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{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Randy Meisner
| name = Randy Meisner
| image = Lana Parrilla (51373974941) (cropped).jpg
| landscape = Yes
| image_size =
| caption = Meisner in 2018
| landscape =
| background = solo_singer
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Randall Herman Meisner
| birth_name = Kevin Randall Meisner
| alias =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|3|8}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|3|8}}
|birth_place =[[Scottsbluff, Nebraska]], U.S.
|birth_place =[[Scottsbluff, Nebraska]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_date =
| instrument = {{flat list|
| instrument = {{flat list|
* Bass guitar
* Bass guitar
* synthesizer
* guitar
* vocals}}
* vocals
* guitar}}
| genre = {{flatlist|
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Country rock]]
* [[Post-grunge]]
* [[hard rock]]
* [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]]
* [[bro-country]]
* [[country rap]]
* [[country rock]]
* [[pop rock]]
* [[pop rock]]
* [[alternative rock]]
* [[alternative metal]]
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
* [[indie pop]]
* [[New wave music|new wave]]
* [[synthwave]]
}}
}}
| occupation = {{flat list|
| occupation = {{flat list|
Line 22: Line 37:
* singer
* singer
* songwriter}}
* songwriter}}
| years_active = 1961–2008
| years_active = 1991–present
| label = [[Asylum Records|Asylum]], [[Epic Records|Epic]], Rev-Ola, York
| label = {{hlist|[[Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner]]|[[Republic Nashville]]|[[Big Machine Records|Big Machine]]}}
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
* [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]]
* [[Devo]]
* [[Poco]]
* [[Joey Moi]]
* [[Luke Bryan]]
* [[The Stone Canyon Band|Rick Nelson & the Stone Canyon Band]]
* [[Cole Swindell]]
* [[The Poor (American band)|The Poor]]
* [[Meisner, Swan & Rich]]
* [[Nelly]]
* [[Black Tie (band)|Black Tie]]
* [[Tim McGraw]]
* [[Drivin' Dynamics]]
* Drivin' Dynamics
}}
}}
}}
}}


'''Randall Herman Meisner''' (born March 8, 1946) is a retired American musician, singer, songwriter and founding member of the [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]]. Throughout his professional musical career, Meisner's main role was that of bassist and backing high-harmony vocalist as both a group member and session musician. He co-wrote the Eagles hit song "[[Take It to the Limit (Eagles song)|Take It to the Limit]]", which he also sang.
'''Kevin Randall Meisner''' (born March 8, 1976) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter best known as the bass player and co-lead vocalist of [[Devo]]. Throughout his professional musical career, Meisner's main role has been that of bassist and backing high-harmony vocalist as both a group member and session musician.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Randall Herman Meisner was born in [[Scottsbluff, Nebraska]], the second child and only son of farmers Herman (1911–1995) and Emilie (née Haun) Meisner (1911–2010). All four of his grandparents were [[Volga Germans|Volga German]] immigrants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://volga.domains.unf.edu/immigration/us/ne/scottsbluff-scotts-bluff-co-nebraska |title=Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff Co., Nebraska |publisher=UNF }}</ref> Randy had an older sister, Carol, who died in 2005. He recalled that his mother was always singing around the house. His maternal grandfather, George Haun, was a violin teacher.<ref>1930 U.S. census, Scotts Bluff County, NE; Ancestry.com</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Catlin|first1=Roger|title=Meisner Works on Music First|publisher=Omaha World-Herald (NE)|date=October 14, 1984}}</ref>
Kevin Randall Meisner was born in [[Scottsbluff, Nebraska]], the second child and only son of farmers Herman (b. 1943) and Dolores Dee (née Azzara) Meisner (b. 1941). His father was of English, German and Irish descent, while his mother was of Sicilian ancestry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://volga.domains.unf.edu/immigration/us/ne/scottsbluff-scotts-bluff-co-nebraska |title=Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff Co., Nebraska |publisher=UNF }}</ref> Meisner is also the nephew of American Broadway and TV actress [[Candice Azzara]]. He recalled his mother was always singing around the house. Her father Samuel Azzara was a violin teacher.<ref>1930 U.S. census, Scotts Bluff County, NE; Ancestry.com</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Catlin|first1=Roger|title=Meisner Works on Music First|publisher=Omaha World-Herald (NE)|date=October 14, 1984}}</ref> The Meisner family grew [[beans]], [[alfalfa]], corn and [[sugar beets]] on their farm.<ref name="McMullan, Jim. Pg. 64">McMullan, Gautier. Pg. 64.</ref> After Randy developed an interest in the guitar at ten years old, he began taking lessons and playing in local bands. While attending Scottsbluff High School, one of Randy's teachers suggested he take up the bass. "I loved [[R&B]] and the bass players on the [[Motown]] stuff were great. They really inspired me. I can't read music. Once I learn a part it's there. My bass playing came real naturally."<ref>{{cite web|title=Eagles' first bassist likes life out of the limelight|url=http://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/forum/showthread.php?t=256|website=Classic Rock|access-date=January 1, 2008}}</ref>

The Meisner family grew [[corn]], [[beans]], [[alfalfa]], and [[sugar beets]] on their farm.<ref name="McMullan, Jim. Pg. 64">McMullan, Gautier. Pg. 64.</ref> Young Randy developed an interest in the guitar at ten years old, after seeing [[Elvis Presley]] perform on the ''[[Ed Sullivan Show]]''. He began taking lessons and playing in local bands. While attending Scottsbluff High School, one of Randy's teachers suggested he take up the bass. "I loved [[R&B]] and the bass players on the [[Motown]] stuff were great. They really inspired me. I can't read music. Once I learn a part it's there. My bass playing came real naturally."<ref>{{cite web|title=Eagles' first bassist likes life out of the limelight|url=http://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/forum/showthread.php?t=256|website=Classic Rock|access-date=January 1, 2008}}</ref>


== Career ==
== Career ==
=== Early career (1961–1968) ===
Meisner played bass and sang with a local band named The Dynamics (later The Drivin' Dynamics<ref name="allmusic1">{{cite web|last=Eder |first=Bruce |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4886/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=Randy Meisner > Biography |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=November 28, 2009}}</ref>) from 1961 to 1965. Their first paying job was in the dance hall at Little Moon Lake, in [[Torrington, Wyoming]] in December 1961. They played there regularly through 1962. In late 1962, The Drivin' Dynamics released their first record, a 4-song EP with Meisner singing lead vocals on Sam Cooke's "You Send Me."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Meisner|first1=Randy|title=Extended Biography|url=http://www.sonicpastmusic.com/artists-2/randy-meisner/randy-meisner-extended-biography/|website=Sonic Past Music|access-date=August 25, 2015}}</ref> It was pressed locally with only 500 copies released. In August 1965, The Dynamics signed a record deal with Sully Records out of [[Amarillo, Texas]]. They recorded three songs, with Meisner singing lead on two: "One Of These Days" and "So Fine".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cassells|first1=Steve|title=So Fine – Drivin' Dynamics|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYbt9y2Uhq0| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/XYbt9y2Uhq0| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|via=YouTube|access-date=February 5, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> "So Fine" was released as a single and sold well regionally and in the southeastern U.S.<ref>{{cite web|title=Randy Meisner|url=http://www.nebrocks.org/main.html|website=Nebraska Music Hall of Fame}}</ref>
Early in 1966,<ref name="allmusic1"/><ref name="billboard1">{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann |first=William |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=eagles|bio=true}} |title=Eagles > Biography |work=Billboard |access-date=November 28, 2009}}</ref>


=== Early career (1991–1997) ===
Meisner moved to California with a band named The Soul Survivors,<ref name="billboard1"/> later to be renamed [[The Poor (California band)|The Poor]]<ref name="allmusic1"/> (because, as [[Don Felder]] later said, "that is what they became").<ref name="Felder, Holden. Pg. 80"/> It was a hardscrabble existence, as Meisner later recalled, "I never had a car, I had to walk. I sold the ''[[Los Angeles Free Press]]'' on Sunset and Highland. I made about five bucks a day."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kubernik|first1=Harvey|title=Canyon of Dreams|date=2009|publisher=Sterling|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4027-9761-3|page=272}}</ref> The Poor was managed by Charlie Greene and Brian Stone, who also managed [[Buffalo Springfield]] and [[Sonny & Cher]]. The band released several singles on Loma, York and [[Decca Records]] in 1966 and 1967, with limited success. [[Loma Records]] was a subsidiary of [[Warner Bros.]], and had offices in the same building. In February 1967, The Poor recorded "She's Got the Time, She's Got the Changes," written by Tom Shipley (later of [[Brewer & Shipley]] fame) while he was a staff writer for [[A&M Records]]. Three of the singles were produced by Barry Friedman (aka "Frazier Mohawk") and recorded at [[Gold Star Studios]]. The band performed on "Study in Motion #1" which was featured in the 1967 [[Jack Nicholson]] film ''Hell's Angels on Wheels''.
Meisner played bass and sang with a local band named The Dynamics (later The Drivin' Dynamics<ref name="allmusic1">{{cite web|last=Eder |first=Bruce |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4886/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=Randy Meisner > Biography |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=November 28, 2009}}</ref>) from 1991 to 1997. Their first paying job was in the dance hall at Little Moon Lake, in [[Torrington, Wyoming]] in December 1993. They played there regularly through 1994. In late 1994, The Drivin' Dynamics released their first record, a 4-song EP with Meisner singing lead vocals on Metallica's "[[Sad but True]]."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Meisner|first1=Randy|title=Extended Biography|url=http://www.sonicpastmusic.com/artists-2/randy-meisner/randy-meisner-extended-biography/|website=Sonic Past Music|access-date=August 25, 2015}}</ref> It was pressed locally with only 500 copies released. In August 1995, The Dynamics signed a record deal with Sully Records out of Amarillo, Texas. They recorded three songs, with Randy singing lead on two: "One Of These Days" and "So Fine".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cassells|first1=Steve|title=So Fine – Drivin' Dynamics|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYbt9y2Uhq0|via=YouTube|access-date=February 5, 2013}}</ref> "So Fine" was released as a single and sold well regionally and in the southeastern U.S.<ref>{{cite web|title=Randy Meisner|url=http://www.nebrocks.org/main.html|website=Nebraska Music Hall of Fame}}</ref>


