Joe Walsh

Joe Walsh

Walsh performing live at the The Troubadour, West Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, in 2012
Background information
Birth name Joseph Fidler Walsh
Also known as "Clown Prince of Rock"
"Average Joe"
Born November 20, 1947
Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • multi-instrumentalist
  • record producer
Instruments
Vocals, Guitar, Organ
Years active 1964–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website joewalsh.com
Notable instruments
Gibson Les Paul
Fender Stratocaster
Fender Telecaster
Rickenbacker 330JG

Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh (born November 20, 1947)[1] is an American singer, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Walsh has been a member of five successful rock bands: the Eagles, the James Gang, Barnstorm, The Party Boys, and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. In the 1990s, he was also a member of the short-lived supergroup The Best. He has also experienced success both as a solo artist and prolific session musician, being featured on a wide array of other artists' recordings. In 2011, Rolling Stone placed Walsh at the number 54 spot on its list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."[2]

Walsh joined the Eagles in 1975 as the group's keyboardist and guitarist following the departure of their founding member Bernie Leadon, with Hotel California being his first album with the band.[3] In 1998 Guitarist magazine selected the guitar solos on the track "Hotel California" by Walsh and Don Felder[4] as the best guitar solos of all time, and eighth of the Top 100 Guitar Solos.[5]

Walsh pursued a solo career and released his debut album The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get in 1973. Since then, he has released twelve studio albums, six compilation albums and two live albums. His solo hits include "Rocky Mountain Way", "Life's Been Good", "All Night Long", "A Life of Illusion", "Space Age Whiz Kids", "The Confessor", "The Radio Song" and "Ordinary Average Guy".

As a member of the Eagles, Walsh was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001. The Eagles are considered to be one of the most influential bands of the 1970s, and they remain the best-selling American band in the history of popular music.[6] Walsh's creative contribution to music has received praise from many of the best rock guitarists, including Led Zeppelin's former guitarist Jimmy Page, who praised Walsh by saying "He has a tremendous feel for the instrument. I've loved his style since the early James Gang."[7] Cream's former guitarist, Eric Clapton said that "He's one of the best guitarists to surface in some time. I don't listen to many records, but I listen to his."[7] The Who's guitarist Pete Townshend, a friend of Walsh's, commented that "Joe Walsh is a fluid and intelligent player. There're not many like that around."[2][7]


Early life and education

Joseph Fidler Walsh was born in Wichita, Kansas. His mother was a classically trained pianist of Scottish and German ancestry, and Walsh was adopted by his stepfather at the age of five after his biological father was killed in a plane crash. In the 1950s, it was common practice for Social Security, school registration, and health records for children to take the name of their stepfather, but Walsh's birth father's last name was Fidler, so he took that as his middle name.[8] Walsh and his family lived in Columbus, Ohio, for a number of years during his youth. When Walsh was twelve years old, his family moved to New York City. Later, Walsh moved to Montclair, New Jersey, and he attended Montclair High School, where he played oboe in the school band. Inspired by the success of the Beatles, he replaced Bruce Hoffman as the bass player in the locally popular group the Nomads in Montclair, beginning his career as a rock musician. After high school, Walsh attended Kent State University, where he spent time in various bands playing around the Cleveland area, including the Measles. The Measles recorded for Super K Productions' Ohio Express: "I Find I Think of You", "And It's True", and "Maybe" (an instrumental version of "And It's True"). After one term, he dropped out of university to pursue his musical career.[7]

Musical career

1968-1971: James Gang

Main article: James Gang
Walsh (first from left) with the James Gang, in 1970

Around Christmas time of 1967, James Gang guitarist Glenn Schwartz, who turned out to be AWOL from the army and was breaking up with his wife, decided to leave the band to move to California, where he ended up forming the band Pacific Gas & Electric.[9] Just days later, shortly after the new year of 1968 had dawned, a friend of Schwartz's, Joe Walsh (from a fellow band called The Measles), knocked on Jim 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. Jeric and Walsh worked together on guitar parts but Jeric ended up leaving as well in the spring of 1968. He was then replaced by a returning Ronnie Silverman, who had been discharged from the military.

In May 1968, the group played a concert in Detroit at Motown's Grande Ballroom opening for Cream. At the last minute, Silverman informed the others that he would not be joining 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 a fellow Ohio outfit The Lemon Pipers, who had just scored a big hit with "Green Tambourine." Barger put the Gang in touch with ABC Records staff producer Bill Szymczyk, who signed them to ABC's new Bluesway Records subsidiary in January 1969.[9]

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 another group called E.T. Hoolie. 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.[10] The James Gang had several minor hits and became an early album-oriented rock staple for the next two years. Later in 1969, the group's producer, Bill Szymczyk arranged for the band to appear in the "electric Western" film Zachariah, 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 as a means of allowing Walsh to focus on his guitar playing. Weiss, however, 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 of The James Gang Greatest Hits.[11]

Shortly before the release of their second album James Gang Rides Again, the James Gang opened a show for the legendary rock band, the Who in Pittsburgh. Their guitarist Pete Townshend met with the James Gang before they left and was impressed enough to invite them on The Who's subsequent European tour. When Walsh was asked about this he said that, "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."[7]

The James Gang's next two albums, James Gang Rides Again (1970) and Thirds (1971), produced such classics as "Funk #49" and "Walk Away". The album James Gang Live at Carnegie Hall was 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 the lead vocalist Roy Kenner and guitarist Domenic Troiano (both ex-members of the Canadian band Bush) for two albums, Straight Shooter and Passin' Thru, both released in 1972. But in recent interviews, Fox stated that things didn't work out musically with Troiano as hoped, so he left the band in 1973 and would subsequently join The Guess Who.

