In more very sad news, it's just been announced that Eagles founding member and guitarist Glenn Frey has died aged 67. He'd been poorly since undergoing intestinal surgery last November.
"It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our comrade, Eagles founder, Glenn Frey, in New York City on Monday, January 18th, 2016," reads a joint band and family communique. "Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia.
"The Frey family would like to thank everyone who joined Glenn to fight this fight and hoped and prayed for his recovery. Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community and millions of fans worldwide."
Talking shortly afterwards to Entertainment Tonight, Don Henley added: “He was like a brother to me; we were family, and like most families, there was some dysfunction. 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.
“Glenn was the one who started it all,” Henley continues. “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. He was funny, bullheaded, mercurial, generous, deeply talented and driven.”
As well as singing lead vocals on such Eagles classics as 'New Kid In Town', 'Take It Easy', 'Peaceful Easy Feeling', 'Tequila Sunrise', 'Already Gone' and 'Heartache Tonight', Frey enjoyed a successful solo career with 'The Heat Is On' and 'You Belong To The City' gracing the respective Beverly Hills Cop and Miami Vice soundtracks.
He also appeared as an actor in Miami Vice, Jerry Maguire, Let's Get Harry and assorted American TV shows.
Hot Press interviewed him on several occasions and found him to be a fascinating and engaging character.
One of the first fellow musicians to pay tribute is Travis Tritt who messages: "I'm so shocked and saddened to learn that Glenn Frey has died. He was always so nice to me. This is devastating!"