10 Things You Gotta Do To Play Like Eddie Van Halen
From GuitarPlayer.com:
By Jude Gold.
MANY GUITARISTS WHO WERE ACTIVE IN the late ’70s remember exactly where they were standing when they first heard Van Halen. Like film footage of an erupting volcano, the band’s eponymous 1978 debut captured in real time a stunningly explosive and organic spectacle—four hard-rocking, hard-partying adrenaline junkies whose sound was so powerful and unified, it fueled one of the most spectacular ascents in rock and roll history. After becoming kings of the suburban L.A. backyard keg party scene, Van Halen rose to playing clubs on the Sunset Strip to selling over 3,000 tickets at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium— without an album or management— to getting signed by Warner Bros. to selling over 50 million albums in the U.S. alone. And at every turn, the band’s sound launched from an astounding re-imagining of the guitar’s role in hard rock courtesy of Dutch-born musical wunderkind Edward Lodewijk Van Halen.
When Journey’s Neal Schon slapped a copy of Van Halen on a turntable in 1978, he found himself, for the first time ever, “stumped” while trying to figure out what another guitar player was doing. Later that year, Van Halen—featuring singer David Lee Roth, bassist Michael Anthony, drummer Alex Van Halen, and, of course, Alex’s younger brother Eddie—would open for Journey on a U.S. tour. “It was like getting your ass kicked every night by the best sword-swinging sushi chef in the land,” Schon recalled humbly of having EVH on the bill. “Ronnie Montrose was supporting, and he hated being in the middle slot. I would tell him, ‘Man, I’m glad you have to follow that and not me!’”
Joe Perry openly confesses that he, too, “felt the heat” when the hotshot from Pasadena hit the touring scene. “He was single- handedly moving guitar to a whole new level,” reflected the Aerosmith kingpin decades later. “We were the preeminent stadium headliners, and here were these young upstarts, ready to fill our shoes. What was amazing about Eddie’s playing was that it was full of stuff I’d heard before, yet it all sounded so new. For instance, that tape echo sound [at the end of “Eruption”] was such an old trick that I never would have done it. But Eddie was from the next generation, and everything was new to him. And he was playing to a whole new batch of kids that didn’t grow up with that stuff, so it was very smart for him to use tricks like that on top of his naturally brilliant playing. Suddenly there was this whole West Coast guitarslinger movement that he started.”
That movement started with a kid in his basement bucking nearly every guitar trend imaginable by building his own hybrid guitars, pushing blues rock to molten temperatures and supersonic speeds, evolving revolutionary rock guitar techniques, and forging the most exhilarating and inspirational electric guitar sound this side of Hendrix. That kid was and is Edward Van Halen. But, before we let you in on the secrets of his cleverest tricks and most influential licks, first you gotta …
1. D.I.Y.!
The irony shouldn’t be lost on anyone that, at $25K retail each, the recent run of EVH Frankenstein Replica guitars commanded what would seem to people in most tax brackets absurdly tall stacks of cash for clones of a mutt instrument built from scraps. That mutt, of course, is the beloved beater guitar Van Halen has referred to using such humble terms as “my red-striped garbage Strat” and the “piece of sh*t.” Nonetheless, the pricey Replicas sold, because they play, feel, and sound exactly like the greasy candy cane on which Van Halen wrote and recorded his most influential riffs. From the cigarette burns to the 1971 quarter once used as a bridge stop to exacting electrical specs, each Replica contains much of the mojo of its forebear. But whether you build your own Frankenstrat or use one of Van Halen’s Ernie Ball Music Man, Peavey, Charvel, or EVH signature models, take inspiration from his daring doit- yourself life mission.
“I hate store-bought, offthe rack guitars. They don’t do what I want them to do, which is kick ass and scream,” Van Halen told GP in 1978. He admitted he had ruined a vintage Les Paul, an ES-335, and other guitars in his quest to build the ultimate rock weapon. Crudely routing a Strat-shaped ash body from Charvel to accommodate a dual-coil pickup, Van Halen added an unfinished birdseye maple neck, hardware from a ’58 Strat, and a hard-mounted Gibson P.A.F. humbucker that was custom wound, potted in wax (to mute coil squeal at high volumes), and angled so the outermost pole pieces lined up with the outside strings. Armed with Schwinn bicycle lacquer, EVH spray-painted the body black, striped it with tape, painted it white, and removed the tape. Voilà—hard rock’s most famous guitar was born for about $150 in Carter-era cash. (The red coat came later.) Because it looked so damn cool; coupled the girthful tone of a Les Paul with the expressiveness, vibrato system, and raw snarl of a Stratocaster; and was featured on Van Halen, imitations of the guitar became so ubiquitous that EVH at one point had a lawsuit pending against the very company that built his guitar’s body.
2. JUST CRANK ’EM ALL CLOCKWISE
For years, there was more than a little mystery surrounding EVH’s stunning tone. Some of the confusion was due in part to the guitarist being less than completely forthcoming about his rig, mostly because his bandmates—ever protective of their golden goose—urged him not to completely reveal his signal path. While he initially threw imitators off his trail with hints of secret amp mods and boosted transformer voltages, subsequent interviews revealed that the famous Marshall head that powered the classic David Lee Roth-era Van Halen albums was entirely stock—though typically biased hot enough to melt its Sylvania EL34 power tubes at least once a week. The one tonetweaker practice EVH engaged in regularly was lowering his amp’s transformer voltage to about 90 volts via a Variac. Today, EVH gets his sizzle from his signature 6L6-powered EVH 5150 III heads. During much of Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar-fronted era, EVH used his screamin’ line of Peavey 5150s, which he developed with amp guru James Brown. But if you’re obsessed with attaining the classic Van Halen “brown sound,” plug into Dunlop/ MXR EVH Flanger and EVH Phase 90 stompboxes (“The Phase 90 doesn’t really phase [that strongly], it just kind of gives you a treble boost, which helps solos cut through,” says Ed) and then into a tape delay set for one tasty 100- to 150-millisecond repeat. Last but not least, you’ll of course need a voltage-starved (thanks, Variac!), late- ’60s 100-watt Marshall Super Lead. Crank every knob all the way up while driving a 4×12 cabinet close miked with two Shure SM57s—one angled off-axis for extra bottom. (Tip: For a touch of the 2009 Van Halen sound, add a Dunlop EVH Wah Wah pedal.) Want the dive bomb effect at the end of “Eruption”? Consider customizing a vintage Univox EC 80 tape delay, as Van Halen did, with a motor that cycles slowly enough to drop a looped note a full octave in pitch. Lastly, for the classic Van Halen visual, mount the Univox in the hull of a World War II-era practice bomb, as spied in this feature’s opening photo.
3. CRASH THE CAR
Being that EVH likes to use the vibrato bar to “break things up” in his solos, let’s make sure you’re at peace with bar dips and dives both subtle and extreme. Van Halen has said that his playing is “like a race car racing down the road and then crashing every now and then.” The famous “crashes” were often created using the ’58 Strat vibrato system he had installed on his Frankenstein guitar. “The bar is actually like another instrument,” says EVH. “You can’t just jerk the thing and expect it to stay in tune. If you bring the bar down, the G and the B string go sharp when you release it. You gotta stretch those strings back with a quick little jerk.” Of course, when Floyd Rose’s revolutionary locking tremolo system became available, EVH became as great an endorsee for that product as Michael Jordan would be for Nike hightops. Often, though, when it came time to record, Van Halen preferred the slightly fuller sound of his ’58 Fender hardware.
4. CHEAT
Whether it’s generating elephant noises by scraping the pick up the string until the string clangs against the pickup’s pole piece (“Intruder”), producing menacing swoosh noises by grinding on the trem springs with a flanger engaged (“And the Cradle Will Rock…”), generating flutey sixteenth- note patterns by playing eighth-note volume-knob swells while using a dottedeighth delay setting (“Cathedral,” transcribed in the January ’06 GP), stringing together standard harmonics to generate kaleidoscopic melodic ascents (Examples 1a and 1b, à la “Somebody Get Me a Doctor” and “I’m the One,” respectively), or cranking a Wurlitzer through a Marshall (“Cradle”), EVH has always displayed an uncanny knack for finding simple ways of generating complex and Mammoth sounds. (Yep—a pun for you, Van Halen historians.) “The best thing I do is cheat,” said Van Halen in reference to his faux-Carlos Montoya classical playing on “Little Guitars (Intro).” Instead of learning to play flamenco, he got a polytimbral, Montoya-like sound by tremolo picking the high strings while hammering a bass line on the low strings. “If there’s something that I want to do, I won’t give up until I can figure out some way to make it sound similar to what I really can’t do.” (Don’t worry, Ed, we understand what you meant by that!)
