The World Classic Rockers (WCR) is a super group consisting of prominent musicians from some of the most legendary rock bands. Randy Meisner’s time in the group was from about 1997 to 2008. After his hospitalization in 2004 his appearances lessened somewhat, and he was sometimes billed as a “special guest” at WCR shows.
The group rotates its lineup depending on the contributing musicians’ projects at any given time. For instance, when WCR traveled east to Atlantic City and played nightly at the Claridge Casino Hotel July 8-18, 1999, Randy decided not to go. Nick St. Nicholas said it would have been a longer commitment for Randy than he was interested in.
There are quite a few photos throughout this page that might be new to some people, including several from a couple of World Classic Rocker Christmas parties at Randy’s house.
Thank you to Kurt Griffey and Ron Wikso for their help and input for this page. Ron’s memory for the correct dates was invaluable.
A WCR promotional video was filmed and directed in Ventura, CA by Chip Miller in 1998. WCR put out a CD in 2000 called “Rock the World”, and three songs from Randy’s days in the Eagles are included on it. Kurt Griffey introduces a vinyl album of Randy’s songs, which was released in 2018 for Record Store Day.
These are some of the musicians that Randy was fortunate to perform with during his years with WCR:
- Carmine Appice
- Fran Cosmo
- Dave Coyle
- Spencer Davis – dec. Oct. 19, 2020
- Aynsley Dunbar
- Fergie Frederiksen – dec. Jan. 18, 2014
- Bruce Gary – dec. Aug. 22, 2006
- Kurt Griffey
- Randall Hall
- Bobby Kimball
- Denny Laine
- Alex Ligertwood
- Joey Molland
- Michael Monarch
- Nick St. Nicholas
- Rosilee St. Nicholas
- Denny Seiwell
- Steve Stewart
- Ron Wikso
World Classic Rockers promo intro
“Rock the World” CD front and back covers – 2000
According to the CD liner notes the songs on the ‘Rock the World’ CD were “recorded live at various WCR concerts around the world during the ‘Rock the World’ tour”.
Each World Classic Rocker had a page of photos within the CD booklet.
Info from the CD liner notes
Randy and Nick St. Nicholas showing the front of the Rock the World tour t-shirt with the WCR logo and the back of the shirt with the words “Rock the World” Tour wcr.com
Three Eagles songs included on the CD
“Take It Easy”
Randy Meisner – lead vocal
“Take It To the Limit”
Randy Meisner – lead vocal
“Hotel California”
Fergie Frederiksen of Toto – lead vocal
“If you are former Steppenwolf bassist Nick St. Nicholas, you link up with like-minded rockers and put together an all-star band. That’s what St. Nicholas did in 1995 when he organized the World Classic Rockers.”
“In the beginning, the plan was for the band to play corporate conventions and meetings. The band has come a long way from the one show it did in 1995. This year, WCR already has done 60 gigs. Part of this year’s concerts are open to general audiences through hard ticket sales.”
San Angelo Standard-Times (San Angelo, TX) – June 22,2000
“Demand is now so great that some bands have been created specifically to cater to the private market. World Classic Rockers, which features Denny Laine, formerly of the Moody Blues and Wings, Spencer Davis and various members of the Eagles and Steppenwolf work up to 10 days a month doing private gigs.”
Honolulu Star Bulletin (Honolulu, HI) – Dec. 4, 2000
“Former Eagles bassist Randy Meisner, who co-wrote and sang the rock group’s classic ‘Take It to the Limit,’ has been hospitalized for chest pains, his manager said.”
Reno Gazette-Journal (Reno, NV) – Aug. 10, 2004
“The band was originally formed in 1995 by St. Nicholas and a few of his pals to play at a biker charity event in Florida, but that went so well the band has played on.”
“You know, Randy Meisner had a slight heart attack not long ago, but he’s back on a stricter diet and doing really, really good. He’s singing better than ever.”
Ventura County Star (Ventura, CA) – Dec. 16, 2004
“Christmas Toys in the Sun Run” is the biker benefit in Florida in 1995 that started Nick St. Nicholas’ idea of forming the World Classic Rockers.