1971-1973: Barnstorm

In November 1971, Walsh left the James Gang and formed a band called Barnstorm, with drummer/multi-instrumentalist Joe Vitale, and bassist Kenny 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 Rainey, did the first bass tracks on the album but these were soon replaced by Passarelli. Walsh and Barnstorm released their debut album, the eponymous Barnstorm in October 1972. After taking a cue from Townshend, Walsh utilized the ARP Odyssey synthesizer to great effect on such songs as "Mother Says" and "Here We Go." Walsh also experimented with acoustic guitar, slide guitar, fuzzboxes and keyboards as well as running his guitar straight into a Leslie 122 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 #6 on the US Billboard chart. The first and leading single, "Rocky Mountain Way" received heavy airplay and reached #23 on the US Top 40 chart.[12] 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 even Caribbean music. In 1974 Barnstorm disbanded and Walsh continued as a solo artist.[13]

In late 1974, Walsh played slide guitar on the former Barnstorm band mate Joe Vitale's debut solo album Roller Coaster Weekend.

1975-1980: the Eagles

In 1975, Walsh was invited to move to England and join Humble Pie by Steve Marriott, since Peter Frampton had left the band. Walsh decided to decline his offer,[7] and instead he would join the Eagles as Bernie 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.[14]

Released on December 8, 1976, Hotel California was 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 album's first single, "New Kid in Town," became the Eagles' third number 1 single.

The second single was the eponymous "title track", which topped the charts in May 1977 and became the Eagles' signature song. It features Henley on lead vocals, with a guitar duet performed by Felder and Walsh. The song was written by Felder, Henley and Frey, with Felder writing all the music. The mysterious lyrics have been interpreted in many ways, some of them controversial. Rumors even started in certain quarters that the song was about Satanism. The rumor was dismissed by the band and later by Henley in the documentary film History of the Eagles. Henley told 60 Minutes in 2007 that "it's basically a song about the dark underbelly of the American Dream and about excess in America, which was something we knew about."[15]

With its hard rock sound, "Life in the Fast Lane" was also a major success that established Walsh's position in the band. The third and final single from Hotel California, it reached number 11 on the charts. The ballad "Wasted Time" closes the first side of the album, while an instrumental reprise of it opens the second side. The album concludes with '"The Last Resort," a song that Frey once referred to as "Henley's opus," but which Henley described as "fairly pedestrian" and "never fully realized, musically speaking."[16]

The run-out groove on side two has the words "V.O.L. Is Five-Piece Live" etched into the vinyl, which means that the instrumental track for the song "Victim of Love" was recorded live in the studio, with no overdubs. Henley confirms this in the liner notes of The Very Best Of. However, the song was a point of contention between Don Felder and the rest of the band. In the 2013 documentary, Felder claimed that he had been promised the lead vocal on "Victim of Love," for which he had written most of the music. After many unproductive attempts to record Felder's vocal, band manager Irving Azoff was delegated to take Felder out for a meal, removing him from the mix while Don Henley overdubbed his lead vocal. Joe Walsh said that Felder never forgave them for the snub.

Hotel California has appeared on several lists of the best albums of all time,[17] and is the band's best-selling studio album, with more than 16 million copies sold in the U.S. alone and more than 32 million copies worldwide. The album won Grammys for "Record of the year" ("Hotel California") and "Best arrangement for voices" ("New Kid in Town"). Hotel California topped the charts and was nominated for Album of the Year at the 1978 Grammy Awards, but lost to Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. The huge worldwide tour in support of the album further drained the band members and strained their personal and creative relationships.

Hotel California is the last album to feature founding member Randy Meisner, who abruptly left the band after the 1977 tour. The Eagles had been touring continuously for eleven months and Meisner was suffering from stomach ulcers and the flu by the time they arrived in Knoxville in July.[18] Frey and Meisner had been continually arguing about Meisner's unwillingness to perform his signature song, "Take It To the Limit," during the tour, as Meisner was struggling to hit the crucial high notes in the song due to his ailments.[19] During the following show, Meisner decided to skip the song due to his flu, but when Frey aggressively demanded that he sing it as an encore the two got into a physical confrontation backstage and Meisner left the venue.[20] Despite pleas from Felder and Walsh, Meisner decided to leave the group after the final date of the tour and returned to Nebraska to be with his family. His last performance was in East Troy, Wisconsin on September 3, 1977.[21] The band replaced Meisner with the same musician who had succeeded him in Poco, Timothy B. Schmit, after agreeing that Schmit was the only candidate.[22]

In 1977, the group, minus Don Felder, performed instrumental work and backing vocals for Randy Newman's album Little Criminals, including "Short People," which has backup 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. It was originally intended to be a double album, but the band members were unable to write enough songs. The Long Run was released on September 24, 1979. Considered a disappointment by some critics for failing to live up to Hotel 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" became their last single to top the Hot 100, on November 10, 1979. The "title track" and "I Can't Tell You Why" both reached number 8. The band won their fourth Grammy for "Heartache Tonight." "In The City" by Walsh and "The Sad Cafe" became live staples. 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 number 18 on the charts.

