Joe Walsh

For the former congressman and former presidential candidate, seeJoe Walsh (Illinois politician).For other people, seeJoseph Walsh (disambiguation).

Joe Walsh
Walsh performing with theEaglesatMadison Square Gardenin 2019
Background information
Birth name	Joseph Fidler
Also known as	"Clown Prince of Rock" "Average Joe"
Born	(1947-11-20)November 20, 1947 Wichita, Kansas,U.S.
Genres	Hard rock blues rock pop rock progressive rock country rock
Occupations	Musician songwriter
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	1965–present
Labels	Asylum Epic ABC Dunhill Probe Warner Bros. Full Moon Atlantic MCA Fantasy The Orchard
Member of	Eagles
Formerly of	James Gang Barnstorm Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band
Website	joewalsh.com

Joseph Fidler Walsh(bornJoseph Woodward Fidler;November 20, 1947)is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Best known as a member of the rock bandEagles,his five-decade career includes solo work and stints in other bands:James Gang,Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band,and New Zealand'sHerbs.He was part of thesupergroupThe Bestand had success as a solo artist and prolificsession musician,appearing on other artists' recordings. In 2011,Rolling Stoneranked him No. 54 on its list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".

In the mid-1960s, after attendingKent State University,Walsh played with several local Ohio bands before reaching national fame with theJames Gang,whose hit "Funk #49"showcased his skills. Roger Abramson signed the James Gang to BPI in Cleveland. After leaving the James Gang in 1972, Walsh formedBarnstormwithJoe VitaleandKenny Passarelli.Though the band produced three albums, their work was marketed as Walsh solo projects. The last Barnstorm album,So What(1974), featured significant contributions from Eagles members.

At producerBill Szymczyk's suggestion, Walsh joined the Eagles in 1975 as guitarist and keyboardist, replacing founding memberBernie Leadon.His first album with them wasHotel California.In 1998, aGuitaristmagazine reader's poll named the solos by Walsh andDon Felderon "Hotel California" the best guitar solos ever.Guitar Worldranked it eighth in the Top 100 Guitar Solos.As a member of the Eagles, Walsh was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Famein 1998, and theVocal Group Hall of Famein 2001. The Eagles are one of the most influential bands of the 1970s and remain one of the best-selling American bands in history.Walsh's contributions to music have been praised by rock legends likeJimmy Page,Eric Clapton,andPete Townshend.

Walsh has released 12 solostudio albums,sixcompilation albums,and twolive albums.His solo hits include "Rocky Mountain Way","Life's Been Good","All Night Long","A Life of Illusion",and"Ordinary Average Guy".

Early life and education

Walsh was born on November 20, 1947, inWichita, Kansas.His father, Lt. Robert Newton Fidler, was a pilot for theLockheed F-80 Shooting Starin theUnited States Air Forceand died in a plane crash inOkinawaon July 22, 1949.Walsh's mother, Helen, was a classically trained pianist ofScottishandGermanancestry.

Walsh was adopted by his stepfather at the age of five and given his stepfather's surname, but retained Fidler as his middle name. In the 1950s, it was common practice for children to take the name of their stepfather forSocial Security,school registration, and health records.Walsh and his family lived inColumbus, Ohio,for a number of years during his youth. When he was twelve, his family moved to New York City. Later, Walsh moved toMontclair, New Jerseyand attendedMontclair High School,where he playedoboein the school band.

Walsh acquired his first guitar at the age of 10, and upon learningthe Ventures' "Walk Don't Run",decided that he wanted to pursue a career as a guitarist.Inspired by the success ofthe Beatles,he replaced Bruce Hoffman as the bass player in the locally popular group the Nomads inMadison, New Jersey,beginning his career as a rock musician.

After high school, Walsh briefly attendedKent State University,where he spent time in various bands playing around theCleveland,Ohio,area, including the Measles. The Measles recorded forSuper K Productions'Ohio Expressthe songs "I Find I Think of You", "And It's True", and "Maybe" (an instrumental version of "And It's True" ). He planned to major in English and minor in music. Walsh has also stated he was present during theKent State massacrein 1970. Walsh commented in 2012: "Being at the shootings really affected me profoundly. I decided that maybe I don't need a degree that bad."After one term, he dropped out of college to pursue his musical career.

Musical career

1965–1967: The Measles

The Measles, an Ohio garage bar band, were formed in 1965 by fourKent State Universitystudents, one of whom was Joe Walsh. Two tracks on the Ohio Express'sBeg Borrow and Stealalbum, "I Find I Think Of You" and "And It's True" (both featuring Joe Walsh vocals), were actually recorded by the Measles, led by Walsh. Additionally, an instrumental version of "And It's True" was recorded by the Measles, re-titled "Maybe" and released as the B-side of the "Beg Borrow and Steal" single.

