I think Eddie Van Halen is my new favorite guitarist

[Bronco]

I had a similar experience in late 81. I heard of VH before , but never really listened. I use to listen to KLOS and KMET. VH was always on. I bought VH I in late 81. Once I heard Eruption, I was blown away. Aside from the guitar skills, his sound he had back in 78 still smokes most if not all guitar tones today. Eruption had me making cardboard cut-outs for a couple of years, before I bought my first guitar.

Randy Rhoads was another guitarist I really like. He just had some really beautiful solos. I only wish he was around today. The only thing I did not like about RR was his sound. That sounded like it was from the early 70s.

Hm, what? Oh right, Van Halen...[slaps own face]

Jeez Mark, it's impossible to read anything you have to say with that damn avatar staring me in the face!

In all seriousness, nearly my exact experience as well regarding Eruption and cardboard cutouts...I even had one I made with white cardboard that I striped with black electrical tape.

 

[mixohoytian]

older I get the more I appreciate the loose-ness and live vibe of everything Eddie did

van halen II..I'll just loop that album over and over again, never get tired of it
I used to dig RR a lot, but haven't listened to an ozzy record in 10 years and don't miss it a bit

 

[Bishop5150]

I'm not a fan of Randy's tone on the 2 studio albums he did with Ozzy but I thought his live tone on the Tribute album was great.

 

[Blackie08]

When I first started playing guitar my idol was Clapton. After I got sick of the blues/rock thing I found myself leaning towards the 80's hard rock sound. Enter EVH = Mind Fuck. I heard Eruption, the Beat it solo, VHI and VHII and I was like . The thing that I first noticed was that he was just speeding up some Eric Clapton licks (cough** panama solo intro**cough). But god damn did he make them sound so much cooler. The second thing I noticed was that he was probably one of the greatest rhythm players ever. Incredible rhythm, timing and phrasing. Oh ya..... almost forgot. The "Brown Sound" from VHI could be the greatest recorded tone of all time, IMO anyways....

 

[Shark Diver]

You guys are comparing this:

Just enjoy them both.

 

[tonmazz]

You guys are comparing this:

Just enjoy them both.

Wow! you said it perfectly in two pictures.

 

[70strathead]

I can't just only say that Ed is the greatest rock n roll guitar player ever, but as a complete musican and his creative approach to writing...no one could touch him IMO.

 

[tonmazz]

At the time everyone was copying Eddie and IMO Randy went out of his way not to and did his own thing.

Randy basically copied sections of Eddie's solo on the first Ozzy tour and admitted as much in interviews later...

Steve

Steve,

I think that his recorded material is an expression of his vision, not Eds. For sure he rips some tapping stuff live...I think I recall the interview where he says he hates it and feels uncomfortable doing that sort of style and it is really his own take on it from what I hear. For example Flying High again solo, tapping - yes, copying Eddie, definately not. I dont think tapping in any form is copying Eddie. I recall an interview with Ace Frehley where he said he was tapping when VH used to come see Kiss play. His words were "I'm not saying Eddie got it from me, but I sure didn't get it from him". That cracked me up!

 

[Anonymous]

At the time everyone was copying Eddie and IMO Randy went out of his way not to and did his own thing.

Randy basically copied sections of Eddie's solo on the first Ozzy tour and admitted as much in interviews later...

Steve

Steve,

I think that his recorded material is an expression of his vision, not Eds. For sure he rips some tapping stuff live...I think I recall the interview where he says he hates it and feels uncomfortable doing that sort of style and it is really his own take on it from what I hear. For example Flying High again solo, tapping - yes, copying Eddie, definately not. I dont think tapping in any form is copying Eddie. I recall an interview with Ace Frehley where he said he was tapping when VH used to come see Kiss play. His words were "I'm not saying Eddie got it from me, but I sure didn't get it from him". That cracked me up!

When I was a kid I heard a live "King Biscuit Flower Hour" Ozzy show where Randy was doing a solo with some of the tapping melody from "Eruption". I thought Ed was playing with Ozzy for a second... This wasn't just a case of using the tapping technique, but of using the melody. Randy said he did not have the time to put a live solo together in time so he ripped it from Ed and that he hated that he did it. I don't think simply using the tapping technique is ripping off Ed, however, using his melody is and he copped to it. I never remember Randy saying he was uncomfortable using the tapping technique per se and he used it on the second album when he had plenty of time to do whatever he wanted to.

For the record, I don't think Randy's other live playing or his recorded work rips off EVH in any way - just that one live thing he copped to. He had his own thing that I liked a lot...

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

I can't just only say that Ed is the greatest rock n roll guitar player ever, but as a complete musican and his creative approach to writing...no one could touch him IMO.

+1!

Steve

 

[Mailman1971]

I was just listening to VH1 this past weekend after band practice.
That solo on "ON FIRE" was so damn original its unbelieveable!!!!!!
If you dont think so....go listen to it now.
Listen to the last run before he breaks out of the solo.
That run was incredible. Never has anyone played with that much fire or intensity before Eddie.
Now....this was 1978.
So fast....so tasty....it still leaves me in awe.
He is the king. No doubt.
I did read a old article where he copped the tap on from Ace Frehley but I never believed that.
Is he my favorite? Nope. But he is ranked in the top 3 of my faves.


