JoeWalsh

Joe Walsh

Rock's funniest guitar hero, with riffs as serious as they come

Joe Walsh was born in Wichita, Kansas, and spent much of his youth moving around the country before his family settled in the East. He took his surname from his stepfather after his father's early death. Drawn to guitar by surf instrumentals and the British Invasion, he played in local bands and attended Kent State University in Ohio, where he became a fixture on the Cleveland-area club scene. In 1968 he joined the James Gang, a power trio that quickly came to revolve around his playing.

With the James Gang, Walsh wrote and sang some of the toughest hard rock of the early seventies. Yer' Album, James Gang Rides Again and Thirds produced enduring favorites such as "Funk #49" and "Walk Away," and the band's muscular sound drew admirers among British rock royalty. Wanting more musical freedom, Walsh left in 1971 and moved to Colorado, where he formed Barnstorm with drummer Joe Vitale and bassist Kenny Passarelli. Their 1973 album The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get delivered his solo breakthrough, "Rocky Mountain Way."

In late 1975 Walsh was invited to replace Bernie Leadon in the Eagles, and his arrival pushed the band toward a harder rock sound. Hotel California, released the next year, became one of the best-selling albums ever, and his interlocking guitar parts with Don Felder shaped its famous title track and "Life in the Fast Lane." He kept a parallel solo career alive, scoring a hit in 1978 with the wry "Life's Been Good," before the Eagles released The Long Run and then split in 1980.

Through the eighties Walsh made solo records and was a frequent guest on others' projects, including tours with Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band. The Eagles reunited in 1994 for Hell Freezes Over, entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and released Long Road Out of Eden in 2007. His 2012 album Analog Man was produced with Jeff Lynne. After Glenn Frey's death in 2016, Walsh helped carry the Eagles forward, and he founded the VetsAid benefit concerts for military veterans.

The 10 greatest Joe Walsh solos

1. 1
   Rocky Mountain Way

   Joe Walsh · solo by Joe Walsh · 1973
2. 2
   Hotel California

   Eagles · solo by Don Felder & Joe Walsh · 1976
3. 3
   Funk #49

   James Gang · solo by Joe Walsh · 1970
4. 4
   Walk Away

   James Gang · solo by Joe Walsh · 1971
5. 5
   Life in the Fast Lane

   Eagles · solo by Joe Walsh · 1976
6. 6
   Life's Been Good

   Joe Walsh · solo by Joe Walsh · 1978
7. 7
   The Bomber

   James Gang · solo by Joe Walsh · 1971
8. 8
   Turn to Stone

   Joe Walsh · solo by Joe Walsh · 1972
9. 9
   Meadows

   Joe Walsh · solo by Joe Walsh · 1973
10. 10
    In the City

    Eagles · solo by Joe Walsh · 1979

The sound

Walsh combines crunching, blues-based riffing with a melodic sense rooted in his love of the Beatles. His solos tend to be tuneful and structured, often built from memorable hooks rather than pure speed. He is a fine slide player and one of the most famous users of the talk box, which lets him shape guitar notes with his mouth. Humor runs through everything he does, yet his rhythm work is tight and powerful, and his feel for dynamics lets simple riffs hit with real weight.

• Gibson Les Paul Standard (guitar) Late-fifties Les Pauls were central to his hard rock tone, and Gibson later issued a Joe Walsh signature model.
• Gretsch 6120 (guitar) He famously gave one to Pete Townshend, who used it heavily in the studio.
• Fender Telecaster (guitar) A long-time workhorse for his cutting rhythm parts.
• Duesenberg signature guitar (guitar) The German maker produced a Joe Walsh model that he has played in later years.
• Heil Talk Box (effect) The device behind the vocal-sounding guitar hook of "Rocky Mountain Way."

Covers

• Lost Woman, originally by The Yardbirds The James Gang stretched the British blues rocker into a long, exploratory jam.
• Stop, originally by Howard Tate Walsh turned the soul ballad into a heavy, dramatic showcase for the trio.
• Boléro (within The Bomber), originally by Maurice Ravel A cheeky detour into Ravel's famous theme inside a hard rock epic.
• Seven Bridges Road, originally by Steve Young Walsh added his voice to the Eagles' gorgeous stacked harmony arrangement.
• Revolution, originally by The Beatles He traded raunchy guitar parts with Gary Clark Jr. and Dave Grohl in tribute to his heroes.

Timeline

• 1947 Born in Wichita, Kansas
• 1968 Joins the James Gang
• 1970 "Funk #49" appears on James Gang Rides Again
• 1971 Leaves the James Gang and moves to Colorado
• 1973 "Rocky Mountain Way" becomes his signature song
• 1975 Joins the Eagles, replacing Bernie Leadon
• 1976 Hotel California is released
• 1978 Solo hit "Life's Been Good"
• 1994 Eagles reunite for Hell Freezes Over
• 1998 Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Eagles

Facts

1. He gave Pete Townshend a Gretsch 6120 that Townshend used extensively in the studio.
2. Walsh is a licensed amateur radio operator.
3. He staged a tongue-in-cheek campaign for US president in 1980.
4. His wife Marjorie Bach is the sister of Barbara Bach, making him Ringo Starr's brother-in-law.
5. Born Joseph Fidler, he took the surname Walsh from his stepfather.
6. He produced records for other artists, including Dan Fogelberg's Souvenirs.
7. Walsh played a guest solo on the Foo Fighters song "Outside."
8. He founded VetsAid, a benefit concert series supporting military veterans.
9. "Life's Been Good" poked fun at the excesses of rock stardom while becoming a hit in its own right.
10. His 2012 solo album Analog Man was co-produced by Jeff Lynne.