“Eruption” second best guitar solo ever, according to Guitar World
From “50 Greatest Guitar Solos” on Guitar World’s website:
2) “Eruption” (Eddie Van Halen) - Van Halen Van Halen, 1978
It is hard to imagine a more appropriately titled piece of music than Edward Van Halen’s solo guitar showcase, “Eruption.” When the wildly innovative instrumental was released in 1978, hit the rock guitar community like a hydrogen bomb. Two-handed tapping, gonzo whammy bar dips, artificial harmonics—with Van Halen’s masterly application of these and other techniques, “Eruption” made every other six-stringer look like a third-stringer.
But the most remarkable thing, perhaps, about the unaccompanied solo is that it almost didn’t make it on the guitarist’s debut album.
“The story behind ‘Eruption’ is strange,” says Van Halen. “It wasn’t even supposed to be on Van Halen. While we were recording the album, I showed up at the studio early one day and started to warm up because I had a gig on the weekend and I wanted to practice my solo-guitar spot. Our producer, Ted Templeman, happened to walk by and he asked, ‘What’s that? Let’s put it on tape!’
“I played it two times for the record, and we kept the one that seemed to flow. Ted liked it, and everyone else agreed that we should throw it on the album. I didn’t even play it right—there’s a mistake at the top end of it. Whenever I hear it, I always think, ‘Man, I could’ve played it better.’”
As for the distinctive echo effect on the track, Eddie recalls that he used a relatively obscure unit—a Univox echo chamber. “It had a miniature 8-track cassette in it, and the way it would adjust the rate of repeat was by the speed of the motor, not by tape heads. So, if you recorded something on tape, the faster you played the motor back, the faster it would repeat and vice versa. I liked some of the noises I got out of it, but its motor would always burn out.”
“I like the way ‘Eruption’ sounds. I’d never heard a guitar sound like that before.”
Filed under: Eddie Van Halen, Van Halen
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January 29th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
There is many Eddie’s solos that could be on the top ten list!
January 30th, 2009 at 2:28 am
Here we go again…2nd best guitarist and 2nd best guitar solo. Can’t this guy get the recognition he deserves? Afterall, he IS the best guitarist THIS world has ever heard.
January 30th, 2009 at 4:27 am
Ya, maybe Edward Lodewijk (pronounced as Loh-duh-waik btw, not Lodevike or whatever they wote down in the other post) has to die first in order to be placed at a number one spot.
But then again: who the hell cares anyway? The idea alone of adult people trying to figure out what song/solo/guitar player happens to be the best of all times is - in my opinion - plain stupid, a waste of time, ink and paper. You either like a song or not or just a bit. Same goes for solo’s, players, albums etc. It’s just as stupid as a list of the best pro wrestlers: “You’re kidding me… The undertaker over Roc Flair and Harley Race??? You nuts? Ric Flair’s figure four could easily make The Undertaker submit!”
Get a hobby!
January 30th, 2009 at 5:51 am
why are u talking about wrestlers on the VH website this site is for VH news and Sammy Vs Dave debates
January 30th, 2009 at 6:26 am
Let’s pretend that you don’t disagree with my opinion about lists and answer your question:
Because I am making a similarity between the discussion on which guitar solo is “the best” and which wrestler is “the best”. By making such a similarity I try to put Edward’s postition on that list in perspective.
Now that I have posted the obvious, I do expect you to play dumb and respond in the exact same way to every remark or comment that could remotely be seen as something that has nothing to do with Van Halen. And I am quite positive that that most people will be happy to educate you some more in the concept of similarities.
January 30th, 2009 at 6:45 am
Para mi Eddie Van Halen, es el mejor guitarrista ROCK, que ha existido.Conjuntamente con Jimi Hendrix.Claro que ha hay y habido muchos, pero no con la variedad de riffs,solos y artilleria guitarrera de Eddie, (echar un vistazo al solo de Beat it) y pensar un poco.Gracias,.Larga vida al rock.
January 30th, 2009 at 7:22 am
Stairway to Heaven?? Does’nt do much for their credibility!
January 30th, 2009 at 7:57 am
btw: Lodewijk is pronounced:
“load-ah-wike” (if you really want to sound Dutch then best is to leave out the ‘j’-sound in the ‘wike’-part)
You’re very welcome!
January 30th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Ed is the best guitarist ever. Eruption is the best solo ever. Stairway this.
January 30th, 2009 at 11:33 am
why cant we get new music from van halen? i,ll tell you why.im sorry to say, eddie may have a big heart but obviously is not a christian.now i know youre going to ask,what the hell does that have to do with new music? ill tell you. the only motivation non christians have in this world is their money.eddie is financially set for life.so he has no other motivation to do anything.it also proves that he doesnt truly love making music.they started the band to try and make a living,now that they have acheived that,the music has stopped.i hope he wakes up before its too late.