Frey, Henley and Schmit contributed backup vocals for the single release of "Look What You've Done to Me" by Boz Scaggs. A different version with female backing vocals appears on the Urban Cowboy soundtrack, along with the Eagles' 1975 hit "Lyin' Eyes."

On July 31, 1980, in Long Beach, California, tempers boiled over into what has been described as "Long Night at Wrong Beach."[23][24] The animosity between Felder and Frey boiled over before the show began, when Felder said, "You're welcome – I guess" to California Senator Alan Cranston's wife as the politician was thanking the band backstage for performing a benefit for his reelection.[25] Frey and Felder spent the entire show telling each other about the beating each planned to administer backstage. "Only three more songs until I kick your ass, pal," Frey recalls Felder telling him near the end of the band's set.[26] Felder recalls Frey telling him during "Best of My Love", "I'm gonna kick your ass when we get off the stage."[23][27]

It appeared to be the end of the Eagles, but the band still had a commitment with Elektra Records to make a live record from the tour. Eagles Live (released in November 1980) was mixed on opposite coasts. Frey had already quit the band and would remain in Los Angeles, while the other band members each worked on their parts in Miami.[28] "We were fixing three-part harmonies courtesy of Federal Express," said producer Bill Szymczyk.[29] Frey refused to speak to the other Eagles, and he fired Irving Azoff as his manager.[28] With credits that listed no fewer than five attorneys, the album's liner notes simply said, "Thank you and goodnight." A single released from the album – "Seven Bridges Road" – had been a live concert staple for the band. It was written by Steve Young in an arrangement created by Iain Matthews for his Valley Hi album in 1973. The song reached number 21 on the charts in 1980, becoming the Eagles' last Top 40 single until 1994.

1973–2012: solo career

Walsh performing live at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida, in 2006

Walsh has released twelve solo albums. The first was The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get.

In December 1974, Walsh released an official solo album, 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 the previous year. On a few tracks, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Randy Meisner of the Eagles contributed backing vocals.

In March 1976, he released a live album, You Can't Argue with a Sick Mind, which also featured the Eagles. This would be his last solo album until 1978.

As the Eagles struggled to record their follow-up to Hotel California, Walsh re-ignited his solo career with the critically well-received album, But Seriously, Folks... in May 1978, and "Life's Been Good", which featured his hit comedic depiction of rock stardom, peaked at #12 on the US Billboard Hot 100[30] and remains to date his biggest solo hit. Walsh also contributed "In the City" to The Warriors soundtrack 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.[31]

There Goes the Neighborhood was Walsh's first album since the demise of the Eagles, and it peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200. The album only spawned one single, "A Life of Illusion", which would become one of Walsh's most popular songs. The single also topped the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, 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 the There Goes the Neighborhood sessions and released on the album. The promotional video for the track shows the coming to life of the album's cover. This song also appeared in the opening credits of The 40-Year-Old Virgin and appears as the first song on its soundtrack.

Another track, "Rivers (of the Hidden Funk)", was a track Walsh wrote for the Eagles' 1979 album The Long Run, but was left off. The track featured a guest appearance by Walsh's Eagles-mate Don Felder (who co-wrote the track) on talk box guitar. "Rivers..." received a good bit of FM radio airplay.

The album's final track, "You Never Know", is a song about rumors and hearsay, including not-so-veiled swipes at other members of the Eagles and their management with lines like "The Frontline grapevine jury's in a nasty mood / you might be guilty, honey, you never know." (Frontline Management was Irving Azoff's management firm at the time). Felder appears on guitar on this track performing rhythm and dual lead guitar solos with Walsh.

In May 1983, Walsh released You 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 #48 on the Billboard 200. However, Walsh found some 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 the Dick Haymes track, "Love Letters". It also contains more introspective material such as "Class of '65", and contains a song titled "I.L.B.T.s", an abbreviation for "I Like Big Tits".

His next album, The Confessor, would be something that Walsh's new girlfriend Stevie Nicks would get involved with. Nicks' old friend Keith Olsen was hired to produced the album and the musicians were prolific LA session musicians including: Jim Keltner, Mike Porcaro, Waddy Wachtel, Randy Newman, Alan Pasqua and many other musicians that Walsh had never worked with before.[32]

In 1987, Walsh released his final solo album of the 1980s, Got Any Gum?, which was produced by Terry Manning, and features vocal contributions from J. D. Souther and Survivor's lead vocalist Jimi Jamison, but the album was a commercial disappointment.

