Goldrush 1970
In 1970, Randy ditched the L.A. music scene & moved back home to Nebraska. He took an 8-5 job and eventually started a new band with some guys who were attending college in Scottsbluff. They called themselves Goldrush.
Earlybird: The Story Of The Eagles’ 1972 Debut Album
A detailed look at the making of the album and the importance of Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon in the Eagles’ early success.
Eagles In Denver, 1976
The Eagles played Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado on August 8th, 1976. Several members of his family were in attendance, including his wife, children, and parents.
EAGLES
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
July 2-3, 1972
The Eagles opened for Procol Harum.
Ad for the concert from the Los Angeles Free Press, June 30th, 1972.
Note the order of the band members’ names with Bernie and Randy mentioned first.
Eagles at Santa Monica Civic. Photo by Sam Emerson.
L.A. Times review by Robert Hilburn:
Linda Ronstadt and others visit the band backstage. Randy is not pictured. Photos by Sam Emerson.
Chuck’s Cellar & The Origin Of The Eagles
Randy Meisner first met Glenn Frey & Don Henley when he filled in for Linda Ronstadt’s bassist at a place called Chuck’s Cellar in Los Altos, CA in June 1971.
EAGLES
Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles
December 31st, 1974
The Eagles played Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve 1974. Among their guests were Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Dan Fogelberg, J.D. Souther and Joe Walsh.
For this show, Randy played a Hagstrom HII BN bass. This bass has a different headstock than the red Hagstrom he often played during the mid-70s.
“When midnight arrived, the Eagles treated everybody to a bluegrass treatment of ‘Auld Lang Syne,’ released a passelfull of balloons and let loose a gorilla who threw bananas to the audience. Then they invited a few of their friends, including Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne and opening act Dan Fogelberg–on stage to join them for ‘Take It Easy.'” (San Pedro News-Pilot, January 4, 1975)
Randy performed on New Year’s Eve at least eleven times over the course of his career. Here are the other ten appearances:
Drivin’ Dynamics, Little Moon Lake, Torrington, Wyoming, December 31, 1962
Drivin’ Dynamics, Sutherland Community Hall, Sutherland NE, December 31, 1963
Drivin’ Dynamics, Terry’s Arena, Terrytown NE, December 31, 1964
Pogo, Shrine Hall, Los Angeles, December 31, 1968
Roberts-Meisner Band, Calvary Presbyterian Church, San Francisco, December 31, 1987
Roberts-Meisner Band, Sheraton Harbor Island, San Diego, December 31, 1988
Meisner, Swan & Rich, Lake Of The Torches Casino, Green Bay, WI, December 31, 1996
World Classic Rockers, Hyatt Regency Kauai, Koloa, HI, December 31, 1999
World Classic Rockers, Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hilo, Hawaii, December 31, 2003
World Classic Rockers, Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hilo, Hawaii, December 31, 2005
EAGLES
Balboa Stadium, San Diego, CA
September 27, 1975
The Eagles headlined the “One Of These Days” concert at Balboa Stadium in San Diego. Jackson Browne and Linda Ronstadt also performed.
The show was filmed and portions of it were shown on Saturday Night Live With Howard Cosell (not to be confused with long-running NBC show).
The following review is not the most positive, but provides a good description of the show and the songs that were played.
The round stage pass attached to the leg of Randy’s jeans was preserved in his wife Jennifer’s scrapbook. His yellow shirt, with the hand-embroidered design from On The Border, was a gift from a fan named Terri “Woody” Smith. The family still has this shirt. Smith also gave Randy a blue shirt with a hand-embroidered eagle pattern (see it here).
Featuring Randy Meisner:
Sessions & Guest Appearances
Throughout his career, Randy has appeared on dozens of albums by his friends and colleagues. Here are a few highlights.
Eagles at Freeborn Hall, UC Davis, 1972
The Eagles played Freeborn Hall at UC Davis on November 15th, 1972. Linda Ronstadt was also on the bill.