Joe Walsh Reveals How He Stays Sober

Joe Walsh, the legendary guitarist from the Eagles, recently sat down with AXS TV and spilled the beans on his journey to sobriety. Known for his killer riffs in hits like “Hotel California” and his wild rockstar days, Joe’s got a raw, honest, and inspiring story. At 77, he’s still rocking it—both on stage and in life—and he’s not afraid to get honest about the tough stuff.

When Booze Stops Being Your Buddy

Joe kicked things off by explaining how addiction sneaks up on you. “Well, if you have problems in your life that are directly the result of alcohol or whatever substance you are doing,” he said, you’ve got a mess on your hands. He calls all substances “drugs”—no sugarcoating here! Joe admitted he chased the bottle for 30 years, only to realize it wasn’t doing him any favors. “And very subtly without you noticing, whatever you’re on will convince you that you can’t do anything without it,” he shared. That’s when it’s got you hooked, and boy, does that hit home for a lot of folks.

Thinking More Was the Answer (Spoiler: It Wasn’t)

Here’s where Joe’s humor shines through. When sobriety wasn’t clicking, he thought, “Oh well, obviously I’m not drinking nearly enough.” Classic rockstar logic, right? But he quickly figured out that wasn’t the fix. After decades of battling the beast, he knew he couldn’t keep going solo. “I needed help,” he said, and that’s when things got real.

The Phone That Felt Like a Boulder

Joe dropped a truth bomb about asking for help: “The hardest thing to do, the phone can weigh 30 pounds. Pick up the phone and ask for help.” It’s a simple move that feels impossible in the moment, but Joe swears it’s worth it. Why? “Because there’s life after addiction. And it’s good.” That’s the kind of hope that sticks with you. The guy who gave us “Life’s Been Good” is living proof there’s a bright side after the dark days. Rock on, Joe!

Watch the video clip of his interview below.