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Joe Walsh returns to solo roots Analog Man
By John Benson
Life’s been good to Joe Walsh, and he knows it.
For the past 35 years, the singer-guitarist, who got his start playing around Cleveland and Kent State University with the James Gang, has been a member of The Eagles. While that act celebrates its 40th anniversary next year, Walsh is returning to his solo roots with a new CD “Analog Man” (due out in February) and tour, including a visit to Cleveland’s State Theatre on Wednesday.
The Vindicator talked to the playful 63-year-old about his Rock Hall City past, the beloved James Gang and his legacy.
Q. Considering your ties to Northeast Ohio, many folks still feel you are one of their own. What are you memories of the early days?
A. That was one of the best times of my life, really, besides right now. Without the environment and the support of everybody in those days, I would not be where I am now. There was a great artistic community between a whole bunch of players and places to play and people came. You could play four nights a week, three sets a night. That’s when you put in your 10,000 hours. That’s when you work at your craft and learn how to do it. I had the ability to do that and places to play and people coming. That’s the big thing, because it seems like nowadays everybody is a legend in their parents’ basement but you’ve got to get out and play in front of people. I’m really grateful for those days. Those were the days, that’s all I can say.
Q. It was roughly five years ago when The James Gang held popular reunion shows at Beachland Ballroom. What does occasionally returning to that band mean to you?
A. The James Gang always was kind of freeform. In a three-piece group everybody has to work hard. On a good night there’s nothing like it. And on a bad night it can get pretty ugly. But we got together just to see if we could still do it because we’re not that young anymore. As far as we were concerned, we could still do it. And I’ve been really busy being an Eagle here in the last five years, which is a blessing. So The James Gang still is a viable thing. I think we can still get together and play some more. I hope we get a chance to here in the next couple of years.
Q. As far as your new CD “Analog Man,” how did the project come together?
A. I’ve been working on it on the side at home for three or four years but Eagles is a fulltime job. So on down periods I’d have a week or so here or there to work on it but I never got in a place where I could have some momentum to really finish tracks. Eventually I got it done, and I’m really excited about it because I haven’t put an album out in 20 years. Back then, everything was analog, and now everything is digital. It’s like a time machine. There’s a song on it that says, “I’m an analog man in a digital world” and I’m trying to figure it out. I think there are a lot of people who conversion to digital has been kind of painful, whereas a 10-year-old kid can fix something on my computer that will take me two days of sitting there and cursing at it to get it done.
Q. A look at your current set list reveals you’re playing a cover of Michael Stanley’s “Rosewood Bitters,” which you recorded on your 1985 CD “The Confessor.” What is it about that song that continues to have your interest?
A. I always thought it was a great song. It grabs you and stays with you, and of course, I love Michael, he’s a great songwriter. I don’t cover a lot of songs but that one I thought I could really do a good job on. And it goes over good. I really enjoy playing it, and my wife requested it. So I don’t have a whole lot of say in that.
Q. Any chance Stanley will join you on stage for that song?
A. If he shows up.
Q. He probably will now. Finally, considering all of the things you’ve achieved in your life, have you thought about your legacy?
A. I just want to go down as a valid spokesman for the generation I represent. You know, I’ve seen success beyond my wildest dreams and at this point in time about the only thing really left is to just work at my craft. I’m so lucky and I’m so blessed to be able to go and play my music for people. They still come and as long as they come I’ll keep doing it. I don’t know what else I’d do. B.B. King is a great example. He’s well into his 80s and that makes me feel like a youngster.