5. ROCK IT LIKE YOU TALK IT
No riff projects Van Halen’s supremely cocky “I’m gonna fu*k your girlfriend” swagger (yes, Roth often halted the band mid-song to deliver this taunt) more effectively than the merciless “Unchained” intro [Ex. 2]. (Note: Though all the examples in this feature are notated at standard pitch, Van Halen typically tunes all strings down one-half or even three-quarters of a step.) Composed on piano and full of bright major and sus4 harmonies reminiscent of Keith Richards’ mini-chords on “Brown Sugar,” the tone and phrasing of “Unchained” radiates arrogance backed by conspicuous lethality— especially during the foreboding drubbing of the open, detuned sixth string (which is dropped an extra whole-step for this song). Like the rumble of advancing tanks, the lick’s cruel timbres signal the meek that no, they in fact won’t be inheriting the Earth after all. (Tip: Kick on an MXR EVH Flanger between chords to get those trademark Van Halen swooshes.)
Of course, the roguish Van Halen attack also has elements of sophistication and humor, and in no way requires that you or your singer rock assless chaps à la the band’s lion-maned, kickboxing frontman. At its best, it delivers its ass kickings in clever ways, and always with a smile. To achieve VH’s snarky mojo while playing “Unchained,” channel the witty side of DLR by thinking of the time he said of Van Halen haters in the press, “Rock music critics like Elvis Costello because rock music critics look like Elvis Costello.”
6. HOT-ROD THE BLUES
The biggest mistake many glammed-out ’80s Van Halen wannabes made (besides not seeing hurricane Nirvana coming to destroy them in ’91) was to underestimate the influence the blues had on EVH. “I know every fu*kin’ solo Clapton ever played, note for note,” Van Halen was wont to say. Never one to practice scales, the closest thing EVH does to a scale run is blaze through Ex. 3a, the sort of three-notes-per-string ascent you may spy on “I’m the One” and “Jump.” Nor did Van Halen ever practice arpeggios, though the single-string Eadd9 arp he takes to skies with on his brain-freezing “Ice Cream Man” break (à la Ex. 3b) makes for a nice harmonic etude. (Tip: Loop it, then play the move one time each on the second, third, and fourth strings.)
The miraculous thing is that when you slow down the turbo shuffle riff that opens “I’m the One,” you discover it’s just a basic 12/8 blues theme, like Ex. 3c, but played at utterly relativistic speeds. Warping the space/time continuum, EVH lived more in the three-plus-minutes it took to track this light-speed guitar tour de force than most rock guitarists live in their entire careers. Slow down classic Van Halen solos, and you discover that many of them, despite their wildly inventive sound, reside in the world’s go-to blues box (presented in the key of E in Ex. 3d). The sparks really fly when Van Halen bends the 7 on the second string a whopping major third or more, as in Ex. 3e (à la the “Atomic Punk” solo). To get this patented EVH string wringing down, be sure to also wrangle Ex. 3f—which, up a fourth in the key of A (at the seventeenth position) is a phrase inspired the extreme second string torture on the solo to “You Really Got Me.” The perfect-fourth bend on beat four of the third bar will again test the tensile strength of your B string. (Note: For better tone and zero string sag during bends, Van Halen’s bridge is not floating, but pulled solidly against the body via three taught trem springs. His .009-.040-gauge strings surrender tension only when the bar is pressed.)
7. TAP INTO THE DIVINE
Watching Jimmy Page play his famous “Heartbreaker” triplet pull-offs to the open third string at a Zeppelin concert around ’71, Van Halen realized he could do similar triplet moves all over the neck if he simply put both hands on the fretboard. Thus, “tapping,” his most famous and widely imitated technique, was born, though other players were likely experimenting with similar approaches at the same time. These included Harvey Mandel, Brian May, Billy Gibbons, and Steve Hackett, who tracked the first known incarnations of tapped triplets on Genesis’ 1971 album Nursery Cryme. At its wildest (think “Jump,” “Hot for Teacher,” and Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”), EVH tapping agilely hops from string to string. However, the best way to learn it is by stealing simple single-string shapes from the baroque tap cadenza that closes “Eruption.” Or, even better, grok the tapping gateway lick in Ex. 4. You gotta get this down, because it’s the type of move Van Halen uses on both “You Really Got Me” and “I’m the One.” Dig: As the fretting hand descends chromatically from the fifth to the second positions, all the notes combine to effect a classic Delta-style turnaround harmony. (Again, the blues.)
8. OWN THE OVERTONES
With his intros to “Women In Love,” “Spanish Fly,” and “Girl Gone Bad”—the shimmering textures that inspired Ex. 5a—Van Halen also got the world to fall in love with tapped octave harmonics. These chimey partials are achieved by bouncing a picking-hand fingertip against the string right over the fret residing one octave (12 frets) above the note held by the fretting hand (or nut, if it’s an open string). In his live cadenzas, Van Halen regularly taps deeper into the overtone series using moves like Ex. 5b. Here, as fretted notes remain stationary, the tapping finger sounds prismatic third and fifth harmonics by striking other harmonic nodes besides the octave node. And, if you’d like to play the most evolved tappedharmonic lick the world has ever known, plant your fretting hand at the fifth position, and watch your back. It’s time to take a walk down “Mean Street” [Ex. 5c], off VH’s tenebrous, if underrated, masterpiece, Fair Warning.
9. NAIL THAT “ONE” MOVE
Ah, the Internet—rich with wondrous nuggets of knowledge, to be sure, but also rife with computer viruses, identity theft schemes, and, most pernicious of all, bad tablature. One seemingly inscrutable bit of Van Halen code that baffles many a lick hacker is Ex. 6. Employed most dramatically on the opening of his second “I’m the One” solo, but also tagged briefly on “Somebody Get Me a Doctor,” this looped, five-note endorphin rush is simple to play once you understand the quintuplet’s ingenious combination of picked notes, slurred notes, and open strings. (Note: EVH doesn’t necessarily loop the grouping in the strict quintuplets presented here, but keeps the phrasing loose and hemiolic.) Dial it in. You’re gonna need this move when you’re finally ready to …
10. ERUPT!
It’s funny that Eddie Van Halen has had to defend the presence of instrumentals on his albums over the years. If producer Ted Templeman had not insisted the guitarist include his 1978 backstage warm-up routine on the band’s debut, the world would be without the hard rock guitar cadenza against which all others are measured: “Eruption.” If you can fire off even a few of the fretboard pyrotechnics he uses in this white-hot guitar fireworks display, you’ll surely elicit some oohs and ahs. Showing the opening seconds of “Eruption,” Ex. 7a has almost no bar lines and no time signature, as those things would only be confusing. Now, remember Ex. 6? Dig its reappearance two frets down, in the fifth position (in the repeating bar) of Ex. 7a. Own this move, as well as Ex. 7b—the near-identical sonic fusillade that occurs one string group down at about the 0:08 mark—and you’ve nailed the trickiest parts of the first “Eruption” movement. Next, land Ex. 7c, and you’ve reeled in the trickiest part of the final movement. The lesson from these three excerpts is simple: Cheating by using open strings in sly ways can yield spectacularly fast, fun phrases.
“I don’t know where the ideas come from,” says Van Halen. “People ask me, ‘What were you thinking when you came up with this or that?’ I wasn’t thinking anything. Not to get too deep on you, but I’m just some sort of vehicle; a connection to something. Any creative artist who thinks they’re responsible [for what they create] can kiss my ass, because they’re not.”
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March 1st, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Awesome. I think people over think Eddie’s guitar playing. He has one of the most unique sounds because he did his own thing and made due with what he had. I think those relic guitars he sold recently are real swell and all, but realizing he slapped that together with parts he had available makes it all kind of silly.
March 1st, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Trully a great piece about the greatest guitar player of our time .
Hes a genius and kept rock n roll guitar alive , not to mention the most copied guitarist of all time , a true LEGEND!!!!!
2010 , cld they name the next album that n have a VH on the front of it????? who knows
March 1st, 2010 at 9:29 pm
Total disagreemnt lucky lol…nothing Eddie did was “silly”…but ANYWAYS!
Eddie is a legend, fabulous, and a true inspiration. Love the guy!! Changed my life with his skills. VH FOREVER! =)
March 1st, 2010 at 9:54 pm
The guy forgot one thing, unless I missed it. Have any of you ever heard EVH play on a guitar that is not his and through an amp that is not his either? Well, that’s where the secret to his playing/tone really lies. He always has the “Brown Sound”. It’s all in the fingers. The dude simply plays hard and attacks agressively. I can play Spanish fly (live version), but believe me, it took me about 4 years to discover that the only way to make it sound like his live version (LWAN) is to simply – for lack of a better word – play HARD! Phrase it aggressively but musically. That accounts for 75% of the “Brown Sound”. Try it, it works! Did for me.
