I think Eddie Van Halen is my new favorite guitarist

[van hellion]

king Edward is my man!!

A Wood

 

[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.

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

Yeah but I actually remember Eddie saying (your orignal post) that about Randy...I remember at the time it kinda pissed me off...wish I knew what magazine it was in. It might have been in that issue that GP put out on Randy a year after his death. I'll have to go look it up.

 

[Blackie08]

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.

IMO that was the best era of guitar players that we have/will ever see. Each guy you named had a unique playing style and tone that just blew my mind. Sykes, Lynch, DiMartini, Vivian C, Vandenburg, Cavazo, Randy, EVH, Moore, etc those are some of the greatest players of all time. I think it's sad today that we don't have guys like these anymore. All of our hero's are either dead or getting old. I guess the modern guitar greats, in the eyes of the public, are either the mindless wankers or the guitarists for shitty pop/rock bands. I wish I was alive back in the golden age of guitar hero's instead of the golden age of playing guitar hero

 

[marvcus]

When I was in college my life revolved around Van Halen. My roommates hated Van Halen because that's all they ever heard. I don't really
remember listening to anything else back then or playing anything else on my guitar, either.

For as much as I blast the guy now for being a control freak surrounded by "yes" men, his body of work is legendary and he will always be
my #1 guitar hero.

 

[jhale667]

IMO that was the best era of guitar players that we have/will ever see. Each guy you named had a unique playing style and tone that just blew my mind. Sykes, Lynch, DiMartini, Vivian C, Vandenburg, Cavazo, Randy, EVH, Moore, etc those are some of the greatest players of all time. I think it's sad today that we don't have guys like these anymore. All of our hero's are either dead or getting old. I guess the modern guitar greats, in the eyes of the public, are either the mindless wankers or the guitarists for shitty pop/rock bands. I wish I was alive back in the golden age of guitar hero's instead of the golden age of playing guitar hero

I would agree that era was an amazing time to be learning to play guitar. When I was a kid, my "holy trinity" as it were was EVH, Rhoads, and George Lynch. I've been lucky enough to see them all live, including all the other players you mentioned as well. My Rhoads-autographed Diary of a Madman tour program, however - is one of my most prized possessions.

Funny thing, when I grew up I moved to LA, knocked around the scene, and ended up being friendly with many players from that era, and many tell me my "trinity" was also given the same reverence around town before any of them were signed..EVH was the most popular one, but apparently he and Randy agreed they were both in awe and afraid of George...! He's a couple of years older than they, and to hear it told they both revered HIM!

 

[GtarLover]

There is no doubt for me...I heard Eddie and that was it. Everything before was cool, but I was not at the same place with it. After I heard Edward, I wanted to play guitar like that!!

Now if I only could

VH I, VH II, Women and Children First, Fair Warning, they were all inspired...even 1984 had awesome playing and tone...oh yeah and HITS!!!!

Thanks Edward, for the inspiration to go farther

Oh yeah, love Randy as well, just a different animal.

 

[stephen sawall]

I went and listened to a bunch of early EVH last night after reading some of this. First time I had heard any of it many years. I forgot how good some of it was. Over all Randy was a bigger influence on me .... but it would be silly for most of us to suggest both of these guys did not influence all of us. Just like they were influenced by the people before them.

 

[Zachman]

Me TOO...

This is AMAZING

 

[OldSkoolNJ]

If it wasn't for my older brothers changing the channel constantly to MTV while I was watching cartoons as a kid
I would have never seen the Panama video and want to play guitar.
But Crazy Train was my 1st song on guitar other than that and Flying High, I never bothered to even play any VH or Ozzy songs until recently after quitting for 7 yrs, Dunno WTF I was thinking back then..
Oh yeh I went towards playing Lynch's stuff..

 

[Jimmie]

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

If fate haddn't happened the way it did, Randy, Ed and a shit load of other players would have been much better players by now. Reminds me of the gun slinger era, when no one is left to challenge the best, what need is there to try? As for the debate as to whose better, its like trying to get people who like blue to change their mind to like red.
Jimmie

 

[DEWD]

I'm kind of in the same boat as the OP. I grew up listening to thrash. GNR and Metallica made me want to play guitar. When I started playing the Hagar era VH was in full force. I thought they were kind of soft and it just wasn't my thing. The past few years though I've been getting into old EVH stuff and he's just sick. His rhythm playing is maybe the best of all time. Randy Rhodes is also one of my top 3.

 

[Blackie08]

IMO that was the best era of guitar players that we have/will ever see. Each guy you named had a unique playing style and tone that just blew my mind. Sykes, Lynch, DiMartini, Vivian C, Vandenburg, Cavazo, Randy, EVH, Moore, etc those are some of the greatest players of all time. I think it's sad today that we don't have guys like these anymore. All of our hero's are either dead or getting old. I guess the modern guitar greats, in the eyes of the public, are either the mindless wankers or the guitarists for shitty pop/rock bands. I wish I was alive back in the golden age of guitar hero's instead of the golden age of playing guitar hero

I would agree that era was an amazing time to be learning to play guitar. When I was a kid, my "holy trinity" as it were was EVH, Rhoads, and George Lynch. I've been lucky enough to see them all live, including all the other players you mentioned as well. My Rhoads-autographed Diary of a Madman tour program, however - is one of my most prized possessions.

Funny thing, when I grew up I moved to LA, knocked around the scene, and ended up being friendly with many players from that era, and many tell me my "trinity" was also given the same reverence around town before any of them were signed..EVH was the most popular one, but apparently he and Randy agreed they were both in awe and afraid of George...! He's a couple of years older than they, and to hear it told they both revered HIM!

