# In 1978, Joe Walsh nearly drowned making an album cover: “I can’t believe I was stupid enough”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1978-joe-walsh-nearly-drowned-making-an-album-cover-i-cant-believe-i-was-stupid-enough/
- Published: 2026-11-15T21:02:38+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-15T21:21:36+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/1978-joe-walsh-nearly-drowned-making-an-album-cover/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Joe Walsh nearly drowned during an underwater album-cover shoot.
- The first attempt failed because camera equipment was incomplete.
- A concealed air tank was used for the shoot in California.

## Summary

Joe Walsh nearly drowned while posing underwater for the cover of his 1978 solo album, *But Seriously, Folks...*. The risky shoot echoed the extravagant, absurd world of his song “Life’s Been Good”, but Walsh later said he regretted the stunt and would not repeat it.

The first attempt in Florida failed because the camera housing lacked a required attachment, so the shoot had to be repeated in California. Photographer Jimmy Wachtel recalled that Walsh accepted the news and agreed to try again; a concealed air tank was used for the second session. Walsh said he went to the bottom of the pool and nearly drowned, though he was proud of the finished image.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.