1968–1971: James Gang

Main article:James Gang

Walsh (left) with the James Gang, 1970

Around Christmas 1967, James Gang guitaristGlenn Schwartz,who turned out to beAWOLfrom the army and was breaking up with his wife, decided to leave the band to move to California, where he ended up forming the bandPacific Gas & Electric.Days later, Walsh, a friend of Schwartz's, knocked onJim Fox's door and asked to be given a tryout as Schwartz's replacement. Walsh was accepted and the band continued as a five piece for a short time until Phil Giallombardo, who was still in high school at the time, left. Bill Jeric and Walsh worked together on guitar parts, but Jeric left as well in the spring of 1968. He was replaced by a returning Ronnie Silverman, who had been discharged from the military.

In May 1968, the group played a concert in Detroit at theGrande Ballroom,opening forCream.At the last minute, Silverman told the others that he would not join them at the show. The band, desperately in need of the money, took to the stage as a trio. They liked their sound as a threesome and decided to remain that way.

In 1968, the band signed with manager Mark Barger, who was handling the career of fellow Ohio outfitthe Lemon Pipers,who had just scored a big hit with "Green Tambourine."Barger put the Gang in touch withABC Recordsstaff producerBill Szymczyk,who signed them to ABC's newBluesway Recordssubsidiary in January 1969.

They released their debut album,Yer' Album,in 1969. In November 1969, bassist Tom Kriss decided he was no longer into the music and left to be replaced by Dale Peters, who was brought in from a group called the Case of E.T. Hooley. The addition of Peters created the most successful incarnation of the James Gang. Walsh proved to be the band's star attraction, noted for his innovative rhythm playing and creative guitar riffs. In particular he was known for hot-wiring the pick-ups on his electric guitars to create his trademark "attack" sound.The James Gang had several minor hits and became an earlyalbum-oriented rockstaple for the next two years. It was during 1969 that Walsh sold his Les Paul Guitar toJimmy Page.Later in 1969, the group's record producer, Szymczyk, arranged for the band to appear in the "electric Western" filmZachariah,with two James Gang songs, "Laguna Salada" and "Country Fever," also being used. For the recording of these two songs, vocalist Kenny Weiss was brought in to allow Walsh to focus on his guitar playing; he was gone by the time the group arrived in Mexico to shoot their movie scenes. "Laguna Salada" and "Country Fever" later reappeared as bonus tracks on the 2000 re-release ofThe James Gang Greatest Hits.

Shortly before the release of their second albumJames Gang Rides Again,they opened a show forthe WhoinPittsburgh.Their guitaristPete Townshendmet with the James Gang before they left, impressed enough to invite them on the Who's subsequent European tour. When Walsh was asked about it, he said, "Pete's a very melodic player and so am I. He told me that he appreciated my playing. I was flattered beyond belief because I didn't think I was that good."

The James Gang's next two albums,James Gang Rides Again(1970) andThirds(1971), produced such classics as "Funk #49" and "Walk Away". The albumJames Gang Live at Carnegie Hallwas Walsh's last album with them, as he became dissatisfied with the band's limitations.

The two remaining members, Peters and Fox, carried on with lead vocalistRoy Kennerand guitaristDomenic Troiano(both ex-members of the Canadian bandBush) for two albums,Straight ShooterandPassin' Thru,both released in 1972. But in recent interviews, Fox stated that things did not work out musically with Troiano as hoped, so Troiano left the band in 1973 and later, in late 1974, joinedthe Guess Who.GuitaristTommy Bolinwas then brought into the band, after being recommended by Walsh.

1971–1975: Barnstorm

In December 1971, after Walsh left the James Gang,Steve Marriott,frontman guitarist ofHumble Pie,invited Joe to move to England and join his band, whichPeter Framptonhad left, but Walsh declined.Instead he moved to Colorado and formed a band calledBarnstorm,with drummer and multi-instrumentalistJoe Vitale,and bassistKenny Passarelli,although both of their albums credited Walsh as a solo artist. They started recording their debut album immediately after forming, but at the time there were only Walsh and Vitale on these sessions.Chuck Raineydid the first bass tracks on the album but these were soon replaced by Passarelli. Walsh and Barnstorm released their debut album, the eponymousBarnstorm,in October 1972. After taking a cue from Townshend, Walsh utilized theARP Odysseysynthesizerto great effect on such songs as "Mother Says" and "Here We Go". Walsh also experimented withacoustic guitar,slide guitar,effects pedals,fuzzbox,talk box,andkeyboardsas well as running his guitar straight into aLeslie speaker122 to get swirly, organ-like guitar tones. The album was a critical success, but had only moderate commercial success. The follow-up,The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get,released in June 1973, was marketed under Walsh's name (although officially a Barnstorm album) and was their commercial breakthrough. It peaked at No. 6 on the USBillboardchart. The first and leading single, "Rocky Mountain Way",received heavy airplay and reached No. 23 on the US Top 40 chart.It featured new member, keyboardist Rocke Grace, and Walsh shared the vocals and songwriting with the other three members of the band. As a result, a variety of styles are explored on this album. There are elements of blues, jazz, folk, pop, and Caribbean music. In 1974, Barnstorm disbanded and Walsh continued as a solo artist.

