The Eagles announced Deacon Frey, son of late original member Glenn Frey, is leaving the band to pursue other musical opportunities.
The band shared the news on their official website and Facebook page on Wednesday, April 6, and from the sounds of things the split is amicable.
Deacon Frey and country music star Vince Gill joined the legendary band for live performances in 2017, more than a year after Glenn unexpectedly died at the age of 67 while recovering from intestinal surgery.
Departing: The Eagles announced Deacon Frey, 28, has left the band after replacing his late father, Glenn Frey, the year after his unexpected death in 2016; Glenn pictured in 2019
‘Deacon Frey has devoted the past four and a half years to carrying on his father’s legacy and, after some weeks of reflection, he now feels that it is time for him to forge his own path,’ the band began in a statement posted on its official website and Facebook page.
‘We understand, completely, and we support him in whatever he wishes to pursue in the years ahead.’
It continued, ‘In the wake of his dad’s demise, Deacon, at age 24, did an extraordinary thing by stepping from relative anonymity into the very public world of his father’s long illustrious career. We are grateful to Deacon for his admirable efforts and we wish him well as he charts his future.’
The statement concluded by declaring: ‘Deacon’s Eagles Family will always be here to surround him with love, support and goodwill, and he is always welcome to join us onstage at any future concerts, if he so desires. We hope our fans will join us in wishing Deacon the very best as he moves into the next phase of his career.’
Official: The band announced Deacon’s departure on the band’s official website and Facebook
Filling in for late father: Deacon was 24 years-old when he joined the Eagles in 2017 as a guitarist and vocalist; (L-R) Deacon Frey, Joe Walsh and Steuart Smith pictured in 2018
Glenn Frey died at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York City in January 2016, following intestinal surgery.
Afterwards a cause of death was attributed to rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis, and pneumonia.
One month after his passing, the band performed an emotional tribute at the Grammy Awards ceremony, playing the song Take It Easy with co-writer Jackson Browne, the band’s first single in 1972 that was originally sung by Frey.
Deacon Frey, now 28, and Gill, now 64, joined the band as guitarists and vocalists ahead of the band headlining the Classic West and Classic East concert in July 2017.
RIP: Glenn Frey (left) was 67 when he suddenly died following intestinal surgery. A cause of death was attributed to rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis, and pneumonia; Glen Frey, Don Henley and Joe Walsh pictured
During the time Deacon spent playing with the Eagles, the band primarily focused on touring, recording just one single — a cover of Dan Fogelberg’s Part of the Plan for the album A Tribute to Dan Fogelberg.
Along with Gill (guitar, vocals), the four remaining official members of the group are now Don Henley (drums, guitar, vocals), Joe Walsh (guitar, vocals) and Timothy B. Schmit (bass, vocals).
Despite the shakeup, the band is set to head back out on the road, beginning with a show in Columbus, Ohio on April 19. The tour has scattered stops across the U.S. through until a stop in Las Vegas on May 28. From there, the band heads to Europe for five shows, ending with a gig at Hyde Park in London, England on June 26.
With more than 200 million albums sold, the Eagles are considered among the world’s best-selling musical artists of all time.
Dynamic duo: Don Henley and Glenn Frey wrote and sang a majority of the Eagles songs; the pair pictured in 2015