March 1st, 2010 at 11:34 pm
EVH fucking rules – end of story!!!!!! Fuck off haters!!!!
March 2nd, 2010 at 3:49 am
I would much rather play like Bridge. Identity, identity, identity. He’s him. We’re us. Now where’s the new cd? (had ta get that in there)
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:09 am
Hey, Ed’s new wife and publicist, please throw us something new on twitter or whatever as to how Ed’s doin’. Is he still healthy?, has he fallin’ off the wagon?. C’mon, the fans deserve a little info once and a while.
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:07 am
And talking of “my red-striped garbage Strat” when I had a spare moment not filled with real work I had a little 3D fun with the ol’ Frankenstrat. Go here to see how close I got…
http://www.fantasyislandimaging.com/Portfilio/Misc_7.html
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:11 am
Wow! Thats the first time I’ve heard Joe Perry speak highly of EVH! EVH has been beaten from pillar to post by the traditionalist and peers alike. When EVH arrived and the huge success that followed him, it was common practise to NOT mention EVH’s work but rather mention Hendrix as an influence by fellow guitarists. I’ve been a fan of EVH since day one and will till the day he no longer erupts this earth. KING EVH!!! enuff said!!
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:22 am
As I remember John ‘Cougar’ Mellenkamp was quoted as hating Van Halen’s first record. I am paraphrasing here, but I think he was quoted on one of his either interviews or subsequent records as saying, ‘stop all that macho crap and learn to play guitar’. Just wonder why all those old 60-something bluesmasters hate the excitement of things new and unexplored in music.
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:58 am
Joe Perry is an overated prick. There was an early story where he snubbed EVH back stage. Bottom line he was jealous.
The echo plex trick was old??? Whatever Joe…you got your ass handed to you every night and you were pissed about it…just admit it.
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:46 am
In response to Mike V, it is known that John Mellencamp has a “difficult” personality. People who have toured with him have complained that he is all business on tour, no fun, and an ego the size of Texas. When Eddie came onto the scene in 1978, he and the boys were perceived as a threat to Mr. Mellencamp and his ego. Other bands felt this threat also, but acknowledged the genius of EVH.
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:55 am
First
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:28 am
Then Mellencamp a few years ago asked Eddie to play acoustic guitar on tour with him. Funny, these statements like that come from jealousy. So if John said he hated the first VH record, he must have been quite jealous.
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:47 am
Thats right JOE PERRY, he had you feeling like a dinosaur at the peak of your career, and that is why you dissed him when he approached you to shake hands back in the early 80′s. That is why if you were not in Aerosmith you wouldn’t be shit. Eddie did produce a shit load of gun slingers in the 80′s,90′s and today. If JOE PERRY produced a bunch of gun slingers they would might as well be rhythm guitarist because your leads are WEAK.
March 2nd, 2010 at 12:26 pm
I’d have to say Chickenfoots last song on the CD was “Future in the Past”, must be a reference to all the VH news out there. Too bad, cuz I’m sure Eddie still has some good stuff left. Hopefully it’s not released posthumously.
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:10 pm
To this day no one does it for me like ED. Vai is so enamored with his own playing he has lost heart and soul. Joe is great! But still lacks that pure fire and magic that EVH has. I am tired of all the Hendrix nonsense. I have heard all the albums. This guy was ED’s goofy stoned uncle.
He wrote some great songs. But…could he stand next to ED. Really?? Is it just cool to say Hendrix because thats what everyone says? It is almost like not cool to give Steven Speilberg his due because he is so well loved by the public.
One song by VH crushes the head shredders of today. I can’t say enough about his playing. It is pure feeling and fire. I am waiting for the day when my teenager walks in with a new guitar player on the scene. It won’t be about technical ability or flashiness….lets see if this person can freaking rock with as much power as the mighty ED.Sorry All you intelligent, alternative, to cool city folk….Edward still kicks your ass. Shove it Rolling Stone Magazine with your depressing rock votes and lothsome music. You have no heart therfore you cannot truly rock….
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Bort said: “…I’m sure Eddie still has some good stuff left. Hopefully it’s not released posthumously.”
My sentiments exactly.
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:50 pm
@Bort and Scottso – sadly, well said. I do sometimes wonder if Ed’s health is an issue again. Let’s hope not!
@Karl – very cool 3D renditions!
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Why would anyone want to play like Eddie Van Halen? What would have happened if Eddie, when he was younger, wanted to play like Jimmy Page? We’d have no Eddie… This story is stupid. I wish the people who write these type of stories would go out and look for the next best thing as opposed to writing stories about how to emulate someone else.
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Eddie is the reason why I gave up guitar and took up drums.
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Just imagine the pressure that a guy like Eddie must be under all of the time. Steve Lukather said it best- “it can’t be easy being a guy like him.” He is expected to be brilliant all of the time. So many people would want a piece of you and you don’t know if they are real or not. He writes a great album, then everyone expects another one. He is expected to play great every night. It would be a lonely world I bet as brilliant as he is. He gets ripped for not doing this or that, or not having a record out lately, but just put yourself in his position and realize how tough that would be, even if you are a genius. I am not condoning substance abuse, but you can kind of understand why it happens with all of the pressure. It comes off as “partying” or “having fun”, but it is probably more related to other things such as stress. Everybody is being pretty nice to Eddie on these posts, but consider all of this when one decides to rip him for not doing this or that.
I also bet they are writing some new music which is why we are not hearing anything from them lately….
March 2nd, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Joe Perry….backhanded compliment. I love Joe’s playing but he is a hack next to Ed. To insinuate that Ed’s stuff was old and trite and that his youth and energy just sold it???? And that “he wouldv’e never used those old tricks” That’s a joke. He backed it up by saying Ed was brilliant…but the backhand stab was pretty clear. Truth is you can walk into just about any music store on any Saturday……….and somebody will knock your socks off w/ a cool lick sooner or later. Great guitarists like Joe are all over the place…influential icons like Eddie are rare.
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Joe Perry – sorry but you are just so lame.
Who the hell was John Couger in 1978 and why are we bothering to use his name in the same sentence with the King.
The unwillingness of any of the most popular guitar players to bow down before EVH is based on pure jealousy. At least Neal Schron is willing to admit it.
Clapton is also quite envious of EVH stealing his throne – IMO. Bye the way, he said EVH’s playing “is not blues”. I suppose you can be deaf and successful all at the same time Eric. He writes a great song but I sat in the second row with him and Beck at MSG two weeks ago. He is not technically proficient at all. Beck on the other hand is brilliant.
That’t my rant of day. Nice post VHND.
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Best Rock Guitarist ever, bar none. I’ve seen VH 9 times and have never been disappointed. My first VH concert was June 1980. What a show. I was hooked, man. Joe Perry can kiss my ass. Never liked Aerosmith anyway. EVH is KING!
March 2nd, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Ah Joe Perry plays with marshmallow fingers.
Great post VHND.
The only other guitar player right now that plays with heart and tries to create a unique sound is Eric Johnson. Except he shouldn’t sing. I would like to see EVH and him do a duet album together.
What does “Just Crank em all Clockwise” mean? Did VH turn his strings in the opposite direction when he tuned up? Thus pulling the strings into the head instead of out?
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Joe Perry is a great guitarist, and everybody here is being one-sided. Joe is Joe and Eddie is Eddie. And I thought he was giving Eddie credit with the whole tape echo thing by saying he (meaning Joe) would have never thought of it. I always thought Aerosmith opened a lot of doors for Van Halen. Eddie always comes across as being too paranoid, claiming that all these people snubbed him off. I think that whole thing (Joe snubbing him off) was taken out of context. Joe was probably hammered or something. lol, Anyways, you don’t have to like Joe, but don’t disrespect him. He is an awesome guitarist, and he can make a girl’s panties come undone with one lick. He is a great slide guitarist, songwriter, rhythm guitarist; he is very versatile.
-Ryan
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:17 pm
@ ringostore, “just crank em all clockwise” means the volume! EVH is known to turn the volume up full throttle! Check out his interview on youtube discussing his new 5150 III amp, he explains in detail how he developed his sound.
@ kapp, couldn’t agree with you more about King EVH!! The man is a genius, he is so far ahead of the rest that in century’s to come people will still be talking about him. Aside from his guitar wizardry, brilliant songwriting, awesome stage presence and music vision, EVH’s has the most important thing most guitarist lack, HEART & SOUL!!! The man has a heart of gold that breaths fire when he plugs that guitar into an amp!! It’s never enough saying how great this man is, instead just crank it up and listen, enuff said!!