In late 1974, Walsh played slide guitar on Vitale's debut solo albumRoller Coaster Weekend.Walsh was taught the slide technique byDuane Allman,who played onEric Clapton'sLaylaofDerek and the Dominos.

Barnstorm's last tour was in the spring of 1975, shortly after Joe joined Eagles.

Walsh playing slide guitar with aGibson Les Paul Special,1975

1975–1980: Eagles

In 1975, Walsh was invited to join theEaglesas founding memberBernie Leadon's replacement. There was some initial concern as to Walsh's ability to fit in with the band, as he was considered far too "wild" for the Eagles, especially by their drummer and co-lead vocalist,Don Henley.

Released on December 8, 1976,Hotel Californiawas the band's fifth studio album and the first to feature Walsh. The album took a year and a half to complete, a process which, along with touring, drained the band.

The second single from the album was the eponymoustitle track,which topped the charts in May 1977 and became one of the Eagles' signature songs next to "Take It Easy"and"Desperado".It features Henley on lead vocals, with a guitar duet performed by Felder and Walsh.

The hard rock "Life in the Fast Lane",released on May 3, 1977, was based on a riff by Walsh. It reached No. 11 on the charts and helped establish Walsh's position in the band.

Hotel Californiawas the last album to feature founding memberRandy Meisner,who abruptly left the band after the 1977 tour. He was replaced by the same musician who had succeeded him inPoco:Timothy B. Schmit.

In 1977, the band, minus Don Felder, performed instrumental work and backing vocals forRandy Newman's albumLittle Criminals,including "Short People,"which has backing vocals by Frey and Schmit.

The Eagles went into the recording studio in 1977 to begin work on their next album,The Long Run.The album took two years to complete.The Long Runwas released on September 24, 1979. Considered a disappointment by some music critics for failing to live up toHotel California,it proved a huge commercial hit nonetheless; the album topped the charts and sold 7 million copies. In addition, it included three Top 10 singles— "Heartache Tonight",thetitle trackand "I Can't Tell You Why"."In the City"by Walsh also received considerable airplay. The band also recorded two Christmas songs during these sessions," Funky New Year "and "Please Come Home for Christmas" which was released as a single in 1978 and reached No. 18 on the charts. In 1980, the band broke up.

1973–2012: solo career

Walsh performing live atGulfstream ParkinHallandale Beach, Florida,September 2006

Walsh has released twelve solo studio albums.

In December 1974, Walsh released his first solo album that was not considered a Barnstorm project,So What,which contained more introspective material such as "Help Me Through the Night" and "Song for Emma", a tribute to Walsh's daughter who had been killed in a car accident that April. On a few tracks,Don Henley,Glenn FreyandRandy Meisnerof theEaglescontributed backing vocals.

In March 1976, Walsh released a live album,You Can't Argue with a Sick Mind,which also featured the Eagles.

As the Eagles struggled to record their follow-up toHotel California,Walsh re-ignited his solo career with the critically well-received album,But Seriously, Folks...in May 1978. It contained the single "Life's Been Good",his comedic depiction of rock stardom, which peaked at No. 12 on theBillboardHot 100and remains to date his biggest solo hit. Walsh also contributed "In the City"toThe Warriorssoundtrack in 1979, a song penned and sung by Walsh that was later rerecorded for the Eagles' studio album,The Long Run.

Following the breakup of the Eagles in July 1980, Walsh continued to release solo albums throughout the 1980s, but sales did not meet the same level of his earlier successes.

There Goes the Neighborhoodwas Walsh's first album since the demise of the Eagles, and it peaked at No. 20 on theBillboard200. The album only spawned one single, "A Life of Illusion",which became one of Walsh's most popular songs. The single also topped theHot Mainstream Rock Trackschart, in 1981.

"A Life of Illusion" was recorded in 1973 with Walsh's first solo band Barnstorm but was not completed. The overdubs and final mixes were completed during theThere Goes the Neighborhoodsessions and released on the album. The promotional video for the track shows the making of the album's cover. This song also appeared in the opening credits ofThe 40-Year-Old Virginand appears as the first song on its soundtrack.