January 30th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
I think Ed’s the best, and always will be.
But i’m dying too for some new stuff…
And to Erick: hier is nog een andere Hollander die regelmatig VHND bezoekt!
January 30th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Yes,Starway to heaven,tambien es un buenisimo solo of the guitar best.Sr.Page.
January 30th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
This was an old list from 2001.
January 30th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Stairway to Heaven is great, but not more innovative than Eruption. Frankly, I’m more embarrased for Guitar World that ONE made the list. That solo is awful.
January 31st, 2009 at 12:35 pm
This is an old list. I think I still have that issue of Guitar World. 2001 or 2002 I believe…
January 31st, 2009 at 12:58 pm
I’d have to agree Stairway isn’t a good #1. I don’t recall that solo changing music as we know it. Eruption did. But they said “Best” not “Most Influential.”
January 31st, 2009 at 2:38 pm
IT DOES’NT MATTER WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK!!! WE ALL KNOW WHO NO#1 IS.AS DAVID LEE ROTH USED TO SAY…”MR.EDWARD VAN HALEN”!!!!!!!!!
February 1st, 2009 at 9:14 am
I hate all this who’s best or number 1 etc…That in saying I would rather have a top 10 guitar solo/moments of each guitarist’s honorable work!! As for Edward Van Halen I would put the “Jump” solo or “Hot For Teacher”, “Top Jimmy” & “Mean Streets” solo’s right up there with “Eruption”. But there I go again…too many great Edward solo’s to chose from!!!! King Edward stands alone, he’s untouchable, a genius!!!! God bless Edward Van Halen!!!
February 1st, 2009 at 10:26 am
theres never going to be any new music from HV so we are going to have to settle with chickenfoot
February 1st, 2009 at 2:03 pm
We all love the Eddie of old, but let’s be honest, his “greatness” is gone.
February 1st, 2009 at 8:37 pm
There is NO way in hell that Stairway’s solo is any were near AS GOOD nor is it better then EVH’s Eruption!!
February 1st, 2009 at 11:58 pm
u know….maybe Ed’s having the Family life he never had…or maybe he had to make a deal with Wolfie’s high school,,, whatever the reason I hope Ed enjoys this time with his son whatever the reason
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:26 am
NEW MUSIC FROM VAN HALEN!!!!HERES HOW I KNOW.FIRST OFF ALL WE HAVE TO THANK WOLFIE.WITHOUT HIM LAST SUMMERS TOUR WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.SECONDLY WE KNOW THE CLOCK IS TICKING FOR ED,ALEX,AND DAVE.SO IF THERE GOING TO DO ANYTHING ,IT NEEDS TO BE SOON.EDDIE SAID IN A RECENT INTERVIEW THAT IT WAS AN AWESOME FEELING TO BE ON STAGE WITH HIS SON.THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY THAT ED WILL LET HIS CAREER END WITHOUT MAKING AT LEAST ONE CD WITH HIS SON ON THE BASS.SO RELAX FOLKS OUR GIFT FROM THE MUSIC GODS WILL BE HERE SOON.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:49 am
I’m afraid I’ll have a hearing aid before they put out new music! Please eddie do some thing before I DIE!!!!!!!!!
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:07 am
I love Led Zeppelin, But Stairway to heaven? Eddie Van Halen is the best rock guitarist ever. There are at least 10-15 Eddie solos that could be in the top 50. Eruption should be number 1. Hell, you could even put Beat it in the top 50. I have been listening to Rock for over 30 years now and I have yet to hear a guitarist that is better, and that includes Hendrix!
April 4th, 2009 at 11:24 am
stair way to heaven? really? i like led zepplin but that song gets boring after a while cause 7 miutes is a tad bit to long for that song…… the solo is not even close to as good or advanced eruption is…i can learn led zepplin stair way to heaven in a day on my guitar….but it took me a month on eruption
July 21st, 2009 at 9:03 pm
several players around the globe played in the early 60′ very fast..but not aggressive. During the second part of the 60′ some bluesy guitar men (ten years after, Hendrix experimented with delays in stereo, and..mm many other stuff)the rapidness and some legatto here and there, the wah-wah thing,the harmonics..(with feedback to the top), later, many guitar players took their ideas to the next level..what? more technology,more overdriven amps, more wah wah more screaming solos, another pickups, tapping, playing fast, skipping strings..blah….so the question is what comes now?
November 20th, 2009 at 10:50 am
ive been playing electric quitar for about almost 4 yrs.. took me a day for the zepp solo in stairway to heaven. eruption took me 2 weeks of hardcore playing. its to be we dont have actual GOOD guitarist these days.. cant wait for the new Van Halen album in June!!