Eagles founder and guitarist Glenn Frey dies

Eagles founder and guitarist Glenn Frey has died.

He died in New York from complications from "rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia," his family and fellow band members said.

A statement posted on the band's Facebook page said: "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our comrade, Eagles founder, Glenn Frey, in New York City on Monday, January 18th, 2016.

"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 and millions of fans worldwide."

Frey co-founded the Eagles with drummer Don Henley in LA in the early 1970s along with guitarist Bernie Leadon and bassist Randy Meisner.

The band were known for hits such as "Hotel California" and "Life in the Fast Lane."

Don Henley paid tribute to his co-founder, praising Frey's work ethic and “encyclopedic” knowledge of music, and devotion to his family.

The Eagles Greatest Hits collection and Hotel California sold more than 20 million copies each and are among the best-selling albums of modern times. The band's total album sales top 100 million.

The band broke up in 1980, with Frey and Henley also becoming estranged for years.

Henley had vowed the Eagles would reunite only when "hell freezes over", which became the name of the 1994 album when they re-formed.

Sir Elton John paid tribute to the musician and told ITV's Good Morning Britain he was "in shock".

"I didn't know he was sick," he said. "I found out on the way here that he died and it's, you know, I don't know what's going on at the moment. It's not good."

Tributes also poured in on social media, with One Direction's Niall Horan tweeting lyrics from the band's single No More Cloudy Days and his bandmate Harry Styles showing his respects.

Comedian and actor Steve Martin wrote: "MT: Shocker. My friend from the early days, and important member of Eagles, has died. We loved you, Glenn Frey."

Other tributes came forward by Frey's contemporaries and those he inspired including singer Carole King and Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley.

Frey's health problems, including diverticulitis, dated to the 1980s. He blamed in part his years of "burgers and beer and blow and broads" and later became a fitness advocate.