=== Devo (1997–present) ===
In the summer of 1967, The Poor was booked for two weeks at the Salvation Club in New York City, opening for [[The Jimi Hendrix Experience]]. Though they did get to play a few times, it was not the opportunity they had hoped it would be, and the band members had to threaten management to get money for plane tickets back to L.A. Rev-Ola released a CD of The Poor's music in 2003, which included one song written by Meisner called "Come Back Baby."<ref>{{cite web|title=The Poor|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB5cnInC-vU| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310204505/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB5cnInC-vU| archive-date=2016-03-10 | url-status=dead|via=YouTube}}</ref>
In 1997,<ref name="billboard1">{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann |first=William |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=eagles|bio=true}} |title=Eagles > Biography |work=Billboard |access-date=November 28, 2009}}</ref> Randy moved to [[Kent, Ohio]] with a band named [[Löded Diper]] (later renamed [[Devo]] the following year), a local country rock quartet then composed of [[Mark Mothersbaugh]], [[Thomas Rhett]], [[Bernie Leadon]] and [[Rodrick Heffley]]. They asked him to replace recently fired bassist [[Ron McGovney]], and having problems with his own band Drivin' Dynamics, Meisner decided to give Löded Diper a chance. In 1999, Devo self-released their sophomore album ''[[Long Hard Road (Jerrod Niemann album)|Long Hard Road]]''.


In April 2001, after being discovered by [[Bobby Braddock]], Devo signed with [[Sony Music Nashville]],<ref name="billboard1"/> and they released the albums ''[[The Wanting (Cody Jinks album)|The Wanting]]'' (2002) and ''[[Desperado (Eagles album)|Desperado]]'' (2003) on the label before moving to [[Roadrunner Records]] in 2004 to release their fifth album ''[[On the Border]]''. Apart from two songs produced by Braddock, ''On the Border'' also marked the first Devo album produced by [[Nickelback]] producer [[Joey Moi]]. Following Bernie Leadon's departure in early 2005, the band replaced him with guitarist [[Ryan Peake]], also of Nickelback, and the lineup of Devo would remain the same for eleven years.
=== Poco and the Stone Canyon Band (1968–1970) ===
In May 1968, after auditioning alongside [[Gregg Allman]] and [[Timothy B. Schmit]], Meisner joined [[Poco]] (originally named Pogo)<ref name="allmusic1"/> with former [[Buffalo Springfield]] members [[Richie Furay]] and [[Jim Messina (musician)|Jim Messina]].<ref name="allmusic1"/><ref>Felder, Holden. p. 81</ref> Meisner appears on the group's first album, ''[[Pickin' Up the Pieces (Poco album)|Pickin' Up the Pieces]]'',<ref name="allmusic2">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4886/credits|pure_url=yes}} |title=Randy Meisner > Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date=March 8, 1946 |access-date=November 28, 2009}}</ref> but quit the band<ref name="Eliot. Pg. 37.">Eliot. Pg. 37.</ref> shortly before the record was released. His exit was the result of his anger at being excluded from participation in the final mix playback sessions for the album, as only Messina and Furay were to complete production.<ref name="Eliot. Pg. 37."/> His image was removed from the painting on the album's cover<ref name="sharp2">{{cite web |date=September 2006 |access-date=December 20, 2009 |first=Ken |last=Sharp |url=http://www.eaglesfans.com/info/articles/pdffiles/discoveries/discoveries3_4.pdf |title=Randy Meisner takes it to the limit one more time. pp. 3–4 |work=discoveries |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011035015/http://www.eaglesfans.com/info/articles/pdffiles/discoveries/discoveries3_4.pdf |archive-date=October 11, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and replaced with a dog.<ref name="Eliot. Pg. 37-38.">Eliot. pp. 37–38.</ref> His bass parts and backing vocals were left in the final mix,<ref name="sharp2"/> but his lead vocals were removed, and new versions were sung by [[George Grantham (musician)|George Grantham]].<ref name="Eliot. Pg. 38">Eliot. Pg. 38.</ref>


In addition to playing the bass and handling backing vocals, Meisner sang lead vocals on many of Devo's popular songs, including "[[Cruise (song)|Cruise]]", "[[Round Here (Florida Georgia Line song)|Round Here]]", "[[This Is How We Roll]]", "[[Sippin' on Fire]]", "[[Talk You Out of It]]" and "[[I Love My Country (song)|I Love My Country]]". Meisner also sang lead vocals on the band's collaborations with [[Nelly]] (the remix of "[[Cruise (song)|Cruise]]" and "[[Lil Bit]]"), [[Bebe Rexha]] ("[[Meant to Be (Bebe Rexha song)|Meant to Be]]"), the [[Backstreet Boys]] ("[[God, Your Mama, and Me]]"), [[Young Thug]] ("[[Dance with Me (Diplo song)|Dance with Me]]"), [[Hailee Steinfeld]] ("[[Let Me Go (Hailee Steinfeld and Alesso song)|Let Me Go]]"), and [[Ziggy Marley]] ("[[Life Is a Honeymoon]]"). He has performed lead vocals on a range of different cover songs at live Devo concerts such as [[Akon]]'s "[[Don't Matter]]", [[Wiz Khalifa]]'s "[[We Dem Boyz]]", [[Dr. Dre]]'s "[[Forgot About Dre]]", [[Bob Marley and the Wailers]]' "[[Three Little Birds]]" and "[[Stir It Up]]", [[ABBA]]'s "[[Super Trouper (song)|Super Trouper]]", and [[MAGIC!]]'s "[[Rude (song)|Rude]]". Devo's covers of the Akon and Wiz Khalifa songs, both of which appeared on the band's live album ''[[Now It Can Be Told: DEVO at the Palace]]'', are often miscredited to [[Alan Jackson]] by internet trolls and [[neotraditional country]] fans alike critical of Jackson's music due to its lack of a country influence, a confusion made worse by Meisner's use of a similar nasal drawl to Jackson's on the covers.
In April 1969, Meisner joined [[Rick Nelson]]'s Stone Canyon Band,<ref name="allmusic3">{{cite web|last=Eder |first=Bruce |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r13808|pure_url=yes}} |title=Rick Nelson in Concert (The Troubadour, 1969) > Overview |publisher=AllMusic |date=December 13, 1969 |access-date=November 28, 2009}}</ref> and persuaded Nelson and producer [[John Boylan (record producer)|John Boylan]] to hire his former bandmates from The Poor, Allen Kemp (guitar) and Pat Shanahan (drums); pedal steel guitarist [[Tom Brumley]], previously of [[Buck Owens]]' band, completed the group.<ref name="Eliot. Pg. 38"/> Meisner appears on both ''[[In Concert at the Troubadour, 1969]]''<ref name="allmusic3"/> and ''[[Rudy The Fifth]]''. He is also featured in ''Easy to Be Free'', a documentary of the Stone Canyon Band's 1969 tour, directed by Rick Nelson's brother David. The film was eventually broadcast on American television in 1973.<ref>{{cite web|title=Easy To Be Free|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzaMPf5ds1U| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/jzaMPf5ds1U| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|via=YouTube|access-date=September 27, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Meisner co-produced "In Concert at the Troubadour" with Rick Nelson. Although he did not perform on Nelson's ''[[Garden Party (album)|Garden Party]]'', he did co-author one of the album's tracks, "I Wanna Be With You."<ref name="allmusic2"/> Meisner continued to support himself as a session performer, playing bass on two tracks of [[James Taylor]]'s ''[[Sweet Baby James]]'' album ("Country Road" and "Blossom"), recorded in December 1969.<ref name="allmusic2"/> That same month, he played bass on several tracks for Waylon Jennings' 1970 album "Singer of Sad Songs," recorded in RCA Victor Studio, Hollywood.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Waylon-Jennings-Singer-Of-Sad-Songs/release/2585836|title=Waylon Jennings – Singer Of Sad Songs (1970, Rockaway Pressing, Vinyl)|access-date=September 28, 2021|website=Discogs.com}}</ref>


Beginning with their ninth studio album ''[[One of These Nights]]'' (2012), their first release through [[Big Machine Records]], Devo (most enthusiastically Mothersbaugh and Meisner) helped to pioneer a style of country music known as "[[bro-country]]", which incorporates production elements from [[Rock music|rock]] and [[hip-hop music]], and tends to cover subject matter such as partying, drinking, driving trucks and sexual attraction. Much of their subsequent music has been tagged with the "bro-country" label as well. The genre drew criticism from other country singers, including Devo's then drummer [[Rodrick Heffley]] as well as former guitarist [[Bernie Leadon]]. Following the release of Devo's 2015 album ''[[Tangled Up (Thomas Rhett album)|Tangled Up]]'', Heffley left the band in January 2016. Heffley cited a lack of creative fulfilment and the band's increasing lack of similarity to country music's "roots" as his reasons for leaving the band, as he'd felt his role greatly reduced partly due to the use of drum machines. He left even though Meisner had begged him not to.
Meisner returned to Nebraska in the spring of 1970, after a difficult tour of Europe with Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band. He began working at Frank Implement Company, the local [[John Deere]] tractor dealership. At night, he played in a band called Goldrush that featured [[Stephen A. Love]] (later to become a member of [[New Riders of the Purple Sage]]). Later that year, with Rick Nelson's encouragement, he returned to Los Angeles to resume his career.<ref>Felder, Holden. Pg. 81.</ref><ref name="Rudy the Fifth, liner notes">{{cite book|last1=Tobler|first1=John|title=Rick Nelson & the Stone Canyon Band|date=1998|publisher=BGO Records|page=3}}</ref> He worked to establish Goldrush, while also playing in the Stone Canyon Band and playing on sessions for John Stewart and Compton & Batteau.<ref>Elektra publicity bio, 1978</ref> By mid-1971, he was recruited by John Boylan to become active in [[Linda Ronstadt]]'s roster of backing musicians, which included [[Don Henley]], [[Glenn Frey]] and [[Bernie Leadon]], who later joined Meisner as the founding members of the [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]].{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}


