Joe Walsh

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Joe Walsh is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, born in Wichita, Kansas, in 1947. His father, a pilot, was killed when Walsh was two. His mother was a classically trained pianist. His stepfather gave him his surname. At ten he was given a guitar and he wanted to become a guitarist after hearing Walk Don't Run by The Ventures. He played in bands in New Jersey and Ohio and briefly attended Kent State University.

Music and breakthrough

He gained national fame with the James Gang, whose hit Funk 49 showed off his playing. After leaving in 1972 he formed Barnstorm. At the suggestion of producer Bill Szymczyk he became the Eagles' guitarist and keyboardist in 1975, succeeding Bernie Leadon. His first album with the group was Hotel California. In 1998 a readers' poll by Guitarist magazine chose the solos by Walsh and Don Felder in Hotel California as the best guitar solos ever. As a solo artist he had hits with Rocky Mountain Way, Life's Been Good, All Night Long and Ordinary Average Guy.

Influence

Walsh made twelve studio albums under his own name and also played in Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band. His guitar work is sharp and hard, but he also has a funny, playful side, as Life's Been Good shows. He showed that a rock guitarist can keep a voice of his own both in a hard rock trio and in a big West Coast band.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 1972Barnstorm
• 1973The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get
• 1974So What
• 1978“But Seriously, Folks…”
• 1981There Goes the Neighborhood
• 1983You Bought It—You Name It
• 1985The Confessor
• 1987Got Any Gum?
• 1991Ordinary Average Guy
• 1992Songs for a Dying Planet
• 2012Analog Man

Mentioned in other articles

• Talk box TechnologyIn 1973, the sound engineer Bob Heil of Marissa, Illinois, built a powerful version for Joe Walsh, who used it on Rocky Mountain Way.

See also

• The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get
• So What
• “But Seriously, Folks…”
• There Goes the Neighborhood
• The Confessor
• Talk box