Fact or fiction? With Joe Walsh, you never know

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Joe Walsh, a former Encinitas resident, returns to San Diego for a sold-out Feb. 2 show at the Belly Up. “Analog Man,” his first new album in two decades, is due out later this year. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg) — AP

( / AP)

Is truth really stranger than fiction for legendary rocker Joe Walsh?

You can be the judge by determining which of the following statements is, or isn’t, accurate about this veteran solo star and longtime lead guitarist in The Eagles.

1. Walsh dropped out of college at Kent State, after being too close for comfort when members of the National Guard infamously shot and killed four students at an anti-war protest in 1970.
2. Despite his status as a guitar hero of four decades’ standing, Walsh still takes lessons whenever possible.
3. When he is need of sage advice, about music or life, he often seeks the counsel of his brother-in-law, Ringo Starr.
4. While living in Encinitas, between 1995 and 2001, Walsh regularly rode Amtrak to and from the lengthy Los Angeles recording sessions for The Eagles’ 2007 double-album “Long Road Out of Eden.”

In fact, all of the above is true about Walsh, who plays a sold-out concert tonight at the Belly Up. But don’t take our word for it.

During a recent interview from his Los Angeles home, here’s what Walsh had to say about:

Kent State: “I majored in English and minored in music. Unfortunately, I was at the shootings. After that, I didn’t look at college the same. … (Then) the James Gang (his first major band) started to gather momentum and I decided I’d try pursuing music as a profession. Being at the shootings really affected me profoundly. I decided that maybe I don’t need a degree that bad.”

Music lessons: “I can listen to something a couple of times and pretty much get it down. Where I’m lacking is in reading music. … I’m not ashamed to ask for some tips, or some licks to steal from anybody.”

Ringo: “He’s unaffected by success, really down to earth, a pleasure to be around and a good influence. How? He’s well-grounded, and if something happens that I can’t really figure out, or don’t know what do, he’s a great friend to ask and receive advice from. He’s been through it all, so chances are he knows what to do — or at least knows what he did.”

Commuting by train: “After a while, the Amtrak crew kind of got to know me and we would visit and stuff. I love the rails (and have) since I was a real little kid. I just have this thing for trains; I like to look out the window. Once in a while, I get recognized. That’s why I like going out with Ringo, because everyone always focuses on him!”

Bonus Q&A with Joe Walsh

Q: Have you done more interviews than you ever care to recall?

Walsh: (laughs) Well, luckily, there's a bunch I don't recall at all! Interviews are really as good as the questions the interviewer asks you.

Q: Well, I’d like to start with a few question you may not normally get asked, starting with: Do you still have the Les Paul (guitar) that Pete Townshend gave you in 1970?

Walsh: No. That’s backwards -- I gave Pete Townshend a guitar in 1970, a Gretsch 6120. He used it a lot for the “Who’s Next” album. He had been playing a Gibson SG for the “Tommy” phase and was locked into one sound and one guitar and stuff. I had been playing the Gretsch and it’s the kind of guitar where, you pick it up, and stuff just comes out. They are magical guitars; stuff you wouldn’t normally play comes out of them. It’s a great way to jump start your songwriting if you get frustrated.

Q: Do you still play the clarinet?

Walsh: Well, yeah, except it really upsets the dogs a lot! No, I can’t play at all. I can make noise. I played oboe, too, when I was young and I can kind of play them now.

Q: Do you still have your embouchure?

Walsh: That's the problem. My lip is gone.

Q: I know about your reunion with the James Gang a few years ago. Do you have any plans to reunite with your previous band, The Measles and The Nomads?

Walsh: (laughs uproariously) I don't know if any of those people, besides me, are alive! I'm sure they're in Ohio, if they're still around. I think it would be almost impossible to find them, but it could be done. I think I'll stick with the James Gang -- I know where to find those guys!

Q: How good a tipper is Ringo when you go out to eat at a restaurant?

Walsh: Well, he's fantastic. He's absolutely fantastic. I think he's one of the best I've ever seen. I usually offer to buy (dinner), but he won't accept.

Q: In 1989, when you were touring ads part of Ringo's first All-Starr Band tour, I attended your sound-check at a large hockey arena in Buffalo, N.Y. I vividly recall that, after playing a 15-minute instrumental version of the Isley Brothers' "It's Your Thing," you said: "Well, this is certainly one of the nicer toilets we've played in." The other thing I recall is watching in awe as Ringo drummed in unison with Jim Keltner and Levon Helm. Their left hands always came down together; I didn't hear even one flam.

