Joe Walsh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joe Walsh |
|
|---|---|
Walsh performing with the Eagles at Madison Square Garden in 2019
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Fidler |
| Also known as | "Clown Prince of Rock" "Average Joe" |
| Born | November 20, 1947 Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Labels | |
Joseph Fidler Walsh, born Joseph Woodward Fidler on November 20, 1947, is a famous American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the legendary rock band, the Eagles.
Joe Walsh has had a long career, lasting over five decades. Besides his work with the Eagles, he has also released many solo albums. He was also part of other bands like the James Gang, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, and Herbs from New Zealand. He was even in a "supergroup" called The Best. Many people consider him one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
In the mid-1960s, after going to Kent State University, Joe played in several local bands in Ohio. He became nationally famous with the James Gang. Their hit song "Funk #49" really showed off his amazing guitar skills. After leaving the James Gang in 1972, Joe formed a band called Barnstorm. Even though it was a band, their albums were often sold as Joe Walsh's solo projects.
In 1975, Joe Walsh joined the Eagles as a guitarist and keyboard player. His first album with them was Hotel California. The guitar solos on the song "Hotel California," played by Joe and Don Felder, are considered some of the best ever. As a member of the Eagles, Joe Walsh was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. The Eagles are one of the most important bands from the 1970s and have sold millions of albums. Other famous rock musicians like Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton have praised Joe's musical talents.
Joe Walsh has released 12 solo studio albums. Some of his most famous solo songs include "Rocky Mountain Way", "Life's Been Good", and "All Night Long".
Contents
Early Life and School
Joe Walsh was born on November 20, 1947, in Wichita, Kansas. His father was a pilot in the United States Air Force and died in a plane crash when Joe was young. His mother, Helen, was a talented piano player.
When Joe was five, he was adopted by his stepfather and took his last name, Walsh. His family lived in Columbus, Ohio, for several years. When he was twelve, they moved to New York City. Later, Joe moved to Montclair, New Jersey, and went to Montclair High School. There, he played the oboe in the school band. He also played football for a short time.
Joe got his first guitar when he was 10 years old. After learning to play "Walk Don't Run" by the Ventures, he decided he wanted to be a guitarist. He was inspired by the Beatles and started his rock music career playing bass in a local group called the Nomads.
After high school, Joe briefly attended Kent State University. He played in various bands around Cleveland, Ohio, including one called the Measles. He planned to study English and music. Joe was also present during the Kent State massacre in 1970. This event deeply affected him, and he decided to leave college to focus on his music.
Musical Journey
The Measles (1965–1967)
In 1965, Joe Walsh and three other students from Kent State University formed a band called The Measles. They were a "garage band" that played in bars. Two songs on the Ohio Express album, "I Find I Think Of You" and "And It's True," were actually recorded by The Measles. Joe Walsh also sang on these songs.
James Gang (1968–1971)
Around Christmas 1967, the James Gang's guitarist left the band. Joe Walsh, who was a friend of the guitarist, asked to try out for the band. He was accepted. For a short time, the band had five members, but then some left. In May 1968, they played a concert as a trio and liked their sound so much that they decided to stay that way.
In 1968, the band signed with a manager and then with ABC Records. They released their first album, Yer' Album, in 1969. Joe Walsh became the band's star. He was known for his creative guitar playing and unique sound. He even sold one of his guitars to Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin.
The James Gang had several smaller hits and became very popular on rock radio. In 1970, they opened a show for the Who. Pete Townshend, the Who's guitarist, was very impressed with Joe's playing. The James Gang's next two albums, James Gang Rides Again (1970) and Thirds (1971), included famous songs like "Funk #49" and "Walk Away." Joe Walsh left the band after their live album, James Gang Live at Carnegie Hall, because he wanted to explore new musical ideas.
Barnstorm (1971–1975)
In December 1971, after leaving the James Gang, Joe Walsh moved to Colorado. He formed a new band called Barnstorm with drummer Joe Vitale and bassist Kenny Passarelli. They started recording their first album right away.
Their first album, Barnstorm, was released in October 1972. Joe used a special synthesizer called an ARP Odyssey on songs like "Mother Says." He also experimented with different guitar sounds and effects. The album was praised by critics. Their next album, The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get, released in June 1973, was a big success. It reached No. 6 on the US Billboard chart. The song "Rocky Mountain Way" became a huge hit. In 1974, Barnstorm broke up, and Joe continued as a solo artist.
Eagles (1975–1980)
In 1975, Joe Walsh was asked to join the Eagles. Some people in the band were worried that Joe was too "wild" for them, especially the drummer, Don Henley.
The Eagles' fifth studio album, Hotel California, was released on December 8, 1976. It was the first album to feature Joe Walsh. The album took a year and a half to make. The song "Hotel California" became one of the Eagles' most famous songs. It features Don Henley singing and amazing guitar solos by Don Felder and Joe Walsh.
Another hit song from the album was "Life in the Fast Lane", which was based on a guitar riff by Joe Walsh. This song helped Joe become an important part of the band. Hotel California was a huge success.
