Salt Lake City Weekly Interview (2002)
I stumbled upon this interveiw from a few years ago. Because Joe's the subject matter-it's pretty entertaining. Be forewarned -this "reporter" is obviously much more a Joe Walsh fan than he is an Eagles/Frey/Henley fan.
IN MUSIC WE TRUST
Interveiw: Joe Walsh by: Randy Harward
Love 'em or hate 'em, the Eagles are an important part of rock and roll. You can carp all day about the wussy soft rock sound or Don Henley's crappy solo albums or astronomical reunion tour ticket prices or Glenn Frey's crappy solo albums or the crappy flamenco version of "Hotel California", but you know when you hear "Take It Easy", you're wishing you were the guy who had seven chicks to sort out. And when you hear "Desperado", you're wishing you were that aloof loner. And when you hear the original, un-crappy version of "Hotel California", you're wishing you were Joe Walsh playin' that sweet solo.
IMWT: Are you the coolest Eagle?
Joe Walsh: Oh, no. I don't think I'm very cool (laughs). If we had a cool contest, I think it would be a tie. Nobody's exceptionally cool, we're just kind of average cool.
IMWT: Let's settle it: who wrote the "Hotel California" solo, you or Felder?
Joe Walsh: I would think it was a joint effort. The lead parts that we trade off, he came up with his, I came up with mine. And the stuff that we played together was worked out together.
IMTW: Is it true that, on the cover of Hotel California, late Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey is seen standing in one of the hotel windows?
Joe Walsh: Absolutely not. Any reference to Satan or anything like that is completely in the eyes of whoever is thinking that. That's a reflectionof how sick they are. The guy in the window is one of the Elektra/Asylum publicity guys. The lighting just happened to be bad and he was really shy, so he was just peeking around the corner.
IMWT: How has Felder's departure afected the band? Is there a
replacement guitarist?
Joe Walsh: Well, there was a friction there...I can't say a lot because it's a pending court rule. But that didn't involve me. The band was together a long time before I joined. There's a lot less friction now and we're getting along better than we ever have. The replacement guitarist is Stueart Smith. Sometimes I really hate him, 'cause he's really good. He really makes me play.
IMWT: What's the set list like for this tour?
Joe Walsh: Well, it's the catalog. There's somethin' for everybody. It's not Hell Freezes Over revisited. He've rotated the songs and we've added a horn section. We do a good cross-section of Eagles music and little splashes of each of our solo stuff.
IMWT: How are the Eagles different now, as opposed to 1980.
Joe Walsh: Well, I think we're done with most of the craziness and partying. Everybody's older and we've all got families. We've been rich and famous, and the thing that's really left is to just work at our craft. And we never dreamed we'd even be alive at this point, so every day is an adventure.
IMWT: Any intraband practical joking? Anyone ever give Timothy B. Schmit a wedgie?
Joe Walsh: Oh, yeah...practial joking and stuff. The difference now is that we sleep. There's relevent silliness, food fights and stuff, but we don't party like the old days.
IMWT: There's a bit of Joe Walsh lore that's been floating around Salt Lake for a while...
Joe Walsh: It's probably true. Very rarely are the stories not true. Most of the stuff you've heard about me is a documented fact.
IMWT: So, years ago in Park City, you played 20 minutes, said, "Hang on, I gotta take a pee" and left, never to return?
Joe Walsh: Oh, no. I didn't do that. And I don't drink anymore -it's been eight years. I drank enough beer for the rest of the human race for the next 20 years, but I never went pee and never came back.
IMWT: Don Henley vs. Glenn Frey in a boxing match: who wins?
Joe Walsh: Uh, well...depends on the time of the day (laughs). I don't know...
IMWT: When you get to Salt Lake, wanna go bowling?
Joe Walsh: Alright, that sounds good. Either bowling or miniature golf. If you're around at the show, introduce yourself. Tell 'em you're my cousin. That usually works.
