Singer and guitarist JOE WALSH led the JAMES GANG for three albums before breaking loose to follow the solo trail in late 1971. Walsh followed the Country Rock path but nevertheless brought some welcome guitar into the mainstream with his huge 1973 hit 'Rocky Mountain Way' and the edge he gave to THE EAGLES, particularly on the seminal 'Hotel California'. His colourful solo works have remained stoically idiosyncratic and as unpredictable as his often eccentric fashion sense.

Born Joseph Fidler Walsh in Wichita, Kansas on November 1st 1947, the aspiring musician had suffered an early loss of his father in a plane crash. His formative years saw his family relocating to Montclair, New Jersey where Walsh attended Montclair High School, tackling oboe and clarinet before a stint on bass guitar. Here he attended Kent State University whilst learning his craft on the club circuit across the Cleveland area in a variety of acts, performing as bass player with THE NOMADS and THE G-CLEFS. He switched to lead guitar in 1965 as a member of collegiate outfit THE MEASLES.

During 1969 Walsh replaced Glen Schwartz as lead guitarist in the JAMES GANG. His inventive and persuasive style soon put the creative focus of the band squarely on his shoulders. The band released its November 1969 debut album 'Yer' Album', this critically acclaimed work followed up by the gold album 'James Gang Rides Again' in October 1970, which featured the hit single 'Funk #49' and highly regarded 'The Bomber'. With the JAMES GANG, Walsh toured across the UK as opening act for THE WHO. Two more records ensued, August 1971's studio set 'Thirds', boasting another AOR hit 'Walk Away', and a concert recording 'James Gang Live in Concert'. Despite these successes, in November, 1971, Walsh departed for a solo career and the JAMES GANG soldiered on, eventually pulling in TOMMY BOLIN to fill the vacancy..

Walsh's first outing after the JAMES GANG was with his new Colorado based band BARNSTORM comprising bassist Kenny Passarelli and drummer CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG man Joe Vitale. The resulting 'Barnstorm' album, issued in 1972, was a moderate success and paved the way for the blockbuster 'Rocky Mountain Way' radio hit which took its parent album, 1973's 'The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get', into the American top ten. This opus found the band augmented by keyboard player Rocke Grace and ex-MANASSAS and BLUES IMAGE percussionist Joe Lala. 'Rocky Mountain Way' was to elevate itself beyond a significant radio hit of the time to evolve into a mainstream radio staple.

Later, Canadian Rockers TRIUMPH would resurrect 'Rocky Mountain Way' for their debut 1978 single. In November ABC Records collected together solo tracks and JAMES GANG material for the compilation 'The Best Of Joe Walsh'.

Walsh and Vitale guested on erstwhile SPIRIT and JO JO GUNNE man JAY FERGUSON's debut solo album. Walsh would go on to cement their friendship by actually appearing on the next four JAY FERGUSON outings. There were also moves to get Walsh to front the British twin guitar band WISHBONE ASH in 1974 but this idea never got beyond the talking stage.

Walsh spent most of 1974 guesting for THE EAGLES as well as moonlighting with Blues great B.B. KING and in production of DAN FOGELBERG's solo album 'Souvenirs'. Following Walsh's next solo album, December 1974's 'So What', the guitarist joined THE EAGLES on a permanent basis but maintained his solo career. The 'So What' album included THE EAGLES, Passararelli, Vitale, keyboard players Tom Stephenson, David Mason and Paul Harris, bassist Bryan Garofolo and former BEACH BOYS drummer Ricky Fataar.

Although he had become a full-time fixture in THE EAGLES in 1976, replacing Brian Leadon, Walsh kept his solo spirit alive with the 1976 live album 'You Can't Argue With A Sick Mind', which continued his relationship with Vitale and saw former SPIRIT frontman JAY FERGUSON on keyboards. Walsh then added a second classic to his repertoire with the monster international hit 'Hotel California' for THE EAGLES.

