Credit: Neil Zlozower
Joe Perry named Eddie Van Halen among the eight guitarists who helped shape his sound. The Aerosmith guitarist recently shared his list of influences with Guitar World and had this to say about Eddie:
If you listen to Eddie’s playing, it’s just so inspiring, you know? When Van Halen’s first album [Van Halen] came out, Eddie really opened things up. He took some of the same toys that other guys were using but used them in ways that I couldn’t remember others doing.
He turned things up and did things in a way that sounded fresh, new, and fun. What more can I say about him? He’s one of maybe five guys that truly changed things and opened doors when it comes to this instrument that we call the electric guitar.
Perry also named Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Peter Green, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Vai, Neil Young, and Robert Johnson as guitarists who helped shape is sound.