Bob Seger and the Eagles: A Friendship That Shaped Rock History
Bob Seger and the Eagles go way back—back to the Detroit rock scene of the 1960s. In 1967, before the Eagles were even a band, Seger met 18-year-old Glenn Frey. At the time, Frey was still playing local gigs and hadn’t yet made his way to California. Neither of them knew it then, but their friendship would eventually help shape some of the most iconic music of the 1970s.
They clicked right away, although there was a brief pause in their friendship when Frey’s mom caught them smoking together. Still, they stayed close and reconnected in Los Angeles a year later. By then, Frey had teamed up with Don Henley, Randy Meisner, and Bernie Leadon to form the Eagles. Meanwhile, Seger was becoming a heartland rock icon in his own right. It was only a matter of time before they made music together.
Jamming in Laurel Canyon: How “Heartache Tonight” Was Born
Years later, Frey invited Seger over for a jam session at his place in Laurel Canyon. In a 2018 interview, Seger recalled, “I was playing bass, and he was on guitar.” Frey had started a song and was trying to figure out a rhythm. “He wanted to write a shuffle,” Seger said. As they played around with the beat, Frey sang some rough verses—and suddenly, Seger came up with the chorus on the spot.
The moment clicked. Frey was so excited, he called up Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh and songwriter JD Souther to help finish the track. With some lyric help from Don Henley, they wrapped up the song in just 12 hours.
“Heartache Tonight”: A Tribute to Their Roots
The result was “Heartache Tonight,” a mid-tempo rock hit released in 1979. It became the Eagles’ final number-one single. The song had a nostalgic feel—its rhythm and melody echoing the Motown and soul music that dominated Detroit when Frey and Seger were growing up. Seger later said they’d been listening to Sam Cooke records during that jam session. “You can kind of hear it,” he told the Detroit Free Press in 2016.
While the soul influence is there, Frey’s vocal performance gave the track a rock edge. His delivery was full of grit—like something out of Eric Clapton’s Layla era or a raw Lindsey Buckingham take. It was the perfect send-off for a band that had ruled the charts throughout the ’70s.
A Classic That Still Hits Home
Even though the Eagles would later split, “Heartache Tonight” lives on as one of their most beloved songs. It’s a lasting reminder of the bond between Bob Seger and Glenn Frey—a friendship that helped launch careers and create timeless music. From Detroit garages to packed stadiums, their shared roots gave rise to a rock and roll classic that fans still love today.