South Florida Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL) – Dec. 11, 1995
Below are some of the venues and events for the performances of the World Classic Rockers (WCR) during Randy’s time in the band
1997-2008
WCR Publicity Photos at Sportsmen’s Lodge in Los Angeles, CA – March-April 1997
Additional photos are on the 1997 publicity photos page.
Bobby Kimball, Michael Monarch, Randy Meisner, and Nick St. Nicholas
Billboard Live in West Hollywood, CA – July 15, 1997
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – July 13, 1997
WCR in Las Cruces, NM – Sept. 26, 1997
Newspaper articles and more photos appear on the World Classic Rockers in Las Cruces page.
El Paso Times (El Paso, TX) – Sept. 26, 1997
Sentinel High School in Missoula, MT – Oct. 5, 1997
The Missoulian (Missoula, MT) – Oct. 3, 1997
Fort Richardson Army Base in Fort Richardson, AK – Nov. 1, 1997
Anchorage Daily News (Anchorage, AK ) – Oct. 31, 1997
Anchorage Daily News (Anchorage, AK ) – Oct. 31, 1997
Idaho Statesman (Boise, ID) – Feb. 1, 1998
World Classic Rockers promo filmed at the Ventura Theatre in Ventura, CA – 1998
“This is the World Classic Rockers: Live. These are excerpts and highlights of a true super group in concert, Directed and Shot by award-winning filmmaker, Chip Miller. This version has band ID and song text. The concert was Produced and Edited by Travis Miller for Red Hots Entertainment, in association with Desert C.A.M. Studios in Burbank and Palm Desert, CA. Filmed with multi-cameras at the historic Ventura Theatre in Ventura CA, this amazing once in a lifetime band features original members from classic bands: Randy Meisner of The Eagles; Denny Laine of The Moody Blues/co-founder of Paul McCartney’s Wings; Spencer Davis of The Spencer Davis Group (when Stevie Winwood was his lead singer); Michael Monarch, lead guitarist for Janis Joplin’s Big Brother & Holding Company and later co-founded Steppenwolf; Nick St. Nicholas, a guitarist/vocalist for Steppenwolf; the late Fergie Frederiksen of Toto; the late Bruce Gary, drummer for The Knack; Kurt Griffey of The Lone Wolf Band; Steve Stewart of The Mother Lovers; and Gospel star, Rosilee. The original 2-hour plus concert featured 14 classic hits all shown here in excerpts. ‘As the director, and a musician myself, it was a blast to be working on one great classic song after the other,’ mused director Chip Miller. DP Bryan Greenberg was Main Camera Operator and Miller provided additional handheld camera.“
Treasure Island Casino and Resort in Red Wing, MN – June 12-13, 1998
Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, WI) – May 31, 1998
The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA – June 27, 1998
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – June 14, 1998
The Maxim Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, NV – July 3-5, 1998
Las Vegas Review Journal (Las Vegas, NV) – June 12, 1998
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – June 28, 1998
Seventh Annual Exceptional Children’s Foundation Beach Ride at San Buenaventura State Beach Park – July 12, 1998
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – July 13, 1998
Orange County Fair at Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA – July 25, 1998
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – May 13, 1998
Tustin News (Tustin, CA) – July 2, 1998
Santa Ana Orange County Register (Santa Ana, CA) – July 9, 1998
Flamingo Hilton Showroom in Reno, NV – Aug. 7, 1998
Reno Gazette-Journal (Reno, NV) – Aug. 6, 1998
Crossroads Bar and Grill in Yucaipa, CA – Aug. 23, 1998
Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA) – Aug. 21, 1998
B. B. King’s Universal Citywalk in Los Angeles – Oct. 3, 1998
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – Sept. 27, 1998
Thunderbird Balloon Classic in Scottsdale, AZ – Nov. 6-8, 1998
Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ) – Nov. 1, 1998
Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg, PA – May 2, 1999
Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA) – Apr. 15, 1999
The Great Midwest Fair at Balmoral Park in Crete, IL – May 29, 1999
South Holland Pointer (S. Holland, IL) – May 13, 1999
South Holland Star (S. Holland, IL) – May 27, 1999
B. B. King’s at Universal City Walk in Los Angeles, CA – June 19, 1999
LA Weekly (Los Angeles, CA) – June 24, 1999
This notice appeared in the newspaper after they had already performed at B.B. King’s.
