UNCASVILLE — The last time I had the opportunity to interview rocker and guitar phenom Joe Walsh, our conversation which obviously dwelled heavily on music, ended with a heartfelt plea by the artist.

Then celebrating nearly 13 years clean and sober himself, Walsh appealed to those grappling with alcohol or substance abuse to get the help they needed to get sober and stick to it.

So it was coincidental that a recent interview more than half a decade later kind of opened where we left off. On the day of Walsh’s exclusive chat with The Newtown Bee, he was gearing up to take his passion for getting addicted individuals the help they need to a national audience.

On the day of his call-in, Walsh was just days away from the October 4 UNITE to Face Addiction Rally and concert in Washington, D.C. He was joined on that bill by colleagues Steven Tyler, Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, and The Fray, as well as Surgeon General Vivek Murthy who announced the country’s first ever report on addiction.

The event, which reportedly came off with great success, represented a brief break for Walsh, who is playing the last few dates of a fall solo tour in the Northeast, including a Friday, October 16, stop at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville.

Fans who loved Walsh and his hard rocking and sometimes zany material pre-Eagles should plan to attend to enjoy a heavy dose of all his other creations. This tour also reunites Walsh with one of his Barnstorm band members, keyboardist and drummer Joe Vitale.

Additionally Walsh will be supported by Drew Hester on drums; Larry Young on bass; Clayton M. Janes (keyboards); Jason Freese (keyboards and sax); Windy Wagner, Connie Jackson-Comegys and Melanie Taylor (backing vocals); along with Gannin Arnold (guitar).

Walsh said he will be performing hits from throughout his career, ranging from the James Gang to his Barnstorm days, to the Eagles and his solo records right through to 2012’s Analog Man, as well as some surprises.

“I’ve got a great band and I’m excited to play with my old friend Joe Vitale again. I also love being able to go into smaller venues,” he said in an advance. “I’ve missed it … everybody has a good seat and it reminds me of the old days. I think I play my best in a small venue when the bass drums are kicking me in the pants. I’m really looking forward to it all.”

In his interview, Walsh talked about how taking a break from the Eagles for this short solo tour gives him a turn in the driver’s seat, but he was also fired up over the upcoming UNITE to Face Addiction Rally.

Newtown Bee: The last time we talked, we had a serious conversation about addiction. So it’s weirdly coincidental that I’m talking to you again just days ahead of the UNITE concert, which is being attributed to your passion for getting folks the help they need to get sober.

Joe Walsh: Well, thanks — it’s a pretty big deal. You know at this point, I think there are more recovered people than there have ever been, regardless of what their problem was. But the sad thing is, about seven times as many people died before getting sober. That’s how bad addiction is. So we think it’s time to face the fact. It can be cigarettes, alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription drugs, it can be sex, gambling or food. Addiction is a very human condition... and it’s ruining lives and families — it’s rampant and ruining this country and it’s time to say that out loud — to be heard — and to begin the painful process to get the government and the insurance companies and our whole society to recognize it as a medical condition.

It is a disease, and the answer is not jail time. People need to know there is somewhere they can go for help. When you are fully addicted to something, you don’t know what to do. You aren’t thinking clearly. About all you can manage is to ask for help. People in that position are screaming for it by that time.

Bee: This tour is reuniting you with Joe Vitale. How did you decide which Barnstorm tunes you wanted to play on this tour?

Walsh: We made a list of stuff we wanted to do and revisited all that material — stuff we thought was relevant — some of it we never played live, ever. We tried it all in rehearsal, and the parts that stuck are the parts we’re doing.

I also added some new band members too, because a lot of that stuff was fairly orchestrated, which is one reason we never played it live — there weren’t enough people. So with all these musicians we’re really in a position to do it right. And it’s really making them jump up and down, which means we’re doing it right.

Bee: How about some of the other players?