Walsh's song "One Day at a Time" released in 2012, details his struggles with alcohol and drug abuse earlier in his career. The song appeared on Walsh's album Analog Man, which was released on June 5, 2012. The album was co-produced by Jeff Lynne, with Tommy Lee James co-writing some of the album's tracks.[33]

Recent Eagles work

Walsh performing live with the Eagles in December 2008

An Eagles country tribute album titled Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles was released in 1993, thirteen years after the breakup. Travis Tritt insisted on having the Long 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 lineup comprised the five Long Run-era members—Frey, Henley, Walsh, Felder and Schmit—supplemented by Scott Crago (drums), John Corey (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals), Timothy Drury (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals) and Al Garth (sax, 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 titled Hell Freezes Over (named for Henley's recurring statement that the group would get back together "when hell freezes over"), which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard album 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 of diverticulitis, but it resumed in 1995 and continued into 1996.[34] In 1998, the Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For the induction ceremony, all seven Eagles members (Frey, Henley, Felder, Walsh, Schmit, Leadon and Meisner) 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.[35][36]

The Eagles performed at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on December 28 and 29, 1999, followed by a concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on December 31. These concerts marked the last time Felder played with the band and these shows (including a planned video release) would later form a part of a lawsuit filed by Felder against his former bandmates. The concert recordings were released on CD as part of the four-disc Selected Works: 1972–1999 box set in November 2000. Along with the millennium concert, this set included the band's hit singles, album tracks and outtakes from The Long Run sessions. Selected Works sold 267,000 copies at about $60 a unit. The group resumed touring in 2001, with a line-up consisting of Frey, Henley, Walsh and Schmit, along with Steuart Smith (guitars, mandolin, keyboards, backing vocals; essentially taking over Felder's role), Michael Thompson (keyboards, trombone), Will Hollis (keyboards, backing vocals), Scott Crago (drums, percussion), Bill Armstrong (Horns), Al Garth (sax, violin), Christian Mostert (sax) and Greg Smith (sax, percussion).

In 2003, the Eagles released a greatest hits album, The Very Best Of.[37] The two-disc compilation was the first that encompassed their entire career, from Eagles to Hell Freezes Over. It debuted at number 3 on the Billboard charts and eventually gained triple platinum status. The album includes a new single, the September 11 attacks-themed "Hole in the World." Also in 2003, Warren Zevon, a longtime Eagles friend, began work on his final album, The Wind, with the assistance of Henley, Walsh and Schmit.

On June 14, 2005, the Eagles released a new 2-DVD set titled Farewell 1 Tour-Live from Melbourne, featuring two new songs: Frey's "No More Cloudy Days" and Walsh's "One Day at a Time." A special edition 2006 release exclusive to Walmart and affiliated stores includes a bonus audio CD with three new songs: a studio version of "No More Cloudy Days," "Fast Company" and "Do Something."[38]

In 2007, the Eagles consisted of Frey, Henley, Walsh and Schmit. On August 20, 2007, "How Long," written by J. D. Souther, was released as a single to radio with an accompanying online video at Yahoo! Music. It debuted on television on Country Music Television during the Top 20 Countdown on August 23, 2007. The band had performed the song as part of their live sets in the early to mid-1970s, but did not record it at the time because Souther wanted to reserve it for use on his first solo album. Souther had previously worked with the Eagles, co-writing some of their biggest hits, including "Best of My Love," "Victim of Love," "Heartache Tonight" and "New Kid in Town."

On October 30, 2007, the Eagles released Long Road Out of Eden, their first album of all-new material since 1979. For the first year after the album's release, it was available in the U.S. only via the band's website, at Walmart and at Sam's Club stores.[39] It was commercially available through traditional retail outlets in other countries. The album debuted at number 1 in the U.S.,[40] the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands and Norway. It became their third studio album and seventh release overall to be certified at least seven times platinum by the RIAA.[41] Henley told CNN that "This is probably the last Eagles album that we'll ever make."[42]

The Eagles made their awards show debut on November 7, 2007, when they performed "How Long" live at the Country Music Association Awards.

On January 28, 2008, the second single of Long Road Out of Eden was released. "Busy Being Fabulous" peaked at number 28 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and at number 12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. The Eagles won their fifth Grammy in 2008, in the category Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "How Long."

On March 20, 2008, the Eagles launched their world tour in support of Long Road Out of Eden at The O2 Arena in London. The Long Road Out of Eden Tour concluded the American portion of the tour at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah on May 9, 2009. It was the first concert ever held in the new soccer stadium. The tour traveled to Europe, with its final concert date on July 22, 2009, in Lisbon. The band spent the summer of 2010 touring North American stadiums with the Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban. The tour expanded to England as the headline act of the Hop Farm Festival on July 1, 2011.

