Egan was born in Queens, New York, United States. In 1970, as a sculpture major, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Georgetown UniversityinWashington, D.C. as one of Georgetown's first art majors. Egan started his career in the arts, concentrating on printmaking and painting, and the music business. As early as 1965, Egan was playing guitar and composing songs with surf-rock group the Malibooz. While an undergraduate, he was a lead guitarist and backup vocalist for the college-formed group Sageworth and Drums, also known as Sageworth.[5] The group evolved from a group of Georgetown University undergraduate students playing weekend mixers and parties to a tight, professional headlining act with a reputation as one of the best and most original bands in the greater Washington, D.C. area.[6] Other members included Peter Barry Chowka, lead vocal and guitar; John Zambetti, guitar and backing vocals; John Borger, guitar and backing vocals; Tom Guidera, bass and backing vocals; and Matthew Sheppard, drums, with Annie McLoone added later as a lead singer.[7][6]
In late 1971, Sageworth relocated to Boston and spent the next two years performing around the Northeast before finally breaking up, at which point Walter moved to Los Angeles and began his career as a solo artist.
In 1977, Lindsey BuckinghamofFleetwood Mac co-produced Walter Egan's first album, Fundamental Roll, with Stevie Nicks, also of Fleetwood Mac.[1] The hit song, "Magnet and Steel", inspired by Nicks and from his second album Not Shy,[8] was featured in the 1997 film Boogie Nights, the 1998 film Overnight Delivery, and the 1999 film Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo. Egan also wrote "Hearts on Fire", which was covered by Gram Parsons on his album Grievous Angel, and "Hot Summer Nights", which was the first hit for the band Night, and included such session musicians as Nicky Hopkins and Robbie McIntosh. Egan scored minor hits with his original version of "Hot Summer Nights" (#56 Can.[9]), as well as "Only the Lucky" and "Fool Moon Fire".[10]
In 1981, Egan appeared as one of several guitarists, bassists and drummers accompanying Lindsey Buckingham in the music video for his solo hit "Trouble." Egan is seen as the second guitarist, playing in a line up of musicians, along with Bob Welch and Mick Fleetwood.[11]
Egan later toured as a member of a latter-day version of Spirit as bassist.[12]
Egan is listed as co-writer on the Eminem hit "We Made You".[13] The song's producer, Dr. Dre, believed he was inspired by the bass line from (and used samples of)[14] Egan's "Hot Summer Nights".
In 2011, from his home in Franklin, he produced a new album entitled Raw Elegant that was released on Spectra Records.
Egan recorded and toured extensively in the nineties with The Brooklyn Cowboys and has contributed to two albums and an EP to date.
Egan still records and tours occasionally with his early band The Malibooz, contributing extensively to their latest studio effort ‘QE2’ which was released just as the global pandemic took hold in April 2020.
In 1985, Egan was a four-time champion on the game show Catchphrase. In 1986, he appeared as a contestant on the television game show Scrabble. During his introduction segment, Egan identified himself as a singer and songwriter. Host Chuck Woolery asked Egan to sing a bit from one of his songs, and he sang the main hook from "Magnet and Steel". Egan later appeared in two episodes of the public radio quiz show Says You! in 2018 when the show taped in Nashville.
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In 2018 and 2019 Egan, along with producer Rob Corich and UK label Red Steel Music started work on new projects that encompassed a series of enhanced remasters each with bonus tracks and each release accompanied by at least one digital two track single, of which the B-sides are often non album releases unavailable elsewhere.
Four back catalogue albums encompassing ‘The Meaning of Live’, ‘Walternative’, ‘Apocolypso Now’, and ‘Mad Dog’ along with two new EP’s ‘Hot Summer Nights’ and ‘Magnet and Steel’ have been released to date and more are under development for release in 2022.
During 2020’s worldwide lockdown this team also produced Egan’s highly acclaimed studio album called ‘Fascination’ which is based around the life and love of the world's most famous groupie, Pamela Des Barres.
Egan has recently completed a cover of the classic ‘Last Fair Deal Gone Down’ for inclusion on a forthcoming tribute to the blues genius Robert Johnson due for release in 2022.
Walter is currently working on a book covering his life story and it’s likely this will be accompanied with a CD of songs relating to his rock and roll stories.
He was rumoured to be working on a new studio release for late 2022 and this had been tentatively been titled ‘Hard Summer Days’ but has now appeared to have been titled ‘Pluck!' The album was preceded by a 2 track single including ‘Dreams’, which is Walter's interpretation of the Fleetwood Mac song.
"Only the Lucky"/"I'd Rather Have Fun" (Columbia 10531, 1977) - U.S. #82
"When I Get My Wheels"/"Waitin'" (Columbia 10591, 1977)
"Magnet and Steel"/"Tunnel O' Love" (Columbia 10719, 1978) - U.S. #8
"Hot Summer Nights"/"She's So Tough" (Columbia 10824, 1978) - U.S. #55, CA RPM Singles #56, ARG #1
"Magnet and Steel"/"Only the Lucky" (Columbia Hall of Fame 33353, 1979)
"Unloved"/"Make It Alone" (Columbia 10916, 1979)
"You're the One"/"Like You Do" (Columbia 11046, 1979)
"That's That"/"Hi Fi Love" (Columbia 11116, 1979)
"Baby Let's Runaway"/"Johnny Z (Is a Real Cool Guy)" (Columbia 11297, 1980)
"Fool Moon Fire"/"Tammy Ann" (Backstreet 52200, 1983) - U.S. #46
"Star of My Heart"/"Joyce" (Backstreet 52249, 1983)
"Magnet and Steel"/"Only the Lucky" (Collectables 33353)
"Only Love Is Left Alive"/"Jean" (Red Steel, RMCDS9262, 2020) - First single from the Mad Dog (Redux Remaster) album.
"Miss Pamela"/"Treat Me Nice" (Red Steel, RMCDS9265, 2020) - First single and video from the Fascination album.
"I’m With The Girl"/"Love Me Tonight" (Red Steel, RMCDS9267, 2020) - Second single and video from the Fascination album. Non album B-side.
"Stubborn Girl"/"Stubborn Boy" (Red Steel, RMCDS9273, 2020) - Single from the Apocolypso Now (Redux Remaster) album. Non album B-side
"The Loneliest Boy"/"I’ve Had It" (Red Steel, RMCDS9264, 2020) - Second single from the Mad Dog (Redux Remaster) album. Non album B-side.
"Bad News Travels Fast"/"In My Room" (Red Steel, RMCDS9277, 2020) - Single from The Meaning Of Live (Redux Remaster) album. Non album B-side.
"Beats The Devil"/"Not Another Lonely Night" (Red Steel, RMCDS9275, 2021) - single from the Walternative (Redux Remaster) album. Non album B-side.
"Yesterday, Forever & Today"/"Forever ‘Til The End" (Red Steel, RMCDS9268, 2021) - Third single and video from the Fascination album. Non album B-side.
"Old Photographs"/"Love In The Time Of War" (Red Steel, RMCDS9276, 2021) - Standalone single and video. Non album B-side.
"Dreams"/"Free” (Red Steel, RMCDS9297 - June 2022) - First single from the ‘Pluck!’ studio album. Non album B-side. Single accompanied by a video.
"Glad To Be Alive"/"Ache" (Red Steel, RMCDS92, 2023) - Second single from the Pluck! album. Non album B-side
"Woman Deluxe"/"Lobster" (Red Steel, RMCDS92, 2023) - Third single from the Pluck! album. Non album B-side