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:19 pm
The Frankenstrat is awesome because it was Ed’s baby. I just can’t see buying a copy of that for any reason or any price. As a matter of fact, I’m not really into “custom artist models” at all. Buy or make your own guitar and do your own thing. OK, the Les Paul is to some extent a “custom artist model” but it’s pretty much a brand itself. I love Gibsons but those “faded” ones they put out are pretty weak. I see Fender does that now too. If I buy this “beat up” Tele will I be Bruce? Lame.
Anyway, it’s late in the day, I’m still at work and I’m hungry. Just ranting at this point!
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:36 pm
The opening statement of this article says it perfectly. I am fortunate to be old enough to concur. I can remember the word out on the street…”have you heard this guy outta L.A., holy s#%t. This changes everything.” Would love to have heard what the “high profile” players initial reactions were…eh, Perry not so much- he sounds like my neighbor’s kid.
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:38 pm
…and my neighbors kid has never heard of Joe Perry.
March 2nd, 2010 at 5:51 pm
I’m with Ryan. No need to slam Joe Perry for anything. The tape echo comment toward Ed was complimentary if you read it right. And to go back to the early 80′s over an alleged snub backstage is lame. That was a long time ago, doesn’t matter anymore. I’m proud to be both a VH and Aerosmith fan.
And I’m glad they’re back together with Steve Tyler and hope it goes well. There’s a 23 second video on their website updating their fans on their upcoming tour to Europe June-July 2010. They do public relations better than VH at this point.
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:14 pm
This is an excellent article with many completely nailed most of the theories and ideas I have received from listening to Edward all these years awesome!
March 2nd, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Kurt Cobain was once asked what he liked to listen to. After some thought, he said: “The Pixies, The Melvins, anything but Van Halen.”
March 2nd, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Building my own guitar….. any suggestions on a classic vh sounding humbucker?
March 2nd, 2010 at 8:08 pm
yeah joe perry rocks , we shdnt bag him , hes got a great band n has done some great songs
Eddie is brilliant n shd never be questioned about his guitAar playing
There both great in their own right
March 2nd, 2010 at 9:10 pm
I remember in an interview Eddie was asked about Joe Perry’s playing and he said something like it sounds like he has a broken hand!
March 2nd, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Aerosmith has sold 150 million records.
Van Halen has sold 80 million records.
‘Nuff said!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_music_artists
March 3rd, 2010 at 12:53 am
Lotta people hated Eddie back in the late 70′s…..Joe Perry, Mellencamp, Ted Nugent, Eric Clapton among others…..all jealous pricks who couldn’t hold a candle to the blazing young gunslinger from Southern CA who was setting the new gold standard. Can’t believe Gene Simmons almost got him to join KISS….that would’ve been one of the biggest blunders in music history.
I still remember hearing “Running With the Devil” at age 9 for the first time……fucking chills up and down my spine. No one has come close since. All hail the King of Ten Fingers and Six Strings!
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:25 am
Cool article.
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:27 am
To BIG AL OZ Theres a million and one of those stories about ED being snubbed and ignored by the guitar heros of the day.They feared eddie like the black plague,cause they knew they couldnt compete.Its jealousy that goes on to this day with players and the critics alike, so they kling on to forty years dead Hendricks who they feel is alot less threatening.In one interview Eric Clapton (refering to Hendricks)said that to this day noboby has taken the guitar any further.Either Clapton is living in a bubble or hes still pissed off that King Ed layed waste his generation of players.
March 3rd, 2010 at 7:46 am
Kimberly, I meant the $25k relic guitars were silly, considering his original was a homemade job.
What set Ed apart was his originality, not just in his playing, but his guitars as well.
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:59 am
Perry is hiding his hypocrisy. I think he spewed vitriol behind the scenes back then in 70′s toward VH. Even Journey’s guitar boy was probably not fair either. They were very envious.
I saw Vai play with DLR back in the late 80′s and during Via’s solo section he played a part of Eruption and “made faces” as if this was really easy to play. I thought yah ok Via, why don’t you create a powerful Eruption piece that everyone remembers? Now Vai is nicey talky talk about VH today, but back then he never said a word. All jealousy.
March 3rd, 2010 at 9:58 am
First of all, we don’t really need more people trying to play like Eddie do we? There IS only one! Unless we want to repeat the 80′s where everyone becomes a wanna be clone, which fortunately I don’t think will happen. Influence is good, though. I saw Roth 3 times with Vai, and those shows kicked ass over the 5150 tour, as far as entertaining and amazing playing. I LOVE VH, but Roth and company tore it up!!As far Vai being jealous or making fun of Ed…that’s just stupid and you are a jack ass. Vai is cool, and great also, and doesn’t need to feel jealous of ANYONE. Are you kidding me? Lol! He was having fun, and doing his thing. Why don’t you go tell Ed he needs to practice again?!
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:03 am
And like what you like, who gives a shit about who sells more records? You start sounding like some kind of business guy when you try to make that an argument for who’s better…and it’s an art form, not a competition. Soooo stupid!!!
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:08 am
And by the way, Ed and Mellancamp are buds, you morons!
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:13 am
Yeah, I like some of these great guitarists but I’m always surprised they don’t mention Ed very often. Joe Satriani is f:*#@$ great but he never says anything about his main influence. Billy Gibbons? Yeah right, Joe…
Even Eddie said he liked Joe’s (and Vai’s) playing.
Most of the greats respect Eddie, they just don’t admit it.
To Kapp: Hendrix had it all. Very innovative for his time, GREAT song writer, good lyrics and HUGE charisma to top it off. You have to remember that Hendrix never passed 28 and wrote all these songs in a 5 years career. That would be like judging Eddie from VH1 to Diver Down basically. Try to learn his songs on guitar, they’re as hard as Ed’s.
To John: that was Jimmy Page (2 years old kid with a broken hand…)
To Canes fan5150: one good humbucker I use on my Frankenstrats for VH tone is Seymour Duncan Custom (SH5) and custom custom (SH11).Very close actually.
Duncan EVH if you have the money. Not worth it IMOO.
I have 3 VH exact copies for sale, 1 VH1 (blk/wte) for $1290, 2 red for 2290. Just like the $25.000 Fender replica.
The most important thing to have the Brown sound is the amp, no matter what PU you use… And dig in the strings like Eddie.
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:31 am
Fuck Aerosmith. They sold out big time. Their last good album was ‘Draw the Line’. And Joe Perry couldn’t get near EVH with a GPS system.
I recall reading that the first (maybe only, I don’t know) time Ted Nugent played on the same bill as VH (in 1980 I think), he heard EVH warming up and came over to take a look. After listening in amazement for a few minutes, he asked Eddie what kind of effects set-up he had. Eddie looked at him point blank and said (I’m paraphrasing here) “No effects, man. I plug this guitar into that amp and start playing.”
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:53 am
“Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to genius.”
• Fulton J. Sheen
@ The Truth –- so you’re comparing Van Halen to Aerosmith; a commercial media-whore that does fucking remixes with the Beastie Boys… Yeah, I suppose they would sell more albums considering they released like 23 of them. Shit, I’m sure Dodge sells more caravans then BMW sells M-5’s… so in your logic, does that mean a dodge is better than a BMW?… Aerosmith is a circus act; not a real rock band. IMHO
Van Halen has released 11 studio albums [apparently only 6 according to Van Halen’s ‘official’ website. WTF, Ed?] and ONE live album… yet and have had the *MOST* number-one hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. During the 1980s they also had more Billboard Hot 100 hits than any other hard rock or heavy metal band. [PERIOD]. So all the Aerosmith fanboys can put that in your crackpipe and smoke it. And while you’re at it. Stay the FUCK OFF VAN HALEN’S WEBSITE. Go watch Steven Tyler’s boney, skeletal-lookin-ass dance around the stage like a douche. (That of course is aimed only at the tards trying to compare Joe Perry to the greatness of King Eddie. Not the average fan –- no disrespect my brethren.)
EDWARD VAN HALEN’s two-handed tap method has changed the way guitars are played forever. No man, not Clapton, Hendrix, Paige, Perry (and especially Vai or Satriani) can claim that. It’s just the facts.
This article is probably redundant in that we have enough guitarists out there trying to sound like Eddie. But hey, it’s written by Guitar Player; so what would you expect.
And how fucking funny is it that Ed can give a head nod to other guitarists, and most of what he gets back is resent-tainted compliments. But Jimmy Paige knew the deal. “For my money, Eddie Van Halen was the first significant new kid on the block. Very dazzling.” He was quoted as saying in the early 80’s. Well that ‘new kid’ wears the crown now.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:09 pm
I am relieved that all of you feel like I do; EVH gets snubbed by everybody because they are just jealous.