Asked in November 2010 whether the Eagles were planning a follow-up to Long Road Out of Eden, Schmit replied, "My first reaction would be: no way. But I said that before the last one, so you never really know. Bands are a fragile entity and you never know what's going to happen. It took a long time to do that last album, over a span of years, really, and it took a lot out of us. We took a year off at one point. I'm not sure if we're able to do that again. I wouldn't close the door on it, but I don't know."[43] Walsh said in 2010 that there might be one more album before the band "wraps it up."[44]

In February 2013 the Eagles released a career spanning documentary called History of the Eagles and kicked off the supporting tour with 11 arena dates from July 6 to 25.[45] Henley said that the tour, which would continue until 2015,[46] "could very well be our last...we're gonna include at least one former band member in this tour and kinda go back to the roots, and how we created some of these songs. We're gonna break it down to the fundamentals and then take it up to where it is now."[47] Original Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon also appeared on the tour. Walsh stated, "Bernie’s brilliant, I never really got a chance to play with him, but we've been in contact. We see him from time to time, and I'm really glad he's coming because it's going to take the show up a notch, and I'm really looking forward to playing with him, finally."[48] However, it has been reported that former members Randy Meisner and Don Felder will not appear.[46] Meisner had been invited but could not participate due to health problems, while Felder was never asked due to ongoing legal disputes with the band.[46]

Other bands

Walsh performing live with a slide guitar, in 1975

In late 1984 Walsh was contacted by Australian musician Paul Christie, the former bassist for Mondo Rock. Christie invited him to come to Australia to perform with the Party Boys, an all-star group with a floating membership of well-known Australian rock musicians. These included the critically acclaimed guitarist Kevin 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 group "Creatures From America", with Waddy Wachtel (guitar), Rick Rosas (bass) and Australian drummer Richard Harvey (Divinyls, the Party Boys)[31] In 1987, Walsh returned to the United States to work on his album Got Any Gum?, which was produced by Terry Manning and features vocal contributions from J. D. Souther and Survivor's lead vocalist Jimi 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 would also tour with Ringo Starr in 1989, alternating a handful of his best-known songs with Starr's tunes, as he did with all of the members of the "All Starr" band.[49] In 1989, Walsh recorded a MTV Unplugged with the R&B musician Dr. John. Also in 1989 Walsh filmed a live concert from the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles with Etta James and Albert Collins, called Jazzvisions: Jump the Blues Away.[50]

While producing their Homegrown album in 1989, Walsh briefly joined New Zealand reggae band Herbs. Although he had left by the time of its 1990 release, he still appears as lead vocalist 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 bassist Charlie Tumahai), which subsequently became a solo hit for Walsh as "Ordinary Average Guy".[51]

In late 1990, Walsh was part of a band called the Best, along with keyboardist Keith Emerson, bassist John Entwistle, guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and drummer Simon Phillips. The band performed several shows in Hawaii and Japan, with a live video resulting.[52]

In 1996, James Gang did a reunion for the Democratic president, Bill Clinton. The band consisted of their "classic" lineup (Walsh, Peters, Fox), and they performed at the Cleveland State University Convocation Center on November 4, 1996.

In 1998, ABC wanted to use a classic rock song rock for Monday Night Football that year, so they asked Walsh to rewrite the lyrics to "Rocky Mountain Way" for the quarterback John Elway of the Denver Broncos. "Rocky Mountain Elway" was the new title of the song and Walsh appeared in a video that ABC showed on the Monday Night Football.

2000s and 2010s

In June 2004, Walsh performed at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas, Texas. He was also featured in September 2004 at the Strat Pack, a concert held in London, England, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Fender Stratocaster guitar. In 2006, Walsh reunited with Jim Fox and Dale Peters of the James Gang for new recordings and a 15-date summer reunion tour.[53] The tour lasted into the fall.

In 2008, Walsh appeared on the Carvin 60th Anniversary Celebration DVD as a celebrity endorser. In the recorded interview, he highly praised Carvin guitars and claims that the bridge design is "just like the first Les Paul models. I can't even get Gibson to reissue it."[31]

Kent State University awarded Walsh an honorary degree in music in December 2001.[54] In May 2012, the Berklee College of Music awarded Walsh, along with other members of the Eagles, an honorary doctorate for his accomplishments in the field of music.[55]

Notable appearances

Walsh performing live with the Eagles in 2009

In 1974 Walsh produced Dan Fogelberg's Souvenirs album and played the guitar, electric guitar, 12 string guitar, arp bass and provided backing vocals. He also contacted Graham Nash to sing harmony vocals on "Part of the Plan", which helped send the album to #17 on the 1975 Billboard album chart.[56]

In 1981 Walsh and former Barnstorm bandmate, Joe Vitale, went to work on old friend John Entwistle's fifth solo album Too Late the Hero, whenever they were free to work on it. The album turned out to become John Entwistle's best-charting solo album, with hit singles "Talk Dirty" and "Too Late the Hero."[57]

Walsh was a background musician (1st guitar solo) on Eagles bandmate Don Henley's 1982 hit "Dirty Laundry" (listed as such in the liner notes of I Can't Stand Still and Actual Miles: Henley's Greatest Hits). Walsh played guitar throughout Who bassist John Entwistle's 1981 solo album Too Late The Hero. Walsh has also contributed to albums by: America, REO Speedwagon, Jay Ferguson, Andy Gibb, Wilson Phillips, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Steve Winwood, and on the Richard Marx hit "Don't Mean Nothing".[58]

