Here’s what legendary guitarist Jeff Beck has to say about Eddie Van Halen:
“I suppose what people are pointing at is Van Halen for being the innovator and the one that committed tapping, hammering-on and harmonic screams to tape before anybody else. That’s quite right. It’s something he should get credit for.”
— Jeff Beck, from an interview in Guitar magazine
“I mean, those guys like Van Halen are so great, but they seem to be stuck in that kind of stuff. Still, he’s got the most amazing technique, you‘ve got to take your hat off to him for that the speed and the frantic element. I could do well to learn from him some of those tricks he pulls.”
— Jeff Beck, from the January 1985 issue of Guitar World
“He brought tapping to the forefront, and I still think he was one of the tastiest players doing it. It wasn’t his fault that all these other horrendous people tried to emulate him. I actually saw Eddie play some blues once and it was really beautiful. It would be great to hear him play more in that style.
— Jeff Beck, from the hardcover photo book, Van Halen: A Visual History, by Neil Zlozower.