Joe Walsh Opens Up About The Worst Time In His Career

The Eagles are hailed as one of the greatest country rock bands of the 20th century, but their success came with plenty of turbulence. By the early 1980s, the band was falling apart, and while guitarist and keyboardist Joe Walsh hadn’t yet hit his lowest point, he wasn’t far off.

As a member of the Eagles, Walsh lived the quintessential rock star lifestyle. Whether partying with Keith Moon of The Who or John Belushi, he embodied excess. Hotel rooms didn’t stand a chance, and late nights were the norm. But as fun as that life may sound, it’s not sustainable—not for Walsh, nor the Eagles as a whole.

The Eagles’ Messy Demise

By the time the Eagles began working on The Long Run, tensions were at an all-time high. The band members were burnt out, uninspired, and at each other’s throats. The infamous feud between Don Felder and Glenn Frey even escalated to physical fights on stage. It was chaos, and in 1980, the band finally imploded.

Walsh moved on to focus on his solo career, but things quickly spiraled out of control. With no one to rein him in, he dove deeper into self-destructive behavior.

Joe Walsh Hits Rock Bottom

In a 2024 interview with Louder, Walsh reflected on his darkest days following the Eagles’ breakup. “The low point was probably my last three years of vodka and substance abuse,” he admitted. “I was pretty pitiful. I had lost myself. I always thought, ‘Well, if I need to, I can stop.’ And then I realized that wasn’t the case, and I did not know what to do. That was pretty awful, and I don’t want to go there again.”

Walsh’s story isn’t unique—many rock stars of his era succumbed to excess, often with tragic outcomes. But Walsh managed to turn things around, thanks to an unexpected lifeline.

A Sober Comeback with the Eagles

Two surprising heroes stepped in to save Walsh: his former Eagles bandmates, Don Henley and Glenn Frey. They planned a reunion, but there was a condition—Walsh had to get clean. After a stint in rehab, Walsh rejoined the Eagles, performing sober for the first time.

Reflecting on the myth of creative excess, Walsh said:

“Could Hendrix have played like that sober? I don’t think so. Could Hemingway and Faulkner have written like that unless they were alcoholics? Probably not. I always used that as a crutch in my denial… but it never occurred to me that all those people are dead.”

Real words from a man who’s seen it all and lived to tell the tale.