Two years passed concentrating on THE EAGLES before Walsh's next studio record 'But Seriously Folks', released in August 1978 and produced by Bill Szymczyk, landed him another top ten and platinum award backed by his biggest single hit 'Life's Been Good', a satirical observation on rock stardom. A further hit ensued with 'All Night Long', written for the film soundtrack to the 'Urban Cowboy' movie. Walsh also contributed the song 'In The City' to the soundtrack of the blockbuster 1979 gang warfare movie 'The Warriors'.

Joe Walsh's presence was then felt in the political arena as he ran for president of the United States. Although he notoriously pledged to provide "free gas for all", Walsh's candidature was intended to raise awareness of the election itself as in legal terms his age, then under 35, prohibited the musician from joining the presidential race. He enjoyed success of a more conventional nature in 1980 when THE EAGLES final album, 'The Long Run', gave him another number one. The soundtrack to the John Travolta and Debra Winger film 'Urban Cowboy' garnered Walsh's next solo hit, 'All Night Long', which cracked the US singles top twenty in the summer of 1980.

The guitarist delivered a further hit album in 1981 'There Goes The Neighborhood. With THE EAGLES folding in famously acrimonious circumstances in 1982 for most of the 80's Walsh indulged himself in a career in politics although the man did pop up for a cameo role in the 'Blues Brothers' cult movie. A label switch to Warner Bros. Strangely saw Walsh's popularity on the slide for May 1983's 'You Bought It You Name It', despite including THE EAGLES colleagues Don Felder and Don Henley plus hosting the notorious 'I.L.B.T.s' ("I Like Big Tits"). The album reached number 48 on the US charts whilst accompanying single 'Space Age Whiz Kids' peaked at 52.

1985's Keith Olsen produced 'The Confessor' followed on the Full Moon label. Studio players included TOTO drummer Jeff Porcaro, keyboard players Randy Newman and Alan Pasqua and the HEART rhythm section of bassist Mark Andes and drummer Denny Carmassi. Also delivered that September was the album 'Rocky Mountain Way', which comprised the title track plus previously unreleased and alternatives tracks.

Walsh made a return in 1987 with a fresh backing band made up of bassist David Cochran and drummer Chad Cromwell for the Terry Manning produced 'Got Any Gum?' album. SURVIVOR's Jimi Jamison added backing vocals. Walsh then teamed up with RINGO STARR for touring as a member of THE BEATLES drummer's 'All Starr Band'.

In December 1989, Walsh filmed an MTV Unplugged session with the highly respected R&B musician DR. JOHN. Here he delivered renditions of THE EAGLES 'Desperado' and NEIL YOUNG's 'Cinnamon Girl', highlighted on the February 1990 album from the broadcast. Unfortunately, 1991's 'Ordinary Average Guy' also missed the charts. His tenth solo outing, 'Songs For A Dying Planet', arrived in May 1992.

Walsh rejoined THE EAGLES for their mammoth 1994 'Hell Freezes Over' reformation tour. A union with LITA FORD for the 1995 single 'A Future To His Life' provided a welcome aside. 1996 witnessed the reformation of the classic JAMES GANG line-up, Joe Walsh, Dale Peters and Jim Fox, for a performance at an election rally for Bill Clinton. Walsh also rejoined his JAMES GANG comrades for televised appearances on 'The Drew Carey Show' in 1998 and at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in February 2001.

In 2004, Walsh performed live before a huge crowd at his friend ERIC CLAPTON's Crossroads benefit guitar festival in Dallas, Texas. During 2006, Walsh reunited with Jim Fox and Dale Peters for a 15 date JAMES GANG summer reunion tour. In early 2007, alongside Pete Townshend, Steve Winwood and Bill Wyman amongst others, Walsh put in a notable appearance at 'Dear Mr Fantasy - A Celebration For Jim Capaldi', a charity concert held at London's Roundhouse venue.