Early Life and Education of Joe Walsh: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Joe Walsh. A timeline of key moments.

Joseph Fidler Walsh, known as Joe Walsh, is a highly influential American guitarist, singer, and songwriter whose career spans five decades. He gained prominence as a member of the Eagles and has also been a part of bands such as the James Gang and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. Walsh boasts a successful solo career, is a prolific session musician, and was ranked among Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" in 2011, solidifying his legacy as a guitar virtuoso.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

November 20, 1947: Joseph Fidler Walsh Born

On November 20, 1947, Joseph Fidler Walsh, later known as Joe Walsh, was born in Wichita, Kansas. He is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter.

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July 22, 1949: Father's Death in Air Force Accident

On July 22, 1949, Joe Walsh's father, Lt. Robert Newton Fidler, a pilot in the United States Air Force, died in a mid-air collision over Okinawa while flying a Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star.

1959: Ownership of the Gretsch Guitar

In 1959, Joe Walsh owned a Gretsch 6120 guitar, before gifting it to Pete Townshend in 1970.

1959: Ownership of the Gibson Les Paul guitar

In 1959, Joe Walsh owned a sunburst Gibson Les Paul guitar, before selling it to Jimmy Page in 1969.

1969: Sold Gibson Les Paul to Jimmy Page

In 1969, Joe Walsh sold his 1959 sunburst Gibson Les Paul to Jimmy Page, who called it his "Number 1".

1969: Sells Les Paul guitar to Jimmy Page

In 1969, Joe Walsh sold his Les Paul guitar to Jimmy Page.

1970: Duane Allman on Layla

In 1970, Duane Allman played slide guitar on Eric Clapton's Layla album which contributed to Joe Walsh's knowledge of slide guitar.

1970: Gifted Gretsch Guitar to Pete Townshend

In 1970, Joe Walsh gave a 1959 Gretsch 6120 to Pete Townshend, who used it to record tracks on albums such as Who's Next and Quadrophenia.

1970: Kent State Massacre and College Dropout

In 1970, Joe Walsh was present during the Kent State massacre, which profoundly affected him. As a result, he dropped out of college after one term to pursue his musical career.

April 29, 1971: Birth of Emma Kristen Walsh

On April 29, 1971, Joe Walsh's eldest daughter, Emma Kristen Walsh, was born.

1971: Marriage to Stefany Rhodes

In 1971, Joe Walsh married Stefany Rhodes.

1972: Solo Career Song Included on Eagles Live

In 1972 Joe Walsh wrote "Life's Been Good" and "All Night Long" during his solo career, later included on Eagles Live.

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April 1, 1974: Death of Emma Kristen Walsh

On April 1, 1974, Joe Walsh's eldest daughter, Emma Kristen, died from injuries sustained in a car accident. Her story inspired the track "Song for Emma" on Walsh's album So What.

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1975: Barnstorm's Last Tour

In the spring of 1975, Barnstorm embarked on their last tour, shortly after Joe Walsh joined the Eagles.

1978: Divorce from Stefany Rhodes

In 1978, Joe Walsh divorced Stefany Rhodes.

1980: Mock Presidential Campaign

In 1980, Joe Walsh announced a mock presidential campaign, promising to make "Life's Been Good" the new national anthem and running on a platform of "Free Gas For Everyone".

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1980: Marriage to Juanita Boyer

In 1980, Joe Walsh married Juanita Boyer.

1984: Touring with Stevie Nicks

In 1984, while touring with Stevie Nicks, Joe Walsh took Nicks to North Boulder Park's fountain, a memorial to his late daughter Emma.

1985: Stevie Nicks' song inspired by Joe Walsh

In 1985, Stevie Nicks released the album Rock A Little. The song "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You?" from the album was inspired by Joe Walsh's grief over the loss of his daughter.

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1988: Divorce from Juanita Boyer

In 1988, Joe Walsh divorced Juanita Boyer.

1989: Touring New Zealand with Herbs

In 1989, Joe Walsh toured New Zealand with the reggae band Herbs. During the tour, he visited Otatara Pa, an experience he later described as the beginning of his journey to recovery from alcohol and cocaine addiction.

1989: Epiphany at Otatara Pa in New Zealand

In 1989, while touring with New Zealand band Herbs, Joe Walsh had an epiphany during a visit to Otatara Pa, an ancient Māori pā site in the Hawke's Bay region, which he credits as the start of his recovery.

1991: Turning Point in Recovery

In 1991, Joe Walsh woke up after blacking out on an airplane to Paris, arriving with his passport but no memory of getting on the plane. He marked this as a turning point in his recovery.

1992: Mock Vice Presidential Campaign

In 1992, Joe Walsh ran for vice president with Rev. Goat Carson under the slogan "We Want Our Money Back!".

1993: Recovery from Addictions

Joe Walsh has been in recovery from alcohol and drug addictions since 1993.

1996: Disappearance of Susan Walsh

Since 1996, Joe Walsh's sister-in-law, Susan Walsh, has been a missing person.

1999: Marriage to Denise Driscoll

In 1999, Joe Walsh married Denise Driscoll.

1999: "Funk 49" Included on Eagles Box Set

In 1999, the James Gang's "Funk 49", from Joe Walsh's days in the band, was included on the fourth "Millennium Concert" disc of the Eagles box set Selected Works: 1972-1999.

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October 2004: Speaking Engagements in New Zealand

In October 2004, Joe Walsh traveled to New Zealand for speaking engagements where he cautioned against the dangers of substance abuse. He expressed gratitude to the people who took him to Otatara Pa in 1989 during his tour with Herbs, a reggae band, which he credited as the start of his recovery.

2004: Return Visit to New Zealand

In 2004, on a return visit to New Zealand, Joe Walsh described his 1989 experience at Otatara Pa as the beginning of his recovery from addictions.

2006: Divorce from Denise Driscoll

In 2006, Joe Walsh divorced Denise Driscoll.

2006: Donation to American Radio Relay League

In 2006, Joe Walsh donated an autographed guitar to the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) for its charity auction.

2007: Lucy Walsh's Debut Album Release

In 2007, Joe Walsh's daughter Lucy Walsh, a musician, released her debut solo album, Lost in the Lights.

2007: Stevie Nicks on Joe Walsh

In 2007, Stevie Nicks described Joe Walsh as "the great love of my life" in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.

December 13, 2008: Marriage to Marjorie Bach

On December 13, 2008, Joe Walsh married Marjorie Bach in Los Angeles. Marjorie Bach is the sister of Barbara Bach and sister-in-law of Ringo Starr.

2008: Funded Scholarship at Kent State University

In 2008, Joe Walsh funded the first talent-based scholarship at Kent State University.

2011: Theme Song for Ham Nation Podcast

In 2011, Joe Walsh provided the theme song (including Morse code) for the TWiT podcast Ham Nation and appeared as a guest in the first and 400th episodes.

2012: Walsh Comments on Kent State Shooting

In 2012, Joe Walsh reflected on the Kent State shootings, stating that the experience profoundly affected him and influenced his decision to leave college.

2012: Considering a Serious Bid for Political Office

In 2012, while promoting his album Analog Man, Joe Walsh revealed he was considering a serious bid for political office, specifically for Congress, citing the dysfunctionality of Congress as the root of the problem.

2017: Organized VetsAid Concert Series

In 2017, Joe Walsh contacted musicians including the Zac Brown Band, Gary Clark Jr., and Keith Urban, to organize VetsAid, a concert series similar to Willie Nelson's Farm Aid.