Walsh: Gannin I played with a long time ago, and Jason, too. But he got the call-up from Green Day for the past five years. He plays keys for them — you don’t really see him because he’s behind the bass and he’s never really recognized, but I’ll tell you they can’t really do what they do without him.

Larry is new, and Clayton is one of the Eagles crew. My story about him is, everybody needs a Clayton. He’s one of those computer guys who understands midi and he’s into all that techno music. He’s part of the orchestration. I believe in merging those elements together — a full blown rock and roll band that is able to interface a techno DJ — just recognizing that as an element in rock and roll, I really think it’s a powerful thing to explore.

Bee: And this coming from the ‘Analog Man’?

Walsh: Yes it is. It’s an analog man looking at modern technology cautiously and without it owning the music.

Bee: I’m hearing one of the things driving you back out on the road is a chance to play smaller venues.

Walsh: It’s just wonderful. I have the best of both worlds being part of another band on a grand scale in terms of the big rooms and production and all. But I do miss the smaller places.

The interface with the audience is much higher quality, and it just plain sounds better. And I get to turn it up (laughing). I get a chance to turn up and improvise — play it different every night and jam — take it wherever it goes on a nightly basis.

It was pretty strict with The Eagles. You had an assignment and you had to do exactly that. If everybody shows up and does exactly that, you have a pretty good night — well that’s the secret of The Eagles, and we do that really well.

Bee: Do you find the Joe Walsh fans you encounter on your solo tour are different in any way from the fans you meet when you’re out with the Eagles?

Walsh: Overall, they’re aware of some of the album tracks I’ve done solo, which weren’t necessarily hits on the radio. They’re aware of Barnstorn, and they come to hear something special — and there’s a little of that for everyone. I’m getting a great reaction when I just turn the band loose and let them play.

Bee: Since your last solo release, Analog Man, have you found yourself more or less inclined to set aside time to sit down and think about a new album?

Walsh: Here’s where I am with that: at this point I’m not sure what an album is. To me it’s a big piece of round vinyl with a big cover you can read. When I think it’s time to write a new album, that’s a handicap because I don’t know where music is going. I listen to the radio and I don’t hear much.

What I’ve been doing is getting a work ethic of playing music every day just to play it. For no other reason — I don’t want to write another one “just like that.” Trying to do that every day gets more challenging the more successful you get. 

And I always have something on to record. I find when I just play to play, I play things I really hadn’t planned on. It’s not really a mistake, but it’s not what I meant to play. Those are the magic moments when the songs come out.

When I play to play, not for the why, or for “what it’s for.” I get these moments where I catch myself saying “Wow, that was interesting.” If I don’t have a recorder on, they’re gone. So if I get enough of those pieces, and I throw them out onto the table and can put them together like a jigsaw puzzle, then maybe that’s a new album. That’s the way I’m going about it.

Bee: After seeing you all over the place in recent years, from the Fender Anniversary concert to your appearance at Darryl’s House, you’re obviously one of those guys everyone wants to play with. But is there someone you’re dying to play with before your career is over?

Walsh: Boy the one that got away you know, was Ray Charles. I really wanted to play guitar for Ray.

There’s a new guy out there named Jason Isbell. Boy, he’s brilliant — and newly clean and sober, so we had a really good talk one day.

And I really like Gary Clark, Jr. I got a chance to play with him already and I really want to do that some more.

Bee: Since we’re in an age when setlists are being tweeted and posted online as they’re happening, can talk about any of those deeper cuts you’re really loving to play live?

Walsh: There’s a song called “Shadows,” that’s pretty powerful; and “Mother Says,” which was a Barnstorm tune we played briefly in the early days. That one is really coming out great.

Tickets to the Mohegan Sun show are $39.50 and can be obtained by visiting ticketmaster.com, by calling  800-745-3000, or at the Mohegan Sun Arena box office up until showtime (October 16 at 8 pm).

Check out Walsh performing at the October 4 UNITE concert in Washington, DC.

Walsh performs "Life's Been Good" at The Beacon Theater October 1, 2015.