"Hi My name is Dan...and I am a EVH fan....."

 

[irondeth21]

Whats funny is Randy has been my number one guy for a few years now. I really got into his style and was inspired by *cough ripped off cough* a lot of his lead lines in my playing. I agree they are very different and to stay one is better then the other is pretty silly.

 

[Rogue]

Some guitar magazine in 2000 had a 100 best guitarists of the 20th century edition.

It surprisingly gave fewer props to Eddie than one might expect, but it did list these facts.....

1) You will never sound as cool as Eddie Van Halen playing a guitar.

2) You will never look as cool as Eddie Van Halen playing a guitar.

Truth.

 

[Rogue]

One of my fav VH tunes, and this live solo if one of my fav VH solos. I'd rather own the fuck out of a solo this way than with playing robotically timed 32nd notes.

If you haven't seen Live Without a Net, you should pick it up. It seems to me Eddie was sober, happy, and on fire. Very cool concert DVD.

 

[bravedude2]

both player will be missed..wait one's dead, what is the others excuse for no new music.

 

[MARK1970]

both player will be missed..wait one's dead, what is the others excuse for no new music.

 

[jabps]

I agree with what a few have said on here...just enjoy them both.

As for Randy's tone...it really doesn't matter to me anymore...i've moved past it and refuse to let it hinder my appreciation of his playing and compositions. Besides...some like myself who are old enough to remember when it first came out...none of us were analyzing his tone at the time like we do today.

I'll say this...my formative years on guitar were from 78 to 82 and it was a heckuva a fun time to be a guitar player. From EVH to Gary Moore ripping in Thin Lizzy on Black Rose. From Schon totally tearing up the outro solo on "Anyway you Want It" to my jaw dropping when I first heard Randy play "I Don't Know". From John Sykes to Vivian to Lynch to DeMartini to Vandenberg...hell I'll even throw in Cavazo. Those were fun times...mainly because all these guys really had they're own style and most of the music was pretty cranking as well. Long before everything became labels of Neo-Classical, Shred or Hair Metal etc... Or any other label that has been given to basically all parts of our life.

It was just great guitar playing back then and our flag bearers were EVH and Randy. Fun times.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

I always liked this guy better.

Me too, easy

Love them both. Why? Because Randy was everything Eddie wasn't and Eddie was everything Randy wasn't. At the time everyone was copying Eddie and IMO Randy went out of his way not to and did his own thing. I recall reading an article where Eddie says that very thing and commented on his originality. Both are unique and make me want to play the guitar.

You hit this perfect!! Well said!

Very true.

I think it's even been said by Eddie that if Randy hadn't died his career might not have been as big.

 

[jabps]

I always liked this guy better.

Me too, easy

Love them both. Why? Because Randy was everything Eddie wasn't and Eddie was everything Randy wasn't. At the time everyone was copying Eddie and IMO Randy went out of his way not to and did his own thing. I recall reading an article where Eddie says that very thing and commented on his originality. Both are unique and make me want to play the guitar.

You hit this perfect!! Well said!

Very true.

I think it's even been said by Eddie that if Randy hadn't died his career might not have been as big.

I remember EVH saying that and I have to disagree.

I think Ed may have said that in a bit of jealousy. Maybe Ed felt threatened at the time...afterall he had done the same to players like Blackmore. Certainly there are times when people pass on at an early age and it elevates their status somewhat but...at the time there was a tremendous buzz on Randy throughout the guitar community and especially within the pages of Guitar Player magazine. Basically during that era...if you made the pages of GP that was a huge boost, compliment, legitimized...you name it. Had he lived it's hard to say Randy would have had the impact of Ed over the long haul because we'll never know which way his career would have traveled but at the time...he was the next big thing and he was being treated very much like Ed had been treated years earlier so in that regard I feel we would have felt the impact regardless.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

I always liked this guy better.

Me too, easy

Love them both. Why? Because Randy was everything Eddie wasn't and Eddie was everything Randy wasn't. At the time everyone was copying Eddie and IMO Randy went out of his way not to and did his own thing. I recall reading an article where Eddie says that very thing and commented on his originality. Both are unique and make me want to play the guitar.

You hit this perfect!! Well said!

Very true.

I think it's even been said by Eddie that if Randy hadn't died his career might not have been as big.

I remember EVH saying that and I have to disagree.

I think Ed may have said that in a bit of jealousy. Maybe Ed felt threatened at the time...afterall he had done the same to players like Blackmore. Certainly there are times when people pass on at an early age and it elevates their status somewhat but...at the time there was a tremendous buzz on Randy throughout the guitar community and especially within the pages of Guitar Player magazine. Basically during that era...if you made the pages of GP that was a huge boost, compliment, legitimized...you name it. Had he lived it's hard to say Randy would have had the impact of Ed over the long haul because we'll never know which way his career would have traveled but at the time...he was the next big thing and he was being treated very much like Ed had been treated years earlier so in that regard I feel we would have felt the impact regardless.

I guess I should have clarified it better, Eddie said his career might not have been as big if Randy was still alive.