Walsh was a regular guest deejay on Los Angeles radio station KLOS during 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 been a frequent guest and guest-host of Detroit and Chicago radio personality Steve Dahl.[59]

Onscreen, Walsh has appeared in: The Blues Brothers, RoboCop, Promised Land, The Drew Carey Show, Duckman, MADtv, Live from Daryl's House, Rock the Cradle and Zachariah.[59]

In October 2004, Walsh undertook speaking engagements in New Zealand to warn against the dangers of substance abuse. He said the visit was a "thank you" to people who took him to Otatara Pa when he toured New Zealand with reggae band Herbs while under heavy alcohol and cocaine addictions in 1989, an experience he has cited as the beginning of a long journey back to good health.[60] 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."[61]

On February 12, 2012, Walsh appeared on stage with Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl, and McCartney's band at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to close out the Grammy Awards show.[59] Walsh also appeared on the 60th Episode of Live from Daryl's House with Daryl Hall, which premiered on November 15, 2012.[62]

On February 9, 2014, Walsh was featured in several songs on the CBS special The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to The Beatles.[63]

In 2014, Walsh made a guest appearance on Foo Fighters' eighth studio album Sonic Highways.[64]

Charity causes

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 in Wichita, Kansas. Walsh funded the first talent-based scholarship at Kent State University in 2008.[65]

Influences

Walsh cites influences including Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, Jeff Beck, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Manfred Mann, and the Faces. In turn he has influenced Dan Fogelberg, Maroon 5, Kenny Chesney, Jonny Lang, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and George Thorogood.[66] Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band taught Walsh how to play the slide guitar.[67]

Personal life

Joe Walsh in front of his vintage amateur radio station WB6ACU
Joe Walsh, WB6ACU, on ham radio

Joe Walsh has been married five times.[68] He was married briefly to Margie Walsh in the 1960s, to Stephanie Walsh from 1971 to 1978, to Juanita Boyer from 1980 to 1988 and to Denise Driscoll from 1999 to 2006. Walsh married Marjorie Bach (sister of Barbara Bach and sister-in-law of Ringo Starr)[49] in Los Angeles on December 13, 2008.[69]

Walsh's daughter Lucy Walsh is also a musician who has worked with Ashlee Simpson and others. She released her debut solo album, Lost in the Lights, in spring 2007.[70]

Walsh's eldest daughter, Emma Kristen, was born in 1971 and died in 1974 at only 3 years old as a result of injuries suffered in an automobile accident on her way to nursery school. Her story inspired the track "Song For Emma" on Walsh's first "official" solo album So What released later that year. In her memory, he had a fountain and memorial plaque placed in a park in which she played: North Boulder Park in Boulder, Colorado, He has said that the album name ("So What") was a result of Emma's death—that nothing else seemed meaningful or important in the months that followed. The strain would eventually contribute to Walsh's divorce from his second wife Stephanie.[71] While touring with singer Stevie Nicks in 1984, Walsh took Nicks to the park's fountain; Nicks subsequently immortalized this story in her song "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You?" on her 1985 album Rock A Little. When discussing their relationship, Nicks stated in a 2007 interview with the UK's The Daily Telegraph that Walsh had been "the great love of her life."[72]

Walsh admits to struggling with alcohol and drug addictions for most of his career; however, he has been in recovery since 1995.[73] In 1989 while touring with New Zealand band Herbs, Walsh experienced an "epiphany" during a visit to an ancient Māori pā site in the Hawke's Bay region. In 2004 on a return visit to New Zealand, Walsh intimated the experience and referred to it as the beginning of his recovery from his addiction.[74][75] Walsh related the story that in 1994 he woke up after blacking out on an airplane to Paris, France. 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.

While living in New York City, Walsh began a lifelong interest in amateur radio. Walsh holds an Amateur Extra Class Amateur Radio License, and his station callsign is WB6ACU.[76] In 2006 he donated an autographed guitar to the ARRL in Newington, Connecticut, for its charity auction. He has also been involved with the group's "Big Project," which brings amateur radio into schools. Walsh has included Morse Code messages in his albums on two occasions: once on the album Barnstorm ("Register and Vote"), and later on Songs for a Dying Planet ("Register and Vote for Me").[77]

Running for Congress

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 in 1980, promising to make "Life's Been Good" the new national anthem if he won, and ran on a platform of "Free Gas For Everyone."[78] Though Walsh was only 33 in 1980 and did not meet the 35-year-old requirement to actually assume the office, he said that he wanted to raise public awareness of the election.[79] In 1992 Walsh ran for vice president with Rev. Goat Carson under the slogan "We Want Our Money Back!"[80]

In an interview to promote his album Analog Man in 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 told WASH in 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."[80]

Instruments

Jimmy Page's sunburst 1959 Gibson Les Paul, better known as his "Number 1" was originally owned by Joe Walsh and was sold to Page in 1969.[81]

In 1970, Walsh gave a 1959 Gretsch 6120 to the Who's lead guitarist Pete Townshend. Townshend would go on to use the Gretsch in the studio to record tracks on albums such as Who's Next and Quadrophenia.[82]

Guitars

Joe Walsh's Telecaster, on display in the Hard Rock Cafe, Sydney (July 9, 2012)

Walsh has also been seen using a wide variety of other guitars by companies including Duesenberg, Ibanez and Schecter.

