Joe Walsh Signs Major Publishing Deal as VetsAid 2025 Heads Home to Wichita

At 75, Joe Walsh isn’t slowing down—he’s just getting started. On November 2, 2023, the legendary Joe Walsh, guitarist for the Eagles and former frontman of the James Gang, announced a landmark global publishing deal with Reservoir Media, the New York-based music company that now controls his entire catalog: solo hits like "Rocky Mountain Way," Eagles classics like "Life in the Fast Lane," and deep cuts from his 1970s band days. It’s not just about money; it’s about legacy. "It is such a pleasure to be partnered with a team who are hands on and personal," Walsh said, capturing the rare authenticity that’s defined his five-decade career. And while the music industry buzzes over the deal, Walsh’s real mission is elsewhere—back home in Wichita, Kansas, where his next big act isn’t a concert, but a homecoming.

A Rock Star’s Quiet Revolution

"I’ve collected too much stuff," Walsh told reporters, laughing. That’s how he explained his upcoming auction, "The Life’s Been Good Joe Walsh," set for December 16–17, 2024, at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. Over 800 items will go under the hammer: his 1966 Framus Strato Gold De Luxe 12-string guitar, used on the 1972 Barnstorm album; vintage amplifiers; ham radios he’s tinkered with since the ’70s; even his stage-worn boots and custom jackets. But here’s the twist—it’s not a retirement sale. It’s a fundraiser. A portion of the auction proceeds will directly benefit VetsAid, the nonprofit Walsh founded nearly a decade ago.

That organization has raised more than $4 million since 2015, funding local veteran services in cities from San Diego to Chicago. But the 2024 VetsAid concert? Cancelled. "Extraordinary circumstances," the statement read. No details were given. But in January 2025, Walsh quietly confirmed: the 2025 show wouldn’t just return—it would be monumental. And it would be in Wichita.

Coming Home to Kansas

"It’s been a long-term goal of mine since we began VetsAid nearly ten years ago to bring it all home," Walsh said, his voice thick with emotion. His parents were born there. Buried there. He was born there too—in a hospital on the city’s south side, in 1947. "It’s where I learned to play guitar in my basement, where I first dreamed of being on stage. And now, I get to give back to the people who raised me, the veterans who came from the same streets."

The VetsAid 2025INTRUST Bank Arena will be unlike any previous edition. The lineup reads like a who’s who of American rock: Vince Gill, Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen, and a once-in-a-lifetime "super-set" featuring Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and Nathaniel Rateliff—all joining Walsh for an unannounced collaborative performance. All net proceeds will go to Kansas-based veteran service organizations vetted by the Combined Arms Institute. Applications for grants opened this spring and are already drawing hundreds of requests from rural clinics, PTSD support groups, and housing initiatives for homeless vets across the state.

"Wichita isn’t just a stop on the tour," said Karen Mitchell, director of the Kansas Veterans Resource Network. "This is the first time a national benefit of this scale has come here. The impact won’t just be financial—it’ll be cultural. It tells our veterans they’re not forgotten."

The Eagles Aren’t Done Either

While VetsAid 2025 is the emotional centerpiece, Walsh’s musical future remains wide open. The Eagles will resume their residency at Sphere in Las Vegas in January 2025, with shows scheduled through March. Walsh, who joined the band in 1975 after Bernie Leadon’s departure, has never been one to rest. "I know we’re not done yet," he told Guitar Player magazine. "There’s more gigging on the horizon."

And then there’s the new music. Walsh confirmed he’s been writing and recording in his home studio near Santa Monica, with plans to release a new solo album in 2026. "I’ve got six songs I’m proud of," he said. "Not the kind you play on the radio, but the kind you play when you’re alone at 2 a.m. with a whiskey and a broken heart."

That’s the Joe Walsh fans know: the guy who can shred a solo like a demon but would rather talk about the vet who mailed him a thank-you note after VetsAid 2022 than his latest guitar rig.

Why This Matters

This isn’t just another celebrity endorsement or a music deal. It’s a full-circle moment. Walsh’s career has spanned the rise of arena rock, the fall of physical media, and the digital revolution. Yet through it all, he’s stayed grounded. The publishing deal with Reservoir Media ensures his songs will be properly managed and promoted for future generations. The auction? It’s a way to clear clutter while funding real change. And Wichita? It’s the emotional anchor.

When the lights go up at the INTRUST Bank Arena on November 15, 2025, it won’t just be a concert. It’ll be a homecoming. A tribute. A reckoning. And for the veterans of Kansas, it’ll be a reminder that someone who made it big never forgot where he came from.