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Joe Walsh

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For other people named Joe Walsh, see Joe Walsh (disambiguation).

Template:Guitarist infobox Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh[1] (born November 20, 1947)[2] is an American guitarist and rock musician. He has served stints in two successful bands, James Gang and Eagles. He has also experienced success as a solo artist.

Biography

Early life

A native of Wichita, Kansas, Walsh and his family lived in Columbus, Ohio for a number of years, and subsequently moved to New York City. Later, Walsh moved to Montclair, New Jersey and attended Montclair High School. He spent time in various bands playing around the Cleveland area while attending Kent State University.

Career

In 1968, he replaced Glen Schwartz as lead guitarist for the James Gang, an American power trio. Walsh proved to be the band's star attraction, noted for his innovative rhythm playing and creative guitar riffs. The James Gang had several minor hits and became an early album-oriented rock staple for the next two years. In November, 1971, Walsh left the group for a solo career. Walsh released his solo debut Barnstorm in 1972. Although it was a critical success, it only sold moderately. The followup, The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get (1973) was his commercial breakthrough. The first single "Rocky Mountain Way", received heavy airplay and reached #23 on the US top 40 charts. It is still a fixture on classic rock radio.

Over the next three years, Walsh would release a studio album So What and a live set, You Can't Argue with a Sick Mind. These would be his last solo albums until 1978. In 1976, he joined the highly successful country rock band Eagles as Bernie Leadon's replacement. His addition pushed the band toward a harder-edged sound and away from their early country-style work.

As the Eagles struggled to record the follow-up to their highly successful album Hotel California, Walsh re-ignited his solo career with the well-received discs But Seriously Folks (1978) (which featured his hit comic depiction of rock stardom, "Life's Been Good") and There Goes the Neighborhood. Joe also contributed "In the City" to the The Warriors soundtrack (1979), an Eagles song penned and sung by Walsh, originally appearing on "The Long Run" album.

Following the Eagles breakup in 1980, Walsh continued to release albums throughout the 1980s. Unfortunately, sales were poor. Musical trends had passed him by and he maintained a low profile until the mid-1990s. Walsh sang the US National Anthem at the beginning of game four of the 1995 World Series. In 1989, Walsh recorded a MTV Unplugged with the R&B musician Dr. John.

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 is currently working on a new album titled The Long Road Out Of Eden, which is set for release in late 2007.

In June 2004, Walsh performed live before a huge crowd 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. Walsh (WB6ACU) is an active amateur radio operator. In 2006 he donated an autographed guitar to the ARRL for its charity auction.

In 2006, Walsh reunited with Jim Fox and Dale Peters of James Gang for a 15-date summer reunion tour. The tour lasted into the fall. Some of his most recent compositions, such as "One Day At A Time", deal with his struggles with substance abuse, particularly alcoholism. He is now a teetotaller and has been sober since 1995.

He was also a frequent guest on The Howard Stern Show. His August 8 1989 appearance on the show was re-broadcast on January 5 2007 during an episode of Stern's Master Tape Theatre on Sirius Satellite Radio.

Walsh commences 2007 with an appearance at Dear Mr Fantasy - A Celebration For Jim Capaldi: a charity gig being held at London's famous Roundhouse where he will appear alongside Steve Winwood, Pete Townshend, Bill Wyman, Paul Weller and many others.

During 2007, Walsh has appeared at selected shows with country-rock star musician Kenny Chesney on his Flip Flop Summer Tour 2007. “I don’t think there’s anybody in the world who doesn’t know ‘Life’s Been Good To Me’ or ‘Rocky Mountain Way’ if they’ve listened to any rock radio at all,” said Kenny. Walsh is also playing a number of solo dates during late summer.

Notable appearances

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 Actual Miles: Henley's Greatest Hits).

Walsh co-wrote and played lead guitar on the song "Split Decision" which appeared on Steve Winwood's 1986 album Back in the High Life.

Walsh played a prisoner in The Blues Brothers. He is noticeable as he is the first prisoner to get on the cafeteria tables during the Jailhouse Rock song at the end. Joe was a close friend of John Belushi, who starred in the movie. He appeared on the comedy game show Street Smarts.