Thats pretty cool that Eddie and Randy were scared of Lynch.......they should have been haha. Those are probably my top 3 fav guitarists from the 80's. Although Sykes, Vandenburg and DiMartini are up there as well. I think since I started out playing blues guitar, I was drawn to the blues based guys like EVH and Lynch etc.

I still think people don't give enough credit to Adrian Smith and Dave Murray for their work in Maiden. IMO they are the best band from the late 70's and on, and are still kicking ass. Both guys are great players and have written some incredible stuff.... I'll never forget Adrians lead on The Trooper. It such a simple solo, but fits the song so well and is so powerful. I guess I could say that about a lot of their stuff....

 

[MrFlexx]

He used to be a great guitar player, but in my opinion he's seen his best days...

 

[Bronco]

IMO that was the best era of guitar players that we have/will ever see. Each guy you named had a unique playing style and tone that just blew my mind. Sykes, Lynch, DiMartini, Vivian C, Vandenburg, Cavazo, Randy, EVH, Moore, etc those are some of the greatest players of all time. I think it's sad today that we don't have guys like these anymore. All of our hero's are either dead or getting old. I guess the modern guitar greats, in the eyes of the public, are either the mindless wankers or the guitarists for shitty pop/rock bands. I wish I was alive back in the golden age of guitar hero's instead of the golden age of playing guitar hero

I would agree that era was an amazing time to be learning to play guitar. When I was a kid, my "holy trinity" as it were was EVH, Rhoads, and George Lynch. I've been lucky enough to see them all live, including all the other players you mentioned as well. My Rhoads-autographed Diary of a Madman tour program, however - is one of my most prized possessions.

Funny thing, when I grew up I moved to LA, knocked around the scene, and ended up being friendly with many players from that era, and many tell me my "trinity" was also given the same reverence around town before any of them were signed..EVH was the most popular one, but apparently he and Randy agreed they were both in awe and afraid of George...! He's a couple of years older than they, and to hear it told they both revered HIM!

Thats pretty cool that Eddie and Randy were scared of Lynch.......they should have been haha. Those are probably my top 3 fav guitarists from the 80's. Although Sykes, Vandenburg and DiMartini are up there as well. I think since I started out playing blues guitar, I was drawn to the blues based guys like EVH and Lynch etc.

Eddie and Randy were "scared" of Lynch??

Not saying this wasn't true, but this is the first I've ever heard this...frankly, what I remember about Ed and Randy the most was that they were really into they're own thing -- not in an arrogant way, but in a confident, perhaps even naiive way.

George always seemed like he had no self esteem -- he's the one who after hearing Ed the first time went to into months of reclusion to work on his chops...and he's stated this many many times.

 

[jhale667]

IMO that was the best era of guitar players that we have/will ever see. Each guy you named had a unique playing style and tone that just blew my mind. Sykes, Lynch, DiMartini, Vivian C, Vandenburg, Cavazo, Randy, EVH, Moore, etc those are some of the greatest players of all time. I think it's sad today that we don't have guys like these anymore. All of our hero's are either dead or getting old. I guess the modern guitar greats, in the eyes of the public, are either the mindless wankers or the guitarists for shitty pop/rock bands. I wish I was alive back in the golden age of guitar hero's instead of the golden age of playing guitar hero

I would agree that era was an amazing time to be learning to play guitar. When I was a kid, my "holy trinity" as it were was EVH, Rhoads, and George Lynch. I've been lucky enough to see them all live, including all the other players you mentioned as well. My Rhoads-autographed Diary of a Madman tour program, however - is one of my most prized possessions.

Funny thing, when I grew up I moved to LA, knocked around the scene, and ended up being friendly with many players from that era, and many tell me my "trinity" was also given the same reverence around town before any of them were signed..EVH was the most popular one, but apparently he and Randy agreed they were both in awe and afraid of George...! He's a couple of years older than they, and to hear it told they both revered HIM!

Thats pretty cool that Eddie and Randy were scared of Lynch.......they should have been haha. Those are probably my top 3 fav guitarists from the 80's. Although Sykes, Vandenburg and DiMartini are up there as well. I think since I started out playing blues guitar, I was drawn to the blues based guys like EVH and Lynch etc.

Eddie and Randy were "scared" of Lynch??

Not saying this wasn't true, but this is the first I've ever heard this...frankly, what I remember about Ed and Randy the most was that they were really into they're own thing -- not in an arrogant way, but in a confident, perhaps even naiive way.

George always seemed like he had no self esteem -- he's the one who after hearing Ed the first time went to into months of reclusion to work on his chops...and he's stated this many many times.

I've been told that by former bandmates and peers from the era more than once, so I have no reason to doubt it. "Scared" in the sense that they both looked up to him, and HE was considered the hotshot player in LA long before either of them were. Not scared in the "he might physically assault them" sense of the term...y'know...

 

[Mailman1971]

I was definitely digging Lynch WAAAAAAAAY more than EVH back in the 80's....
what was Eddie doing? "Love walks in"???

 

[jhale667]

I was definitely digging Lynch WAAAAAAAAY more than EVH back in the 80's....
what was Eddie doing? "Love walks in"???

Let's just completely overlook the Van Hagar years...

 

[Rev]

I have been on an EVH funk right now. I have always been a fan but have been reviving those old tunes on my play list lately.

 

[Mailman1971]

When he has Hot....Eddie was on FIRE!
No one could touch him.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

When he has Hot....Eddie was on FIRE!
No one could touch him.

Too bad the fire got put out with bottles of wine.