The Eagles were formed in 1971 by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner. They recorded their first album Eagles (1972) with producer Glyn Johns. Johns guided them towards a country-rock sound that they would become famous for, producing the hits "Take It Easy," "Peaceful Easy Feeling" and "Witchy Woman".

It was their third album On the Border (1974), however, that produced their first number one hit: "Best of My Love". That song would start a trend of number ones over the next six years. It was also during the making of On the Border when the Eagles switched producers from Johns to Bill Szymczyk, who gave them more freedom in their approach and was open to making the albums more "rocking".

One of These Nights (1975) garnered them their first Grammy for the song "Lyin' Eyes" and the title track was their next number-one hit. "Take It to the Limit" from the album was their first gold record.

The group moved even closer to a hard rock sound with Hotel California (1976). The album was a massive success, second only to Fleetwood Mac's Rumours as the highest selling album of its time. With its inspired vocals, brilliant musicianship, and pop-culture appeal, it spawned hit after hit after hit and guaranteed them a place in music history.

Unfortunately, the decadence of Hotel California was being enacted by the band in their everyday lives. Their "third encore" parties after shows became infamous carnivals of sex, drugs and booze. The Eagles were inducted into the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

All seven Eagles past and present performed. In 1999, the Eagles made plans to play several "Millennium" shows at the turn of the century. They recorded the shows and released them as part of a Selected Works Box Set (2000), which they toured to promote.

In 2007, The Eagles finally put out a new studio album, their first in 28 years, called Long Road Out of Eden. The hugely popular 1970s band is still able to draw stadium-sized crowds.