Steve Vai – copy cat jealous technocrat
Joe Satch – see above
Clapton – totally jealous that EVH made him obsolete
EVH is the Father of Shred Guitar. The lord said thy shall honor the father. These other players are going to hell.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Hey Scott stop sniffing the glue. These old rockers like Perry and Vai can sit back in their mansions by the pool, well maybe Vai has a split level bung, and reminisce about old times. Back then it was sheer jealousy, but now its “yah that Eddie, boy he sure was somethin” However they don’t apologize for their behavior of envy.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:10 pm
someone mentioned Aerosmith making more money than VH, You take Steven Tyler out of the the group and they would be playing in dive bars and high school gym’s, making enough money to pay for the gas in their moms van. I said it once and I’ll say it again Joe Perry is lame. I heard cats fuck with more rhythm than him. If it wasn,t for Tyler, whitford,kramer and Hamilton, there would be no Aerosmith. Hamilton,whitford and Kramer don’t even get the credit they deserve because of that selfish spotlight hog Joe perry. Mick Mars and CC deville have more talent than him.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Players that have shown EVH major respect:
Jimmy Page
Pat Metheny
Richie Blackmore
Allan Holdsworth
Neil Schron
Les Paul
Anybody else know of someone?
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:20 pm
RVW, don’t forget Tony Iommi.
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:00 pm
WTF are you talkin’ bout gringo? Where do you get your info? Why are you so angry? Hate to say it, but in defense of Vai maybe VH could learn a thing or two about throwing a bone to the fans once in a while! I’m cool waiting it out, but some of you freaks need to get over your midlife crisis’ and stop obsessing and spouting such drivel…maybe your just jealous of the fact that they’ve earned and have mansions and pools! Just keepin it real dude. The only ones I’ve ever heard snubbing on Eddie are the haters here on the VHND saying Ed needs to practice, he owes us this and that, blah balh etc….most of whom I have to assume are…. children?!
March 3rd, 2010 at 3:03 pm
@ RickieVanWhalen: add to the list
Brian May,
Brian Setzer,
Steve Lukather,
Jeff Beck himself.
Ritchie Blackmore (mostly for Eddie’s keys work, he said, come on Ritchie!!)
Bettencourt of course,
Slash “Eddie is one of the greatest guitar players to ever come along”.
Zappa (Dweezil obviously but Frank too)
George Lynch,
Zakk Wylde “Eddie is the greatest”,
Ronnie James Dio,
Ted Nugent,
Paul Gilbert: I have 3 gods: the Beatles, VH…OK I only have 2.
Billie Sheehan “VH, the standard by which all others are judged”
Rick Savage: “VH most influencial US rock band ever”
Many more said good things about Eddie. Eddie is the King and I’m not the only one to know.
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:03 pm
@ gadal595 — ¡Ay, caramba! Informative post, man. Good stuff.
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Kurt Cobain said he will listen to anyone but Van Halen? He either was refering to the ballad heavy Hagar era or he only listens to music that was worse than his. Bottom line, Kurt couldn’t handle the pressure of being famous and sorry at the same time, so he took the pussy way out. (BANG)
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:33 pm
“blazing young gunslinger from Southern CA who was setting the new gold standard”?
Who writes this shit? You talk like you actually knew Eddie hahahaha. He wouldn’t even give you the time of the day. Joe Perry is a good guitarist and he lays more women in one weekend than you will your whole life.
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Canes_fan5150,
go to Van Halen Store.com and buy the EVH pick-up. It is as close as anyone is going to get to the classic sound. Not to blow sunshine up Ed’s ass, but it truly kicks!!!!
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:55 pm
@ Ringostore – If that’s true about Vai playing eruption like that, then that’s just super lame. I like some of Vai’s stuff.(Mainly the stuff he did with Roth) He’s a great guitarist, but I think he’s one of those guys who thinks playing faster means playing better or vice versa. It’s not necessarily one in the same. Eddie’s sound and playing style has heart and soul in it as well. Not just technically complex, fast, and impressive finger speed.
When Eddie plays, it sticks in my head and ,(at a risk of sounding cheesy), speaks to me. Most of Vai’s stuff is impressive technically but isn’t very memorable to me because it’s lacking the soul to it. That’s not necessarily a fact for everyone I’m sure, but just an opinion that I believe. Plus I’ve always loved Eddie’s sound and tones he gets out of his guitar more than most any other guitar player.
I turn the station as quickly as I can when John Cougar Melonhead comes on the radio. I just don’t like his sound, his whole Americana crap-vibe thing he tries to do. It’s annoying to me and his writing style annoys me. If you want really good genuine “Americana” style music check out Levon Helm.
And yes, Joe Perry is sickeningly egotistical, so is Steven Tyler, Gene Simmons and a slew of others in the industry. We all have an ego, I understand that, all of our egos are probably a little over-inflated but Geez, sometimes it just gets grotesque. I caught the back-handed compliment by Perry as well. He tries to make it seem like he’s praising Edward’s guitar playing but throws in stuff in between like “it was full stuff I’d heard before.”—“was such an old trick I never would have done it.”—“everything was new to him and he was playing to a whole new batch of kids that didn’t grow up on that stuff.”
So basically insinuating– yawn…been there done that. I did everything first, he was using old tricks that I wouldn’t use and I didn’t even need to bother with. Oh…but yeah …he’s brilliant. (that’s just my take on it, how I read into it)
Ego, Ego, Ego!!! I’ve known people like that who couldn’t ever give a sincere compliment without throwing in little subtle jabs, that you couldn’t really call ‘em out on ‘cause they would say “What are you talking about, that’s not what I said.” Bullshit.
Jealousy, pride, arrogance, envy, resentment. One or more of those is usually the culprit for that kind of attitude.
And yes, Eddie said Joe told him to “piss off” once when he approached Joe to pay him a compliment after a show. Seems like an arrogant prick to me, but whatever I don’t really give a shit, there are a lot of assholes in the world. I think Eddie got even, and then some, just by being Eddie Van Halen.
DLR has A gigantic ego too but there is something about Dave that usually makes it easier to forgive him for it. He’s kind of made it part of his schtick. Plus he’s funny and witty.
But there are some musicians(like Gene Simmons for example) who instead of being true honest, humble, sincere musicians making music for the sheer love of the craft, seem to put more time and care into massaging their egos and making money and who probably believe that they are legends worthy of having a solid gold statue erected in their honor.
Neal Schon was more humble and honest about Eddie’s guitar playing.
Kind of a weird coincidence how Ronnie Montrose and Neil Schon have opened for Van Halen and Sammy was the lead singer in bands with all three of those guys.
But anyway back to Eddie, some musicians are legends in their own minds. Eddie however truly is a legendary musician/guitar player. Decades from now Eddie will go down in history as a true innovator and legend who inspired countless musicians and fans. There are many people who are good or even great guitarists. But there are a few in every generation who have something more, something special. And Eddie is one of those. Eddie will Never be forgotten.
Yes, I could make some negative comments about the last couple of VH tours, and the last several years of Eddie’s stagnant status as a working musician, but I’m willing to look past that right now, (I will probably be bitching on my next post) maybe it was Eddie’s addiction problems that have caused his downfall.
Right now I’m focusing on all the good stuff that has consisted of the major portion of his musical career. (And I’m not without bias when it comes to Van Halen. Okay, I admit it.)
I love Eddie’s quote. “I don’t know where the ideas come from.” People ask me, ‘What were you thinking when you came up with this or that?’ I wasn’t thinking anything. Not to get too deep on you, but I’m just some sort of vehicle; a connection to something. Any creative artist who thinks they’re responsible [for what they create] can kiss my ass, because they’re not.”
I think I remember Sammy Hagar making similar comments.
I believe that as well. Sometimes stuff just flows through you. You can’t force something creative out. Sometimes it will just hit you and you have to be ready, and sometimes no matter how hard you try, nothing will come out. It’s better if you wait for it to come to you so it happens naturally. But anybody who opens their mind up and has a passion for creativity knows what I’m talking about, whether it’s painting, writing, playing guitar, or whatever. You know that sometimes things just come to you and you can’t really explain how. Like Eddie said– we’re just a vehicle to what we’re connected to.
Being humble is a great virtue and I think it helps you grow as an artist. That’s why I like that quote so much from Eddie. Some musicians wouldn’t say that. They would want to take credit and make sure everyone was aware that They Made something and that they were solely responsible for it’s creation. All ego and no awareness. That’s why Malmsteen’s and some other guitarists playing can seem so tedious to listen to. There is no feeling to it, just technicality. Fast complicated playing for the sake of showing off. Whereas with some other guitarists who play with emotion, you can almost feel what they’re feeling when they play.