In May 1983, Walsh releasedYou Bought It – You Name It;the album was received negatively by the majority of music critics, while other reviewers noted good points to the album. It was also not as successful as Walsh's previous albums, peaking at No. 48 on theBillboard200. Walsh found moderate success with the single "Space Age Whiz Kids",about the pinnacle of the 1980s video arcade craze. The album contains hard rock songs such as" I Can Play That Rock & Roll "and a cover of theDick Haymestrack, "Love Letters".It also contains more introspective material such as" Class of '65 ", and contains a song titled" I.L.B.T.s ", an acronym for" I Like Big Tits ".

Walsh's new girlfriendStevie Nickswas involved in his next album,The Confessor.Her old friendKeith Olsenwas hired to produce the album and the musicians were prolificLAsession musicians includingJim Keltner,Mike Porcaro,Waddy Wachtel,Randy Newman,Alan Pasqua,and many other musicians with whom Walsh had never worked.

In 1987, Walsh released his final solo album of the 1980s,Got Any Gum?,which was produced byTerry Manning,and features vocal contributions fromJD SoutherandSurvivor's lead vocalistJimi Jamison,but the album was a commercial disappointment.

In 1991,Ordinary Average Guy,his ninth solo studio album, and its title track single, were released on theEpiclabel. The album featuresRingo Starr,Jimi Jamison, and drummer Joe Vitale from Walsh's former band Barnstorm. Vitale also sings the lead vocals on the final track of the album, "School Days".

In 1992, Walsh released what appeared to be his final album (until 2012),Songs for a Dying Planet,his tenth solo studio album. Like its predecessor, it was released on the Epic label. Keen to re-establish himself after receiving some poor reviews for his previous album, Walsh enlisted his former producer Bill Szymczyk. His song "Vote for Me" was a minor success, peaking at No. 10 on theHot Mainstream Rock Trackschart.

Walsh's song "One Day at a Time" was released in 2012 and details his struggles with alcohol and drug abuse earlier in his career. The song appeared on Walsh's albumAnalog Man,which was released on June 5, 2012. The album was co-produced byJeff Lynne,withTommy Lee Jamesco-writing some of the album's tracks.

Eagles reunions with Walsh

Walsh performing with the Eagles, 2008

An Eagles country tribute album titledCommon Thread: The Songs of the Eagleswas released in 1993, thirteen years after the split.Travis Trittinsisted on having theLong Run-era Eagles in his video for "Take It Easy" and they agreed. Following years of public speculation, the band formally reunited the following year. The line-up comprised the fiveLong Run-era members—Frey, Henley, Walsh, Felder, and Schmit—supplemented byScott Crago(drums), John Corey (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals),Timothy Drury(keyboards, guitar, backing vocals), and Al Garth (saxophone, violin) on stage.

"For the record, we never broke up, we just took a 14-year vacation," announced Frey at their first live performance in April 1994. The ensuing tour spawned a live album titledHell Freezes Over(named for Henley's recurring statement that the band would get back together "when hell freezes over" ), which debuted at No. 1 on theBillboardalbum chart. It included four new studio songs, with "Get Over It"and"Love Will Keep Us Alive"both becoming Top 40 hits. The album proved as successful as the tour, selling 6 million copies in the U.S. The tour was interrupted in September 1994 because of Frey's serious recurrence ofdiverticulitis,but it resumed in 1995 and continued into 1996.

In 1998, the Eagles, including Walsh, were inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame.For the induction ceremony, all seven Eagles members (Walsh along with Frey, Henley, Leadon, Meisner, Felder, and Schmit) played together for two songs, "Take It Easy" and "Hotel California". Several subsequent reunion tours followed (without Leadon or Meisner), notable for their record-setting ticket prices.

The concert recordings were released on CD as part of the four-discSelected Works: 1972–1999box set in November 2000. Along with the millennium concert, this set included the band's hit singles, album tracks and outtakes fromThe Long Runsessions.Selected Worksreceivedplatinum certificationfrom theRIAAin 2002.

The line-up consisting of Walsh with Frey, Henley and Schmit toured beginning in 2001, and a greatest hits album including the entire Eagles career,The Very Best Of.,was released in 2003. A live two-disc DVD,Farewell 1 Tour-Live from Melbourne,including Walsh and featuring two new songs: Frey's "No More Cloudy Days" and Walsh's "One Day at a Time" was released in 2005.

In 2007, the Eagles, including Walsh, released a single, "How Long",written byJD Souther.Later that year, the Walsh-era Eagles releasedLong Road Out of Eden,their first album of all-new material since 1979. The album debuted at number 1 in the U.S.,the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Norway. It became their third studio album and seventh release overall to be certified at least seven times platinum byRIAA.The Eagles, including Walsh, began a world tour in support ofLong Road Out of Edenin 2008.

