The Eagles, an internationally acclaimed band from California, were one of the most influential musical groups in the 1970s. The band was composed of musicians Randy Meisner (bass player and vocalist), Bernie Leadon (guitar, steel guitar, banjo, dobro, and mandolin), Don Henley (producer, drummer, singer-songwriter), and the late Glenn Frey (piano, guitar, keyboard, vocals). Over the years, they racked up numerous number one albums and singles, not to mention various awards, including American Music and Grammy awards. As might be expected, their success spawned a variety of
Eagles tribute bands. Other influential and successful musical groups from the 60s and 70s include Boston, Derek and the Dominoes, Deep Purple, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, and the Allman Brothers.
Known since 1968 as Led Zeppelin, the band originated in 1963 under the name, The Yardbirds. Then, it consisted of Jim McCarty, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Keith Relf and Chris Dreja. The group also helped launch the career of the legendary guitarist, Eric Clapton. Beck, Clapton and Page are all among the top five on the Rolling Stone list of Top 100 Guitarists.
Although they released only one album, Derek and the Dominoes remain one of the most influential bands of all time. The title track to the album, Layla, was based on a poem from fifth century Arabia. The song was about unrequited love and mirrored Clapton's love for the unavailable Pattie Boyd, who was then married to Clapton's friend and Beatle, George Harrison. Boyd's marriage to Harrison eventually fizzled out and she married Clapton in 1979.
The Florida sunshine shown on the Allman Brothers, considered to be the fathers of the Southern Rock music genre. The band was heavily influenced by country, jazz and blues. The leader of the band, Duane Allman, was killed in 1971, the victim of a motorcycle accident. Fellow musician Berry Oakley, who was morosely depressed by Allman's passing, lost his own life in a similar crash not long afterward.
One of the top bands to come out of London was Fleetwood Mac, who got together in 1967. Rumours, an album, rose to number eight in the best-selling albums of all time, selling over 40 million copies. From Rumours arose four singles that made it to the top ten in the US charts.
Another Brit invasion band was Pink Floyd, founded in 1965 London. Two tracks from their album, "Dark Side of the Moon, " were particularly memorable. These were "Careful with that Axe, Eugene, " and "The Wall." The latter track evolved into a feature-length cult movie.
Riding the well-established wave of British invaders, Deep Purple formed in Hertford in 1968. The County of Hertfordshire is a county in southeast England, bordered by Bedfordshire, Essex, Buckinghamshire and Greater London. Situated on the Herts and Essex border is a pub formally called The Rising Sun but known colloquially to real ale drinkers as Sid's.
Like the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd hail from Florida. Formed in 1964, they went by several different names (One Percent, My Backyard, and the Noble Five) before arriving at Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band was based in Jacksonville, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, NFL football team. Two of their biggest hits were Free Bird and Sweet Home Alabama. Three of the band's members perished in a plane crash at the peak of their popularity in 1977.