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site in Vancouver, WA – July 4, 1999
The Columbian (Vancouver, WA) – June 23, 1999
Claridge Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ – July 8-18, 1999
Randy did not go to Atlantic City for these shows.
“But Randy doesn’t want to travel that much. He sure doesn’t need the money. He’s not making the trip East. That’s a little too far for him, and this is an unusually long engagement in Atlantic City.”
Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA) – July 9, 1999
Big Al’s Fat Tuesday Pool Party at The Orleans in Las Vegas, NV – Aug. 17, 1999
Las Vegas Review-Journal (Las Vegas, NV) – Aug. 17, 1999
B.B. King’s Blues Club in Universal City, CA – Sept. 18, 1999
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – Sept. 16, 1999
Randy Meisner, Ron Wikso on drums, Fergie Frederiksen, and Nick St. Nicholas
Hyatt Regency Kauai in Koloa, HI – Dec. 31, 1999
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – Dec. 12, 1999
Gallup Conference in Lincoln, NE – Jan. 20, 2000
Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, NE) – Jan. 14, 2000
Palmer Auditorium in Austin, TX – June 16, 2000
Austin American Statesman (Austin, TX) – June 16, 2000
Abraham Chavez Theater in El Paso, TX – June 30, 2000
El Paso Prospector (El Paso, TX) – June 14, 2000
Beach Ride 2000 at San Buenaventura State Beach – July 9, 2000
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – July 6, 2000
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – July 7, 2000
Orange County Fair at Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA – July 15, 2000
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – July 13, 2000
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – July 13, 2000
Duane Griffey (Kurt Griffey’s brother) and Randy Meisner backstage at the Orange County Fair – July 15, 2000
Duane Griffey and Randy Meisner
Ector County Coliseum in Odessa, TX – July 21, 2000
“Original lead singers and performers from the Eagles, Steppenwolf, Moody Blues, Wings, Foreigner, Toto and the Spencer Davis Group will be in concert at the Ector County Coliseum today.”
Odessa American (Odessa, TX) – July 21, 2000
Newhall Park in Santa Clarita, CA – July 23, 2000
“Concerts in the Parks” series
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – July 20, 2000
LA Times (Los Angeles, CA) – July 20, 2000
Colin Warling of Warling Guitars in Portland, Oregon got autographs from Randy Meisner, Spencer Davis, and Denny Laine while at the Newhall Park show.
Randy Meisner and Colin Warling
Colin Warling and Spencer Davis
Denny Laine and Colin Warling
Fred Walecki Benefit at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium – Aug. 8-9, 2000
Many more photos and info on the 2-day Fred Walecki Benefit event
Michael Monarch (Steppenwolf and World Classic Rockers) is playing a guitar solo. Randy is dressed all in black and is in front and to the left of the keyboard. Bernie Leadon is second from left on the back row.
Scotts Bluff County Fair in Mitchell, NE – Aug. 19, 2000
“Also joining World Classic Rockers is local talent Randy Meisner, who started out with the Dynamics in the early 1960s.”