Walsh appeared as a mystery guest on the Howard Stern show on August 8, 1989, along with Pat Cooper. He has appeared numerous times on Stern's show since, more recently with the James Gang to promote their summer 2006 tour.

Walsh played his guitar alongside Laura Hall in a surprise appearance in Drew Carey's pay-per-view presentation of "Drew Carey's Improv All-Stars" in Las Vegas. He participated in one game in each show, the ending game "biography." Both times he was applauded for his hilariously off subject additions to the story being created piece by piece by the entire cast of the show. He sometimes made guest appearances on the Drew Carey Show as a musician.

Walsh appeared in the television series Duckman, as medical video actor in episode 315 - "They Craved Duckman's Brain". When prompted why he is quoted "Actually i do a lot of medical videos, it's fun, interesting and they pump my stomach for free". Walsh also plays a version of "Life's Been Good" in a Duckman episode. He also appeared on Mad TV in 1995 as a customer at an air guitar shop.

Personal life

Walsh holds an Extra Class Amateur Radio License. His station callsign is WB6ACU.[3] Walsh has included Morse Code messages in his albums on two occasions: once on the Barnstorm album ("Register And Vote"), and later on Songs For A Dying Planet ("Register And Vote For Me").

Walsh is known for his guitar and keyboard skills, but also plays/has played bass guitar, harmonica, bagpipes, oboe, and clarinet. His mother was a classically trained pianist.

Walsh's daughter, Lucy, is also a musician; she has worked with Ashlee Simpson, among others, and is currently working on her debut album.

Walsh's oldest daughter, Emma Kristen, died as a result of injuries suffered in an automobile accident on her way to nursery school in 1974. Her story inspired the track "Song For Emma" on his album So What released later that year. In her memory, he had a fountain placed in a park in which she played, North Boulder Park in Boulder, Colorado. As of June 20, 2007, the plaque accompanying the fountain is placed on the ground a few feet away. While touring/opening for friend & famed singer Stevie Nicks in 1984, he took Nicks to the park's fountain and she immortalized this story in her song "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You" on her 1985 Rock A Little album.

Walsh ran a mock campaign for President in 1980, promising to make "Life's Been Good" the new national anthem if he won, and running on a platform of "Free Gas For Everyone." Though Walsh was not old enough to actually assume the office, he wanted to raise public awareness of the election.

Walsh gave Jimmy Page (guitarist for Led Zeppelin) his main guitar, a sunburst Gibson Les Paul.

Kent State University awarded Walsh an honorary degree in music in December 2001.[1]

Albums

James Gang

Eagles

Solo

Compilations

Other appearances

Albums with REO Speedwagon

Albums with Ringo Starr

Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
Hot 100 Mainstream Rock UK
1970 "Funk #49" (w/ James Gang) #59 - - James Gang Rides Again
1971 "Walk Away" (w/ James Gang) #51 - - Thirds
1971 "Midnight Man" (w/ James Gang) #80 - - Thirds
1973 "Rocky Mountain Way" #23 - - The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get
1974 "Meadows" #89 - - The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get
1975 "Turn To Stone" #93 - - So What
1977 "Rocky Mountain Way" - - #39 Rocky Mountain Way EP
1978 "Life's Been Good" #12 - #14 But Seriously Folks...
1980 "All Night Long" #19 - - Urban Cowboy Soundtrack
1981 "A Life of Illusion" #34 #1 - There Goes The Neighborhood
1983 "Space Age Whiz Kids" #52 #21 - You Bought It, You Name It
1983 "I Can Play That Rock & Roll" - #13 - You Bought It, You Name It
1985 "The Confessor" - #8 - The Confessor
1987 "The Radio Song" - #8 - Got Any Gum?
1987 "In My Car" - #14 - Got Any Gum?
1991 "Ordinary Average Guy" - #3 - Ordinary Average Guy
1991 "All of a Sudden" - #13 - Ordinary Average Guy
1992 "Vote for Me" - #10 - Songs for a Dying Planet
  • Does not include songs with the Eagles.


References

  1. ^ a b "Honorary Degrees". Kent State University. 2006-05-08. Retrieved 2007-03-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ http://arts.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/walsh-joe-biography
  3. ^ "FCC Universal Licensing System - WB6ACU".
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