Eagles guitarist Glenn Frey dead

Guitarist Glenn Frey, who helped make The Eagles one of the most successful acts in US rock history with hits such as Hotel California, died on Monday. He was 67.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our comrade, Eagles founder Glenn Frey, in New York City,” the Grammy Award-winning band wrote on its website. Frey died of complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia, The Eagles said.

“We are all in a state of shock, disbelief and profound sorrow,” fellow Eagle Don Henley said in a statement. “He was the spark plug, the man with the plan. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of popular music and a work ethic that wouldn’t quit.”

The Eagles, fronted by Frey and drummer-vocalist Henley, dominated the American rock charts throughout the 1970s with hits, including Take It Easy, One of These Nights and Hotel California — songs that endure as cover-band classics to this day. The Eagles pioneered the West Coast sound of laid-back, country-tinged rock that dominated early 1970s American pop and saw a changing cast of core members throughout the decades.

The Eagles had been due in December to receive the prestigious Kennedy Centre Lifetime Artistic Achievement award but the band said it would postpone its appearance by a year due to Frey’s health. Frey was born in Detroit on November 6, 1948, the son of a machinist. The rock group was founded in the early 1970s and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. The Recording Academy, which presents the Grammys, called Frey’s death “a huge loss for the music community,” saying he was “an integral part of one of the most storied bands in pop history.” Many big names from the music industry, including Steve Martin, Carole King, Huey Lewis, Paul Stanley, Miles Teller, Nial Horan and Justin Timberlake, took to Twitter to pay tribute to Frey. Actor and musician Steve Martin led the tributes to the musician, who was known for hits like Tequila Sunrise and Heartache Tonight.

“MT: Shocker. My friend from the early days, and important member of Eagles, has died. We loved you, Glenn Frey,” he wrote. Rhythm guitarist and co-lead singer of band Kiss, Paul Stanley, tweeted, “SHOCKED to report the death of GLENN FREY. Eagle & brilliant songwriter. We shared some memories at RRHOF. Shocked.” Former Skid Row frontman, Sebastian Bach wrote, “I swear to God all this #DeathofRockNRoll makes me feel like Ive been hit by a truck. Just want to curl up in a ball & pretend it’s not true.” “RIP, Glenn Frey. Travel to the stars safely, bro,” singer-songwriter Ryan Adams tweeted. “These cloudy days, make you wanna cry. It breaks your heart when someone leaves and you don’t know why “ Glenn Frey,” wrote One Directi-on singer Niall Horan. Recalling his childhood connect with the singer, Justin Timberlake tweeted, “My Mom used to play Eagles records for me on my way to grade school. We lost one of the greatest songwriters ever today...” “Glenn Frey, you will be sorely missed.

Thank you for all you gve us,” Sheryl Crow wrote.