Randy Meisner – The Eagles
Music Industry News is sad to report the death of the original Eagles bass guitarist Randy Meisner, at the age of seventy-seven.
Randy Meisner was born in Nebraska, and he became interested in the guitar when he was ten, after he saw Elvis Presley play on the Ed Sullivan Show. After playing in local bands, a high school teacher suggested that Meisner use his love of Talma Motown music to try the bass guitar. Meisner easily adapted to the switch, and continued to play bass throughout most of his career.
In 1968, Meisner joined country rock band Poco, which formed from members of the recently defunct Buffalo Springfield. Meisner played on the band’s debut album, but left before its release after conflict about his exclusion from the final mixing of the album.
In 1969, Meisner worked as a studio session bassist, contributing to Country Road and Blossom, tracks on James Taylor’s Sweet Baby James album. In 1971, he joined the roster of musicians backing Linda Ronstadt, which included his future Eagles bandmates Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Bernie Leadon
Randy Meisner formed The Eagles with Henley, Frey, and Leadon, their eponymous album was released in 1972 on David Geffen’s new Asylum label. Meisner’s time in the band was not happy, he suffered from serious homesickness while the band toured frequently to promote its albums. Having composed one of the band’s biggest hits, Take It To The Limit, from the One Of These Nights album, the band required Meisner to perform their first million-selling-single front and centre on stage, something completely at odds with Meisner’s shy nature, and strong desire to remain out of the spotlight, both on and off stage.
Matters came to a head during the 1976/77 Hotel California tour. Meisner was finding things increasingly difficult as the long tour progressed. He was suffering health problems, with stomach ulcers, and the long absences on the road were causing a severe strain on his marriage. Following a physical altercation back stage with Glenn Frey, after Meisner refused to sing the song as a show encore, he left the band and returned home. The band replaced him with Timothy B Schmit.
Although friction had been a large part of the reason for Randy Meisner’s departure from The Eagles, he consistently confirmed that he had no hard feelings towards his former bandmates, and this is borne out by their contribution of backing vocals in Meisner’s 1980 One More Song solo album.
Meisner enjoyed a successful career as a member of various bands throughout the 1980’s, including a stint with his re-formed former band Poco, which enjoyed healthy singles sales.
When The Eagles reconvened for their 1994 Hell Freezes Over tour, Meisner was disappointed not to be included. He contacted Irving Azoff, the band’s manager, but was rebuffed.
The Eagles’ induction ceremony into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1998 included Meisner, all seven present and former members of the band attended. A request to sit in with the band at their Millenium Concert at the Stapes Centre in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve 1999 was similarly refused. Unsurprisingly, Meisner was baffled at the response to his overtures, given that he had contributed to six of the band’s albums, but he continued to confirm that he bore his ex-band mates Henley and Frey no ill will.
In 2013, Meisner was invited to partake in the History Of The Eagles world tour, but declined due to increasing health issues which had led to a cutback in touring – his last appearance in concert having taken place back in 2008. Meisner was actually hospitalised at the time, after choking on a piece of food, and was in a coma for a time before recovering. The Eagles band paid his medical expenses during his hospital stay.
Randy Meisner’s personal life was fraught with health and psychological issues. He had struggled with alcohol dependency since the 1960’s, with further drug addictions and a diagnosis as bi-polar adding to his already frail physical and mental states. Meisner’s second wife Lana died in 2016 after a gun she was carrying discharged accidentally. Meisner was cleared of any involvement in her death, but the tragedy exacerbated his fragile mental state and he was placed in psychiatric care after threats of suicide.
Randy Meisner passed away on 26 July 2023 due to complications while suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, he was seventy-seven years old.
Despite his personal difficulties, as a musician, Randy Meisner leaves behind a sold body of recorded work, including his significant contributions to the legend of The Eagles, who remain one of the biggest selling recording bands in the history of popular music.
Music Instrument News extends sincere condolences to Randy Meisner’s family, friends, and colleagues.
ANDY HUGHES.
The post Randy Meisner – The Eagles first appeared on Music Instrument News.
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Source: musicinstrumentnews.co.uk