Other bands

In late 1984, Walsh was contacted by Australian musicianPaul Christie,the former bassist forMondo Rock.Christie invited him to come to Australia to perform withthe Party Boys,an all-star band with a floating membership of well-known Australian rock musicians, including the critically acclaimed guitaristKevin Borich,with whom Walsh became good friends. Walsh accepted and performed with the Party Boys on their late-1984–early-1985 Australian tour and appeared on their live album,You Need Professional Help.He remained in Australia for some time after the tour, putting together the short-lived touring band "Creatures From America", withWaddy Wachtel(guitar),Rick Rosas(bass guitar), and Australian drummerRichard Harvey(Divinyls,the Party Boys)In 1987, Walsh returned to the United States to work on his albumGot Any Gum?,which was produced byTerry Manningand features vocal contributions fromJD SoutherandSurvivor's lead singerJimi Jamison.After the album's commercial disappointment, Walsh decided to return to Australia in 1989 to tour with another incarnation of the Party Boys. Walsh also toured withRingo Starr & His All-Starr Bandin 1989 and 1992, alternating a handful of his best-known songs with Starr's and tunes by other members of the All-Starr Band.In 1989, Walsh recorded anMTV Unpluggedwith theR&B musicianDr. John.Also in 1989 Walsh filmed a live concert from the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles withEtta JamesandAlbert Collins,calledJazzvisions:Jump the Blues Away. While producing theirHomegrownalbum in 1989, Walsh briefly joined New Zealand reggae bandHerbs.Although he had left by the time of its 1990 release, he still appears as lead singer on two tracks, "Up All Night" and "It's Alright". The album includes the first recording of his "Ordinary Average Guys" (sung by late Herbs andBe Bop DeluxebassistCharlie Tumahai), which subsequently became a solo hit for Walsh as "Ordinary Average Guy".

In late 1990, Walsh was part of a band calledthe Best,along with keyboardistKeith Emerson,bassistJohn Entwistle,guitaristJeff "Skunk" Baxterand drummerSimon Phillips.The band performed several shows in Hawaii and Japan, with a live video resulting.

In 1993, Walsh teamed up withGlenn Freyfor the "Party of Two" tour in the United States. Also in 1993, Walsh,Terry Reid,Nicky Hopkins,Rick Rosas,andPhil Jonesput together an informal group called the Flew. They played one show at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. This was Nicky Hopkins' last public performance before his passing.

In 1996,James Gangdid a reunion for PresidentBill Clinton.The band consisted of their "classic" line-up (Walsh, Peters, Fox); they performed at theCleveland State University Convocation Centeron November 4, 1996.

In 1998,ABCwanted to use a classic rock song rock forMonday Night Footballthat year, so they asked Walsh to rewrite the lyrics to "Rocky Mountain Way" for the quarterbackJohn Elwayof theDenver Broncos."Rocky Mountain Elway" was the new title of the song and Walsh appeared in a video that ABC showed onMonday Night Football.

2000s and 2010s

In June 2004, Walsh performed atEric Clapton'sCrossroads Guitar FestivalinDallas, Texas.He was also featured in September 2004 atthe Strat Pack,a concert held in London, England, to mark the 50th anniversary of theFender Stratocasterguitar. In 2006, Walsh reunited withJim Foxand Dale Peters of the James Gang for new recordings and a 15-date summer reunion tour.The tour lasted into the fall.

In 2008, Walsh appeared on theCarvin 60th Anniversary Celebration DVDas a celebrity endorser. In the recorded interview, he highly praisedCarvin Guitarsand claims that the bridge design is "just like the first Les Paul models. I can't even get Gibson to reissue it."

Kent State Universityawarded Walsh an honorary degree in music in December 2001.In May 2012, theBerklee College of Musicawarded Walsh, along with other members of the Eagles, an honorary doctorate for his accomplishments in the field of music.

Notable appearances

Walsh performing with the Eagles in 2009

In 1974, Walsh producedDan Fogelberg'sSouvenirsalbum and played the guitar, electric guitar, 12 string guitar, ARP bass and provided backing vocals. He also contactedGraham Nashto sing harmony vocals on "Part of the Plan", which helped send the album to No. 17 on the 1975Billboardalbum chart.

In 1973 Walsh supplied the slide guitar solo onMichael Stanley's song "Rosewood Bitters". Walsh later lifted part of that solo and used it prominently in the Eagles' hit "Life in the Fast Lane".

In 1981, Walsh and former Barnstorm bandmateJoe Vitalewent to work on old friendJohn Entwistle's fifth solo albumToo Late the Hero,whenever they were free to work on it. The album turned out to becomeJohn Entwistle's best-charting solo album, with hit singles "Talk Dirty"and"Too Late the Hero".

Walsh was a background musician (1st guitar solo) onEaglesbandmemberDon Henley's 1982 hit "Dirty Laundry"(listed as such in the liner notes ofI Can't Stand StillandActual Miles: Henley's Greatest Hits). Walsh has also contributed to albums byRingo Starr;America;REO Speedwagon;Jay Ferguson;Andy Gibb;Wilson Phillips;Emerson, Lake & Palmer;andSteve Winwood;and to theRichard Marxhit single "Don't Mean Nothing".