Amplifiers

Other instruments

Discography

Main article: Joe Walsh discography

Solo albums

Other recordings

Gallery

  • Walsh playing slide guitar

Filmography

List of acting performances in film and television
Title Year Role Notes
Zachariah 1971 Member of the James Gang film
The Blues Brothers 1980 Prisoner film
Promised Land 1996 R.J. TV Series
The Drew Carey Show 1998–2001 Ed TV Series

Awards

See also

Additional reading

References

  1. ↑ "Walsh, Joe", Contemporary Musicians, Cenegage, retrieved May 1, 2014
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "100 Greatest Guitarists: Joe Walsh", Rolling Stone, retrieved January 15, 2013
  3. ↑ Felder, Don; Holden, Wendy (2008). Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001). Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-45042-0.
  4. ↑ 100 Greatest Guitar Solos: No. 8 — "Hotel California" (Don Felder, Joe Walsh), guitarworld.com, retrieved May 1, 2014
  5. ↑ Best Solos, rocklistmusic.co.uk, retrieved May 1, 2014
  6. ↑ About Joe Walsh, JoeWalsh.com, retrieved May 1, 2014
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Joe Walsh, TheUncool.com, retrieved May 1, 2014
  8. ↑ Joe Walsh (audio file). Interview with Dahl, Steve. 2008. Morning Show.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 1044–1045. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  10. ↑ Charlesworth, Chris (1982), A-Z of Rock Guitarists, p. 92
  11. ↑ "iTunes - Music - The James Gang Greatest Hits by James Gang". iTunes Store. May 2, 2000. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Song: Rocky Mountain Way by Joe Walsh". Songplaces.com. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  13. ↑ Dan Fogelberg, Joe Walsh & Barnstorm, Caribou Ranch, Colorado Music Hall of Fame, retrieved May 18, 2014
  14. ↑ Felder, Don; Holden, Wendy (2009), Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001), p. 153
  15. ↑ Kroft, Steve (November 25, 2007). "Eagles: Dark Days". 60 Minutes. CBS News. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  16. ↑ Crowe, Cameron (August 2003). "Eagles: Very Best Of". Conversations with Glenn Frey and Don Henley. The Uncool. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time No. 37 – Hotel California". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  18. ↑ Felder & Holden 2008, p. 185.
  19. ↑ Felder & Holden 2008, p. 185-186.
  20. ↑ Felder & Holden 2008, p. 187.
  21. ↑ Felder & Holden 2008, p. 188.
  22. ↑ Felder & Holden 2008, p. 190.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 How The Eagles took it to the limits at the Wayback Machine (archived July 18, 2008). The Times (London). October 12, 2007. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  24. ↑ Felder & Holden 2008, p. 209.
  25. ↑ Felder & Holden 2008, p. 209-210.
  26. ↑ Gumbel, Andrew (February 3, 2007). "Eagles reform: checking back into the Hotel California". The Independent. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  27. ↑ Felder & Holden 2008, p. 210.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Felder & Holden 2008, p. 214.
  29. ↑ Eliot 2004, p. 39.
  30. ↑ "Joe Walsh > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Gibson Joe Walsh Les Paul, Ed Roman Guitars, retrieved May 18, 2014
  32. ↑ "Joe Walsh Pictures". The Not Official Joe Walsh Page.
  33. ↑ "Joe Walsh to release Analog Man on 5 June". Artist Direct. March 26, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  34. ↑ The Great Gastro-Intestinal Saga of Glenn Frey (1994–95) at the Wayback Machine (archived October 11, 2007). Retrieved October 27, 2007.
  35. ↑ Cockcroft, Lucy (October 12, 2007). "Eagles fans forced to pay £1,000 per ticket". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
  36. ↑ "The price of fame". The Sydney Morning Herald. December 4, 2004. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
  37. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Eagles – The Very Best Of [2003]". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  38. ↑ The Eagles package new music with Australian DVD at the Wayback Machine (archived July 21, 2011). TheROCKradio. December 1, 2006. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  39. ↑ Zfat, Natalie (August 13, 2007). "Don Henley Talks New Eagles LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  40. ↑ Peters, Mitchell (November 6, 2007). "Revised Chart Policy Lands Eagles At number 1". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2008.
