Joe, off-duty
It's finally here! The LAST installment of The Tangent Universe featuring Mr. Joe Walsh of The Wireless. Once classed by Johnny Rocca as 'The dogs bollocks with a massive future ahead’ the band now seems to have sadly D.I.E.D. But that doesn’t stop a practical, good looking guy with long arms in second hand dress from conquering whatever he wants. Just don’t get him confused with Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh - the American drug-addled guitarist with a bloated gut. Oh, and if you’re wondering where Josh Beech is, aka, installment No. 5, he’s now living it up as Levi’s latest golden-boy, saving women, children and gays the world over in tight denim. Security won’t let us pass. Shame on fame...
SS: Joe, tell us, how did you find playing male model extraordinaire for the SUPERSWEET shoot? Was this your first Zoolander experience? Did you enjoy it?
Joe: I loved it; the whole experience amounted to somewhat of an existential epiphany. Since the shoot modelling has become my raison d’être and I really don’t feel content anywhere else other than in front of the camera.
SS: Do you remember the first item of clothing you saved up for?
Joe: I don’t think I’ve ever saved up for anything let alone clothes. I spend money as soon as I get it so I often wear the same outfit for months. The clothes I’m wearing now I bought about a year and a half ago and they’re my most current purchase.
SS: Describe your look aged 13?
Joe: From what I can remember my wardrobe was largely Slipknot merchandise with a few skate brands and a big orange coat my aunt bought me from Morocco.
SS: Any fashion disasters you’d care to share with us?
Joe: I think the aforementioned coat was probably my darkest hour, but it was less fashion, more disaster.
SS: Fashion and music have always gone hand-in-hand, how important is image to The Wireless ?
Joe: I don’t really think image is really an issue, we all enjoy wearing the clothes we like and that’s as far as it goes.
SS: Describe your current wardrobe?
Joe: It’s fairly limited and largely influenced by my laziness. I’ve always dressed very simply and most colours look absurd on me so largely grey shirts, white t shirts and black trousers. I like a nice pair of shoes.
SS: What’s your most treasured item of clothing?
Joe: I don’t have one really. I get quite attached to a lot of my clothes purely because I wear them so much. I have a white vest which I’ve worn on and off for a few years I guess that’s seen me through some pretty hard times.
SS: Image wise, which bands, past or present, got it right and why?
Joe: I don’t know, a year ago I would have said Jesus and Mary Chain or Joy Division. I’ve always thought JMC dressed really well but they tried a bit hard. There’s a certain beauty in the humility of Ian Curtis’ style but it’s less the band’s image and more his taste I guess.
SS: 50s, 60s, 80s…what’s your favourite style era?
Joe: I don’t have one really, perhaps 70’s, I’ve always secretly wanted to be Bryan Ferry circa 1973.
SS: When was the last time you threw on a suit?
Joe: A funeral. I’ve never owned a well-fitted suit jacket on account of my long arms. I often wear suit trousers with just a shirt.
SS: Designer, high-street or vintage?
Joe: Again I don’t really have a preference, each has its uses. I hate to see somebody wearing the same thing as me though so mostly second hand. I’m not a ‘vintage is the new designer’ advocate it’s just more practical.
SS: Where do you shop?
Joe: I haven’t been out exclusively shopping for clothes in years so anywhere. I prefer second hand shops as opposed to vintage shops and there are quite a few in north London.
SS: What or who inspires the fashion choices you make?
Joe: Everyone really, I judge a lot of things in negative so a lot of the choices I make are based on what I don’t want to look like, and for that in London, inspiration is quite literally everywhere.
Joe wears white shirt with black collar by Satyenkumar and black waistcoat with tails on the back by Leave Me Be.
Words: Lena Dystant
Photography: Bella Howard