The Roberts-Meisner Band was called Rick Roberts and Open Secret in 1987 prior to the name Roberts-Meisner Band. They only performed under the name Open Secret for a few gigs before changing the name to the Roberts-Meisner Band.
Randy Meisner tells the story of how it came to be that he and Rick Roberts became a band in the short video interview below. Randy and Rick already knew each other, and Randy even played and sang on Rick’s first solo album ‘Windmills’, along with Jackson Browne, Bernie Leadon, and Don Henley. Windmills was released in September 1972. In addition to his solo career Rick had been with both the Flying Burrito Brothers and Firefall. Rick is also a very successful songwriter. He was now starting this new band and needed a bass player, so Randy joined Rick to form Rick Roberts and Open Secret.
They were a very busy band in 1987 and 1988 and then things slowed down in 1989. Randy left in 1989 to reunite with Poco for the Legacy tour. Unfortunately, the Roberts-Meisner Band did not record an album. Bass player Gerald Johnson took Randy’s place in the band, and the band name was changed to The Rick and Famous.
The Nashville Network
The two videos of the band performing on the Nashville Now show hosted by Ralph Emery (part of The Nashville Network) are also below. If you’re a fan of Fil from Wings of Pegasus, you will enjoy his analysis of “Take It To the Limit” from that Nashville Now show.
How the Roberts-Meisner Band started:
Randy was at a restaurant in LA when he ran into Rick Roberts. Mark Andes (bass player for Heart) was also there with Rick, and Mark suggested to Rick that he hire Randy for his new band he was starting. This is a short segment of an interview that took place at KBSG FM in Tacoma, WA on May 12, 1988. Randy is being asked by Joe Michaels, the interviewer, about his connection to Rick Roberts.
The entire interview with Randy, Gene Clark, and Rick Roberts can be seen on the Podcasts and interviews page.
Rick Roberts talks about the formation of the Roberts-Meisner Band (originally called Open Secret) in his book Lame Brain.
Lame Brain is one of those can’t-put-it-down-until-you-finish-it books.
Excerpt from Rick Roberts’ book Lame Brain – pg. 71
Excerpt from Rick Roberts’ book Lame Brain – pg. 71
Excerpt from Rick Roberts’ book Lame Brain – pg. 72
Dewey Martin, Rick Roberts, Billy Darnell, Randy Meisner, and Bray Ghiglia
“I’m really happy with it. There’s not a lot of head trips because us old dudes have been around a while. I like being a part of a group, rather than a front man. Rick is a good singer and a good front man, so, for me, it’s more like being in the Eagles. The sound is sort of a mixture of Eagles, Burritos and Firefall.”
San Antonio Light (San Antonio, TX) – Apr. 17, 1987
“On both of his studio albums, Roberts surrounded himself with lots of proven talent. ‘Windmills’ featured such names as Jackson Browne, David Crosby, ex-Eagles Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon, and Don Henley, who is still with the Eagles. ‘She is a Song’ displayed Joe Walsh and his former group, Barnstorm, backing Roberts on several cuts.”
The Print (Oregon City, OR) – Nov. 7, 1979
Below are newspaper notices and reviews for many of the shows:
Even before the name ‘Rick Roberts and Open Secret’ was established, the new band was called ‘Something Wonderful Band’ very briefly.
The Concord Palace – April 9, 1987
San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA) – Mar. 29, 1987
San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA) – Apr. 5, 1987
The Holidome – April 10, 1987
Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, CA) – Mar. 27, 1987
Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, CA) – Apr. 3, 1987
Open Secret Band:
Belly Up Tavern – May 14, 1987
Times Advocate (Escondido, CA) – Apr. 30, 1987
The Carousel – May 28, 1987
The Missoulian (Missoula, MT) – May 22, 1987
The Missoulian (Missoula, MT) – May 22, 1987
The Dugout – May 29, 1987
“Roberts’ latest band, Open Secret, has two other familiar names. Bassist and singer Randy Meisner, formerly of the Eagles, is a member. So is drummer Dewey Martin, an old Buffalo Springfield player.”
Spokesman Review (Spokane, WA) – May 29, 1987
Spring Fling at Bozeman Fairgrounds – May 30, 1987
The Montana Standard (Butte, MT) – May 30, 1987
Dewey Martin, Rick Roberts, Billy Darnell, Randy Meisner, and Bray Ghiglia
More on the Spring Fling music festival on this page
Randy Meisner, Cary Park, and Rick Roberts at sound check at Spring Fling in Bozeman, MT
Rosco’s – June 5, 1987
The Columbian (Vancouver, WA) – June 5, 1987
Glen Ivy Hot Springs Summer Music Festival – June 20, 1987
LA Weekly (Los Angeles, CA) – June 25, 1987
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – June 21, 1987
Roberts-Meisner Band:
Reno Hilton – June 28-July 12, 1987
Reno Gazette-Journal (Reno, NV) – June 25, 1987
Hayward’s Fabulous 50s – July 18, 1987
The Tribune (Oakland, CA) – July 17, 1987
The Tribune (Oakland, CA) – July 17, 1987
Roberts-Meisner Band with new line-up
Ron Grinel replaced Dewey Martin and Cary Park replaced Billy Darnell
Bray Ghiglia, Ron Grinel, Rick Roberts, Randy Meisner, and Cary Park
“In an interview, Meisner said his public recognition with Roberts generally is low, until the Eagles-Firefall connection is made.”
