Rock’n Me 16: Talking About Western Music - Joe Walsh

Hello! I’m Joshua, and I love talking about Western music.
For this 16th installment, I’ll be discussing Joe Walsh, the legendary guitarist and singer-songwriter. To sum him up in one sentence: “He made a name for himself through both band and solo activities, passed iconic guitars to Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend, helped turn the Eagles into a superband, and, despite his bold personality, creates delicate and refined music.”

Joe was born in Kansas, USA, in 1947, and during his time at a university in Ohio, he got serious about playing in bands. He eventually dropped out and made his debut in 1969 as the guitarist and vocalist of James Gang, a power trio. During this period, he produced signature songs like “Walk Away” and “Funk #49”. While with James Gang, he became close with Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin and Pete Townshend of The Who. He gave Jimmy a 1959 Gibson Les Paul, which later became Jimmy’s main guitar. Similarly, he gave Pete a Gretsch 6120, which became the main guitar used in The Who’s legendary album Who’s Next.

■ James Gang “Walk Away”

Watch on YouTube

After leaving James Gang, Joe formed his own band Barnstorm, which essentially served as his solo project. Later, he fully transitioned to releasing music under his own name. His signature vocal style features a rough, lazy-sounding voice, yet he also showcases delicate beauty in slower songs with stunning vocal harmonies. As a guitarist, his bending is particularly impressive. He smoothly shifts between quarter-tone, half-step, full-step, and one-and-a-half-step bends, controlling both pitch and speed masterfully. His playing features a diverse range of tones, from clean sounds to heavy distortion, often incorporating effects like Leslie speakers for a swirling modulation effect, talk box (Talking Modulator), famously used in the solo of “Rocky Mountain Way”, and slide guitar, showcasing his expertise in expressive phrasing.

■ Joe Walsh “Rocky Mountain Way”

In 1975, a major turning point arrived in Joe’s life: he joined The Eagles as a guitarist and vocalist. His addition gave the band a massive power boost, leading to their 1976 masterpiece “Hotel California”, which skyrocketed them to global fame. One of rock history’s most iconic moments is the twin-guitar solo in “Hotel California”, featuring Don Felder on a Gibson SG double-neck and Joe Walsh on a Telecaster. The Eagles’ music became synonymous with West Coast Rock and AOR (Adult-Oriented Rock), leaving a huge impact on future generations. By the way, a certain famous Japanese band with a song whose title translates to “Goodbye” seems to have a bassline eerily similar to “Hotel California’s” A-section. Not to mention, the way their guitar solo “suddenly turns into a twin solo” partway through... You could say that’s “going off the path,” if you know what I mean.

■ Eagles “Hotel California”

The Eagles’ best-selling album, Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975), remains one of the highest-selling records of all time. However, after “Hotel California”, the band grew too massive, leading to creative stagnation and internal conflicts. By 1980, they broke up. Joe continued his solo career, though he faced struggles with substance abuse. However, in 1994, the Eagles reunited, marking a triumphant comeback. The next video is from their reunion concert, featuring their debut song, “Take It Easy”. Although this song was released before Joe joined the band, his country-style solos in the bridge and outro add a fantastic touch to the overall atmosphere. After the Eagles’ reunion, Joe has consistently balanced his work with the band and his solo career, while also actively participating in Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band, continuing to make his mark in the music world.

■ Eagles “Take It Easy”

One of my most memorable experiences was attending two of the Eagles’ concerts in Washington, D.C., in 2003. Both shows were held at the MCI Center, a massive arena with a capacity of around 20,000 people. At the time, concert ticket prices in the States. were skyrocketing, and their tickets were priced at $175 (approximately ¥17,500 at the exchange rate back then). However, I was so eager to see them live that I got carried away and joined the ticket battle, eventually securing tickets for both nights.

■ Flyer for the July 12, 2003, MCI Center (additional show)

■ Tickets for the July 11 & 12, 2003, MCI Center concerts

When I finally attended the concerts, I realized that both nights had the exact same setlist and performance. A wave of “Give me my money back!” frustration hit me. However, this anger was really directed at my own reckless spending, not at the concert itself. Despite the repetition, the quality of the performance was impeccable. Eagles concerts traditionally feature solo pieces from each member, and I vividly remember that the biggest crowd reactions came during Joe Walsh’s “Funk #49” and “Rocky Mountain Way”. It became clear to me that Joe is the band’s secret leader, allowing Don Henley, the official frontman, to keep the Eagles going with confidence. Even after Don Felder’s departure and Glenn Frey’s passing, the Eagles have stubbornly carried on. The 2003 tour I attended was called Farewell I, but despite repeatedly saying “goodbye,” I hope they continue their shameless, never-ending run.

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