1999, followed by a concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on December 31. They are the last concerts in which Felder played as a part of the band.
"Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles," an Eagles country tribute album, was released in the year 1993, after the 13 years breakup, in an effort to raise funds for the Walden Woods Project.