Walsh was a regular guest DJ on Los Angeles radio stationKLOSduring the mid-1980s. They had a Saturday evening feature, with celebrity guest-hosts taking over the microphone (Walsh was the guest host far more frequently than any other). He was also a frequent guest and guest-host of Detroit and Chicago radio personalitySteve Dahl.

Onscreen, Walsh has appeared inThe Blues Brothers,Promised Land,The Drew Carey Show,Duckman,MADtv,Live from Daryl's House,Rock the Cradle,Zachariah.,andThe Conners

In October 2004, Walsh undertook speaking engagements inNew Zealandto warn against the dangers ofsubstance abuse.He said the visit was a "thank you" to people who took him to Otatara Pa when he toured New Zealand with reggae bandHerbswhile under heavy alcohol andcocaine addictionsin 1989, an experience he has cited as the beginning of a long journey back to good health.At Otatara Pa in 2004 Walsh said, "This is a special place, and it is very special to me. It was here on a visit many years ago, up on the hills, that I had a moment of clarity. I don't understand it, but I reconnected with my soul, and I remembered who I used to be. I admitted I had problems and I had to do something about it. It was the beginning of my recovery from my addiction to alcohol and drugs, and when I got back to America it gave me the courage to seek help."

On February 12, 2012, Walsh appeared on stage withPaul McCartney,Bruce Springsteen,Dave Grohl,and McCartney's band at theStaples Centerin Los Angeles to close out theGrammy Awards.Walsh also appeared on the 60th Episode ofLive from Daryl's HousewithDaryl Hall,which premiered on November 15, 2012.

On February 9, 2014, Walsh was featured in several songs on the CBS specialThe Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles.

In 2014, Walsh made a guest appearance onFoo Fighters' eighth studio albumSonic Highways.

On May 24, 2016, Walsh appeared onNBC'sThe Voicein which he playedslide guitar,talk boxand performedRocky Mountain Waywith contestant Laith Al-Sall

James Gang at 2022 VetsAid concert

On September 3, 2022, Walsh appeared inLondon,with recently reunitedJames Gang,at theTaylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadiumwhich was simulcasted live and worldwide on the web, television and streaming platforms; notably, on streaming serviceParamount +which aired a live complete/full version of the339 minute concert that was uncut without commercials.For their final song,Dave Grohlplayed with James Gang on'Funk #49'as a 2nd/backup drummer. Walsh sang lead vocals and played lead guitar (aPRS), including slide guitar, for 3 songs.

Walsh also appeared with theJames Gangat the September 27, 2022 Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at theKia ForuminInglewood, California,nearLos AngelesAs in London, their three-song set consisted of "Walk Away,""The Bomber: Closet Queen /Boléro/Cast Your Fate to the Wind"and"Funk #49"with Dave Grohl as the second drummer on the latter.

At the 2022 VetsAid benefit, Joe Walsh did double duty, performing a nine-song set with theJames Gangthen returning for a four-song finale backed byNathan East,Joe VitaleandTom Bukovac.Walsh was joined byDave Grohl,who played guitar on "Life's Been Good."On"Rocky Mountain Way,"Dave Grohlplayed drums,the Breederssang backing vocals and Roy Orbison III, godson of Walsh and grandson ofRoy Orbison,played guitar.

Influences

Walsh cites influences fromrockandpopbandsandguitarists,many of whom he has encountered onconcert tours:Les Paul,Jimi Hendrix,B.B. King,Chuck Berry,Little Richard,Eric Clapton,the Rolling Stones,the Beach Boys,Jeff Beck,the Beatles,Jimmy PageandLed Zeppelin,Ritchie BlackmoreandDeep Purple,Manfred Mann,Duane Allmanandthe Allman Brothers,Ronnie Woodand theFaces,Pete Townshendandthe Who,andthe Ventures.In turn, he has influencedDan Fogelberg,Maroon 5,Kenny Chesney,Jonny Lang,Blitzen Trapper,the Fabulous Thunderbirds,andGeorge Thorogood.Duane Allmanof theAllman Brothers Bandtaught Walsh how to play the slide guitar.

Public service

Walsh is active in charity work and has performed in a number of concerts to raise money for charitable causes. He has also been a personal contributor to a number of charity causes including halfway houses for displaced adult women inWichita, Kansas.Walsh funded the first talent-based scholarship atKent State Universityin 2008.

Walsh's love ofSanta Cruz Islandgrew into a lifelong commitment to conserve the environment there, and he has been active in preserving the island's parks. He is President of the Santa Cruz Island Foundation, and has served on the Foundation's board since the 1980s.

