How Les Paul’s Comeback Inspired Joe Walsh
Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh has shared a story that made Les Paul his hero. Walsh sees Paul as more than just a guitar innovator.
“He was one of the coolest people on the planet”, Walsh told Rolling Stone in 2017. “I got a chance to hang out with him, and he was like this mad scientist that played guitar.”
Les Paul’s resilience
The story that particularly impressed Walsh was about Paul’s resilience after a car accident. As Guitar Player reports, Paul broke his arm in several places, and doctors said he would never play guitar again. However, Paul insisted on having his arm set in a specific position that would allow him to continue playing.
This determination greatly inspired Walsh, who is himself known for co-authoring the solo of the Eagles song Hotel California, widely considered as one of the greatest guitar solos of all time. He cited Paul as his biggest hero during the interview.
Severe injuries
Les Paul’s accident happened in 1948 when Paul and his partner Mary Ford were at the peak of their career. Despite the severe injuries, Paul went on to record several top-10 singles with Ford.
This story of perseverance, along with Paul’s innovative spirit in guitar design, solidified his status as a hero in Walsh’s eyes.