The Eagles then started working on their next album, The Long Run, which took two years to finish. It was released on September 24, 1979. Even though some critics thought it wasn't as good as Hotel California, it was still a big commercial hit. It included three Top 10 songs: "Heartache Tonight", the title track, and "I Can't Tell You Why". Joe Walsh's song "In the City" also got a lot of radio play. The band broke up in 1980.
Solo Career (1973–2012)
Joe Walsh has released twelve solo studio albums. In December 1974, he released So What. This album included more personal songs. Members of the Eagles, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and Randy Meisner, sang backing vocals on some tracks.
In March 1976, Joe released a live album called You Can't Argue with a Sick Mind, which also featured the Eagles.
While the Eagles were working on their next album, Joe started his solo career again. He released the album But Seriously, Folks... in May 1978. It included his biggest solo hit, "Life's Been Good". This funny song about being a rock star reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Joe also contributed his song "In the City" to The Warriors movie soundtrack.
After the Eagles broke up in 1980, Joe continued to release solo albums throughout the 1980s. His album There Goes the Neighborhood was released after the Eagles split. It included the popular song "A Life of Illusion", which became one of his most well-known songs. This song was actually recorded in 1973 but finished later.
In May 1983, Joe released You Bought It – You Name It. This album was not as successful as his previous ones. It included the song "Space Age Whiz Kids", which was about the video arcade craze of the 1980s.
In 1987, Joe released Got Any Gum?, his last solo album of the 1980s. It did not sell very well.
In 1991, he released Ordinary Average Guy, his ninth solo studio album. This album featured Ringo Starr and Joe Vitale from his old band Barnstorm.
In 1992, Joe released Songs for a Dying Planet, his tenth solo studio album. He worked with his former producer, Bill Szymczyk, on this album. His song "Vote for Me" was a minor hit.
Joe Walsh's song "One Day at a Time" was released in 2012. This song talks about his past struggles. The song appeared on his album Analog Man, which was released on June 5, 2012.
Eagles Reunions with Walsh
.jpg)
In 1993, a tribute album to the Eagles was released. After years of rumors, the band officially reunited in 1994. The lineup included Joe Walsh, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Don Felder, and Timothy B. Schmit.
Their first live performance was in April 1994. Glenn Frey famously announced, "For the record, we never broke up, we just took a 14-year vacation." The tour led to a live album called Hell Freezes Over, which became a No. 1 hit. It also included four new studio songs. The tour continued into 1996.
In 1998, the Eagles, including Joe Walsh, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. All seven Eagles members played together for two songs, "Take It Easy" and "Hotel California." Many reunion tours followed.
In 2007, the Eagles, including Joe Walsh, released a new song called "How Long". Later that year, they released Long Road Out of Eden, their first album of all-new songs since 1979. This album debuted at number 1 in many countries. The Eagles, with Joe Walsh, started a world tour in 2008 to support this album.
Other Bands and Appearances
In late 1984, Joe Walsh went to Australia to perform with the Party Boys, a band made up of famous Australian rock musicians. He also appeared on their live album.
Joe also toured with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band in 1989 and 1992. He would play some of his best-known songs along with Ringo's songs and tunes by other band members. In 1989, Joe recorded an MTV Unplugged show with musician Dr. John.
In late 1990, Joe Walsh was part of a band called the Best. This group included famous musicians like Keith Emerson and John Entwistle. They performed several shows in Hawaii and Japan.
In 1993, Joe Walsh teamed up with Glenn Frey for a "Party of Two" tour in the United States. Also in 1993, Joe formed an informal group called the Flew, which played one show.
In 1996, the James Gang reunited for President Bill Clinton. The band played at the Cleveland State University Convocation Center.
In 1998, the ABC network asked Joe Walsh to rewrite the lyrics to "Rocky Mountain Way" for the football player John Elway. The new song was called "Rocky Mountain Elway," and Joe appeared in a video shown on Monday Night Football.
2000s and 2010s
In June 2004, Joe Walsh performed at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas, Texas. He also played at the Strat Pack concert in London, England, in September 2004. This concert celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Fender Stratocaster guitar. In 2006, Joe reunited with Jim Fox and Dale Peters of the James Gang for new recordings and a tour.
Kent State University gave Joe Walsh an honorary degree in music in December 2001. In May 2012, the Berklee College of Music also gave Joe Walsh and other members of the Eagles an honorary doctorate for their achievements in music.
Notable Appearances
In 1974, Joe Walsh produced Dan Fogelberg's album Souvenirs. He played guitar and sang backing vocals on the album.
In 1981, Joe Walsh worked with his old bandmate Joe Vitale on John Entwistle's solo album Too Late the Hero. This album became John Entwistle's most successful solo album.
Joe Walsh also played guitar on Don Henley's 1982 hit song "Dirty Laundry". He has also contributed to albums by Ringo Starr, America, REO Speedwagon, and Steve Winwood.
Joe Walsh was a regular guest DJ on the Los Angeles radio station KLOS in the mid-1980s. He also appeared in movies like The Blues Brothers and TV shows like The Drew Carey Show and The Conners.