Walsh had often joked about running for office, announcing a mock presidential campaign in 1980 and a vice presidential campaign in 1992. Walsh ran for President of the United States in1980,promising to make "Life's Been Good"the new national anthem if he won, and ran on a platform of" FreeGasFor Everyone ".Though Walsh was only 32 at the time of the election and thus would not have met the 35-year-old requirement to actually assume office, he said that he wanted to raise public awareness of the election.In 1992 Walsh ran for vice president with Rev. Goat Carson under the slogan "We Want Our Money Back!"

In an interview to promote his albumAnalog Manin 2012, Walsh revealed he was considering a serious bid for political office. "I think I would run seriously, and I think I would run for Congress," Walsh toldWASHin Washington, D.C. "The root of the problem is that Congress is so dysfunctional. We're dead in the water until Congress gets to work and passes some new legislation to change things."

In 2017, Walsh contacted others in the music industry, including theZac Brown Band,Gary Clark Jr.,andKeith Urban,to try to organize and perform what became VetsAid– a concert series along the lines ofWillie Nelson'sFarm Aid.

Personal life

Walsh in front of hisvintage amateur radiostation WB6ACU, 2006

Joe Walsh, WB6ACU, on ham radio

Walsh has been married five times.He was married briefly to Margie Walsh in the 1960s, to Stefany Rhodes from 1971 to 1978, to Juanita Boyer from 1980 to 1988, and to Denise Driscoll from 1999 to 2006. Walsh married Marjorie Bach (sister ofBarbara Bachand sister-in-law ofRingo Starr)in Los Angeles on December 13, 2008.His sister-in-lawSusan Walshhas been a missing person since 1996.

Walsh's daughterLucy Walshis a musician who has worked withAshlee Simpsonand others. She released her debut solo album,Lost in the Lights,in 2007.

Walsh's eldest daughter, Emma Kristen, was born on April 29, 1971 and died on April 1, 1974,just shy of 3 years of age from injuries in a car accident on her way to nursery school. Her story inspired the track "Song for Emma" on Walsh's solo albumSo Whatreleased later that year. In her memory, he had a fountain and memorial plaque placed in a park in which she played, North Boulder Park inBoulder, Colorado.He has said that the album nameSo Whatwas a result of Emma's death, that nothing else seemed meaningful or important in the months that followed. The strain eventually contributed to Walsh's divorce from his second wife Stefany.While touring with singerStevie Nicksin 1984, Walsh took Nicks to the park's fountain; this inspired Nicks to write "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You?"on her 1985 albumRock A Little.Nicks told the UK'sThe Daily Telegraphin 2007 that Walsh had been "the great love of my life.""Joe and I broke up because of thecoke,"she elaborated toQ."He told my friend and singer Sharon[Celani],'I'm leaving Stevie, because I'm afraid that one of us is going to die. And the other one won't be able to save the other person, because our cocaine habit has become so over the top now that neither of us can live through this. So the only way to save both of us is for me to leave.' "

Neurodiversity

Walsh has mentioned havingattention deficit hyperactivity disorder,obsessive-compulsive disorderandAsperger syndrome.

Alcohol and drug addiction

Walsh admits to struggling with alcohol and drug addictions for most of his early career and has been inrecoverysince 1993.In 1989, while touring with New Zealand bandHerbs,Walsh experienced an "epiphany"during a visit to Otatara Pa, an ancientMāoripāsite in theHawke's Bay region.In 2004, on a return visit to New Zealand, Walsh described the experience and hailed it as the beginning of his recovery from his addiction.Walsh related the story that in 1994, he woke up after blacking out on an airplane to Paris. When he arrived, he had his passport, but did not remember getting on the plane. That was his turning point, and he has been sober ever since.

Amateur radio

While living in New York City, Walsh began a lifelong interest inamateur radio.He holds an Amateur Extra ClassAmateur RadioLicense, and his station callsign is WB6ACU.In 2006, he donated an autographed guitar to theARRLinNewington, Connecticut,for itscharityauction.He has also been involved with the group's "Big Project", which brings amateur radio into schools. Walsh has includedMorse Codemessages in his albums on two occasions: on the albumBarnstorm,( "Register and Vote" ); and onSongs for a Dying Planet,( "Register and Vote for Me" ).Walsh provides the theme song (which includes Morse code) for the TWiT podcastHam Nation(debuting in 2011), and he appeared as a guest in the first podcast,as well as episode 400.

Instruments

Jimmy Page's sunburst 1959Gibson Les Paul,better known as his "Number 1", was originally Walsh's; Walsh sold it to Page in 1969.

In 1970, Walsh gave a 1959Gretsch 6120tothe Who's lead guitaristPete Townshend.Townshend used the Gretsch in the studio to record tracks on albums such asWho's NextandQuadrophenia.

