The Eagles were originally known as "The Teen Kings and the Emergencies" before settling on "The Eagles" in 1971.
Founding member Bernie Leadon was a bluegrass musician and played the banjo on many of the band's early recordings, including "Take It Easy" and "Peaceful Easy Feeling."
The band's breakthrough hit "Take It Easy" was co-written by Jackson Browne, who gave the unfinished song to Glenn Frey, who completed the lyrics and helped arrange the final version.
The Eagles' 1976 album "Hotel California" was originally going to be called "Mexican Reggae" because of the song's distinctive reggae beat, but the band ultimately decided to go with a hotel theme instead.
Bassist Randy Meisner sang lead vocals on some of the band's biggest hits, including "Take It to the Limit" and "Try and Love Again," before leaving the band in 1977.
Guitarist Joe Walsh, who joined the band in 1975, had previously been a member of the James Gang and had a successful solo career, with hits such as "Rocky Mountain Way" and "Life's Been Good."
The Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, and all seven members of the band (past and present) performed together for the first time in over a decade at the induction ceremony.
The Eagles have sold over 150 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time.
The band's final studio album, "Long Road Out of Eden," was released in 2007 and included the single "How Long," which won a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
The Eagles' classic hit "Hotel California" has been the subject of much debate and speculation over the years, with many fans and critics trying to decipher its hidden meanings and symbolism. The band members have offered various interpretations, but have never definitively revealed the song's true meaning.
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