Henley: 'Eagles are lucky to be alive'

Eagles drummer Don Henley has revealed that he is grateful the band are still alive.

The 60-year-old admitted that the group were so embroiled in the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll lifestyle during the 1970s that he was convinced they would "live fast and die young".

He told the Daily Telegraph: "There is a self-destructive period you go through in your late twenties, and a lot of people in our business didn't make it. We count ourselves fortunate to have survived. We are one of the only bands of our generation where all the members are still living.

"The fact is we were a sort of binge and purge sort of band. In between benders, I remember jogging and going to the gym and taking vitamins. When you think about it, we managed to achieve quite a lot given the shape we were in."

The band split in 1980, with its members threatening to beat each other up onstage during a Democratic Party fundraiser. However, they reunited in 1993 and have been touring ever since.

The reformed group - including singer Glenn Fray, guitarist Joe Walsh and bassist Timothy Schmit - are currently at number one in the UK album chart with Long Road Out Of Eden, their first studio effort in 28 years.