LIFE magazine honors The Eagles’ legacy with a special issue dedicated to them and their songs still being heard 50 years since their formation.

In 2005, led by quarterback Donovan McNabb and linebacker Nnamdi Asomugha, the Eagles emerged from a decade of mediocrity to capture their third division crown and advance to their first playoff contest, only to lose it later that same season.

Origins

The Eagles were an iconic American band whose members had all been playing music together for an extended period. Although each came from diverse musical backgrounds, they all found common ground when it came to rock and roll music and shared it. Together, they embraced life on the road with its various lifestyle elements – drugs, sex and music all combined into one incredible performance experience that filled sold-out arenas for decades.

The band combined country and rock and roll influences to bring country-rock music into the mainstream. Their amazing harmonies made their music an instant classic; “Take It Easy,” “Hotel California” and “Heartache Tonight” quickly became standard repertoire for musicians looking to gain exposure for their own material.

Henley’s rock ‘n roll exuberance combined with Frey’s creative deliberation made them the ideal pair for their band. As talented singers themselves, both were also adept at delivering their lines with authority and conviction. Furthermore, both were generous men, creating an organization which provided medical, dental, disability, and funeral benefits far in excess of those provided by Social Security or Medicare.

Early Years

As they climbed the charts, their success as recording/touring artists blossomed. Henley and Frey both were prolific songwriters; thus they began writing songs featuring distinctive harmonies that would distinguish their band.

By the time of Hotel California’s release in 1976, The Eagles had established themselves as America’s band. Their music spoke directly to Americans’ desire to explore America’s wild frontier by traveling westward on motorized transportation; preferable in an iconic muscle car with an eagle-shaped bird on its hood.

Don Henley had relocated from Texas to Los Angeles; Randy Meisner had played with both Poco and Steely Dan (Pretzel Logic, The Royal Scam and Aja). Bernie Leadon had played in Gram Parsons’ Flying Burrito Brothers; guitarist/vocalist Joe Walsh belonged to The Heartbreakers; combined, the band became formidable even while engaging in numerous legal battles between its members that brought infamy for greed and conflict.

Mid-Seasons

As the Eagles struggled to establish themselves, some concerns emerged. Most notably, their defense had been poor since day one of the season.

First signs were evident with their blowout losses to the 49ers and Cowboys. That setback destroyed any confidence the Eagles may have had about competing against top teams in the league.

At home games from September through mid-October, the Eagles started wearing black jerseys with white pants at home games – sometimes also sporting black socks for added contrast.

Defense was supposed to be one of the strengths of this team. Under new DC Sean Desai’s direction, players focused on swarming to the ball quickly and removing blocks to force opponents to make decisions. Although this plan seemed promising on paper, in practice and against real competition it fell flat – the Eagles gave up many big plays which proved costly.

Late Years

As the band entered its late stages, factions began to emerge within it. Leadon, who provided its initial spark, found it hard to adjust to rock music; eventually he was replaced by Walsh – an ex-James Gang guitarist with technical experience and infectious rambunctiousness.

From their laid-back debut record to Desperado and Hotel California studio efforts, The Eagles always drew on folk, country and blues traditions for emotional resonance – yet were flexible enough to bend these conventions at various junctures.

1979’s The Long Run marked the final studio album the group produced before disbanding in 1980, featuring Heartache Tonight (number one in Billboard charts), two top-10 hits, and other singles that became hits as well as top-10 songs. Subsequently, members pursued solo careers before reuniting again for Hell Freezes Over and touring regularly since. A remarkable 52-year journey awaits our verdict; but history will ultimately speak its mind about whether this band deserves its place among history.