When Glenn Frey, co-founder of The Eagles, passed away in January 2016 at the age of 67, the music world lost one of its most iconic voices. But for Don Henley, it wasn’t just the loss of a bandmate—it was the heartbreak of losing a lifelong friend, creative partner, and, in many ways, a brother.
Now, years after Frey’s death, Don Henley has opened up in a series of rare and emotional reflections, finally revealing the depth of their relationship—and the pain he still carries.
“Glenn and I were two very different people,” Henley shared. “But together, we had magic. That tension, that balance—it created The Eagles.”
Their journey together spanned more than four decades, with highs that few could ever imagine and lows that tested the very foundation of their partnership. They wrote and sang some of the most iconic songs of the 20th century—“Hotel California,” “Desperado,” “Take It Easy”—songs that came to define not only their careers but an entire era.
But Henley admits, their bond went far beyond the stage.
“We fought, we laughed, we wrote, we dreamed. There were days we couldn’t stand each other, and days we couldn’t imagine doing this without the other. But that’s what brothers do.”
In the final years of Frey’s life, the two had reportedly grown closer again, putting old tensions behind them and focusing on the legacy they had built. When Glenn’s health began to decline due to complications from rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, and pneumonia, Henley quietly stood by—hopeful, but bracing for the worst.
“I knew he was sick, but I thought we had more time,” Henley said. “When the call came… it knocked the wind out of me.”
Frey’s death marked not only the end of an era, but the closing of a creative chapter that could never truly be reopened. Though The Eagles would later return to touring—with Frey’s son, Deacon Frey, stepping into his father’s place—Henley made it clear: there would never be another Glenn.
“You don’t replace a man like that. You honor him. You remember him.”
Don Henley has since dedicated several performances to Glenn, often breaking down in tears during renditions of “Desperado” and “Take It to the Limit.” He describes the grief not as something that fades, but something that becomes a part of you.
“I still hear his voice when I write. I still imagine what he’d say about a lyric or a chord. That doesn’t go away.”
Through his words, fans now see the full picture: not just a band that ruled the airwaves, but a friendship—deep, imperfect, and unforgettable.
Don Henley didn’t just lose a collaborator. He lost a piece of himself. And in every note he sings, Glenn Frey still echoes.