I love Eddie’s guitar playing because I think it encompasses a very interesting and unique mixture. There’s obviously originality and balls to the wall shredding but he also has a hint of blues and there’s clearly feeling in his playing with his great rhythmic awareness. Masterful and ingenious.
These are just more of my opinions. We all have different ones. I don’t mean to insult anyone if you are a fan of Aerosmith (I actually do like some Aerosmith songs)or if anybody is a fan of Yngwie or whoever else I dogged. I’m aware of everyone’s differences. We all have different tastes, likes and dislikes. I playfully give my wife a hard time for listening to some of the stuff she listens to, and she gives me crap about some of the stuff I listen to, like RUSH for example. “Oh his voice!” she says. “What is he talking about…Salesmen” Ha ha ha. She hates that song, “The Spirit of Radio” especially when he says “SALESMEN!”
Anyway, I’m just slappin’ down another long-winded opinionated rant. I wouldn’t call someone an idiot or insult anyone if they disagreed with me. It’s just how I personally feel.
But one thing we can all agree on is that the bottom line is – We all love the way Edward plays. I never EVER get bored while listening to him. I can’t say that about some other guitarists, even some who I like.
And my two cents are spent.( Although I think that was about 75 cents)
March 3rd, 2010 at 5:04 pm
I also have a seymor duncan JB that is extremely close. But as someone else said, it also comes down to the amp and the attack from your fingers.
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:11 pm
RYAN, who gives a shit about how many women Joe Perry slept with. He is still lame. DLR probably slept with more women than him and steven tyler, and they had a head start. Joe Perry can have a bowl of clam chowder and go screw himself.
March 3rd, 2010 at 8:24 pm
VH3…
Thank you for proving my point.
March 3rd, 2010 at 10:54 pm
Ryan, I like tyler,whitford,kramer and Hamilton. I do not like Perry. I don’t Know you and have nothing against your opinions, I don’t have anything against you or if you disagree with what I say. I have no shame in my game. Take care and I’ll catch you later….
March 3rd, 2010 at 11:08 pm
PANAMA RED , i agree with you 100 %
March 4th, 2010 at 12:59 am
VH3:
I think he was ragging on Van Hagar and what he perceived as their cheesy, faux cool bullshit (and their ballads too).
And yes, he was a coward and took the easy way out.
March 4th, 2010 at 7:01 am
If you haven’t already, go buy “Van Halen 101″. it’s a bit pricey for a paperback, but it’s a GREAT read for any EVH fans. interviews, tributes, and stories about other guitarists old and new basically giving him props. you’d be surprised to see who’s on there. we’re talking over 100 guitarists ranging from BB King to Tom Morello, and yes, even Kurt Kobain. And here are some more of the few who have confessed their love for EVH: Zakk Wylde, Dimebag Darrell, Randy Rhoads, David Gilmour, Billy Gibbons, Yngwie malmsteen, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Slash, George Lynch, Mark Tremonti,…literally the list goes on forever…
March 4th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
The article is great, Ed is great – I understand all this. It totally blows that every VH-related article (lovely though they are) is about the past. VH1 was a great album, Ed was a great guitarist, he stood the world on its ear…that’s all great. That’s all in the past.
March 4th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
No one will ever play like EVH. Period!
March 4th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
VH3:
I was only joking. The truth is I think all of them are jerks. My friend met Eddie and Eddie was an ass to him, which kind of sucks since both of us really look up to Eddie.
But to be honest, there are a lot of guitarists out there that I like just as much as Eddie. Stevie Ray Vaughan was one of them…I think he influenced just as many people as Eddie, if not more. Also, everybody remembers him as a very humble and generous guy, something I think is lacking in a lot of guitar heroes like Ed.
Ryan
March 4th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
mellancamp also once said that van halen was the best thing to come out of the eighties. also, some people like to say randy rhodes is better , that makes an old hand like me laugh. i’ve heard the quiet riot demos from 79′ rhodes sounded nothing like he did on ozzy albums . he also improved between the 2 ozzy albums. rhodes was excellent with ozzy , but no evh. kudos to him 4 studying strict classical, but no evh. i,ve heard ed in 75, 76′ and it was the same groundbreaking evh. SRV? great blues player , jazz influence,definitely no evh. ed popularized guitar playing like no other EVER! brought guitar to the masses like no one EVER! that’s my take.
March 4th, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Not to split hairs here but Carlos Montoya was a
Flamenco guitarist not Classical guitarist.
March 5th, 2010 at 12:39 am
Anybody here ever heard of Joe Pass??
March 5th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Yes Joe Pass is amazing, as well as many others. It’s kinda lame when some of you put down other cats, when there is so much more out there besides EVH. He IS great, and my favorite, but there are many stlyes other than freakin rock. To put down others like it’s a competition just makes you look like dickheads. You may not like Perry or Vai, or whatever, but you should be respectful of those around here that do…not gonna get into it too much, and Eddie is great at what he does, but there ARE others that are great at what they do also and no could touch them at their particular game. It’s all good, peace.
March 5th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Arthur_bishop, VH3 –
I read an article in the newspaper shortly before Kurt died where he said he was the happiest and healthiest he’d been in a long time and that was clean and sober.
But of course, you can fall off the wagon from one minute to the next, but still I though that was a little strange that he “committed suicide” so soon after that.
Did ya’ll or anyone else see that documentary about Cobains death where they said that there was enough heroin in Cobain’s system to make the most hardcore junkie pass out almost instantaneously but yet everything in his heroin kit was completely and neatly put back. Who puts their kit back together if they are committing suicide? Who would put it back together immediately anyway, especially if you are alone in your house and you intend to shoot up enough heroin to kill several people? And who shoots themself in the head with a shotgun (which literally blows your head off) if they just shot up more than enough heroin to over-dose? (maybe that was to cover up lacerations to his face from a scuffle from being involuntarily injected with that huge amount of H – just one possible scenario)
But I think that an addict is going to make sure he over-doses with his drug of choice if he wants to kill himself. There was no need to shoot himself too.
They said that there wasn’t anyway that he could have even had the time to put his kit back up before going unconscious from that amount of heroin and he certainly couldn’t have done that and then have the ability or the time to also shoot himself.
There was also talk of Kurt about to file for divorce from that psychotic succubus Courtney Love. I’ve heard through interviews with people who knew her that she’s basically a parasite who leeches off of other people’s fame. I’m not ragging on her musically, I’m talking about her personality. People who knew her and grew up with her said she has always been obsessed with being famous. Kurt Cobain was her push into the spotlight and short-cut to fame, not to mention cash cow.
There was talk about her freaking out about him leaving her. There were also a couple of people who came forward that knew Courtney Love and said that she was looking to hire someone to kill Cobain.
I don’t know how much of this is true but I think there are enough suspicious things surrounding his death to make me skeptical about his death, and seems to me, probably enough for detectives to open a new investigation into his death if those claims really are substantiated.
I’m almost positive there were some more suspicious things about his death, but I can’t remember all of them right now. I’d have to go back and look that stuff up again. I’m not crazy, I’m just saying, there were more than a couple of strange things about his death if you look into it.
I’m not saying I believe 100% without a doubt that it was a murder but I’m also not saying I necessarily believe the official story either. It just seemed like there were several bizarre details surrounding his death that needed to be addressed further. I think a healthy amount of skepticism should always be applied to every situation or “official story.”
I could probably go on about theories I have about the way he died, but I think I’ve said enough for now. I don’t want to get much more carried away with this topic here right now. It’s not exactly VH related material. Plus I don’t have time right now to write a book. Lol.
I just try to remind myself on a daily basis not to assume anything or necessarily believe the first story I’m told. And to always question Everything.
March 5th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Ryan, you are correct. there are alot of rock stars who act like Assholes. It is sad because if it wasn’t for us they would be glorified musicians working entry level jobs. Panama Red, There were all kinds of stories about what happened to cobain. If he did kill himself he probably was high and would end up a martyr or something. I liked cobain when he came out and turned against him when he went on a crusade to destroy the very music I grew up on. When the 70′s went in to the 80′s you never heard an up and coming star take chance at a star from the time before, they always gave credit were credit was due unlike Mr Cobain and a couple other fruits in the business that disrespected the people who paved the way for them. Look at Nu Metal it is nothing but rhythm guitar sounding like King Diamond joined the Ramones. Lead guitar is just as important as any other instrument in a song. Just imagine Metallica’s Orion with no Lead Solos.
March 5th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
I like Bleach and In Utero, but I don’t really care who killed him. I think the guy had a unique point of view, but he wasn’t meant for the limelight and he wasn’t going to go the distance-too many mental hangups. I liked a lot of his lyrics, but he was destined to call it a day early. The fact that he would get involved with someone as screwed up as Love says a lot.
