Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh: It is the spiritual connection that allowed me to play along

In what’s best described as the musical equivalent of a casting coup, Joe Walsh and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan jam for an EP; the Eagles guitarist tells mid-day he fretted when attempting Indian classical

Joe Walsh is a big believer in destiny’s mysterious ways. During a visit to India a few years ago, he developed a liking for the sarod, and subsequently purchased the instrument ahead of his return to Los Angeles. When Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, along with his sons, Ayaan and Amaan arrived in LA for a collaboration with the American rock guitarist — who has been a member of three successful rock bands, including James Gang, Eagles, and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band — their instruments had been misplaced. “It was meant to happen,” Walsh says of the subsequent collaboration, which saw the Khans then employ his sarod to piece together the three-part EP, Prayers, an ode to frontline workers.

At 73, 50 of which he has devoted to the field of music, Walsh still has childlike enthusiasm when discussing the art. “I have just been introduced to the world of Indian music. I don’t have a great understanding of it, but I get excited with it. Being in India, making friends, and being around spiritual people has been insightful. I am at the tip of the iceberg. The more I do, the more I want to do,” he says, adding that the fear he harboured when dabbling in a style he knew little about is essential for the making of a worthwhile project.

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan with sons Ayaan Ali Khan and Amaan Ali Khan

“Everything I know, I’ve learnt, didn’t help when we went into the studio. It is the spiritual connection that allowed me to play along [with the Khans]. Indian music has notes that [western music] doesn’t, and when I first heard them, I was like, how do I do that? That’s exciting.”

An east-meets-west collaboration that sees the fusion of rock and Indian classical music may seem like an unlikely selection, but Khan doesn’t consider a genre as defining factor when discussing fusion. 

“[Fusions] of all genres are possible, but what needs to be considered is the musician you are dealing with. Maestro Joe is fond of the sarod because it belongs to the family of guitars. He is interested in our philosophy, and rich musical culture. So, the process was spontaneous.”

Albeit having collaborated with several artistes across his long career, Walsh holds his association with the Eagles, close to his heart. “That collaboration turned into a lifetime. We had a great creative relationship, and we’re not done yet. We start playing live again towards the end of this year, and I want to come to India.” 

Also Read: Like father, like son

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