Last updated: October 2026
Quick answer: The Eagles’ current members are Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit and Vince Gill, with Glenn Frey’s son Deacon Frey back for the farewell shows. The band was founded in Los Angeles in 1971 by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. Don Felder joined in 1974, Joe Walsh replaced Leadon in 1975 and Timothy B. Schmit replaced Meisner in 1977.
Key takeaways
- Four founding members: Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner, who first played together as Linda Ronstadt’s backing band in 1971.
- Don Henley is the only musician who has been in every Eagles lineup.
- Glenn Frey died on January 18, 2016, and Randy Meisner died on July 26, 2023.
- Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) is the best-selling album in U.S. history, at about 40 million copies.
- Since September 2024 the band has played a residency at Sphere in Las Vegas, now extended through December 2026.
Current Eagles members (2026)
| Member | What he does | In the band |
|---|---|---|
| Don Henley | Drums, lead vocals (“Hotel California,” “Desperado”) | 1971–1980, 1994–present |
| Joe Walsh | Lead guitar, vocals (“In the City”) | 1975–1980, 1994–present |
| Timothy B. Schmit | Bass, vocals (“I Can’t Tell You Why”) | 1977–1980, 1994–present |
| Vince Gill | Guitar, vocals on Glenn Frey’s songs | 2017–present |
| Deacon Frey | Guitar, vocals on his father’s songs | 2017–2022; back for the farewell tour since 2023 |
All Eagles members, past and present
| Member | Role | Years in band | Born | Age (Oct. 2026) | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn Frey | Guitar, keyboards, vocals | 1971–1980, 1994–2016 | November 6, 1948 | Died January 18, 2016 (age 67) | Detroit |
| Don Henley | Drums, vocals | 1971–1980, 1994–present | July 22, 1947 | 79 | Gilmer |
| Bernie Leadon | Guitar, banjo, mandolin, vocals | 1971–1975 | July 19, 1947 | 79 | Minneapolis |
| Randy Meisner | Bass, vocals | 1971–1977 | March 8, 1946 | Died July 26, 2023 (age 77) | Scottsbluff |
| Don Felder | Lead guitar, vocals | 1974–1980, 1994–2001 | September 21, 1947 | 79 | Gainesville |
| Joe Walsh | Lead guitar, keyboards, vocals | 1975–1980, 1994–present | November 20, 1947 | 78 | Wichita |
| Timothy B. Schmit | Bass, vocals | 1977–1980, 1994–present | October 30, 1947 | 78 | Oakland |
| Vince Gill | Guitar, vocals | 2017–present | April 12, 1957 | 69 | Norman |
| Deacon Frey | Guitar, vocals | 2017–2022; farewell tour since 2023 | 1993 | — | — |
Ages are as of October 2026.
Who’s who in the Eagles
Glenn Frey
Glenn Frey was the Eagles’ co-founder and, with Don Henley, its main songwriter. Born in Detroit, he moved to Los Angeles in the late 1960s and sang lead on “Take It Easy” (co-written with Jackson Browne), “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” “Tequila Sunrise,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” “New Kid in Town” and “Heartache Tonight.” Between Eagles eras he had solo hits with “The Heat Is On” and “You Belong to the City.” He died on January 18, 2016, at age 67.
Don Henley
Don Henley, from Gilmer, Texas, is the singing drummer behind “Hotel California,” “Desperado,” “Witchy Woman,” “Best of My Love” and “The Long Run.” He has been in every version of the band, and his solo career produced “The Boys of Summer” and “Dirty Laundry.”
Bernie Leadon
Bernie Leadon brought the country and bluegrass side of the early Eagles sound, having played with the Flying Burrito Brothers. His banjo and harmonies shaped the first three albums. He left in 1975, unhappy with the move toward harder rock, and later appeared with the band again on the History of the Eagles tour.
Randy Meisner
Randy Meisner, from Scottsbluff, Nebraska, came to the Eagles from Poco and Rick Nelson’s Stone Canyon Band. His high tenor carried “Take It to the Limit.” He left after the Hotel California tour in 1977 and died on July 26, 2023, at age 77.
Don Felder
Don Felder, from Gainesville, Florida, joined in 1974 and wrote the music that became “Hotel California”; his guitar duel with Joe Walsh closes the song. He was fired in 2001, sued the band, and the dispute was later settled out of court.
Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh was already a star from the James Gang and his solo hit “Rocky Mountain Way” when he replaced Bernie Leadon in 1975. He pushed the band toward rock on Hotel California and sang “Life’s Been Good” as a solo artist.
