Joe Walsh

Best known for his powerful guitar licks, Joe Walsh has entertained the masses and captivated his peers for more than three decades with such classics as “Funk,” “Walk Away,” “Life’s Been Good,” and “Ordinary Average Guy.” The catalogue of songs is the veritable soundtrack of our lives. And, he hasn’t stopped yet, even after releasing “One Day at a Time” on the 2005 Eagles Farewell I DVD.

Along with perfecting his craft, Joe has committed time and resources to support the Santa Cruz Island Foundation and the California Innocence Project. Joe has also made several appearances on the Drew Carey Show, MadTV, as well as on Bill Maher’s Politically Incorrect. He’s even been “animated for television” on Duck Man and The Simpsons, and all of this, while making DJ appearances.

Walsh had played with many bands, but it wasn’t until 1969, when he joined the Cleveland based power trio, The James Gang, that he got a taste of sweet success. Two of the four albums that the Gang released from 1970 to 1971 went gold. Despite this success, Joe felt it was time to go at it alone. With no particular plans, Walsh packed his bags and headed west to Colorado. There, he put together a trio —- Barnstorm—and later that year, they released a self-titled album. Still feeling there was something more for himself, Joe decided to release his first solo album in 1973. This album proved Joe a legitimate solo act with a limitless career on the horizon.

For the next four years, Joe’s commitment to his music was unstoppable. In 1976, he was asked by the Eagles to replace guitarist Bernie Leadon, bringing a harder rock sound to the group. Over the next four years, this configuration of the Eagles released “Hotel California” (which went gold, reaching #1 on the Billboard Charts) as well as “The Long Run” and “Eagles Live” (reaching Billboard’s and respectively). During this same period, Joe’s boundless energy and musical enthusiasm led to the release of two solo albums: “You Can’t Argue With a Sick Mind” (a live album) and “But Seriously Folks”, which boasted the notorious hit “Life’s Been Good”.

During the 14-year vacation of the Eagles, Joe focused on his solo career. Starting in 1981 with the release of “There Goes The Neighborhood”, followed by “You Bought It, You Name It” (1983), “The Confessor” (1985), “Got Any Gum?” (1987), “Ordinary Average Guy” (1991), and “Songs For a Dying Planet” (1992). Joe also released two greatest hits albums, “Look What I Did,” (1995) a 2 CD set, and “Little Did He Know...” (1997).

In 1994, the Eagles reunited for the release of a new album, titled “Hell Freezes Over”, which reached on the Billboard Charts and sparked one of the most successful tours in music history. Nothing could be better than proving the critics and naysayers wrong – the Eagles WERE still at the top of their game! And, just to rub it in, they were inducted into the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, the very first year that they were nominated.

As the century dawned, the Eagles began working on a long-awaited studio album. During the spring of 2001, they took a break to do a mini-tour in Europe which proved so successful that they decided to do the same in the U.S. in 2002. The U.S. tour grossed over thirty-five million dollars. The Eagles Farewell I tour began last May and continued through October. Feeling as though their journey was not yet finished, they decided to head out across the US and Europe one more time. By the end of 2005, the tour was the top grossing tour of the year.

In 2006, Joe headed back out on the road. In the early part of the year, he was touring with the Eagles overseas. Then, he was able to go back to his roots with the legendary James Gang for a 15-show tour in the U.S.

Joe is currently in the studio with the Eagles creating a new album, supporting his favorite world causes, preparing for a summer tour and, in general, just being an “ordinary average guy.