Randy Meisner, founding member of the Eagles and singer of 'Take It to the Limit,' dies at 77

[Omaha Steve]

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]

1. RIP

[COL Mustard]

8. Been listening to The Eagles a lot recently.

I always loved their music, especially the early stuff. RIP Randy.

[2naSalit]

2. ...

[MuseRider]

3. This makes me sad.

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]

20. Same here

Rest in Peace, Randy
🎸🌷

[Raine]

30. Me too and very depressed ... R-I-P Randy 🕯 nt

[Glorfindel]

4. Very sorry to hear it. There was a time when I thought 77 was old...

but since I'll be 78 next month, I'll just say Mr. Meisner passed way too soon.

[COL Mustard]

11. Like you, I used to think that

65 was old. But now that I'm there, it's not. Hang in there, Giorfindel!

[Cheezoholic]

19. Yeah it went from old to a goal pretty quick lol n/t

[TexasBushwhacker]

5. I know he had a hard life RIP Randy

[PatrickforB]

6. I love the Eagles. They were part of my soundtrack growing up. Take

It to the Limit was one of my favorites.

RIP Randy.

[onetexan]

29. Likewise. I drive very little these days but when i do have their CD on. It's a roadtrip must-have.

RIP Mr. Meisner.

[underpants]

7. We saw them summer of 2015. Whole band except of course Felder

It was on “our story” to counter a bad documentary about the band. Plus Henley and Frye made tons of money. It wasn’t “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]

9. Not really a fan AND I know what it's like to lose favorite musicians; sorry to hear this.

[Docreed2003]

10. ....

rest easy Mr Meisner

[iluvtennis]

12. May Randy Meisner Rest in Peace and May his Memory be a Blessing. n/t

[Botany]

13. Damn

Thanks for the music Randy.

[Duppers]

14. Oh geez 😟

He got the best of my love of music.

[LoisB]

15. Sad news. Rest in peace. Thank you for the music.

[RussBLib]

16. my musical faves are dropping like flies

...like my friends and family members. We knew these days would come....

[MuseRider]

22. Knowing it and experiencing it

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]

17. RIP...

[treestar]

18. Rip

I liked his “ try and love again”

[littlemissmartypants]

21. ...

[Wingus Dingus]

23. Sorry to hear this. Grew up to the sound of his voice. RIP.

[ancianita]

24. Rest in Peace, Randy. You & your band eased my struggles in the early 70's.

Last edited Fri Jul 28, 2023, 12:00 AM - Edit history (2)

[rubbersole]

28. The BBC concert was especially awesome 👌.

Thanks for posting.

[SouthBayDem]

25. Forgive me as I wasn't alive in the '70s...

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]

26. Adorable.

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]

27. My favorite band ever

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]

31. "Take it to the limit" is my favorite Eagles song.

[Jimbo S]

32. I was reading their Wiki page just Thursday morning

Coincidental

After hearing "Hotel California" played on my co-workers radio.

[WestMichRad]

33. R.I.P. Randy

[area51]

34. RIP

I loved the Eagles.

[Paladin]

35. Such a fine tenor voice.

The Eagles wouldn't have been The Eagles without him. RIP.

[dalton99a]

36. R.I.P.

[lastlib]

37. I think Glenn Frey treated him dirty--much as he did Felder.

[twodogsbarking]

39. I have read that the only bigger asshole than Don Henley was Glenn Fry.

If that is true then Glenn was a gigantic one.

[whathehell]

40. Really?

In what respect?...Longtime fan of the Eagles here, but heard nothing about this.

[whathehell]

41. Oops..Never mind

I just Googled it.

[lastlib]

42. I watched a documentary about them

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.

[world wide wally]

38. Peace

[lastlib]

43. I Wish Him Peace.