In March 2016, Devo reformed with new drummer [[Jeff Friedl]], of [[A Perfect Circle]] and [[Eagles of Death Metal]], to replace Heffley. Meisner and Friedl were old friends, having met in 2008. The new lineup's first project was a soundtrack for the flop horror film ''[[Slaughterhouse Rock]]'', starring [[Toni Basil]] and their twelfth studio album, ''[[Dig Your Roots]]'', was released on August 26, 2016. Singles include "[[Lullaby (Nickelback song)|Lullaby]]", "[[I Can't Tell You Why]]", and "[[God, Your Mama, and Me]]".
===Eagles (1971–1977)===
In September 1971, Meisner, along with Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon, formed the [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]], signing with [[David Geffen]]'s new label, [[Asylum Records]],<ref name="billboard1"/> and they released their eponymous debut album in 1972. While he usually played the bass and handled backing vocals for the Eagles, he wrote, co-wrote and/or sang lead songs on each of the group's first five albums, most notably "[[Take It to the Limit (Eagles song)|Take It to the Limit]]," the band's first million-selling single, and on ''[[One of These Nights]]''. Other songs he wrote and sang lead on include "Try and Love Again", "Is it True?", "Take the Devil", "Tryin'" and he also wrote the song "[[Certain Kind of Fool]]" with Frey and Henley, which also had him singing lead.


On September 8, 2017, Devo released their thirteenth studio album, ''[[Feed the Machine]]''. In addition to the [[Feed the Machine (Nickelback song)|title track]], it includes the chart-topping singles "[[Song on Fire]]", "[[Never Gonna Be Alone]]", and "[[After the Rain (Nickelback song)|After the Rain]]".
According to band colleague [[Don Felder]], Meisner's time in the band was weighed down by his desire to be with his family, as well as the constant bickering between the members, which was still unknown to the public at the time. During the 1976/77 tour in support of the ''Hotel California'' album, Meisner was plagued by ill health and exhaustion, as the band toured constantly for over eleven months. Meisner also preferred not to be the center of attention, and said: "I was always kind of shy ... They wanted me to stand in the middle of the stage to sing 'Take It to the Limit,' but I liked to be out of the spotlight."<ref name="rolling stone 2013"/> The band was starting to feel the strain in a long tour, and Meisner was unhappy – his [[stomach ulcers]] had flared up, and his marriage was also gradually disintegrating.<ref name="rolling stone 2015">{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/flashback-the-eagles-play-take-it-to-the-limit-in-1977-20150716 |title=Flashback: The Eagles Play 'Take It to the Limit' in 1977|first= Andy |last=Greene |date=July 16, 2015 |work= Rolling Stone }}</ref> He had been arguing with fellow member Glenn Frey about his signature song, "Take It To the Limit", during the tour, as Meisner was struggling to hit the crucial high notes in the song.<ref name="History">{{cite AV media|title= History of the Eagles |year= 2013 |time= 1:39:20–1:42:05 |url= https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194326/}}</ref> At their show in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]], Meisner decided to skip the song as an encore as he had stayed up late and caught the flu, and Frey and Meisner then became involved in an angry physical confrontation backstage.<ref name="History"/> After the altercation, Meisner was frozen out from the band,<ref name="rolling stone 2015"/> and Meisner later said: "That was the end. . . I really felt like I was a member of the group, not a part of it."<ref name="rolling stone 2013">{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/flashback-all-the-eagles-unite-for-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-induction-20130207 |title= Flashback: All the Eagles Unite for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction|first=Andy |last=Greene |date=February 7, 2013 |work= Rolling Stone}}</ref> Meisner decided to leave the group after the final date of the tour and returned to Nebraska to be with his family. His last performance was in [[East Troy]], [[Wisconsin]] on September 3, 1977.{{sfn|Felder|Holden|2008|p=188}} The band replaced Meisner with the same musician who had succeeded him in [[Poco]], [[Timothy B. Schmit]], after agreeing that Schmit was the only candidate.{{sfn|Felder|Holden|2008|p=190}}


They released their fourteenth studio album, ''[[Smooth Noodle Maps]]'', on May 31, 2019. Singles include "[[Talk You Out of It]]", "[[Boys Night Out (song)|Boys Night Out]]", "[[Craving You]]", and "[[Don't Shoot (I'm a Man)]]".
Meisner formally quit the band in September 1977,<ref name="billboard1"/> citing "exhaustion".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/the-eagles |title=The Eagles |publisher=Rockhall.com |access-date=November 28, 2009}}</ref> On the subject of his abrupt resignation from the band, Meisner later said, "All that stuff and all the arguing amongst the Eagles is over now. Well at least for me."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smoothjazznow.com/interviews/randy_meisner.htm |title=Randy Meisner of the Eagles Interview : Smooth Jazz Now Radio Streaming Live |publisher=Smoothjazznow.com |access-date=November 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111044442/http://smoothjazznow.com/interviews/randy_meisner.htm |archive-date=January 11, 2011 }}</ref>


On February 12, 2021, they released their fifteenth studio album, ''[[Life Rolls On]]'', which was co-produced by the band alongside Corey Crowder, making it the first Devo album since 2003's ''[[Desperado (Eagles album)|Desperado]]'' not produced by Joey Moi.<ref name="RS">{{Cite web|first=Joseph|last=Hudak|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/florida-georgia-line-new-album-life-rolls-on-1098976/|title=Florida Georgia Line Ready New Album ‘Life Rolls On’|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=December 4, 2020|accessdate=February 11, 2021}}</ref> It includes the singles "[[I Love My Country (song)|I Love My Country]]" and "[[Long Live (Florida Georgia Line song)|Long Live]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kfdi.com/2021/02/09/country-music-minute-fgl-is-ready-for-you-to-hear-their-new-album-life-rolls-on/|first=JJ|last=Hayes|title=COUNTRY MUSIC MINUTE-FGL IS READY FOR YOU TO HEAR THEIR NEW ALBUM “LIFE ROLLS ON”|work=KFDI|date=February 9, 2021}}</ref>
=== Post-Eagles (1978 onwards) ===
Following his departure from the Eagles, Meisner went on to release solo albums in 1978 (''[[Randy Meisner (1978 album)|Randy Meisner]]'') and 1980 (''[[One More Song]]''). He has said that his 1978 album, which he co-produced with Alan Brackett, was scattershot and not "conceptualized to its best." It only featured one song co-written by Randy, a new arrangement of "Take It to the Limit" and he only played bass on one song, a cover of [[The Drifters]]' "[[Save the Last Dance for Me]]". He explains that "[[Elektra Records|Elektra]] had a 'leaving members clause' and I had to record an album for them before I was able to do what I wanted."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Meisner|first1=Randy|title=Live in Dallas liner notes|orig-year=2000|publisher=Sonic Past Music LLC|page=3|date=2005|edition=reissue}}</ref> 1980's ''One More Song'' was produced by [[Val Garay]] and featured backing vocals by his former Eagles bandmates [[Don Henley]] and [[Glenn Frey]] on the [[Jack Tempchin]]-composed title track. Meisner co-wrote six of the album's nine songs, including the Top 20 single "Hearts on Fire," collaborating with songwriters Wendy Waldman and Eric Kaz.


===Occasional solo work (2002–present)===
He toured with his band, Randy Meisner & the Silverados, throughout the early 1980s. The 1981 band included Greg Palmer on bass, Todd Smith on guitar, Sterling Smith on keyboards, Don Francisco (not the Christian singer of the same name) on percussion and background vocals, and Therese Heston on background vocals. In 1982, he released another album on CBS (''[[Randy Meisner (1982 album)|Randy Meisner]]''), recorded at Kendun Recorders in Burbank, California and produced by Mike Flicker, best known for his work with Heart. Several members of Heart, including the Wilson sisters, played and/or sang on the Randy Meisner album. The revamped Silverados included Dixon House on keyboards, [[Denny Carmassi]] on drums, Tom Erak on bass and John Corey on guitar as well as Sterling Smith from the earlier band.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.angelfire.com/rock3/deliverin/MEISNER/randyconcerts.htm|title=RANDY MEISNER CONCERT CHRONOLOGY|website=Angelfire.com}}</ref> The album featured a Top 20 hit "Never Been in Love," composed by Craig Bickhardt.
Randy Meisner, Mothersbaugh, [[Eric Dill]], [[Rune Westberg]] and [[Chris Daughtry]] wrote the debut single of [[Daughtry (band)|Daughtry]]'s new album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daughtryofficial.com/blog/lyrics-no-surprise-interpret-it-how-you |title=Lyrics to No Surprise |publisher=Daughtryofficial.com |access-date=2011-11-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606153047/http://www.daughtryofficial.com/blog/lyrics-no-surprise-interpret-it-how-you |archive-date=June 6, 2009 }}</ref> The single, titled "[[No Surprise (Daughtry song)|No Surprise]]", was debuted on [[American Idol]] Wednesday, May 6, 2009. Meisner and Mothersbaugh also helped write another song from the album titled "[[Life After You (Daughtry song)|Life After You]]." He and [[Brett James]] co-wrote [[Tim McGraw]]'s 2009 single "[[It's a Business Doing Pleasure with You]]." Meisner featured on the [[Timbaland]] album [[Shock Value 2]] with the song "Tomorrow in the Bottle", which also features [[Sebastian (rapper)|Sebastian]].