March 9th, 2010 at 5:01 am
i remember inxs members and thomas dolby praising eddie’s rhythm playing also. most folks focus on his soloing and bizarre noises, but i remember the verses to “beautiful girls”, “unchained”, and “little guitars” being difficult to play – especially getting them to flow.
big fan, but i can’t say i’d like to see new material as “van halen”, as it has become too much of a solo effort of his – in the sense that he calls all the shots. he needs to find a group of musicians (some other genre) who don’t give a f–k who he is and make him start from scratch – maybe even play a different instrument. i’m sure he would eventually blow minds away again. i just don’t see how playing hard rock could ever be challenging to him again – and i think it’s all in the challenge for a guy like him.
March 9th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
My earliest recollection of Van Halen was in a music magazine I was looking through that featured all pages about KISS accept for a few of Van Halen. In my 6th grade mind, I’d say in reaction to the photo that seemed out of place, Who are these bozos? I didn’t know who they were at the time or much I would enjoy their music and become a major fan like many here. I just thought they were odd and passed them over….until a few years later in my uncle’s room testing out his 8 track stereo with huge speakers Van Halen 1 breathed life..sometime later, when I heard music from Van Halen 2 on the radio I turned it way up and was so excited I ran out of the house as if to tell someone or to share…
I’m not surprised that with all the talk here about giving credit where its due that Eddie has yet to mention Ace Frehley for inspiring the structure of “ERUPTION” with his live solo during “SHOCK ME”. I thought maybe I had this backward until I listened to another live version from 1976 verses the one from 1978′s Alive 2. Aces solo in 76′ where Ace plays two handed hammering on the neck. ERuption and Ace’s solo are painfully obvious in structure in some parts.
When I heard it I couldn’t help but think Edward Van Halen, my hero was also inspired by Ace? I recalled an interview wherein Ed said he had been to a show and described the Kiss concert as a “circus” and I will give him that, but to deny Ace credit isn’t good. I have also read that Gene and Paul would see V-H play in their club days. The question is did Ace see Van Halen in 1976 or did Eddie observe the musician in Ace and pull something while listening and IF he did I think he should say it.
I read the posts about Steve Vai making faces while playing “ERUPTION” in concert and I can see him doing this. I have read that Edward and he visited together at VAi’s home in L.A. There has to be more of this story from Steve’s perspective which should eliminate animosity fans feel about Steve’s current or previous respectful attitude. I have also read that Satriani when making the EXTREMIST visited Edward’s studio in the early 90′s to be produced by Andy Johns. I wonder if anyone has information about whether or not EDward engaged Joe in conversation or what was shared and or said. IT seemed from the picture, Joe was crouching down behind a console in the studio next to Andy Johns.
Van Halen, we your fans are waiting for new inspiring music. I hope and I think I speak for the rest of us that these new tracks are strong. IN that they meet my at least 5 great songs criteria for actually spending money on a new CD. I don’t see the hunger or the pressure to create something good because these guys are rich beyond rich and I cannot help but think what will come out will be half hearted. I hope not! Edward needs a new instrumental too another take or version of “Cathedral”, something..I would like to see them collaborate with another artist or have another band and even a group of fans comb through new songs and rate them before deciding to release them. The new CD wherever it is should be very very impressive with no filler or dead tracks. Eddie said they would tour in 2010 but I haven’t heard anything of late. Like many, I’m sure will agree, I will be persuaded to see VH if there is new material. Although Joe Satriani is one of my favorite players, I have yet to listen or buy any music of Chickenfoot because I refuse to put money in the pockets of those who have come from rich from being involved with Eddie Van Halen,who exist mainly because VH blazed those trails for them and yet read about Sammy slagging Eddie doesn’t sit well and I’m not alone in this. In response to the last post about rock being a challenge to Edward, he is versatile in that he can blend genres of music together like jazz and straight blues. Many examples like “Big Bad Bill is sweet William Now”, “Little Guitars”, “Could This Be Magic”, to name a few and the song that amazes me still to this day is “TOP JIMMY” witty upbeat fantastic feel good song. I miss Michael Anthony’s backup singing voice! I don’t know how this band will get around that unless they use previously recorded backing vocals as was rumored on the reunion tour and not limit themselves to songs that are within Wolfie’s range. “Feel your love tonight” has to be done live sometime. It appears Edward is happy again after getting married again, and maybe in the interest of keeping his family some of these other things like creating more guitar music will take a backseat so he can maintain constructive family relationships and keep addictions far away. Edward, if there is a new album coming FANTASTIC! your fans have seen the business side now its time for more music. I hope all the songs stand out and are strong with zero filler tracks, I hope they are clean so I can share with my children the magic that is VH. I hope there is a new instrumental, great backing vocals, and all things we expect including a DAVE acoustic? DAVE learn from SAMMY power ballads work in this band its okay to love..and more..haha no pressure! Happiness to all VH fans and those who enjoy guitar music. Anyone with effect settings for Cathedral for the chorus and all delay settings feel free to inform me here.
March 10th, 2010 at 12:41 am
I remember when Ace won a ‘Guitar Player of the Year’ award (or something like that) around ’97 or ’98…right after the first KISS reunion tour was finished. Eddie was quoted as saying something like: “I know Gene helped give us our start, but Ace Frehley???????? C’mon.”
Interesting you cite a simliarity between something both have played and recorded. It would be VERY interesting if there was something to it.
March 11th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Atomicsonic- I concur with the Ace influence. Case in point, you overlap Ace’s 1975 “Winterland” solo after “Watchin’ You” with any 1977 Ed solo (namely- after “Eruption”) and you have inarguable similarities (Ed plays Ace to the “T”). Hell, in the early days VH did covers of Kiss, Trower, ZZ, D Purple, Aerosmith, James Gang to name a few. I will admit I was quite surprised when I first heard Ed’s 1977 solo stuff… I remember thinking “that’s right out of Ace’s bag of tricks”. Ace may very well be right when he said he felt as if he influenced many players after him.
March 12th, 2010 at 1:15 am
I’m pretty buzzed so I though I would let my tongue go again (or fingers I guess)
@ atomicsonic – I don’t quite understand your justification for not buying the Chickenfoot album.
You said :
“I have yet to listen or buy any music of Chickenfoot because I refuse to put money in the pockets of those who have come from rich from being involved with Eddie Van Halen,who exist mainly because VH blazed those trails for them and yet read about Sammy slagging Eddie doesn’t sit well and I’m not alone in this.”
I think the only thing you’re doing is cheating yourself out of hearing a good rock and roll band. I mean, it’s one thing if you’ve heard the material and didn’t like it but refusing to listen to it because of the reasons you listed, to me sounds kinda like strange logic and warped reasoning.
You probably don’t give a sh** what someone else thinks over the internet but it just seems weird to me.
I don’t mean to ask these questions in a rhetorical way or make these comments in a condescending kind of way, seriously. No disrespect intended. It doesn’t matter if we don’t see eye to eye on this. I’m just shootin the shit.
How is Joe Satriani or Chad Smith rich from being involved with Van Halen?
Do you think Sammy and Mike should retire from making music because they are no longer members of Van Halen?
Sammy Hagar already had a music career and a following before he joined Van Halen.
It’s not like Sammy and Mike started a Van Halen cover band. If Chickenfoot put out a Van Halen cover album then your comments would make more sense to me.
Musicians who are passionate about making music are going to continue to make music, whether they are making a lot of money or not. Not buying their album isn’t hurting their wallets. I don’t think those guys care about the money anymore anyway. They’re all ridiculously wealthy. But that doesn’t really matter, it sounds to me that the reason you won’t buy their album is more because of your rationale which like I said, seems odd to me.
Mike became rich from being in Van Halen like you said, but then he was kicked out. What’s he supposed to do, swear off making music or joining another band forever?
And if he plays a Van Halen song on the road it’s because he loves Van Halen and he took part in making that song. He likes making fans happy by playing Van Halen songs, he was after all a founding band member since the 70′s. I think he has the right to play those songs and lots of fans want to hear them.
And as far as Van Halen “blazing trails” that’s the way it goes sometimes with big bands. It doesn’t mean every band who gets inspired or is helped in some direct or indirect way by a trailblazer needs to bow down or give out royalty checks at every turn. If these other bands that came after the trail blazers show respect and acknowledge the inspiration and benefits from coming after (if that’s the case) then that’s cool.
It almost seems to me you made kind of a contradiction when dissing the ‘Foot in correlation with VH when you insinuated that Eddie was inspired by Ace Frehley’s solo to create Eruption after seeing Ace’s two handed hammering solo.
We would all be excluding tons of great music if we discriminated against the bands that weren’t great trailblazers. That only happens so many times in history.