Walsh: (laughs) I apologize (to Buffalo)! Those three guys (drumming) together was like, well. you said it it. It was like one person (drumming). It's a well known fact that Ringo's time and tempos are impeccable, and he's known for that. You better count it off right when you play with him, because that's where it's going to be. And to be one of those guys playing with him was an honor.

Q: Do you ever get ideas for songs while riding on trains?

Walsh: Yeah there's something very comforting for musicians on trains. There's the relaxing rhythm of the rails and a little rocking back and forth, and -- as you're looking out the window -- a lot of thoughts come and go. It's great to just be alone and have some quiet time and quality time with yourself, and to look out the train window and listen to all your thoughts. Great song ideas come out, at least for me. You see a neighborhood from the train, and think: "Golly, I bet there are some stories here."

Q: Your upcoming new album, “Analog Man,” will be your first solo release since 1992. Do you have a ton of songs stockpiled or did you just start writing for the album recently?

Walsh: Well, I've been working on it for a long time. But I never got a lot of momentum going on it, because of Eagles commitments. I just kind of worked on it during downtime. I got a bunch of stuff almost written, but never had an pressure or deadlines to finish it. So it was just bits and pieces. My wife, Marjorie, got used to hearing it and really encouraged me to go ahead and work on it seriously and put it out.

Q: I once was fortunate enough to interview Miles Davis. I asked him what musical and human qualities he looked for in his band members, and he gave a fascinating answer. You are now touring with a band of musicians from Austin. What was your criteria for selecting them?

Walsh: What did Miles say? I'd have been terrified to interview him.

Q: I was definitely intimidated. I was in my mid-twenties and knew the interview could end in a minute, if he didn't like the question or the tone. So I literally spent several weeks coming up with the opening question, just to establish it would be a serious interview and that I had great respect for him and his music. He told me that musicians had to fit with their instruments and that he could tell, with saxophonists, just from the way they took their instruments out of the case and held them if they'd be in his band, before they played a note.

Walsh: Speaking for me, I've been in Austin once or twice, and I know a great songwriter there named Ray Wylie Hubbard. Ringo (who guests on Hubbard's new album) actually turned me on to him. I called him up and met him and we wrote a little music together. In doing that, I came across the Austin music scene, which is really alive and well. It's a community, an artistic community, and there are a lot of places to play and people really support live music. And there are some great players there, just great. It's kind of like a lot of the energy that Los Angeles had back in the (mid-70s) "Hotel California" days. I just really picked up on it, a lot of real positive energy and music, going on in Austin.

These guys in my band from Austin have a great pocket and a great groove. I'm using abstract words, but they put the music in a great place, feeling-wise, and it makes me play in a certain way. So, rather than get big names or well-known people, I grabbed a bunch of these guys guys from Austin and really enjoy being around them.

Q: So, how easy or difficult is it to surprise yourself when you play with these guys?

Walsh: Right, right. Well, like I was saying, getting yourself in an environment, where you're comfortable taking chances and improvising, is the secret, I think. The Eagles, we like to make it sound like the record and we're one of the best at doing that. And there's a way you do that, and that is everybody has a certain, specific assignment, and everybody has to play a certain thing in a certain place. And the total sum of all that becomes something much bigger than any one particular individual part.

There's not as much room in that kind of structure to improvise and make stuff up on the spur of the moment as there is in a jam band or a blues band. And, so, when I'm doing solo work, I try and encourage myself to take chances and not play what I played the night before, or what's on the record. That usually comes out really good. I can kind of tell how I'm doing by the audience reaction. Sometimes, it can be scary to just head out into uncharted waters. But it's really rewarding when it works. And when it doesn't work, it's still worth it for the times when it does.

Q: When all is said and done, how -- and for what -- would you like to be remembered?

Walsh: Well, I'd like to go down in the books as being a valid, creative person for the generation I represent. At this point, having been rich a couple of times, and famous a couple of times, what's left is really to work at your craft. I just played a show in Atlantic City with B.B. King and he's 87 and he’s playing great. It gives me great hope for the future. I'd just like to be a creative spokesman for my generation and go down as being valid. If I can do that and make some people happy with the music, it's well worth all the brain cells it took me to do it.