Who replaced Randy Meisner as the Eagles' bassist in 1977?

Timothy B. Schmit replaced Randy Meisner as the Eagles' bassist in 1977. Schmit joined after the Eagles completed their Hotel California tour, when Meisner left the band amid exhaustion and personal strain.

The change repeated an earlier chapter in both musicians' careers. Schmit had previously replaced Meisner in Poco in 1969, taking over bass and backing vocals there as well. That familiarity made him a natural fit for the Eagles, and the band reportedly agreed that he was the only candidate they needed to consider.

Schmit became an important part of the Eagles' late-1970s sound. On The Long Run, released in 1979, he co-wrote and sang lead on “I Can't Tell You Why,” which became a major hit. A common mix-up is choosing Don Felder or Joe Walsh: both were prominent Eagles members, but neither replaced Meisner on bass.