In 1960, Joe Walsh borrowed a guitar to learn one song. 16 years later, he helped make ‘Hotel California’

Joe Walsh’s early fascination with guitar eventually helped reshape the Eagles’ sound. He joined the band in December 1975, bringing a harder rock edge that contributed to their later success, including the album *Hotel California*.

Walsh recalled borrowing a guitar in 1960 to learn the Ventures’ instrumental ‘Walk–Don’t Run’, whose melody made a lasting impression on him. In the Eagles, his warm-up riff became the basis of ‘Life in the Fast Lane’ after Don Henley heard it; Henley wrote the words and Glenn Frey helped arrange it.