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 & millions of fans worldwide.

I cannot count the number of times I've quoted the lyrics to Smuggler's Blues on Talkleft. I even quoted them to a jury during closing argument in a drug trial many years ago.

Glenn was the first of the Eagles to give up drugs. How sad that he died so young. I've never met him in person, but I've seen him perform with the Eagles so many times. For a time in the 80's, I was friendly with his ex-wife in Aspen (although she's in the Miami Vice video, I didn't meet her until well after their marriage ended and she never spoke of him to me.)

I hate record labels and music companies. They have pulled or muted the sound on all copies of the Miami Vice video from You Tube. Can't they at least let us honor someone on the sad occasion of their passing?

The Eagles website is playing the song "It's Your World Now" with its announcement. The lyrics:

“It's Your World Now”
Written by Glenn Frey and Jack Tempchin
From the Eagles’ Long Road Out of Eden album

A perfect day, the sun is sinkin' low
As evening falls, the gentle breezes blow
The time we shared went by so fast
Just like a dream, we knew it couldn't last
But I'd do it all again
If I could, somehow
But I must be leavin' soon
It's your world now

It's your world now
My race is run
I'm moving on
Like the setting sun
No sad goodbyes
No tears allowed
You'll be alright
It's your world now

Even when we are apart
You'll always be in my heart
When dark clouds appear in the sky
Remember true love never dies

But first a kiss, one glass of wine
Just one more dance while there's still time
My one last wish: someday, you'll see
How hard I tried and how much you meant to me

It's your world now
Use well your time
Be part of something good
Leave something good behind
The curtain falls
I take my bow
That's how it's meant to be

Back to Miami Vice. Glenn was a featured regular for a while. The Smuggler's Blues episode at the top is from 1984 -- more than 30 years ago. It's astonishing how little has changed since he wrote Smugglers Blues -- other the rising rate of incarceration.

You see it in the headlines, you hear it every day
They say they're gonna stop it, but it doesn't go away
They move it through Miami and sell it in LA
They hide it up in Telluride, I mean it's here to stay
It's propping up the governments in Columbia and Peru
You ask any D.E.A. man, he'll say there's nothing we can do
From the office of the president right down to me and you
...It's a losing proposition, but one you can't refuse
It's the politics of contraband, it's the smugglers' blues

I don't think a lot of people other than those of us who lived through and loved the music of the 70's realize how popular the Eagles were. In 1999, their Greatest Hits album won the recording industry's award for best selling album of the century.

1972 in New York's Central Park:

1977:

If you haven't seen it, watch the Showtime documentary by the Eagles on their career. On this 2 hour farewell concert. If you only have 20 minutes, watch the "60 Minutes" interview available on you tube.

Here are the Eagles singing "Hotel California" in 1977 (the video is actually the full concert in Washington, D.C.)

Hotel California may be the best song of all time. I can't think of a single song that tops it. But one of my all time Eagle favorites, released in 1974, is Already Gone. I will always associate it with the end of law school, passing the bar exam, freedom and my Mustang convertible. Here's an old version with Glenn Frey singing lead.

The Eagles were notorious for taking everything "to the limit." Their fans did as well. As Don Henley said in a media interview with the band a few years ago, everyone did back then -- doctors, lawyers, investment bankers included -- it was just the times we lived in and happily, most survived.

I have no idea whether Frey's early drug use contributed to his medical problems, which apparently began in the 80's. That is something is far beyond my skill set to opine on. I'm not surprised he thought so, but I'd also point out he was sober for decades, probably longer than any of the other Eagles, and they are still around. Just as Keith Richards is still around.

Drugs affect people differently. While many have suffered and many have died, many more did not. I think it's futile to speculate on whether they were lethal to Frey. It should be enough to say excessive drug use is not good for anyone, and it can result in unpredictable, negative and potentially fatal consequences. Still, everyone should have the right to make their own decision on whether to take the risk. What I don't like is the Government's ability make the call for its citizens and punish those, who in its view, choose the wrong path. Our Government should keep its laws off our bodies, whether the issue is pregnancy, end of life decisions or drug use.

Back to Glenn Frey: Here is Don Henley's moving tribute to Frey posted tonight (I hope he doesn't sue me for copyright infringement but Don, lots of sites are publishing it in full):

“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.

“But, Glenn was the one who started it all. 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. He loved his wife and kids more than anything.

“We are all in a state of shock, disbelief and profound sorrow. We brought our two-year 'History of the Eagles Tour’ to a triumphant close at the end of July and now he is gone. I’m not sure I believe in fate, but I know that crossing paths with Glenn Lewis Frey in 1970 changed my life forever, and it eventually had an impact on the lives of millions of other people all over the planet. It will be very strange going forward in a world without him in it. But, I will be grateful, every day, that he was in my life.

“Rest in peace, my brother. You did what you set out to do, and then some.”

The music world is reacting to Frey's death tonight with well-deserved accolades, from Bob Seger who knew him from his home town days in Detroit, to Linda Ronstadt (who first hired Henley and Frey as backup singers) to manager Irving Azoff.

Here are Henley and Frey independently writing on their meeting and the band's split. Here is Linda Ronstadt from her book on hiring them as backup singers.

Via Bob Seger in the Detroit Press:

Seger got the grim word from Henley in November: Frey, plagued by lifelong colitis and a diminished immune system, was in New York's Columbia University Medical Center having suffered from a virulent bout of pneumonia. Frey had been "a workout warrior from his 30s to his 60s," as Seger put it, but rheumatoid arthritis and other complications had taken their toll.

"He was in a coma, and he'd come out, but then he couldn't breathe. They’d put him back into the coma," he said.

"They were trying like hell to keep him alive," Seger said. "He'd been at Columbia University Medical Center since November. (Eagles manager) Irving (Azoff) pulled every ace out of the hole — he had the eight best specialists working on Glenn. About a month ago, they had to throw up their hands."

Seger broke down as he recounted the words of Frey's daughter, Taylor, leading into the musician's final month: From here out, she said, her father could be supported only by prayer.

R.I.P. Glenn Frey. Thank you for your music, and the countless wonderful memories that go along with it. You and the Eagles didn't just make a contribution to the music world. More than any other band I've listened to in the last 40 years, you made a contribution and lasting impact on my life -- and the lives of millions of people like me you never even met. That's quite a legacy, and one I hadn't even contemplated until tonight. Condolences to your wife and children. May the memories of your good times together carry you through this difficult time.