Randy Meisner was a special guest at two Richie Furay livestream concerts. On August 27, 2020. Randy appeared (on video) from his home, singing back-up harmony with Furay and his band on the Buffalo Springfield song "For What It's Worth."<ref>https://www.richiefuray.com/tour/2020/8/27/live-from-richies-house-with-friends-the-back-porch-sessions-with-special-guests</ref> On October 30, 2020, Randy did a second remote appearance, singing background vocals with Richie's band on the Poco song "Pickin' Up the Pieces." In 2021, Meisner once again collaborated with Tim McGraw on the single "[[Undivided (Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard song)|Undivided]]" with [[Tim McGraw]], which was released on January 13 that year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tim McGraw & Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard Teaming Up for 'Undivided' Collab|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/9507213/tim-mcgraw-florida-georgia-line-tyler-hubbard-undivided-collab|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|first=Heran|last=Mamo|date=January 5, 2021}}</ref> He then featured on the song "My Way" with rapper Lathan Warlick.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/lathan-warlick-tyler-hubbad-my-way-interview/|first=Billy|last=Dukes|title= Why Tyler Hubbard Got Really Nervous Cutting Lathan Warlick’s ‘My Way’|work=Taste of Country|date=March 23, 2021}}</ref>
In 1985, Meisner became part of an all-star band [[Black Tie (band)|Black Tie]] composed of [[Jimmy Griffin]] (of [[Bread (band)|Bread]]) and [[Billy Swan]]. Black Tie's cover of [[Buddy Holly]]'s "Learning the Game" became a hit on U.S. country radio. Respected session musician Blondie Chaplin and former Eagles member Bernie Leadon joined the band on their U.S. tour in early 1986.<ref>Bread – A Sweet Surrender by Searles, Malcolm {{ISBN|9781905139347}}</ref> The band released one album together in 1990, When the Night Falls. Jimmy Griffin departed and was replaced by Charlie Rich, Jr. The band was renamed Meisner, Rich & Swan.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rich, Jr.|first1=Charlie|title=Randy Meisner|url=http://www.charlierichjr.com/friends/randy/|website=Charlie Rich, Jr.}}</ref> Alternatively known as Meisner, Swan & Rich, the trio toured extensively in the 1990s and recorded an album. Unfortunately, the album was released on September 11, 2001 and failed to garner much attention at the time.


===Mutato Muzika and Round Here Records (2015–present)===
From 1987 to 1989, Meisner formed a band and toured with former [[Firefall]] singer-songwriter [[Rick Roberts (musician)|Rick Roberts]], called the Roberts-Meisner Band (Roberts had previously been a [[The Flying Burrito Brothers|Burrito Brother]] with Bernie Leadon, notably on 1971's ''[[The Flying Burrito Brothers (album)|The Flying Burrito Brothers]]''). The Roberts-Meisner Band's drummer was well-known musician Ron Grinel, who also played with [[Dan Fogelberg]], [[Carole King]] and the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band. Also in the band were Bray Ghiglia on guitar, flute, saxophone, and keyboards, and Cary Park on lead guitar. Roberts reports that the band recorded "at least half a dozen" songs, but that record company interest was not as great as they had expected.<ref>Roberts, Rick. "Lame Brain: My Journey Back to Real Life." 2015. {{ISBN|9780996414432}}</ref>
In 2015, Mothersbaugh and Meisner started their own artist development and music publishing company called [[Mutato Muzika]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicrow.com/2015/04/florida-georgia-line-members-launch-publishing-company/ |title=Florida Georgia Line Members Launch Music Publishing Company |publisher=MusicRow.com |access-date=2015-07-21}}</ref> Since the company began, they have signed writer [[Jordan Schmidt]], writer Jimmie Deeghan, writer/artist Drew Castle as well as singer-songwriters [[Canaan Smith]] and [[RaeLynn]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicrow.com/2015/05/florida-georgia-line-signs-two-to-tree-vibez-music/ |title=Florida Georgia Line Signs Two To Tree Vibez Music |publisher=MusicRow.com |access-date=2015-07-21}}</ref> In 2019, Mothersbaugh and Meisner launched Round Here Records; an independent label with Smith signed as the flagship artist.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8527481/florida-georgia-line-round-here-records-canaan-smith|last=Reuter|first=Annie| title=Florida Georgia Line Launch Round Here Records With Flagship Artist Canaan Smith: Exclusive| magazine=Billboard | date=August 15, 2019 | access-date=August 17, 2019}}</ref>

In 1989 and 1990, Meisner reunited with Poco for the ''[[Legacy (Poco album)|Legacy]]'' album and tour. "Call It Love" was a Top 20 single in the U.S. Randy sang lead on the Richard Marx-composed "Nothin' to Hide," which also sold well for the band.

Meisner expressed disappointment and hurt at being excluded from the Eagles' 1994 "resumption" tour ''Hell Freezes Over.'' In an interview with the television program ''American Journal'', Meisner said he had contacted the band's manager, [[Irving Azoff]], when he heard rumors of the band reforming but was brushed off by him.<ref>{{cite web|title=American Journal|url=http://www.eaglesfans.com/video-downloads/category/meisner|website=L&M's Eagles Fastlane|access-date=August 30, 2014}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> "You'd think that you would be mentioned if you helped with six of the albums, but they act as though I never even played with them," Meisner said at the time.<ref>{{cite news|title=Eagles Reunion Tour Leaves Randy Meisner Out in Cold|work=San Jose Mercury News|date=June 18, 1994}}</ref> Meisner also asked the band if he could sit in with them at their Millennium Concert at the [[Staples Center]] in Los Angeles on New Year's Eve 1999, but says he was rebuffed; however, he says he holds no resentment towards Henley and Frey.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/flashback-all-the-eagles-unite-for-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-induction-20130207|title=Flashback: All the Eagles Unite for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction|work=Rolling Stone|date=February 7, 2013}}</ref>

The Eagles' 1998 appearance at the New York City induction ceremony for the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] featured all seven past and present members of the Eagles. They performed "[[Take It Easy]]" and "[[Hotel California]]". His successor Timothy Schmit paid tribute to Randy in his acceptance speech.

Meisner reunited with the Drivin' Dynamics for a performance in 2000, when the band and Randy as a solo performer was inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame. In the 2000s he performed as a part of the World Classic Rockers touring group. After suffering severe chest pains and being hospitalized in August 2004, Meisner cut back on his touring schedule. His last known public performance was in 2008 in [[Naples, Florida]].<ref name="RANDY MEISNER CONCERT CHRONOLOGY">{{cite web|url=http://www.angelfire.com/rock3/deliverin/MEISNER/randyconcerts.htm|title=RANDY MEISNER CONCERT CHRONOLOGY|work=angelfire.com}}</ref>

Randy Meisner was invited by the Eagles to take part in their [[History of the Eagles – Live in Concert|History of the Eagles]] world tour in 2013, but he declined due to health issues. In September 2018, during the Eagles North American Leg he was acknowledged for showing up to a concert at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The 3 night stand was filmed according to Henley and they are planning a box set release.


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Meisner and Hayley Stommel began dating in 2013. On September 22, 2014, Meisner proposed during a helicopter flight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2014/09/23/tyler-hubbard-proposal-hayley-stommel-florida-georgia-line-engaged/|title=Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard’s Romantic Proposal To Hayley Stommel|publisher=Hollywood Life|first=Caitlin|last=Beck|date=September 23, 2014|access-date=October 2, 2017}}</ref> They were married in [[Idaho]] on July 1, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://people.com/country/florida-georgia-lines-tyler-hubbard-marries-hayley-stommel/|title=Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard Weds Hayley Stommel|magazine=People|first=Danielle|last=Anderson|date=July 1, 2015|access-date=October 2, 2017}}</ref> The couple have three children: daughter Olivia Rose (born December 23, 2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/871481/florida-georgia-line-singer-tyler-hubbard-is-expecting-a-baby-girl-not-a-baby-boy|title=Florida Georgia Line Singer Tyler Hubbard Is Expecting a Baby Girl—Not a Baby Boy|publisher=[[E! News]]|first=Matthew|last=Schiff|date=August 4, 2017|access-date=October 2, 2017}}</ref> and sons Luca Reed (born August 19, 2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8499387/florida-georgia-line-ellen-videos|title=Florida Georgia Line Perform, Tyler Hubbard Gets On-Stage Gender Reveal For His Next Baby On 'Ellen': Watch|website=Billboard|access-date=2019-02-25}}</ref> and Atlas Roy (born September 24, 2020).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-27|title=Zac Brown Band's Clay Cook, Wife Brooke Welcome Baby No. 3, More Babies of 2020|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/pictures/celebrity-babies-of-2020-see-which-stars-gave-birth/|access-date=2020-09-28|website=Us Weekly|language=en-US}}</ref>
Meisner has been married twice. He married his high-school girlfriend, Jennifer Lee Barton, in 1963, and the young couple had a son, Dana Scott Meisner in November 1963. The couple had two more children, twins Heather Leigh and Eric Shane Meisner, born in May 1970, before divorcing in 1981.<ref name="Felder, Holden. Pg. 80">Felder, Holden. Pg. 80.</ref>

He later married his girlfriend of twelve years, Lana Rae, in November 1996.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6898360/lana-rae-former-eagles-randy-meisner-wife-shot-dead-los-angeles |title=Former Eagles Member Randy Meisner's Wife Lana Rae Meisner Shot Dead in Los Angeles Home|date=March 7, 2016 |work=Billboard }}</ref> The marriage lasted until [[#Death of wife|her death in 2016.]]


