Randy Meisner, founding member of the Eagles and singer of 'Take It to the Limit,' dies at 77
Source: AP
By HILLEL ITALIE
Updated 6:54 PM CDT, July 27, 2023
NEW YORK (AP) Randy Meisner, a founding member of the Eagles who added high harmonies to such favorites as Take It Easy and The Best of My Love and stepped out front for the waltz-time ballad Take It to the Limit, has died, the band said Thursday.
Meisner died Wednesday night in Los Angeles of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the Eagles said in a statement. He was 77.
The bassist had endured numerous afflictions in recent years and personal tragedy in 2016 when his wife, Lana Rae Meisner, accidentally shot herself and died. Meanwhile, Randy Meisner had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had severe issues with alcohol, according to court records and comments made during a 2015 hearing in which a judge ordered Meisner to receive constant medical care.
Called the sweetest man in the music business by former bandmate Don Felder, the baby-faced Meisner joined Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon in the early 1970s to form a quintessential Los Angeles band and one of the most popular acts in history.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/eagles-musician-randy-meisner-obit-b4f9bdabdc17f8e789262fb8023c5f7d
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(109,013 posts)COL Mustard
(6,090 posts)I always loved their music, especially the early stuff. RIP Randy.
2naSalit
(87,451 posts)MuseRider
(34,183 posts)His was reported as unstable for quite a lot of years. I don't know the story but this just makes me sad, unstable or not I am sad that he is gone.
ailsagirl
(22,975 posts)Rest in Peace, Randy
🎸🌷
Raine
(30,565 posts)Glorfindel
(9,763 posts)but since I'll be 78 next month, I'll just say Mr. Meisner passed way too soon.
COL Mustard
(6,090 posts)65 was old. But now that I'm there, it's not. Hang in there, Giorfindel!
Cheezoholic
(2,082 posts)TexasBushwhacker
(20,318 posts)PatrickforB
(14,631 posts)It to the Limit was one of my favorites.
RIP Randy.
onetexan
(13,130 posts)RIP Mr. Meisner.
underpants
(183,400 posts)It was on our story to counter a bad documentary about the band. Plus Henley and Frye made tons of money. It wasnt an evening with thing either - they played full out including Walsh solo hits.
John Paul John in Charlottesville. My wife LOVES The Eagles. I was mostly over them until that show. We had a great time. Sitting right behind the soundboard (watching two guys play backgammon) the sound was incredible. Really crisp.
electric_blue68
(15,245 posts)Docreed2003
(16,937 posts)iluvtennis
(19,988 posts)Botany
(70,818 posts)Thanks for the music Randy.
Duppers
(28,147 posts)He got the best of my love of music.
LoisB
(7,311 posts)RussBLib
(9,095 posts)...like my friends and family members. We knew these days would come....
MuseRider
(34,183 posts)are 2 different things aren't they! I turn 70 this year, not too concerned because it is all inevitable but it is losing more people we care about, that played a large role even though we did not know them, that is getting rough.
These musicians and actors are people who figured so greatly in our lives, it is only now I realize how much they meant. And family. Most of my family has been dead and gone for years now. I have one brother still, I think. Drugs and alcohol have taken him long ago but the rest of my family is long gone. I still have my kids . It is all just so odd when it gets to you. ((hug))
Wounded Bear
(58,916 posts)treestar
(82,383 posts)I liked his try and love again
littlemissmartypants
(23,106 posts)Wingus Dingus
(8,060 posts)ancianita
(36,388 posts)rubbersole
(6,838 posts)Thanks for posting.
SouthBayDem
(32,148 posts)but I did NOT know Meisner sang lead on "Take It to the Limit". I just assumed Don Henley sang on every Eagles song. (I turned 18 during Obama's first year as president and was introduced to the Eagles when seeing a snippet of "Hotel California" on a local radio station's TV commercial around '05.)
ancianita
(36,388 posts)Founding members were Glenn Frey (guitars, vocals), Don Henley (drums, vocals), Bernie Leadon (guitars, vocals), and Randy Meisner (bass guitar, vocals). They were recruited by Linda Ronstadt as band members, some touring with her, and all playing on her third solo album, before venturing out on their own.
Bayard
(22,455 posts)I did get to see Don Henley after he was out on his own, but never saw The Eagles.
Really sorry to hear about Meisner. Losing Glenn Fry was hard. The one that's really going to kill me though is Don Henley.
Getting old really sucks.....
oldsoftie
(12,784 posts)Jimbo S
(2,961 posts)Coincidental
After hearing "Hotel California" played on my co-workers radio.
WestMichRad
(1,367 posts)area51
(11,965 posts)I loved the Eagles.
Paladin
(28,351 posts)The Eagles wouldn't have been The Eagles without him. RIP.
dalton99a
(82,059 posts)lastlib
(23,523 posts)twodogsbarking
(10,186 posts)If that is true then Glenn was a gigantic one.
whathehell
(29,158 posts)In what respect?...Longtime fan of the Eagles here, but heard nothing about this.
whathehell
(29,158 posts)I just Googled it.
lastlib
(23,523 posts)At one of their concerts, Randy wasn't feeling good; Gleen wanted him to sing his signature song, "Take It To The Limit" for the final encore, but Randy didn't feel up to it. Frey went off on him, and after the concert he fired him--kicked him out of the band. Randy said in the doc that Frey was always "overbearing" towards him.
Around 2000, Henley and Frey negotiated a record deal that gave them way more money than the other band members. Don Felder wanted a fairer deal, Freywouldn't go along, got mad and fired Don (one of the best freakin' guitarists ever). A pretty raw deal, IMHO.
That's what I know.