  41. ↑ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – Long Road out of Eden". RIAA. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  42. ↑ Quan, Denise (November 19, 2007). "Don Henley: 'Let the chips fall where they may'". CNN. Retrieved May 20, 2008.
  43. ↑ Shedden, Iain (November 25, 2010). "Eagles have learned to take it easy". The Australian. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  44. ↑ Cashmere, Paul (December 26, 2010). "Joe Walsh To Release First Album In 18 Years". Undercover.fm. Retrieved April 11, 2011.
  45. ↑ "Eagles Announce 'History' Tour: 11 Summer Dates". Billboard. March 21, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 "Eagles Tour Will Feature Founding Guitarist Bernie Leadon". Rolling Stone. July 5, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  47. ↑ Whitaker, Sterling (February 21, 2013). "Eagles Reportedly Reuniting with Bernie Leadon for 2013 Tour". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  48. ↑ Smith, Steve (April 18, 2013). "Bernie Leadon rejoins The Eagles; Ozzy relapses; Stones add more U.S. shows". Press-Telegram. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Joe Walsh & Ringo Starr: Bandmates, Brothers-In-Law, WZLX, July 27, 2012, retrieved May 18, 2014
  50. ↑ Jazzvisions Jump the Blues Away, AllMusic, retrieved May 18, 2014
  51. ↑ "Herbs History". Glenmoffatt.com. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  52. ↑ The Best (K.Emerson, J. Walsh, J. Entwhistle, J.Baxter, S.Phillips) – 1990-09-26 – Yokahama, Japan, retrieved May 18, 2014
  53. ↑ "Joe Walsh Resurrects the James Gang With New Recording Sessions", Ultimate Classic Rock, retrieved May 18, 2014
  54. ↑ "Honorary Degrees". Kent State University. May 8, 2006. Retrieved March 6, 2007.
  55. ↑ James, Jenna (May 14, 2012), Eagles Receive Honorary Doctorate Degrees, 103.7 The Loon, retrieved April 30, 2014
  56. ↑ Souvenirs, AllMusic, retrieved May 18, 2014
  57. ↑ Awards, AllMusic, retrieved May 18, 2014
  58. ↑ Don't Mean Nothing by Richard Marx, Songfacts, retrieved May 1, 2014
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 59.2 Artist Countdown: Joe Walsh Top 20, RadioMaxMusic, retrieved May 20, 2014
  60. ↑ "Message with a Melody". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. October 7, 2004. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  61. ↑ O'Reilly, Denis (October 14, 2004), Joe Walsh – The Sinner's Tour, Nga Kupu Aroha, retrieved May 1, 2014
  62. ↑ "Joe Walsh to Appear on 'Live From Daryl's House'", Ultimate Classic Rock, retrieved May 20, 2014
  63. ↑ "What you didn't see in CBS' Beatles salute", Los Angeles Times, retrieved May 20, 2014
  64. ↑ "Foo Fighters recruit Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard for new album". Consequence of Sound.
  65. ↑ Eagles Guitarist Joe Walsh Funds First Talent-based Scholarship at Kent State, Kent State University, April 28, 2008, retrieved May 1, 2014
  66. ↑ Ankeny, Jason, Joe Walsh, AllMusic, retrieved May 1, 2014
  67. ↑ Hall, Russell (August 6, 2012). "Joe Walsh Says Duane Allman Taught Him Slide Guitar". Gibson.
  68. ↑ Joe Walsh Biography, JoeWalshOnline.com, retrieved May 18, 2014
  69. ↑ Rowan, Terry (2012), Penny Laine's Anthology
  70. ↑ Lucy Walsh: Lost in the Lights, AllMusic, retrieved April 30, 2014
  71. ↑ Taylor, Carol (October 24, 2010), "Emma's fountain lives long after rock 'n' roll tragedy", Daily Camera (Boulder, Colorado), retrieved May 18, 2014
  72. ↑ "Stevie Nicks: a survivor's story", The Telegraph, retrieved May 18, 2014
  73. ↑ Crisafulli, Chuck (2000), Joe Walsh Talks About Drug Abuse, Gibson, retrieved April 30, 2014
  74. ↑ "Joe Walsh - The Sinners Tour - Magazine, Nga Kupu Aroha – Words of Love - NZEDGE". NZEDGE.
  75. ↑ "Eagles' Joe Walsh revisits Hawke's Bay 'epiphany' site". Stuff.
  76. ↑ "Universal Licensing System – WB6ACU". Federal Communications Commission.
  77. ↑ Fun Facts about Joe Walsh, JoeWalshOnline.com, retrieved May 18, 2014
  78. ↑ Joe Walsh: Featured Artist, last.fm, retrieved May 20, 2014
  79. ↑ Artistfacts for Joe Walsh, Songfacts, retrieved November 5, 2014
  80. ↑ 80.0 80.1 Whitaker, Sterling (August 2, 2012), "Joe Walsh to Run for Congress?", Ultimate Classic Rock, retrieved May 1, 2014
  81. ↑ 81.0 81.1 "Jimmy Page's 40-Year Les Paul Legacy". Gibson.com. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  82. ↑ 1959 Gretsch 6120 'Chet Atkins' Hollow Body, The Who, retrieved May 20, 2014
  83. ↑ 83.0 83.1 Eagles – Joe Walsh Guitar Gear Rig and Equipment, UberProAudio, retrieved May 22, 2014

External links

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