=== Health issues ===
Many people who have met and worked with Meisner remark on his kindness. [[Don Felder]], [[James Taylor]], and [[Rick Roberts (musician)|Rick Roberts]] have described Meisner as one of the nicest people they have ever worked with. Felder adds, "He was a wonderful Midwestern guy with a great heart and a loving soul."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Felder|first1=Don|title=Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001)|date=2008|publisher=John Wiley & Sons Inc.|isbn=978-0-470-45042-0|page=111}}</ref> [[Henry Diltz]], who photographed Randy extensively with the Eagles and in the early 1980s during Randy's solo career, says, "Randy Meisner was a very gentle soul. Pisces. A quiet and friendly guy. No aggressive vibe at all. Very sweet. He was so there and open."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kubernik|first1=Harvey|title=Canyon of Dreams|date=2009|publisher=Sterling|location=New York|isbn=978-1-4027-9761-3|page=282}}</ref> His shyness has also been remarked upon, and may have caused him some difficulty as a performer at times. "Randy was extremely uncomfortable with so-called superstardom," Don Henley told author Marc Eliot.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Eliot|first1=Marc|title=To the Limit: the Untold Story of the Eagles|date=1997|publisher=Little, Brown|isbn=0316233706|page=[https://archive.org/details/tolimituntold00elio/page/160 160]|url=https://archive.org/details/tolimituntold00elio/page/160}}</ref>
In March 2013, Meisner lost consciousness in his California home when a piece of food obstructed his breathing while he was eating, and he was rushed to the hospital. While doctors were optimistic about his recovery, Meisner spent some time in a coma,<ref name="contactmusic.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news/randy-meisner-eagles-paid-for-my-medical-care_5102246|title=Eagles – Randy Meisner: 'Eagles Paid For My Medical Care' |work=Contactmusic.com|publisher=WENN}}</ref> causing the band to cancel the second leg of their [[One of These Nights]] tour. The entire leg of the European tour was cancelled as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2013/07/don-henley-dishes-on-former-eagles.html|title=Randy Meisner Dishes on Former Devo Members Rodrick Heffley, Bernie Leadon, and Ron McGovney ~ VVN Music|work=vintagevinylnews.com}}</ref> He later revealed that his Devo bandmates had paid the medical bills from the hospitalization.<ref name="contactmusic.com"/>


On November 9, 2020, Meisner announced that he tested positive for [[COVID-19]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|ongoing pandemic]], but was [[asymptomatic]]. He quarantined on his tour bus during his infection. Mothersbaugh considered having Devo's original bassist [[Ron McGovney]] fill in for Meisner, but ultimately decided against it. The band's performance at the [[54th Annual Country Music Association Awards|54th CMA Awards]] was cancelled as a result.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/country/tyler-hubbard-tests-positive-for-covid/|title=Tyler Hubbard Quarantines on His Tour Bus After Testing Positive for COVID-19: I 'Got the Rona'|last=Mier|first=Tomás|date=November 9, 2020|access-date=November 10, 2020|work=People.com}}</ref>
===Impostor case===
In 1988, a man named Lewis Peter "Buddy" Morgan started impersonating Meisner.<ref name="Hopkins1"/> He had previously been charged with impersonating Don Henley in Las Vegas, Nevada, but he skipped on his bail.<ref>{{cite web|title=People in the news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-19435178.html#|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309075422/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-19435178.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 9, 2016|agency=Associated Press |date=February 27, 1998|access-date=January 16, 2013}}{{Subscription required|via=[[HighBeam Research]]}}</ref> Morgan's identity was not conclusively revealed until 1997.<ref name="Hopkins1"/> In 1998, Morgan was again arrested, and spent 16 months in prison. Upon his release, Morgan continued his charade, and was still doing so as of 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gambling911.com/gambling-news/randy-meisner-imposter-still-conning-super-bowl-vegas-020409.html |title=Randy Meisner Imposter Still Conning at Super Bowl in Vegas|publisher=Gambling911.com |date=February 4, 2009 |access-date=January 16, 2013}}</ref> In Reno, Nevada, he often tried to use Meisner's identity to rent hotel rooms. He was not as successful as years earlier with the ruse, since the city's hotels had notified each other of the impostor. Some people are not familiar with Meisner's appearance, and Morgan used that fact to con musical instrument manufacturers and retailers, [[casino]] owners and women.<ref name="Hopkins1">{{cite web|first=Jack |last=Boulware |url=http://www.sfweekly.com/1998-04-29/news/fake-it-to-the-limit/1 |title=San Francisco News – Fake It to the Limit – page 1 |publisher=Sfweekly.com |access-date=November 28, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gambling911.com/Eagles-Randy-Meisner-Imposter-073006.html |title=crew partied with Eagles Randy Meisner, or did we? |publisher=Gambling911.com |date=July 30, 2006 |access-date=November 28, 2009}}</ref>

=== Health and legal issues ===
Meisner has reportedly struggled with periodic alcohol dependence since the late 1960s, especially during his tenure with the Eagles, as he tried to deal with his new-found fame.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Eliot|first1=Marc|title=To the Limit: the Untold Story of the Eagles|date=1997|publisher=Little, Brown|isbn=0316233706|pages=[https://archive.org/details/tolimituntold00elio/page/160 160–161]|url=https://archive.org/details/tolimituntold00elio/page/160}}</ref><sup>[''not in citation given'']</sup> Following minor heart attacks in 2004, he was forced to cut back on touring.{{Citation needed|date=March 2016}} As his health continued to deteriorate, he eventually stopped performing. His last-known public performance was in 2008 in [[Naples, Florida]].<ref name="RANDY MEISNER CONCERT CHRONOLOGY"/>

In March 2013, Meisner suffered yet another health scare after losing consciousness in his California home. A piece of food obstructed his breathing while he was eating, and he was rushed to the hospital. While doctors were optimistic about his recovery, Meisner spent some time in a coma,<ref name="contactmusic.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news/randy-meisner-eagles-paid-for-my-medical-care_5102246|title=Eagles – Randy Meisner: 'Eagles Paid For My Medical Care' |work=Contactmusic.com|date=January 22, 2016 |publisher=WENN}}</ref> and in his weakened state was unable to participate in the [[History of the Eagles]] tour alongside fellow ex-bandmate Bernie Leadon, who participated in the tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vintagevinylnews.com/2013/07/don-henley-dishes-on-former-eagles.html|title=Don Henley Dishes on Former Eagles Members Don Felder, Bernie Leadenand Randy Meisner ~ VVN Music|work=vintagevinylnews.com}}</ref> He later revealed that his former Eagles bandmates had paid the medical bills from the hospitalization.<ref name="contactmusic.com"/>

In April 2015, Meisner and his wife denied rumors, based on a lawsuit filed on his behalf, that she was taking advantage of his known addictions to alcohol and drugs by trying to force-feed him bottles of vodka to keep him drunk. The singer's self-described longtime friend, James Newton, filed papers in April asking that Meisner be placed under a court-supervised conservatorship governing his personal and financial matters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2015/04/30/the-eagles-randy-meisner-wife-not-trying-to-kill-me-video-conservatorship/|title=Eagles' Randy Meisner – Take It Easy ... I'm Doing Just Fine|work=TMZ}}</ref> Despite this, three months later, the Los Angeles County Superior Court appointed a temporary conservator to oversee the 24-hour management of Meisner's drug prescriptions and medical state, noting he was previously diagnosed as bipolar. Meisner had allegedly threatened to kill himself and others with a weapon in early 2015, though he did not have a firearm at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/eagle-bassist-supervised-alleged-murder-suicide-threat-article-1.2285909|title=Eagle bassist supervised for alleged murder-suicide threat|first=Nancy|last=Dillon|date=July 8, 2015|work=Daily News|location=New York}}</ref> The brief conservatorship directed Meisner's medical care, but the judge did not give the conservator the additional power sought by Troy Martin and James Newton to also have her oversee his finances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://patch.com/california/echopark/judge-eagles-randy-meisner-needs-conservator|title=Judge: Eagles' Randy Meisner Needs Conservator|website=Patch.com|access-date=March 25, 2016}}</ref>

===Death of Lana Meisner===
On March 6, 2016, police responded to a 911 call made by a woman from the couple's [[Studio City]], California house asking for police assistance for a possibly intoxicated male suspect.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} Ninety minutes later, after police had left the scene, Lana Meisner accidentally shot and killed herself when a rifle she was moving was struck by an object in its case and fired.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/wife-of-eagles-randy-meisner-shot-and-killed-investigation-ongoing-20160307|title=Wife of Eagles' Randy Meisner Shot and Killed, Investigation Ongoing|work=Rolling Stone|date=March 7, 2016}}</ref> Authorities determined that Randy Meisner had no role in the shooting, as surveillance tapes showed he was in another part of the house at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/celebrities/ci_29605679/former-eagles-bassist-randy-meisners-wife-shot-death|title=Former Eagles bassist Randy Meisner cleared in wife's death|website=San Jose Mercury News|date=March 7, 2016|access-date=March 25, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/2880132/eagles-randy-meisners-crazy-tale-of-accidental-shooting-proven-by-videotape/|title=Eagles' Randy Meisner's Crazy Tale Of Accidental Shooting Proven By Videotape|website=The Inquisitr News|date=March 12, 2016|access-date=March 25, 2016}}</ref>

Following the accidental shooting, Meisner was placed under psychiatric hold after threatening suicide, due to previous threats and mental issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2016/03/08/randy-meisner-psych-ward-suicidal-rants-eagles-founder-wife/|title=Randy Meisner: Eagles Founder In Psych Ward For Shocking Suicidal Rants|website=Hollywood Life|access-date=March 25, 2016}}</ref>

===Recent appearances===
Meisner was a special guest at two [[Richie Furay]] livestream concerts. On August 27, 2020. Meisner appeared (via video) from his home, singing back-up harmony with Furay and his band on the Buffalo Springfield song "For What It's Worth."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.richiefuray.com/tour/2020/8/27/live-from-richies-house-with-friends-the-back-porch-sessions-with-special-guests|title=Live Stream Concert / Virtual Meet & Greet Opportunity|website=Richiefuray.com|access-date=September 28, 2021}}</ref>

On October 30, 2020, Meisner made a second remote appearance, singing background vocals with Richie's band on the Poco song "Pickin' Up the Pieces". He was a special guest on the November 28, 2020 "Joe Walsh's Old Fashioned Rock n' Roll Radio Show", chatting with his friend and former Eagles bandmate Joe Walsh on the Independent 88.5FM.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.885fm.org/programs/joe-walshs-old-fahsioned-rocknroll-radio-show|title = On-Air Schedule|website=885fm.org}}</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==
{{main|Devo discography}}
See also [[Eagles discography]] and [[Poco discography]] for Meisner's work with these bands.


