In January, Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmit thanked his fans on his official website (TimothyBSchmit.com) for their support with his battle with throat and neck cancer. Schmit, who underwent surgery in November, has been proclaimed cancer-free and posted a message to his fans for their well wishes. Schmit posted in part: "I'm way past due in expressing my sincere gratitude for the outpouring of get well wishes I've received over the last few weeks. . . I very much appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers regarding my health. But, let me give you a brief update. Although my issues were disheartening, and I went through what the doctors called, 'major surgery,' the truth is I was only bedridden during my three night stay in the hospital. I was up and about right after, starting with daily walks on the streets of Manhattan. After another week I received a clean bill of health and headed for home on the West Coast."

He went on to add: "My voice is coming along nicely, and as many of you know, I was able to perform with the Eagles just before the new year. So. . . All is good. The brief synopsis is: I discovered a problem and took care of it; simple as that. So, not to worry. . . I love my work, and plan on doing it for as long as possible. I'm chipping away at a new solo album, and I wouldn't be surprised if you hear of more Eagles action in the near future."

On April 30th, the Eagles released History Of The Eagles, the band's three-hour documentary on DVD and Blu-ray. The doc, which originally aired on Showtime, features in-depth interviews with all seven members of the Eagles -- Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmit -- along with co-founders Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner, and former guitarist Don Felder.

The film, which includes eye-popping rare and unseen footage of the band at work and at play, pulls no punches in telling the back story of America's most successful rock band, also includes interviews with key collaborators J.D. Souther, Jackson Browne, and Jack Tempchin, along with longtime manager Irving Azoff, early label head David Geffen, and producers Bill Szymczyk (pronounced: SIMM-zikk) and Glyn Johns.

The three-disc set includes History Of The Eagles - Part One and History Of The Eagles - Part Two -- as well as Eagles Live At The Capital Centre - March 1977, featuring never-before-released performances from the band's two-night stand at Washington, D.C.'s Capital Center during the legendary Hotel California tour.

Co-founding guitarist Bernie Leadon shed some light on the band's 1975 chart-topper, "One Of These Nights" -- which was among the last songs he recorded with before quitting the band: "Cool song. This was sort of the beginning of the fourth album and the second one that Don Felder was on. Well, the band's new producer, Bill Szymczyk, came out of R&B and had worked with B.B. King and some people. So, his drum sounds were more Philadelphia. The whole attitude was more R&B. And Henley and Frey were starting to lean more in that direction. So, 'One Of These Nights' has that sort of -- well it's not (laughs) disco exactly, but it's edging in that direction, it's edging towards disco."

We asked Timothy B. Schmit if back in 1978 he had any reservations about joining a band in which two of its four original members had quit citing both creative differences and exhaustion: "No. I didn't think 'Oh, what am I getting myself into?' I totally welcomed it. Listen, I knew how strong-headed both Don and Glenn were, and I knew Joe from years ago. And in fact, Joe and I spent a whole night (laughs) together, stayed up carrying on, talking about my new. . . my new position. And we talked a lot about the band and I just kinda said 'Bring it on, I can do this.' There's a reason this band is successful -- this is what I wanna do (laughs)."

The Eagles launched their 40th anniversary tour on July 6th at Louisville, Kentucky's KFC Yum! Center with a career-spanning setlist featuring the four principle bandmembers -- Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmit. The tour, which will probably run through 2015, includes co-founding lead guitarist Bernie Leadon back for his first shows since quitting the Eagles in 1975. The band kicked things off on a mellow note with the 1973 ballad "Saturday Night" from the Eagles' second album, Desperado. Bernie Leadon was quickly called into action performing his "Train Leaves Here In The Morning" from the band's 1972 self-titled debut.

Don Henley spoke about the tour to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and touched upon co-founding bassist Randy Meisner, who left the band in 1978 and is now reportedly suffering from Alzheimer's Disease: "Randy Meisner, if he were healthy and willing, might have been included, too, but his current health will not permit. We are all wishing him well.”

He spoke about the absence on the tour of ousted guitarist Don Felder, who was fired from the Eagles in 2001 following monetary disputes with Henley, Glenn Frey, and Eagles manager Irving Azoff. When asked about Felder's tearful showing when discussing his exit from the group in the Eagles' recent documentary, History Of The Eagles, Henley replied: "That was a poignant moment, for sure -- if it was real. But since Mr. Felder continues to engage in legal action, of one kind or another, against us, I can't really say anything further about it.”

Henley spoke realistically about the future of the Eagles, admitting, "This could very well be our last major tour. Covering the entire globe will take us about two years. The demand has been so strong in some markets that we will have to return next year, because multiple nights at arenas just aren't available right now. Here in the States, we have to work around the schedules of the basketball and hockey teams. So, by the time we get through this tour, it'll be 2015 and we'll all be in our late-60s. It's been an incredible experience for all of us, but it may be time to say adios and bow out gracefully.”