David Coverdale said he will remember Eddie Van Halen as “an absolute monster musician”.
The Whitesnake frontman, who spoke to eonmusic recently, said he did see Van Halen perform during their club days at the Starwood nightclub but it wasn’t until 1983 that he became fully aware of what Eddie could do on the guitar.
“I remember seeing those guys in this watering hole in Hollywood; the Starwood, I think it was,” he said. “II think they were like the house band or whatever, and I’d go in there, get a couple of chicks, and there was nothing ever really to catch your attention, but fuck me, Ted Templeman caught it, you know?”
“Once I started to work with the unique talent of John Sykes, I like to do my homework on people, and I thought, ‘He’s influenced by this American guy Edward Van Halen’,” Coverdale added. “That’s when I first heard those records, and heard this fucking phenomenal guitar playing. The last time I’d heard guitar playing like that was Jimi Hendrix, and John McLaughlin, and Jeff Beck; this unique scenario”.
David finished his thoughts by saying Eddie will never truly be gone.
“Artists, musicians or painters, singers; the thing is, they are as alive to me, in my heart, my mind, my soul, my spirit. You know, the music’s there. Eddie Van Halen, I just played the early Van Halen albums, and it’s just amazing stuff. The ultimate, a great American party band”.
He added: “The sad thing is, you don’t get to hug them, but Edward’s still alive to me, and I just feel for his family for his physical absence. That’s the big sadness, but what a monster, monster musician. An absolute MONSTER!”