EAGLES

The Eagles formed in Los Angeles in 1971 as Linda Ronstadt's backing band before striking out on their own. Their blend of country, folk, and rock — polished to a California sheen — defined the sound of 70s radio and produced some of the most enduring songs in American music.

'Hotel California', released on October 23, 1977, is one of the most analyzed songs in rock history. Don Felder wrote the haunting guitar riff on a demo tape; Don Henley wrote the lyrics as a meditation on the dark side of the American dream — excess, illusion, and the impossibility of escape. The 6-minute track closes with one of rock's greatest guitar outros, Felder and Joe Walsh trading solos in a conversation that never gets old.

Their 'Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)' album has sold over 38 million copies in the US alone — making it the best-selling album in American history, tied with Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'. The Eagles' four-part harmonies, meticulous arrangements, and storytelling set a standard that few bands have matched before or since.

Forty-nine years after its release, 'Hotel California' remains one of the most-played songs on radio worldwide. A new generation discovers it every year and finds the same thing every generation before them found: a song that sounds like a dream you can't quite shake, about a place you've never been but somehow recognize.