On February 12, 2012, Joe Walsh performed on stage with Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, and Dave Grohl at the Grammy Awards. He also appeared on the show Live from Daryl's House with Daryl Hall.
On February 9, 2014, Joe Walsh was featured in several songs on the CBS special The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles. In 2014, he made a guest appearance on Foo Fighters' album Sonic Highways.
On May 24, 2016, Joe Walsh appeared on NBC's The Voice. He played guitar and performed "Rocky Mountain Way" with a contestant.
On September 3, 2022, Joe Walsh performed in London with the reunited James Gang at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium. This concert was shown live around the world. For their last song, Dave Grohl played drums with the James Gang on "'Funk #49'". Joe Walsh sang and played guitar for three songs.
Joe Walsh also appeared with the James Gang at the September 27, 2022, Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert in Inglewood, California. Their set included "Walk Away" and "Funk #49" with Dave Grohl on drums.
At the 2022 VetsAid benefit concert, Joe Walsh performed twice. First, he played a set with the James Gang. Then, he returned for a four-song finale with other musicians. Dave Grohl played guitar on "Life's Been Good" and drums on "Rocky Mountain Way".
Musical Inspirations
Joe Walsh has been inspired by many rock and pop bands and guitarists. Some of these include Les Paul, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin, and Pete Townshend and the Who. In turn, Joe Walsh has influenced many other musicians. Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band taught Joe how to play the slide guitar.
Community Involvement
Joe Walsh is very active in charity work. He has performed in many concerts to raise money for good causes. He has also given money to help women's shelters in Wichita, Kansas. In 2008, Joe funded the first scholarship based on talent at Kent State University.
Joe Walsh loves Santa Cruz Island and is dedicated to protecting its environment. He is the President of the Santa Cruz Island Foundation and has been on its board since the 1980s.
Joe has often joked about running for political office. In 1980, he announced a pretend presidential campaign, promising to make "Life's Been Good" the new national anthem. He also ran for vice president in 1992. Even though he was too young to be president in 1980, he wanted to make people more aware of the election.
In 2017, Joe Walsh contacted other musicians, like the Zac Brown Band and Keith Urban, to organize VetsAid. This is a series of concerts that raises money for veterans, similar to Willie Nelson's Farm Aid.
Personal Life
Joe Walsh has been married five times. He married Marjorie Bach, who is the sister of Barbara Bach (and sister-in-law of Ringo Starr), on December 13, 2008.
Joe's daughter, Lucy Walsh, is also a musician. She released her first solo album in 2007.
Joe's oldest daughter, Emma Kristen, was born in 1971 and sadly passed away in a car accident in 1974, just before her third birthday. This sad event inspired the song "Song for Emma" on Joe's solo album So What. In her memory, he had a fountain and a plaque placed in a park where she used to play in Boulder, Colorado.
Amateur Radio
When he lived in New York City, Joe Walsh became very interested in amateur radio, also known as "ham radio." He has a special license for it, and his callsign is WB6ACU. In 2006, he gave an autographed guitar to the ARRL for a charity auction. He has also helped with their "Big Project," which brings amateur radio into schools. Joe has even included Morse Code messages in his albums.
Instruments
Jimmy Page's famous 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar, known as his "Number 1," originally belonged to Joe Walsh. Joe sold it to Page in 1969.
In 1970, Joe Walsh gave a 1959 Gretsch 6120 guitar to Pete Townshend of the Who. Townshend used this guitar to record songs on albums like Who's Next.
Select Other Guitars
- Carvin DC4, CT6, CT4, CS4, and other models
- Duesenberg Starplayer Alliance - Joe helped develop this guitar.
- PRS McCarty 594 Singlecut Joe Walsh - This is a special guitar model made by Paul Reed Smith guitars in partnership with Joe Walsh.
Amplifiers
- Marshall 50-watt Plexi
Discography
Solo Albums
- 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 Albums
- Yer' Album (1969)
- James Gang Rides Again (1970)
- Thirds (1971)
Barnstorm Album
- Barnstorm (1972)
Eagles Albums
- Hotel California (1976)
- The Long Run (1979)
- Long Road out of Eden (2007)
Eagles Lead Vocals and Songwriting
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, JD Souther | Long Road Out of Eden |
Note: Other songs that Joe Walsh sang and wrote, like "Life's Been Good" and "All Night Long," were from his solo career but were included on the Eagles Live album. "Funk #49," from his time in the James Gang, was also included on an Eagles box set. The band has also played "Rocky Mountain Way" live. However, these are not considered original Eagles songs because they were first released under Joe Walsh's solo name or with other bands.
Film and Television Appearances
Film
- 1971: Zachariah: Himself with the James Gang.
- 1980: The Blues Brothers: A prisoner dancing on a table.
- 1990: The Best - DVD: 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 (1997-2001)
- Drew Carey's Improv All-Stars, guest (2001)
- Rock the Cradle (2008), a reality show, the father of contestant Lucy 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 (2022)
Awards
- As a member of the Eagles, Joe Walsh has won five Grammy 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"
- Joe Walsh was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
- Joe Walsh was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.
See also
In Spanish: Joe Walsh para niños