Gering Courier (Gering, NE) – Apr. 20, 2000
Photo in article above is from when the World Classic Rockers visited the White House
Denny Laine, Michael Monarch, Kurt Griffey, Nick St. Nicholas, Ron Wikso, Randy Meisner, and Rosilee St. Nicholas and Steve Stewart sitting at piano inside White House
Steve Stewart, Nick St. Nicholas, Rosilee St. Nicholas, Kurt Griffey, Michael Monarch, Ron Wikso, Denny Laine, and Randy Meisner in front of White House
Alliance Times-Herald (Alliance, NE) – Aug. 4, 2000
Christmas party for the World Classic Rockers at the Meisner home with Randy and Lana Meisner – Dec. 17, 2000
Kurt Griffey, Chris Morrison (WCR sound man), Nick St. Nicholas, Greg Calkins (WCR stage manager), Michael Monarch, Spencer Davis, Jesse Kassbaum (Nick’s son), and Randy Meisner sitting in front
Kurt Griffey, Randy Meisner, and Nick St. Nicholas
Michael Monarch and Randy Meisner
Another Christmas party for the World Classic Rockers at the Meisner home – probably between 1997-1999
Kurt Griffey, Randy Meisner, and Nick St. Nicholas
Kurt Griffey, Greg Calkins (WCR stage manager), Nick St. Nicholas, and Randy Meisner
Greg Calkins, Nick St. Nicholas, Jesse Kassbaum (Nick’s son), and Randy Meisner
Randy Meisner, Steve Stewart, Rosilee St. Nicholas, and Greg Calkins
Steve Stewart, Kurt Griffey, (maybe Nick’s son Devin Kassbaum in front of Kurt), Nick St. Nicholas, Greg Calkins, Randy Meisner, Michael Monarch, and Jesse Kassbaum
Lana Meisner and Randy Meisner
Central Park in Saugus (Santa Clarita, CA) – June 8, 2001
The Signal (Santa Clarita, CA) – July 13, 2001
Beach Ride at San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura, CA – July 15, 2001
Hits Magazine – June 15, 2001
Thousand Oaks Star (Thousand Oaks, CA) – July 13, 2001
Kurt Griffey and Randy Meisner on stage at the Beach Ride in Ventura, CA
NAPA Town and Country Fair in Napa, CA – Aug. 12, 2001
Napa Valley Register (Napa, CA) – Aug. 6, 2001
San Diego County Fair at Del Mar Fairgounds in Del Mar, CA – June 28, 2002
North County Times (Oceanside, CA) – June 6, 2002
Edgewater Resort in Laughlin, NV – July 13, 2002
Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ) – July 7, 2002
Rock Fest in Cadott, WI – July 20, 2002
More photos and articles about this 4-day festival on the Rock Fest page
The Capital Times-Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI) – Feb. 21, 2002
Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island in Hawaii – Dec. 31, 2002
Honolulu Advertiser (Honolulu, HI) – Dec. 19, 2002
San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville, CA – May 15, 2003
Desert Dispatch (Barstow, CA) – May 9, 2003
Desert Dispatch (Barstow, CA) – May 11, 2003
Ameristar Casino Bottleneck Blues Bar in St. Louis, MO -June 3, 2004
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, MO) – June 3, 2004
Golden Phoenix Hotel Casino in Reno, NV – Nov. 5, 2004
Reno Gazette-Journal (Reno, NV) – Nov. 4, 2004
The Canyon in Agoura Hills, CA – Dec. 18, 2004
Ventura County Star (Ventura, CA) – Nov. 25, 2004
New Year’s Eve at Hilton Waikoloa Village in Waikoloa, HI – Dec. 31, 2005
Hawaii Tribune-Herald (Hilo, HI) – Dec. 11, 2005
Bella Beach Party in Huntington Beach, CA – Sept. 9, 2006
Celebration of Bella Terra Shopping Center grand opening
Santa Ana Orange County Register (Santa Ana, CA) – Aug. 25, 2006
Art and Innocence Celebration in Santa Ana, CA – Sept. 23, 2006
Santa Ana Orange County Register (Santa Ana, CA) – Sept. 17, 2006
Naples Music Festival in Naples, FL – Apr. 6, 2008
It’s believed this show was the last WCR show and public appearance/performance that Randy participated in.
News-Press (Fort Myers, FL) – Apr. 5, 2008
Kurt Griffey, who was in WCR at the same time as Randy, introduces the 2018 release of Randy’s songs on a vinyl album. The album was released by Sonic Past Music, which specializes in releasing previously unreleased music. The record label was formed in 1998 by Joey Stec, who is a good friend of Randy’s and Kurt’s.
This was a Record Store Day 2018 special release.
Randy’s photo on the back of this album is one of the Topanga Canyon shots from the Henry Diltz photo shoot, and that photo was also used for a poster included with the purchase of the “On the Border” album.
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