Joe Walsh has been around making great music for decades. He was in the group James Gang. Great group. Their most popular song: Rocky Mountain Way. He also had a great Solo Career. He joined the Eagles. This was an amazing move. One of his best songs with the Eagles was Life In the Fast Lane. This guy belongs in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame for sure. He also interjects humor into many songs. A prime example is his song, Life's Been Good To Me So Far. Originally released on one of his Solo albums, but performed here with the Eagles in 2011. Pay particular attention to the lyrics.
Joe Walsh
Born November 20, 1947 (age 66)
Wichita, Kansas, United States
Genres Rock, hard rock, folk rock, blues rock, country rock, southern rock, electric blues, reggae fusion, new wave
Occupations Musician, multi-instrumentalist, producer, actor
Instruments Vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, bass, mandolin, clarinet, oboe, bagpipes talk box,
Years active 1964–present
Labels Asylum, Epic, ABC, Probe, Warner Bros., Full Moon, Atlantic, MCA, Fantasy
Associated acts James Gang, Barnstorm, Eagles, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, John Entwistle, The Beach Boys, The Strat Pack, The Party Boys, The Who
Website joewalsh.com
Notable instruments
Gibson Les Paul
Fender Stratocaster
Fender Telecaster
Rickenbacker 330JG
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh (born Joseph Fidler; November 20, 1947)[1] is an American musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and actor. He has previously been a member of two commercially successful bands: Barnstorm and the Eagles. In the late 1960s, he was also a member of the critically acclaimed James Gang. He has also experienced success both as a solo artist and prolific session musician. Walsh is ranked at the Number 54 spot in the Rolling Stone magazine's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."[2] Walsh was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Eagles in 1998, the first year they were nominated.[3]
The guitar solo on the track Hotel California by Walsh and Don Felder[4] was, in 1998 by Guitarist magazine, selected as the best guitar solo of all time, and again in 1998 by Guitar Magazine at eighth of the Top 100 Guitar Solos.[5]
Walsh has been praised by 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." 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." The Who's guitarist Pete Townshend commented that "Joe Walsh is a fluid and intelligent player. There’re not many like that around."[2][6]
Although known primarily as a guitarist, Walsh also plays other instruments, including keyboards, clarinet, mandolin, oboe, bagpipes, talk box, synthesiser, bass guitar and drums.
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 step-father 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.[7] 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 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.[6]
In January 1968 Walsh replaced Glenn Schwartz as the lead guitarist for the James Gang, a five piece American band that rapidly became a power trio after their lead vocalist and keyboardist quit. They released their first album, Yer' Album, in 1969. Afterwards, Tom Kriss left the band and was replaced by Dale Peters, creating 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.[8] The James Gang had several minor hits and became an early album-oriented rock staple for the next two years, Shortly before the release of James Gang Rides Again, the James Gang opened a show for the legendary rock band, The Who in Pittsburgh. Their guitarist Pete Townshend caught 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."[6]
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. In November 1971, he left and formed the group Barnstorm, although their albums credited Walsh as a solo artist. Walsh and Barnstorm released their debut, the eponymous Barnstorm in October 1972. The album was a critical success, but had only moderate sales. The follow-up The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get (1973) was marketed under Walsh's name (although officially a Barnstorm album) and was a commercial breakthrough. The first single "Rocky Mountain Way" received heavy airplay and reached #23 on the US Top 40 chart. In 1974 Barnstorm disbanded and Walsh continued as a solo artist.
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.
As the Eagles struggled to record the follow-up to Hotel California, Walsh re-ignited his solo career with the well-received album But Seriously, Folks... (1978) which featured his hit comic depiction of rock stardom, "Life's Been Good". Walsh also contributed "In the City" to The Warriors soundtrack (1979), a song penned and sung by Walsh that was later rerecorded for the Eagles' The Long Run album.
1980s and 1990s
Walsh performing live in 1975
Following the breakup of the Eagles in 1980, Walsh continued to release solo albums throughout the 1980s, but sales did not meet the level of his earlier successes. He also worked with other bands.
In 1994, Walsh reunited with the Eagles for a highly successful reunion tour and live album, Hell Freezes Over. Walsh has toured regularly with the Eagles since then, and the group released their first new studio album in 28 years, Long Road Out of Eden, in 2007. In 1995 Walsh sang the US National Anthem at the beginning of game five of the World Series.
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 a 15-date summer reunion tour. 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."
Kent State University awarded Walsh an honorary degree in music in December 2001.[12] 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.[13]
Notable appearances
Walsh performing live with the Eagles in 2009.
Walsh has produced albums for artists such as Dan Fogelberg and Ringo Starr. He 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, Andy Gibb, Wilson Phillips, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Steve Winwood, and on the Richard Marx hit "Don't Mean Nothing".[14]
Onscreen Walsh has appeared in: The Blues Brothers, RoboCop, Promised Land, The Drew Carey Show, Duckman, MADtv, Rock the Cradle and Zachariah.
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. Walsh also appeared on the 60th Episode of Live from Daryl's House with Daryl Hall, which premiered on November 15, 2012.
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
Joe Walsh has been married five times. He was married briefly to Margie Walsh in the 1960s, to Stephanie Walsh from 1971-1978, to Juanita Boyer from 1980-1988 and to Denise Driscoll from 1999-2006. Walsh married Marjorie Bach (sister of Barbara Bach and sister-in-law of Ringo Starr) in Los Angeles on December 13, 2008.
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.[19]
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 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. 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. Nicks stated in a 2007 interview with the UK's The Daily Telegraph that Walsh had been "the great love of her life."
Walsh admits to struggling with alcohol and drug addictions for most of his career; however, he has been in recovery since 1995.[20] 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.