Select other guitars

Walsh'sFender Telecaster,on display in theHard Rock Cafe,Sydney,Australia, 2012

• CarvinDC4, CT6, CT4, CS4, and various other models
• Duesenberg Starplayer Alliance- Walsh has an Alliance guitar he co-developed
• PRS McCarty 594 Singlecut Joe Walsh- Signature model developed by Paul Reed Smith guitars in collaboration with Walsh

Amplifiers

• Marshall50-watt Plexi

Discography

Joe Vitale,Walsh andTed Jensenat theCapitol Theatre,2015

Main article:Joe Walsh discography

Solo

• The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get(1973)
• So What(1974)
• You Can't Argue with a Sick Mind(1976)
• But Seriously, Folks...(1978)
• There Goes the Neighborhood(1981)
• You Bought It – You Name It(1983)
• The Confessor(1985)
• Got Any Gum?(1987)
• Ordinary Average Guy(1991)
• Songs for a Dying Planet(1992)
• Analog Man(2012)

James Gang

• Yer' Album(1969)
• James Gang Rides Again(1970)
• Thirds(1971)

Barnstorm

• Barnstorm(1972)

Eagles

• Hotel California(1976)
• The Long Run(1979)
• Long Road out of Eden(2007)

Eagles lead vocals and writing

Lead vocals

Year	Song	Album
1976	"Pretty Maids All in a Row"	Hotel California
1979	"In the City"	The Long Run
2007	"Guilty of the Crime"	Long Road Out Of Eden
	"Last Good Time in Town"

Original songs

Year	Song	Writers	Album
1976	"Life in the Fast Lane"	Joe Walsh,Don Henley,Glenn Frey	Hotel California
1976	"Pretty Maids All in a Row"	Joe Walsh,Joe Vitale	Hotel California
1979	"The Sad Café"	Joe Walsh,JD Souther,Don Henley, Glenn Frey	The Long Run
1979	"In the City"	Joe Walsh and Barry DeVorzen	The Long Run
2007	"Last Good Time In Town"	Joe Walsh	Long Road Out of Eden

Note:Other songs in the Eagles catalog that were sung and written by Walsh include "Life's Been Good"and" All Night Long ", from Walsh's solo career, which were included onEagles Live,and "Funk #49", from Walsh's days in theJames Gang,was included on the fourth "Millennium Concert" disc of the Eagles box setSelected Works: 1972-1999.The band has also been known to play "Rocky Mountain Way," as seen on theFarewell Tour IDVD. These are not Eagles songs however, since the studio tracks did not originate under the Eagles name.

Filmography

Film

• 1971:ZachariahFilm by George Englund. WithDon Johnson:Himself with the James Gang.
• 1980:The Blues Brothers:A prisoner dancing on a table.
• 1990:The Best- DVD With Keith Emerson, Jeff Baxter, Joe Walsh, John Entwistle, Simon Phillips: Himself.

Television

• Mad TV,as himself, in Episode 1.2 (1995)
• Promised land,as R.J., "The Prodigy" (1996)
• Duckman,voicing himself, "They Craved Duckman's Brain!" (1996) and "Love! Anger! Kvetching!" (1997)
• The Drew Carey Show,7 episodes as Ed ( "Drewstock" (1997), "In Ramada Da Vida" (1998), "Golden Boy" (1998), "Drew Between the Rock and a Hard Place" (1998), "Boy Party/Girl Party" (1999), "Steve and Mimi Get Married" (1999), "Drew's in a Coma" (2001))
• Drew Carey's Improv All-Stars,guest (2001)
• Rock the Cradle(2008), a reality show, the father of contestantLucy Walsh
• Wicked City,as a director, "Running With the Devil" (2015)
• Criminal Minds,as himself, "The Sandman" (2016)
• Better Things,as himself "Hair of the Dog" (2016)
• The Conners,as Jesse, "Patriarchs and Goddesses" (2022), "A Judge and A Priest Walk Into A Living Room..." (2022)

Awards

• As a member of the Eagles, Walsh has won fiveGrammy Awards:
  • (1977)Record of the Year:"Hotel California"(single)
  • (1977) Best Arrangement for Voices: "New Kid in Town"
  • (1979) Best Rock Vocal performance by a Duo or Group: "Heartache Tonight"
  • (2008) Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: "How Long"
  • (2009)Best Pop Instrumental Performance:"I Dreamed There Was No War"
• Walsh was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Famein 1998
• Walsh was inducted into theVocal Group Hall of Famein 2001

See also

• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart

Further reading

• Walsh, Joe (1996).Look What I Did! And Then Some....Hal Leonard Corporation.ISBN978-0793544714
• Lemco, Steve (2011).Joe & Me.CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.ISBN978-1463612276

External links

• Official website
• Joe WalshatAllMusic
• Joe Walshdiscography atDiscogs
• Joe WalshatIMDb
• "Joe Walsh".Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.