Timothy B. Schmit
Timothy B. Schmit, born in Oakland, replaced Randy Meisner in 1977, the second time he had taken over Meisner’s spot (the first was in Poco). He sang and co-wrote “I Can’t Tell You Why” on The Long Run.
Vince Gill
Country star Vince Gill, from Norman, Oklahoma, joined in 2017 after Glenn Frey’s death and sings many of Frey’s songs on stage. He had sung on the 1993 tribute album Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles.
Deacon Frey
Glenn Frey’s son Deacon took his father’s place in 2017. He left in April 2022 to pursue a solo career, then returned when the band launched its farewell tour, The Long Goodbye, in 2023.
Eagles history and lineup timeline
- 1971: Frey, Henley, Leadon and Meisner back Linda Ronstadt, then form the Eagles and sign with David Geffen’s Asylum Records.
- 1972: The debut album Eagles arrives with “Take It Easy” and “Witchy Woman.”
- 1974: Don Felder joins for On the Border, which gives the band its first No. 1, “Best of My Love.”
- 1975: Leadon leaves and Joe Walsh joins.
- 1976: Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) and Hotel California are released.
- 1977: Meisner leaves and Timothy B. Schmit joins.
- 1979–1980: The Long Run is released, and the band breaks up in 1980.
- 1994: The Hotel California-era lineup reunites for Hell Freezes Over.
- 1998: The Eagles are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- 2001: Don Felder is fired.
- 2007: Long Road Out of Eden becomes their sixth No. 1 album.
- 2016–2017: Glenn Frey dies; Deacon Frey and Vince Gill join.
- 2023: Randy Meisner dies in July, and the Long Goodbye farewell tour opens at Madison Square Garden on September 7.
- 2024–2026: The Sphere residency in Las Vegas begins in September 2024; it has been extended to December 2026.
Is it “the Eagles” or “Eagles”?
The band’s official name is simply Eagles, with no “The,” and that is how it appears on its album covers. Most fans and writers still say “the Eagles,” and both are understood.
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Frequently asked questions
Who are the original members of the Eagles?
The original Eagles were Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner, who formed the band in Los Angeles in 1971 after playing in Linda Ronstadt’s backing band.
Who are the current members of the Eagles?
As of 2026 the Eagles are Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Timothy B. Schmit and Vince Gill, with Deacon Frey rejoining for the farewell shows.
Which Eagles members have died?
Glenn Frey died on January 18, 2016, at age 67, and Randy Meisner died on July 26, 2023, at age 77.
Who sings lead on “Hotel California”?
Don Henley sings lead on “Hotel California.” Don Felder wrote the music, and Felder and Joe Walsh play the closing guitar solos.
Why did Don Felder leave the Eagles?
Don Felder was fired in 2001 after disputes with Don Henley and Glenn Frey over money and control of the band. He sued, and the case was later settled out of court.
Is Vince Gill an official member of the Eagles?
Yes. Vince Gill joined the Eagles in 2017 and has toured with them since, singing many of the songs Glenn Frey used to sing.
When did the Eagles break up?
The Eagles broke up in 1980 and reunited in 1994. Don Henley famously said they would play again “when hell freezes over,” which became the name of the reunion album.
Sources
- Eagles (band), Wikipedia
- Eagles official site
- Eagles, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
- Birth and death dates: Wikidata
Image credits
- Eagles band members. Design by The LA Note using an Asylum Records press photo (public domain) and a photo of Joe Walsh by Derek Russell (CC BY-SA 2.0).
- The Eagles in an Asylum Records press photo from 1974–75, the five-man lineup with Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, Randy Meisner and Don Felder. Photo: Distributed by Asylum Records, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
- The Eagles performing at Sphere in Las Vegas during their residency. Photo: Martin Lewison from Forest Hills, NY, U.S.A., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
- Don Henley. Photo: Steve Jurvetson, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
- Joe Walsh. Photo: Derek Russell, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
- Timothy B. Schmit. Photo: Steve Alexander, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
- Glenn Frey. Photo: Steve Alexander, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
- Bernie Leadon. Photo: Rachel Kramer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
- Randy Meisner. Photo: Scottsbluff High School, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
- Don Felder. Photo: Philkon Phil Konstantin, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
- Vince Gill. Photo: Derek Russell, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Mara Alcantara is a tech-savvy writer with a creative eye who tends to see life in color. Pairing an analytical mind with a knack for spotting talent, she covers music, voice acting, and entertainment for The LA Note. Outside of writing, she’s busy raising her kids and hiking with her family.
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