Eddie Van Halen: Our Complete (and massive!) 1979 Interview

[JasO]

Between 1978 and 1995 I did many interviews with Eddie Van Halen. I've just transcribed and posted one of the best. This one is massive (9,000 words) and never made it into Guitar Player magazine, since 16 days later we did another interview that was the basis of his 1980 Guitar Player magazine cover story.

The interview I've just posted was done in December 1979, just after Van Halen finished its second world tour and laid down the basic tracks for Women and Children First. Eddie is very candid, going deep into how he builds his guitars, hand rewinds PAF's and dips them in wax, sets his intonation, and other guitar-related issues, including his pedalboard and amps. He also vents his frustrations at the first VH clone guitars hitting the market and with other guitarists copping his style or snubbing him on the road. Near the end, he previews Women and Children First -- at this point, he's not even sure what some of the songs will be titled. It's an interesting snapshot in time. If you're interested, here's a link: http://jasobrecht.com/eddie-van-halen-complete-1979-interview/

 

[Gainfreak]

Between 1978 and 1995 I did many interviews with Eddie Van Halen. I've just transcribed and posted one of the best. This one is massive (9,000 words) and never made it into Guitar Player magazine, since 16 days later we did another interview that was the basis of his 1980 Guitar Player magazine cover story.

The interview I've just posted was done in December 1979, just after Van Halen finished its second world tour and laid down the basic tracks for Women and Children First. Eddie is very candid, going deep into how he builds his guitars, hand rewinds PAF's and dips them in wax, sets his intonation, and other guitar-related issues, including his pedalboard and amps. He also vents his frustrations at the first VH clone guitars hitting the market and with other guitarists copping his style or snubbing him on the road. Near the end, he previews Women and Children First -- at this point, he's not even sure what some of the songs will be titled. It's an interesting snapshot in time. If you're interested, here's a link: http://jasobrecht.com/eddie-van-halen-complete-1979-interview/

LOVE IT!!

Jas o Interview + EVH = AWESOME!!

I could read that over and over again!!

 

[Digital Jams]

Very cool read, thanks for posting that!

 

[70strathead]

I remember these! Thanks for posting ...My biggest take away from reading

Concept/Idea > 150 bucks for guitars parts = Platinum Records!!

 

[lester]

Great. Thanks for sharing but I think I'm Eddie Van burned out.

 

[MrDan666]

That was awesome!! Thanks for sharing that, thoroughly enjoyed reading it!

 

[The Jeff]

Great. Thanks for sharing but I think I'm Eddie Van burned out.

Then why did you left-click this particular thread?

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

The two things I got outta that were:

1) Eddie didn't like people copying him

2) He probably tried to sue STRYPER in the early 80's

 

[jcj]

Very cool read..thanks for sharing

 

[thiswaythatway]

Very cool read, thanks for posting that!

Wow, some of things that Eddie said there like, "Floyd Rose bridges give such a thin sound". And "some cheap wood, probably Alder".

 

[Gainzilla]

That was awesome... There were a few things in there that I thought were bs but in the end it was cool because it felt more like a conversation between friends than an interview and that made it great for me...

 

[supersonic]

Hmmm, he probably should have said, " I don't like anyone to copy me unless I get a cut, then I am happy for the whole word to play my exact rig".

 

[crwnedblasphemy]

Agreed...funny how he bad mouths Fender, but who is he with now?

 

[The Jeff]

Hmmm, he probably should have said, " I don't like anyone to copy me unless I get a cut, then I am happy for the whole word to play my exact rig".

Why not? All mediums can and should be copyrighted. Why let others benefit off your hard work and get nothing in return.

 

[70strathead]

Very cool read, thanks for posting that!

Wow, some of things that Eddie said there like, "Floyd Rose bridges give such a thin sound". And "some cheap wood, probably Alder".

Yep. this is straight from the horse's mouth..a little more detail related to the written interview...i had these on cassette tape and burned them over to CD from years ago. pretty interesting audio interview.


https://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... D=11358158

 

[Bob Savage]

" I don’t do any overdubs. I solo on the basic track."

I've loved that one over the years, considering the rhythm guitar under the solos in the opening track of the first VH album.

 

[Digital Jams]

Very cool read, thanks for posting that!

Wow, some of things that Eddie said there like, "Floyd Rose bridges give such a thin sound". And "some cheap wood, probably Alder".

Yeah, maybe I should email him the pic I have of my striped Kramer Pacer so he could tell me what the mystery wood is

My Chubtone 1984 Floyd is the balls

 

[311boogieman]

Thanks for posting

 

[Chubtone]

Very cool article. Thanks Jas! I have always enjoyed your work.

 

[petejt]

Great. Thanks for sharing but I think I'm Eddie Van burned out.

I'm definitely burned out with the VH1-style clips, but I really enjoyed reading that interview. Thanks very much for posting it.