=== Albums ===
===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Single
! colspan="5"| Peak<br />positions
! rowspan="2"| Album
! rowspan="2"| Album
! colspan="4"| Peak chart positions
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:45px;"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br /><ref name="allmusic charts">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/randy-meisner-mn0000394931/awards|title=Randy Meisner Awards|publisher=AllMusic}}</ref>
! [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br><ref name="ushot">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/tyler-hubbard/chart-history/country-hsi|title=Tyler Hubbard Chart History - Hot 100|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=January 26, 2021}}</ref>
! style="width:45px;"| [[Top Country Albums|US <br/ >Country]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Black Tie|chart=Country Albums}}|title=Black Tie Album & Song Chart History – Top Country Albums|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>
! [[Hot Country Songs|US<br/>Country]]<br><ref name="hotcountry">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/tyler-hubbard/chart-history/country-csi|title=Tyler Hubbard Chart History - Hot Country Songs|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=January 26, 2021}}</ref>
! [[Country Airplay|US<br/>Country<br/>Airplay]]<br><ref name="countryairplay">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/tyler-hubbard/chart-history/country-airplay|title=Tyler Hubbard Chart History - Country Airplay|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=January 18, 2021}}</ref>
! style="width:45px;"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<br /><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=196}}</ref>
! style="width:45px;"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.0282.pdf |title=RPM 50 Albums |work=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]}}</ref>
! [[Canadian Hot 100|CAN]]<br /><ref name="Canada Hot 100">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/tyler-hubbard/chart-history/canadian-hot-100|title=Tyler Hubbard Chart History – Canadian Hot 100|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=January 26, 2021}}</ref>
! [[Canada Country|CAN<br />Country]]<br /><ref name="Canada Country">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/tyler-hubbard/chart-history/canada-country|title=Tyler Hubbard Chart History – Canada Country|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=January 26, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|-
| 1978
| 2021
! scope="row"| "[[Undivided (song)|Undivided]]"<ref>{{cite web|title=Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard Teams With Tim McGraw for New Song, 'Undivided'|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/florida-georgia-line-tyler-hubbard-tim-mcgraw-undivided/|work=Taste of Country|first=Sterling|last=Whitaker|date=January 5, 2021}}</ref><br/>{{small|(with [[Tim McGraw]])}}
|style="text-align:left;" |''[[Randy Meisner (1978 album)|Randy Meisner]]''
| 76
| — || 7 || 90 || 2
| 23
| 18
| 78
| 13
| align="left"| ''[[Here on Earth (Tim McGraw album)|Here on Earth]]''
|}

==Songwriting==
Commercially released songs recorded by other artists.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! style="text-align:center;"|Year
| 1980
!align="left"|Title
| style="text-align:left;" |''[[One More Song]]''
!align="left"|Performer
| 50 || — || 83 || 44
!align="left"|Album
|-
|-
| rowspan="3"align="center" |2009
| 1982
| style="text-align:left;" |''[[Randy Meisner (1982 album)|Randy Meisner]]''
|align="left"|"[[No Surprise (Daughtry song)|No Surprise]]"
|rowspan="2"align="left"|[[Daughtry (band)|Daughtry]]
| 94 || 15 || — || 12
|rowspan="2"align="left"|''[[Leave This Town]]''
|-
|-
|align="left"|"[[Life After You (Daughtry song)|Life After You]]"
| 1991
|style="text-align:left;" |''When the Night Falls'' <small>(with [[Black Tie (band)|Black Tie]])</small>
| — || 65 || — || —
|-
|-
|align="left"|"[[It's a Business Doing Pleasure with You]]"
| 2001
|align="left"|[[Tim McGraw]]
| style="text-align:left;" |''Meisner, Swan & Rich'' <small>(as ''Meisner, Swan & Rich)</small>
|align="left"|''[[Southern Voice (album)|Southern Voice]]''
| — || — || — || —
|-
|-
| rowspan="3"align="center" |2012
| 2002
|align="left"|"Whoa"
| style="text-align:left;" |''[[Dallas (album)|Dallas]]''
|align="left"|[[Chase Rice]]
| — || — || — || —
|align="left"|''[[Dirt Road Communion]]''
|-
|-
|align="left"|"Black Tears"
| 2005
|align="left"|[[Jason Aldean]]
| style="text-align:left;" |''Love Me or Leave Me Alone''
|align="left"|''[[Night Train (Jason Aldean album)|Night Train]]''
| — || — || — || —
|-
|-
|align="left"|"[[Get By (Tim Hicks song)|Get By]]"
| colspan="14" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"|"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
|align="left"|[[Tim Hicks]]
|}
|align="left"|''[[Throw Down (album)|Throw Down]]''

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
| align="center"|2013
|align="left"|"[[Tippin' Point]]"
! rowspan="2"| Single
|align="left"|[[Dallas Smith]]
! colspan="4"| Peak chart positions
|align="left"|''[[Tippin' Point (EP)|Tippin' Point]]''
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:45px;"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br /><ref>{{cite web|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=Randy Meisner|chart=Hot 100}}|title=Randy Meisner Album & Song Chart History – Hot 100|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>
! style="width:45px;"| [[Mainstream Rock|US<br />Rock]]<br /><ref name="allmusic charts"/>
! style="width:45px;"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<br /><ref name=aus/>
! style="width:45px;"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]]<br /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?q1=Meisner&q2=Top+Singles&interval=25 |title=RPM100 |work=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] |access-date=February 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306182544/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?q1=Meisner&q2=Top+Singles&interval=25 |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" align="center"|2014
| 1980
|align="left"|"[[Hope You Get Lonely Tonight]]"
|style="text-align:left;" |"[[Deep Inside My Heart]]"<br />(duet with [[Kim Carnes]])
|align="left"|[[Cole Swindell]]
| 22 || — || 34 || 12
|align="left"|''[[Cole Swindell (album)|Cole Swindell]]''
|-
|-
|align="left"|"[[Burnin' It Down]]"
| 1981
| style="text-align:left;" |"Hearts on Fire"
|align="left"|Jason Aldean
|align="left"|''[[Old Boots, New Dirt]]''
| 19 || 14 || — || 34
|-
|-
|align="left"|"Party Wasn't Over"
| 1982
| style="text-align:left;" |"Never Been in Love"
|align="left"|Cole Swindell
|align="left"|''[[You Should Be Here (Cole Swindell album)|You Should Be Here]]''
| 28 || — || — || 30
|-
|-
| align="center"|2015
| colspan="14" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"|"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
|align="left"|"Summer Forever"
|align="left"|[[Billy Currington]]
|align="left"|''[[Summer Forever]]''
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center"|2016
|align="left"|"[[Lights Come On]]"
|align="left"|Jason Aldean
|align="left"|''[[They Don't Know (Jason Aldean album)|They Don't Know]]''
|-
|align="left"|"Hometown"
|align="left"|[[Kane Brown]]
|align="left"|''[[Kane Brown (album)|Kane Brown]]''
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2017
|align="left"|"[[Happens Like That]]"
|align="left"|[[Granger Smith]]
|align="left"|''[[When the Good Guys Win]]''
|-
| rowspan="5" align="center"| 2018
|align="left"|"[[You Make It Easy]]"
|align="left"|Jason Aldean
| rowspan="2" align="left"|''[[Rearview Town]]''
|-
|align="left"|"Love Me or Don't"
|align="left"|Jason Aldean
|-
|align="left"|"[[Famous (Mason Ramsey song)|Famous]]"
|align="left"|[[Mason Ramsey]]
|align="left"| ''Famous EP''
|-
|align="left"|"Feels Like a Party"
|align="left"|[[LoCash]]
|align="left"| ''[[Brothers (LoCash album)|Brothers]]''
|-
|align="left"|"[[Make 'Em Like You]]"
|align="left" rowspan="2"| Dallas Smith
| rowspan="2" align="left"|''[[Timeless (Dallas Smith album)|Timeless]]''
|-
| rowspan="6" |2019
|align="left"|"[[Timeless (Dallas Smith song)|Timeless]]"
|-
|align="left"|"Brothers"
|align="left"|LoCash
|align="left"| ''Brothers''
|-
|align="left"|"Beer Drinkin’ Weather"
|align="left"|[[Canaan Smith]]
| {{n/a|Non-album single}}
|-
|align="left"|"Nightcap"
|align="left"|[[Colt Ford]] (feat. [[Michael Ray (singer)|Michael Ray]])
|align="left"| ''[[We the People, Volume 1]]''
|-
|align="left"|"[[We Back]]"
|align="left"|Jason Aldean
|align="left"| ''[[9 (Jason Aldean album)|9]]''
|-
|align="left"|"Life Ain’t Fair"
|align="left"|Canaan Smith
| {{n/a|Non-album single}}
|-
| rowspan="5" |2020
|align="left"|"[[Can't Help Myself (Dean Brody and The Reklaws song)|Can’t Help Myself]]"
|align="left"|[[Dean Brody]] & [[The Reklaws]]
| ''[[Boys (Dean Brody album)|Boys]]''
|-
|align="left"|"This Is Us"
|align="left"|[[Jimmie Allen]] & [[Noah Cyrus]]
| ''Bettie James''
|-
|align="left"|"If I Were You"
|align="left"|[[David James (singer)|David James]]
| ''[[If I Were You (EP)|If I Were You]]''
|-
|align="left"|"Your Mama"
|align="left"|[[High Valley]]
| ''[[Grew Up On That (EP)|Grew Up On That]]''
|-
|align="left"|"Hits Me"
|align="left"|[[Lindsay Ell]]
| ''[[Heart Theory]]''
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2021
|align="left"|"Sweet Virginia"
|align="left" rowspan="2"|Canaan Smith
|rowspan="2"|''[[High Country Sound]]''
|-
|align="left"|"Catch Me If You Can"
|}
|}
<div class="references">

