Henley remembered Frey as “the one who started it all” in a statement after his death, hailing Frey’s leadership and vision as the driving force of the Eagles.
“He was like a brother to me; we were family, and like most families, there was some dysfunction,” Henley posted to Facebook. “But, the bond we forged 45 years ago was never broken, even during the 14 years that the Eagles were dissolved. We were two young men who made the pilgrimage to Los Angeles with the same dream: to make our mark in the music industry — and with perseverance, a deep love of music, our alliance with other great musicians and our manager, Irving Azoff, we built something that has lasted longer than anyone could have dreamed.”
“He was the spark plug, the man with the plan,” Henley added. “He had an encyclopedic knowledge of popular music and a work ethic that wouldn’t quit. He was funny, bullheaded, mercurial, generous, deeply talented and driven. He loved his wife and kids more than anything. We are all in a state of shock, disbelief and profound sorrow.”
Henley initially indicated that Frey’s death probably spelled the end of the Eagles, but in 2017, in a move that the proud father probably would have loved, Frey’s son Deacon joined the Eagles in a new lineup that also includes Vince Gill, helping to carry his father’s music to yet another generation of fans.