Miami News (Miami, FL) – Aug. 19, 1987
O. T. Price Music Hall – Oct. 8, 1987
“Both have performed with too many bands to list, but let’s point out that they include Stephen Stills, Linda Ronstadt, and the astonishingly talented Dan Fogelberg.”
Santa Cruz Sentinel (Santa Cruz, CA) – Oct. 2, 1987
Casino Cabaret at Harrah’s – Oct. 22-25, 1987
Reno Gazette-Journal (Reno, NV) – Oct. 22, 1987
DeAnza Theater – Dec. 5, 1987
San Bernardino Sun (San Bernardino, CA) – Dec. 2, 1987
Starry Night Club – Dec. 8, 1987
The Columbian (Vancouver, WA) – Dec. 4, 1987
Marshfield High School Auditorium – Dec. 10, 1987
“Meisner’s credits include playing bass and singing on the first Poco album. He also was a member of Rick Nelson’s band, and performed in Linda Ronstadt’s band. He earned gold albums for performing on Dan Fogelberg’s ‘Souvenirs’ and Joe Walsh’s ‘So What’.”
The World (Coos Bay, OR) – Oct. 21, 1987
New Year’s Eve at Calvary Presbyterian Church – Dec. 31, 1987
San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA) – Dec. 23, 1987
The Tribune (Oakland, CA) – Dec. 29, 1987
Trancas – Feb. 27, 1988
LA Weekly (Los Angeles, CA) – Mar. 4, 1988
The Last Day Saloon (San Jose, CA) – Mar. 15, 1988
San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA) – Mar. 13, 1988
Del Mar Fairgrounds – May 7, 1988
Times-Advocate (Escondido, CA) – May 5, 1988
Times-Advocate (Escondido, CA) – May 12, 1988
Magnolia’s – May 25, 1988
The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, CA) – May 24, 1988
Masonic Temple – May 29, 1988
The Oregonian (Portland, OR) – May 22, 1988
Players Lounge at Sands Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City – June 10-July 3, 1988
Press of Atlantic City (Atlantic City, NJ) – June 10, 1988
“It was the Roberts-Meisner Band which opened this week and is scheduled to remain at the Sands through July 3. And you surely could hear touches of the Eagles and Firefall in the music.”
Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) – June 10, 1988
“Additionally, Meisner is pursuing an album project with the former members of Poco, and Roberts has some outside irons in the fire, as well.”
Asbury Park Press (Asbury Park, NJ) – June 26, 1988
“But when the Roberts-Meisner Band performs hits like Firefall’s ‘You Are the Woman’ and the Eagles’ ‘Take It to the Limit,’ it’s not covering them; it’s reinterpreting them.”
Press of Atlantic City (Atlantic City, NJ) – June 26, 1988
Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock, AR) – Aug. 7, 1988
Tacoma Temple Theatre – July 21, 1988
Morning News Tribune (Tacoma, WA) – June 24, 1988
Gussie L’Amour’s – Aug. 9-12, 1988
Honolulu Advertiser (Honolulu, HI) – Aug. 5, 1988
Cucamonga Guasti Regional Park – Oct. 6-9, 1988
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – Oct. 2, 1988
Detroit Free Press (Detroit, MI) – Nov. 3, 1988
Cabaret Sauvignon – Dec. 1, 1988
The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, CA) – Nov. 30, 1988
Oxnard Strawberry Festival – May 20-21, 1989
More on the Strawberry Festival on this page
Randy Meisner and Cary Park on the Strawberry Festival stage – May 21, 1989
Inn at Otter Creek – July 1, 1989
Corvallis Gazette-Times (Corvallis, OR) – June 30, 1989
The Nashville Network (TNN):
“You are the Woman” on the Nashville Now show – aired Nov. 9, 1988
“Take It To the Limit” on the Nashville Now show – aired Nov. 9, 1988
Fil from Wings of Pegasus analyses “Take It To the Limit” in this Nashville Now performance seen in the video directly above.
The Roberts-Meisner Band also appeared at Nashville’s Blue Bird Cafe on Nov. 9.
The Tennessean (Nashville, TN) – Nov. 9, 1988 (Wednesday)
Not only did Rick and Randy perform two of their songs on the “Nashville Now” show, but also on Nov. 10, 1988 they were judges on the “You Can Be A Star” show. “You Can Be A Star” was also part of The Nashville Network.
The Tennessean (Nashville, TN) – Nov. 6, 1988 (Sunday)
The Tennessean (Nashville, TN) – Nov. 10, 1988 (Thursday)
It’s amazing to me how fast his hair can grow it in just six months!
He always did have good hair. And, his hair style changed a lot.