Legendary Rock Star, 78, Surprises Fans With Performance of 1973 Chart-Topper
- - Legendary Rock Star, 78, Surprises Fans With Performance of 1973 Chart-Topper
Jacqueline Burt CoteDecember 23, 2025 at 2:00 AM
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Photo by Gijsbert Hanekroot on Getty Images
While #1 hits come and go, some chart-toppers manage to stand the test of time. As both a member of the Eagles and a solo artist, guitarist and singer-songwriter Joe Walsh has contributed to some of the most beloved classics in rock history...so it was a pretty big deal for fans when he decided to perform one of those tunes during a recent show with indie rock band the War on Drugs.
On Saturday, Dec. 20, Walsh made an appearance at Johnny Brenda's in Philadelphia, PA, as part of the War on Drugs' Drugcember to Remember residency. In addition to "In the City" by the Eagles and TWOD's "Under the Pressure," Walsh and the band played a rocking rendition of his 1973 solo hit, "Rocky Mountain Way," as Stereogum reported.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tmKWeBq-4ss
Commenters on a YouTube clip of the show couldn't get over seeing the 78-year-old rocker in action.
"What a thrill. So many iconic tunes," one person wrote, with a second agreeing, "BEST of the BEST."
"Love him," declared someone else.
At the same show, former co-founding TWOD member Kurt Vile joined the band to play "Arms Like Boulders" from their debut Wagonwheel Blues in addition to covers of Bill Fay's "Pictures of Adolf Again" and R.E.M.'s "Country Feedback."
Joe Walsh got the idea for 'Rocky Mountain Way' while mowing his lawn
During a 2012 interview on The Howard Stern Show, Walsh opened up about his inspiration for writing "Rocky Mountain Way" not long after he released his debut solo album, Barnstorm.
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"I'm living in Colorado and I'm mowing the lawn," he recalled.
"I look up and there's the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and there's snow on them in the summer," he continued. "And it knocked me back because it was just beautiful. And I thought, 'Well I have committed. I'm already in Colorado and it's too late to regret the James Gang. The Rocky Mountain way is better than the way I had, because the music was better.' I got the words. Bam!"
In 1985, the song was used as the title to Walsh's 1985 compilation album, which included previously released songs from Barnstorm, The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get and So What.
Related: This Legendary Band Had the Bestselling Classic Rock Album of All Time — Here's Their Net Worth Today
This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