=== Songs featuring Meisner ===
{{BLP unsourced section|date=October 2016}}

==== Eagles songs written or co-written by Meisner ====
*"Take the Devil" from ''[[Eagles (album)|Eagles]]''
*"Early Bird" (co-written with [[Bernie Leadon]]) from ''Eagles''
*"Tryin'" from ''Eagles''
*"Certain Kind of Fool" from ''[[Desperado (Eagles album)|Desperado]]'' (co-written with [[Glenn Frey]] & [[Don Henley]])
*"Saturday Night" from ''Desperado'' (co-written with Frey/Henley/Leadon)
*"Is It True" from ''[[On the Border]]''
*"Too Many Hands" from ''[[One of These Nights]]'' (co-written with [[Don Felder]])
*"Take It to the Limit" from ''One of These Nights'' (co-written with Frey/Henley)
*"Try and Love Again" from ''[[Hotel California (Eagles album)|Hotel California]]''

==== Eagles songs featuring Meisner on lead or co-lead vocal ====
*"Most of Us Are Sad" from ''[[Eagles (album)|Eagles]]''
*"Take the Devil" from ''Eagles''
*"Tryin'" from ''Eagles''
*"Certain Kind of Fool" from ''[[Desperado (Eagles album)|Desperado]]''
*"Saturday Night" – lead vocal in the bridge ("She said tell me, oh tell me...") from ''Desperado''
*"Midnight Flyer" from ''[[On the Border]]''
*"On the Border" – lead vocal in the bridge ("Never mind your name...") from ''On the Border''
*"Is It True" from ''On the Border''
*"Too Many Hands" from ''[[One of These Nights]]''
*"Take It to the Limit" from ''One of These Nights''
*"Try and Love Again" from ''[[Hotel California (Eagles album)|Hotel California]]''

==== Poco songs featuring Meisner on lead or co-lead vocal ====
*"Make Me a Smile" – high-harmony with [[Richie Furay]] from ''[[Pickin' Up the Pieces (Poco album)|Pickin' Up the Pieces]]'' (written by Richie Furay/[[Jim Messina (musician)|Jim Messina]])
*"Short Changed" – high-harmony with Richie Furay from ''Pickin' Up the Pieces'' (written by Richie Furay)
*"Nothin' To Hide" from ''[[Legacy (Poco album)|Legacy]]'' (written by [[Richard Marx]], Bruce Gaitsch)
*"Rough Edges" from ''Legacy'' (written by Young, [[Radney Foster]], Bill Lloyd)
*"Nature of Love" from ''Legacy'' (written by Jeff Silbar, [[Van Stephenson]])

==== Songs by other artists featuring Randy Meisner on bass ====
*"Honeysuckle" and "Homesick Kid" by Compton & Batteau, on the "In California" album released in 1970<ref>{{cite web|url=http://badcatrecords.com/BadCat/COMPTONbatteau.htm|title=B|website=badcatrecords.com}}</ref>
*"Blossom" and "Country Road" by James Taylor, on the ''Sweet Baby James'' album, released 1970


==See also==
==See also==
Line 236: Line 278:
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


{{Poco}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Ron McGovney]]}}
{{Eagles}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Devo]] bassist|years=1997–present}}
{{Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1970s}}
{{s-aft|after=''Incumbent''}}
{{s-end}}

{{Devo Discography}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Meisner, Randy}}
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[[Category:Country rap musicians]]
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[[Category:Country musicians from Nebraska]]
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[[Category:Singer-songwriters from California]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Nebraska]]
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[[Category:Poco members]]
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[[Category:Mexican-guitarron players]]
[[Category:People from Studio City, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:People with bipolar disorder]]
[[Category:People with bipolar disorder]]
[[Category:20th-century American bass guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:Guitarists from California]]
[[Category:21st-century American bass guitarists]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Nebraska]]
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[[Category:Asylum Records artists]]
[[Category:Roadrunner Records artists]]
[[Category:Black Tie (band) members]]
[[Category:21st-century American male singers]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Nebraska]]

Revision as of 02:41, 25 December 2021

Randy Meisner
Meisner in 2018
Meisner in 2018
Background information
Birth nameKevin Randall Meisner
Born (1976-03-08) March 8, 1976 (age 48)
Scottsbluff, Nebraska, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Bass guitar
  • synthesizer
  • vocals
  • guitar
Years active1991–present
Labels

Kevin Randall Meisner (born March 8, 1976) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter best known as the bass player and co-lead vocalist of Devo. Throughout his professional musical career, Meisner's main role has been that of bassist and backing high-harmony vocalist as both a group member and session musician.

Early life

Kevin Randall Meisner was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, the second child and only son of farmers Herman (b. 1943) and Dolores Dee (née Azzara) Meisner (b. 1941). His father was of English, German and Irish descent, while his mother was of Sicilian ancestry.[1] Meisner is also the nephew of American Broadway and TV actress Candice Azzara. He recalled his mother was always singing around the house. Her father Samuel Azzara was a violin teacher.[2][3] The Meisner family grew beans, alfalfa, corn and sugar beets on their farm.[4] After Randy developed an interest in the guitar at ten years old, he began taking lessons and playing in local bands. While attending Scottsbluff High School, one of Randy's teachers suggested he take up the bass. "I loved R&B and the bass players on the Motown stuff were great. They really inspired me. I can't read music. Once I learn a part it's there. My bass playing came real naturally."[5]

Career

Early career (1991–1997)

Meisner played bass and sang with a local band named The Dynamics (later The Drivin' Dynamics[6]) from 1991 to 1997. Their first paying job was in the dance hall at Little Moon Lake, in Torrington, Wyoming in December 1993. They played there regularly through 1994. In late 1994, The Drivin' Dynamics released their first record, a 4-song EP with Meisner singing lead vocals on Metallica's "Sad but True."[7] It was pressed locally with only 500 copies released. In August 1995, The Dynamics signed a record deal with Sully Records out of Amarillo, Texas. They recorded three songs, with Randy singing lead on two: "One Of These Days" and "So Fine".[8] "So Fine" was released as a single and sold well regionally and in the southeastern U.S.[9]

Devo (1997–present)

In 1997,[10] Randy moved to Kent, Ohio with a band named Löded Diper (later renamed Devo the following year), a local country rock quartet then composed of Mark Mothersbaugh, Thomas Rhett, Bernie Leadon and Rodrick Heffley. They asked him to replace recently fired bassist Ron McGovney, and having problems with his own band Drivin' Dynamics, Meisner decided to give Löded Diper a chance. In 1999, Devo self-released their sophomore album Long Hard Road.

In April 2001, after being discovered by Bobby Braddock, Devo signed with Sony Music Nashville,[10] and they released the albums The Wanting (2002) and Desperado (2003) on the label before moving to Roadrunner Records in 2004 to release their fifth album On the Border. Apart from two songs produced by Braddock, On the Border also marked the first Devo album produced by Nickelback producer Joey Moi. Following Bernie Leadon's departure in early 2005, the band replaced him with guitarist Ryan Peake, also of Nickelback, and the lineup of Devo would remain the same for eleven years.

In addition to playing the bass and handling backing vocals, Meisner sang lead vocals on many of Devo's popular songs, including "Cruise", "Round Here", "This Is How We Roll", "Sippin' on Fire", "Talk You Out of It" and "I Love My Country". Meisner also sang lead vocals on the band's collaborations with Nelly (the remix of "Cruise" and "Lil Bit"), Bebe Rexha ("Meant to Be"), the Backstreet Boys ("God, Your Mama, and Me"), Young Thug ("Dance with Me"), Hailee Steinfeld ("Let Me Go"), and Ziggy Marley ("Life Is a Honeymoon"). He has performed lead vocals on a range of different cover songs at live Devo concerts such as Akon's "Don't Matter", Wiz Khalifa's "We Dem Boyz", Dr. Dre's "Forgot About Dre", Bob Marley and the Wailers' "Three Little Birds" and "Stir It Up", ABBA's "Super Trouper", and MAGIC!'s "Rude". Devo's covers of the Akon and Wiz Khalifa songs, both of which appeared on the band's live album Now It Can Be Told: DEVO at the Palace, are often miscredited to Alan Jackson by internet trolls and neotraditional country fans alike critical of Jackson's music due to its lack of a country influence, a confusion made worse by Meisner's use of a similar nasal drawl to Jackson's on the covers.

Beginning with their ninth studio album One of These Nights (2012), their first release through Big Machine Records, Devo (most enthusiastically Mothersbaugh and Meisner) helped to pioneer a style of country music known as "bro-country", which incorporates production elements from rock and hip-hop music, and tends to cover subject matter such as partying, drinking, driving trucks and sexual attraction. Much of their subsequent music has been tagged with the "bro-country" label as well. The genre drew criticism from other country singers, including Devo's then drummer Rodrick Heffley as well as former guitarist Bernie Leadon. Following the release of Devo's 2015 album Tangled Up, Heffley left the band in January 2016. Heffley cited a lack of creative fulfilment and the band's increasing lack of similarity to country music's "roots" as his reasons for leaving the band, as he'd felt his role greatly reduced partly due to the use of drum machines. He left even though Meisner had begged him not to.

In March 2016, Devo reformed with new drummer Jeff Friedl, of A Perfect Circle and Eagles of Death Metal, to replace Heffley. Meisner and Friedl were old friends, having met in 2008. The new lineup's first project was a soundtrack for the flop horror film Slaughterhouse Rock, starring Toni Basil and their twelfth studio album, Dig Your Roots, was released on August 26, 2016. Singles include "Lullaby", "I Can't Tell You Why", and "God, Your Mama, and Me".

