Randy Meisner, Founding Member of the Eagles, Dies at 77
LOS ANGELES – Randy Meisner, a founding member of the Eagles and renowned for his broad vocal range on songs like “Take It to the Limit,” passed away on Wednesday at the age of 77. The Eagles announced his death on Thursday, attributing it to complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The Eagles, formed in 1971, consisted of Meisner along with Glenn Frey, Don Henley, and Bernie Leadon. Meisner played the original bass and was instrumental in the band’s early success. Together, they recorded several iconic albums including “Eagles,” “Desperado,” “On The Border,” “One of These Nights,” and the legendary “Hotel California.” The latter, featuring enigmatic lyrics, became one of the band’s most well-known recordings, topping the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977 and winning a Grammy Award for record of the year in 1978.
Despite his contributions to the band’s success, Meisner struggled with fame and preferred to stay out of the spotlight. In a 2013 interview with Rolling Stone, he mentioned his shyness and discomfort being in the center stage. This led to disagreements with his bandmates, including an incident in Knoxville where he caught the flu and refused to perform another encore, resulting in a falling out with Glenn Frey.
Meisner left the Eagles in September 1977 but was later inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 1998. Parke Puterbaugh, in an essay published by the Hall of Fame, described the band’s evolution from “wide-eyed innocents with a country-rock pedigree” to creators of grandiose albums chronicling a world of excess and seduction.
The Eagles dominated the 1970s music scene, selling more records than any other band during that time. They achieved four consecutive No. 1 albums and five No. 1 singles, with their album “Greatest Hits 1971-1975” alone selling over 26 million copies.
Before his time with the Eagles, Meisner briefly served as the bassist for Poco, another prominent Los Angeles country-rock band. He also had a stint with Rick Nelson’s Stone Canyon Band. Details regarding Meisner’s surviving family members were not immediately available.
Born on March 8, 1946, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Meisner demonstrated a passion for music from a young age. He began practicing on an acoustic guitar and formed a high school band. In the mid-1960s, Meisner relocated to Los Angeles in pursuit of a music career, which eventually led to his involvement with the Eagles.
Reflecting on the band’s early days, Meisner expressed his confidence in their success from the beginning. “From day one,” he said in a 2016 interview with Rock Cellar Magazine, “I just had a feeling that the band was good and would make it.”
A full obituary highlighting Randy Meisner’s life and career will be published soon, paying tribute to his significant contributions to the music industry.