I could say I won’t listen to the Beatles because Buddy Holly blazed the trail before and because he inspired John Lennon. Or exclude Stevie Ray Vaughn because of trailblazers like Hendrix, Albert King and Buddy Guy came before him. But that doesn’t make much sense to me. Someone with that mentality could even show prejudice towards Eddie’s success because of what Eric Clapton did and achieved before him. Afterall Clapton was a big influence on Eddie and made a huge impact in the music industry as a trail blazing guitar player. That kind of attitude and justification just doesn’t make sense to me though.
Music progresses no matter what. The natural order of how things happen with music is helped along and evolves with inspiration from previous musicians so new music is created by different new musicians. That cycle has repeated throughout history and through different eras of music. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t originality in other music or bands besides the “Trailblazers” though.
The guys in Chickenfoot aren’t riding on Van Halens coat tails or anything like that. I feel kind of stupid saying this, stating the obvious, but all 4 of those guys are very talented musicians and they were all already accomplished and well known musicians before ever being associated with Van Halen except for Mike who we all know was an original member who was kicked out of VH. But what do you expect him to do? Why would you fault him for continuing with his career in music? It just doesn’t make sense to me, but I’m repeating myself. (It’s a bad habit)
But I’m not even sure why some people compare VH to Chickenfoot like they do. Hell, half the band has never had anything to do with Van Halen.
If Chickenfoot only exists mainly because of Eddie Van Halen like you stated or because Eddie blazed the trail than people wouldn’t have bought the Chickenfoot C.D. or saw them perform live. Chickenfoot didn’t even play one VH song on tour and they informed the press people beforehand that they weren’t going to play any VH songs. They wanted people to understand that they were their own band, seperate from any other band that people may associate them with. They specifically did that to establish themselves and so to not come across as a nostalgia band or be perceived as riding on the coat tails of someone else.
By the way, Sammy had a record deal and was playing guitar before Van Halen even had their big break into the industry, so Van Halen didn’t pave his way. He worked hard to become a working musician.
I am continuously baffled when people don’t differentiate between bands just because they consist of former members from other bands. Chickenfoot is a completely separate entity from Van Halen. It consists of two former members which interests a lot of VH fans because we are fans of Sam and Mike but there is no other relation and the comparisons between the two is a trivial waste of time. Chickenfoot isn’t connected to Van Halen anymore than it’s the same kind of music as the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
And as far as Sammy “slagging Eddie” I have never heard or read Sammy make any malicious or unwarranted comments about Eddie. Sammy and Mike have continuously been honest and professional when speaking about Eddie’s problems. They both have expressed some of their disappointment and frustration concerning Eddie but they have been tactful about it. That’s more than I probably could have done if I would have been in their shoes.
Eddie was obviously inebriated throughout most of the ‘04 tour to the point that it noticeably hampered his performance and ability to play well.
Sammy even said that it was difficult to tell what song Eddie was playing sometimes.
I think when you have a band member whose playing is inconsistent and who also has unpredictable odd behavior that causes problems it’s obviously going to be maddening to the rest of the band. I think Sammy and everyone else in the band had a right to voice their complaints. Like I said, Sammy and Mike have never said anything out of spite or ever took a cheap shot at Eddie, which to me showed restraint, respect, professionalism, and great class. Something that honestly has been lacking in a few interviews with Eddie.
Sammy put his professional reputation on the line for that reunion tour in ‘04 and he knows people have high expectations for Van Halen, so he was frustrated and felt bad for disappointing the fans at some of the shows.
But I need to shut up now.
As far as I know, Eddie is clean and sober now and hopefully he’ll stay that way. I’m looking forward to some new material from Eddie and hopefully a new album with Roth.
If some of this was hard to follow I apologize. I know I’m kind of all over the place. I’m really buzzed right now and I don’t care much about anything. Just bullshitting again. Another rant that’s even long and drawn out for me.
You know what atomicsonic, if you would have just said “Chickenfoot sucks” I would just have disregarded your comment as being from another dumbass hater and I would have not responded to it. Would’ve saved me some trouble. Ha ha. But I do usually only respond to someone’s comments if I feel that it’s worth it and if they don’t seem like a closed minded dumbass. So I don’t mean any disrespect but I was just a little dumfounded by some of your comments so I responded in my typical overzealous way.
Dude, you should really give Chickenfoot a listen. Chill out about it and give ‘em a chance. Chances are you’ll like at least a few songs. I should have just said that to begin with and stopped at that. Would’ve saved some time, why didn’t I? Oh I know, because I’m an obsessive compulsive freak.
I know this has to be the longest post in the history of VHND and I probably could have at least cut it in half and still got my point across but WTF. That’s me, I don’t know what else to say about it. I’m kind of ridiculous, I know. But now it’s time to keep the buzz going.
Later.
March 12th, 2010 at 1:59 am
Van Halen became a band before KISS became one.
March 12th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
good post again panama red. like you i don’t really give a shit who influenced who or who is better or faster than who van halen music sounds like no other and it kicks ass but there is other pretty good music out there although not much but chickenfoot is pretty damn good.
March 13th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
EVH, why don’t they have left handed Frankenstrats?
March 15th, 2010 at 6:29 am
aahh.. Kiss Debut album April 1974, Van Halen February 1978. Kiss was co-founded in 1973, Van Halen does have The “Glitter Demos” which exact dates are not confirmed (1973-74?), regardless, Kiss had an official release around the Van Halen “Glitter” time-frame. Wicked Lester was Kiss’ earliest form, but I don’t know if it included Ace at any point in time…tough to confirm when who became a band first…it’s a pretty close time frame. No dis to “non-stop talker”.
March 15th, 2010 at 6:45 am
Thanks little big toe; you obviously know your stuff
. I, on the other hand, know very, very little (I did know that KISS had a record deal before Van Halen did though hahahahaha). I was just going off of what Wikipedia said (it says VH formed in 1972, and KISS in January 1973). Thanks for the info!
March 15th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Indeed my friend. 1972 was the “Mammoth” days. If I recall, they changed their name to VH in 1973.
April 8th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
The first time i heard van halen was when i was watching the movie herbie and jump came on
April 18th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
Eddie Van Halen has been my guy since 1982 (even though I’ve had many guitar influences/heroes of many styles and genres). ’82 was the year I started playing guitar (age 13) and our drummer played “Mean Street” during a rehearsal. The intro nearly made me fall over–it was otherworldly in sound–but mainly, it was simply gorgeous. Though I’d heard Van Halen songs for a number of years prior to this, “Mean Street” was my entry song–and it sounded like a street fight. (“Fair Warning” was the perfect first VH album-buy since it was raw, often experimental, and seemingly uninfluenced by Radio Friendliness. Discovering “Unchained” leading off Side 2 of the record made me trust these guys.)
I bought the rest of the albums–allowance depending, and learned as much as I could by playing along.
Here are the things I’ve noticed in the last 28 years of listen and learning from Ed:
• Creativity & Technique: When an artist “gets it” (whatever their medium is), their Grokkage sets the stage–Wide and DEEP– for wherever their tech can take them. Ed has both.
• Rhythm: EVH has an innate, rock-solid sense of rhythm. His frequently syncopated feel and effortless ability to skip–like a stone over water–around his phrasing sets him apart for many imitators and technically gifted (yet less naturally Unique knock-offs). Ed’s also crazy-adept at using (selective) palm-muting to highlight this rhythmic feel.
• Phrasing: Back to this. He can jam weird numbers of notes into a plain old Measure. Also, his speed/shred usage is deceptive; he mostly uses it to leaven passages & solos, and there’s a nice balance, so it’s not all flurries. Flurries can be exciting and jaw-dropping, but regardless of whether it’s Yngwie or Chick Corea…it gets old very fast.
• Texture: Interesting sounding of notes–whether it’s right-hand palm harmonics or mutes, whammy bar squiggles, or little string bends. There’s always something adding “just a little” to struck notes. (Plus he does it tastefully–see “Getting It”, earlier–so it doesn’t get old or stand out inappropriately.)
• Influences/Projects: Not only did Ed gain from earlier influences, he’s always had a fresh Ear open. I mean, c’mon–EVH introduced me to Allan Holdsworth! (Also, for outside projects: Check out the “Starfleet Project” with Brian May. Here’s Ed being a top-of-his-game guy having fun while tearing the place up (along with tubes and strings)!
I could go on for a lot longer, but this is getting long. I’m 41 now, and years ago I admitted that I’d never be a great guitarist. I’ve played for over 28 years–all self taught–which I’m proud of. Luckily, my main focus has always been fine art (Painting, Drawing, and Photography), and to this day (even regardless of all the guitar help), Ed has embodied a certain, special Quality that, to this day, inspires and guides my creative life.
cheers to all,
Nick