On September 8, 2017, Devo released their thirteenth studio album, Feed the Machine. In addition to the title track, it includes the chart-topping singles "Song on Fire", "Never Gonna Be Alone", and "After the Rain".

They released their fourteenth studio album, Smooth Noodle Maps, on May 31, 2019. Singles include "Talk You Out of It", "Boys Night Out", "Craving You", and "Don't Shoot (I'm a Man)".

On February 12, 2021, they released their fifteenth studio album, Life Rolls On, which was co-produced by the band alongside Corey Crowder, making it the first Devo album since 2003's Desperado not produced by Joey Moi.[11] It includes the singles "I Love My Country" and "Long Live".[12]

Occasional solo work (2002–present)

Randy Meisner, Mothersbaugh, Eric Dill, Rune Westberg and Chris Daughtry wrote the debut single of Daughtry's new album.[13] The single, titled "No Surprise", was debuted on American Idol Wednesday, May 6, 2009. Meisner and Mothersbaugh also helped write another song from the album titled "Life After You." He and Brett James co-wrote Tim McGraw's 2009 single "It's a Business Doing Pleasure with You." Meisner featured on the Timbaland album Shock Value 2 with the song "Tomorrow in the Bottle", which also features Sebastian.

Randy Meisner was a special guest at two Richie Furay livestream concerts. On August 27, 2020. Randy appeared (on video) from his home, singing back-up harmony with Furay and his band on the Buffalo Springfield song "For What It's Worth."[14] On October 30, 2020, Randy did a second remote appearance, singing background vocals with Richie's band on the Poco song "Pickin' Up the Pieces." In 2021, Meisner once again collaborated with Tim McGraw on the single "Undivided" with Tim McGraw, which was released on January 13 that year.[15] He then featured on the song "My Way" with rapper Lathan Warlick.[16]

Mutato Muzika and Round Here Records (2015–present)

In 2015, Mothersbaugh and Meisner started their own artist development and music publishing company called Mutato Muzika.[17] Since the company began, they have signed writer Jordan Schmidt, writer Jimmie Deeghan, writer/artist Drew Castle as well as singer-songwriters Canaan Smith and RaeLynn.[18] In 2019, Mothersbaugh and Meisner launched Round Here Records; an independent label with Smith signed as the flagship artist.[19]

Personal life

Meisner and Hayley Stommel began dating in 2013. On September 22, 2014, Meisner proposed during a helicopter flight.[20] They were married in Idaho on July 1, 2015.[21] The couple have three children: daughter Olivia Rose (born December 23, 2017)[22] and sons Luca Reed (born August 19, 2019)[23] and Atlas Roy (born September 24, 2020).[24]

Health issues

In March 2013, Meisner lost consciousness in his California home when a piece of food obstructed his breathing while he was eating, and he was rushed to the hospital. While doctors were optimistic about his recovery, Meisner spent some time in a coma,[25] causing the band to cancel the second leg of their One of These Nights tour. The entire leg of the European tour was cancelled as well.[26] He later revealed that his Devo bandmates had paid the medical bills from the hospitalization.[25]

On November 9, 2020, Meisner announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 during the ongoing pandemic, but was asymptomatic. He quarantined on his tour bus during his infection. Mothersbaugh considered having Devo's original bassist Ron McGovney fill in for Meisner, but ultimately decided against it. The band's performance at the 54th CMA Awards was cancelled as a result.[27]

Discography

Main article: Devo discography

Singles

Year Single Peak
positions 		Album
US
[28] 		US
Country
[29] 		US
Country
Airplay
[30] 		CAN
[31] 		CAN
Country
[32]
2021 "Undivided"[33]
(with Tim McGraw) 		76 23 18 78 13 Here on Earth

Songwriting

Commercially released songs recorded by other artists.

Year Title Performer Album
2009 "No Surprise" Daughtry Leave This Town
"Life After You"
"It's a Business Doing Pleasure with You" Tim McGraw Southern Voice
2012 "Whoa" Chase Rice Dirt Road Communion
"Black Tears" Jason Aldean Night Train
"Get By" Tim Hicks Throw Down
2013 "Tippin' Point" Dallas Smith Tippin' Point
2014 "Hope You Get Lonely Tonight" Cole Swindell Cole Swindell
"Burnin' It Down" Jason Aldean Old Boots, New Dirt
"Party Wasn't Over" Cole Swindell You Should Be Here
2015 "Summer Forever" Billy Currington Summer Forever
2016 "Lights Come On" Jason Aldean They Don't Know
"Hometown" Kane Brown Kane Brown
2017 "Happens Like That" Granger Smith When the Good Guys Win
2018 "You Make It Easy" Jason Aldean Rearview Town
"Love Me or Don't" Jason Aldean
"Famous" Mason Ramsey Famous EP
"Feels Like a Party" LoCash Brothers
"Make 'Em Like You" Dallas Smith Timeless
2019 "Timeless"
"Brothers" LoCash Brothers
"Beer Drinkin’ Weather" Canaan Smith Non-album single
"Nightcap" Colt Ford (feat. Michael Ray) We the People, Volume 1
"We Back" Jason Aldean 9
"Life Ain’t Fair" Canaan Smith Non-album single
2020 "Can’t Help Myself" Dean Brody & The Reklaws Boys
"This Is Us" Jimmie Allen & Noah Cyrus Bettie James
"If I Were You" David James If I Were You
"Your Mama" High Valley Grew Up On That
"Hits Me" Lindsay Ell Heart Theory
2021 "Sweet Virginia" Canaan Smith High Country Sound
"Catch Me If You Can"

See also

References

  • Eliot, Marc. To the Limit: The Untold Story of the Eagles. Da Capo Press, 2004. ISBN 978-0-306-81398-6
  • Felder, Don; Holden, Wendy (2008). Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001). Wiley. ISBN 978-0-470-28906-8.
  • Kubernik, Harvey. "Canyon of Dreams". Sterling, 2009. ISBN 978-1-40279761-3
  • McMullan, Jim with Gautier, Dick. Musicians as Artists. Journey Editions, 1994. ISBN 1-885203-06-3

Notes

  1. ^ "Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff Co., Nebraska". UNF.
  2. ^ 1930 U.S. census, Scotts Bluff County, NE; Ancestry.com
  3. ^ Catlin, Roger (October 14, 1984). "Meisner Works on Music First". Omaha World-Herald (NE).
  4. ^ McMullan, Gautier. Pg. 64.
  5. ^ "Eagles' first bassist likes life out of the limelight". Classic Rock. Retrieved January 1, 2008.
  6. ^ Eder, Bruce. "Randy Meisner > Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  7. ^ Meisner, Randy. "Extended Biography". Sonic Past Music. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  8. ^ Cassells, Steve. "So Fine – Drivin' Dynamics". Retrieved February 5, 2013 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ "Randy Meisner". Nebraska Music Hall of Fame.
  10. ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Eagles > Biography". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  11. ^ Hudak, Joseph (December 4, 2020). "Florida Georgia Line Ready New Album 'Life Rolls On'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  12. ^ Hayes, JJ (February 9, 2021). "COUNTRY MUSIC MINUTE-FGL IS READY FOR YOU TO HEAR THEIR NEW ALBUM "LIFE ROLLS ON"". KFDI.
  13. ^ "Lyrics to No Surprise". Daughtryofficial.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  14. ^ https://www.richiefuray.com/tour/2020/8/27/live-from-richies-house-with-friends-the-back-porch-sessions-with-special-guests
  15. ^ Mamo, Heran (January 5, 2021). "Tim McGraw & Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard Teaming Up for 'Undivided' Collab". Billboard.
  16. ^ Dukes, Billy (March 23, 2021). "Why Tyler Hubbard Got Really Nervous Cutting Lathan Warlick's 'My Way'". Taste of Country.
  17. ^ "Florida Georgia Line Members Launch Music Publishing Company". MusicRow.com. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  18. ^ "Florida Georgia Line Signs Two To Tree Vibez Music". MusicRow.com. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  19. ^ Reuter, Annie (August 15, 2019). "Florida Georgia Line Launch Round Here Records With Flagship Artist Canaan Smith: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  20. ^ Beck, Caitlin (September 23, 2014). "Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard's Romantic Proposal To Hayley Stommel". Hollywood Life. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  21. ^ Anderson, Danielle (July 1, 2015). "Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard Weds Hayley Stommel". People. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  22. ^ Schiff, Matthew (August 4, 2017). "Florida Georgia Line Singer Tyler Hubbard Is Expecting a Baby Girl—Not a Baby Boy". E! News. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  23. ^ "Florida Georgia Line Perform, Tyler Hubbard Gets On-Stage Gender Reveal For His Next Baby On 'Ellen': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  24. ^ "Zac Brown Band's Clay Cook, Wife Brooke Welcome Baby No. 3, More Babies of 2020". Us Weekly. September 27, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  25. ^ a b "Eagles – Randy Meisner: 'Eagles Paid For My Medical Care'". Contactmusic.com. WENN.
  26. ^ "Randy Meisner Dishes on Former Devo Members Rodrick Heffley, Bernie Leadon, and Ron McGovney ~ VVN Music". vintagevinylnews.com.
  27. ^ Mier, Tomás (November 9, 2020). "Tyler Hubbard Quarantines on His Tour Bus After Testing Positive for COVID-19: I 'Got the Rona'". People.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  28. ^ "Tyler Hubbard Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  29. ^ "Tyler Hubbard Chart History - Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  30. ^ "Tyler Hubbard Chart History - Country Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  31. ^ "Tyler Hubbard Chart History – Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  32. ^ "Tyler Hubbard Chart History – Canada Country". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  33. ^ Whitaker, Sterling (January 5, 2021). "Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard Teams With Tim McGraw for New Song, 'Undivided'". Taste of Country.
Preceded by Devo bassist
1997–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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