Randy Meisner, a cofounder of the Eagles, has died of complications from obstructive pulmonary disease, the band has announced. Meisner was 77 years old.
The bassist, who’s been called “the sweetest man in the music business” by former bandmate Don Felder, helped form the Eagles in 1970 and provided harmonies for such hits as “Take It Easy” and “The Best of My Love.” He also took center stage from time-to-time, handling lead vocals on such hits as “Take It to the Limit.”
In a statement, the band writes, “Randy was an integral part of the Eagles and instrumental in the early success of the band. His vocal range was astonishing, as is evident on his signature ballad, ‘Take It to the Limit.’”
Meisner’s career has also seen him perform with Ricky Nelson, James Taylor and Jim Messina, among others. In recent years, Meisner suffered a number of setbacks. In addition to struggles with alcohol addiction, Meisner was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and suffered the loss of his wife, who accidentally shot herself in 2016.
He recently told an interviewer, “The funny thing is after we made those albums, I never listened to them. It is only when someone comes over or I am at somebody’s house and it gets played in the background that I’ll tell myself, ‘Damn, these records are good.’”
According to the Eagles website, funeral arrangements are pending.
