The band known for “Hotel California” that was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 was the Eagles.
The Eagles formed in Los Angeles in 1971, bringing together country-rock, folk, rock and polished pop. Their early success came with songs including “Take It Easy,” “Desperado” and “Best of My Love.” The group’s layered harmonies and California imagery helped define a major strain of 1970s American rock.
“Hotel California,” released in 1976, became the band’s signature song. Its intricate guitar arrangement, surreal lyrics and extended closing solo made it a landmark recording, while the album of the same name became one of the era’s defining best sellers. Don Henley and Glenn Frey were the Eagles’ central creative leaders, though the lineup also included major contributors such as Joe Walsh and Don Felder.
The Eagles were inducted in the Rock Hall’s 1998 class, alongside Fleetwood Mac and Santana. A frequent confusion is calling the group simply “Eagle”; the band’s official name is plural, the Eagles.