Eagles guitarist Glenn Frey who was behind such hit songs as Hotel California and Tequila Sunrise is dead at the age of 67

Glenn Frey has died at the age of 67 in New York City.

The cause of death was a combination of complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis, and pneumonia.

The Michigan native was a founding member and guitarist of the 1970s band the Eagles, which produced one of the biggest rock hits of all time: Hotel California.

Frey had been battling intestinal issues for months and had surgery in November. TMZ added in the last few days his condition took a turn for the worse.

His illness forced the Eagles to pull out of their Kennedy Center Honors appearance in December. At the time, the band said he needed major surgery that would require a lengthy recovery, added the site.

The death was then confirmed on the website of his band in a joint statement from Don Henley and Joe Walsh as it began: '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 star was a major part of the Eagles, helping them land in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with several classics.