You will never be as good as Eddie Van Halen...

[Motorpud]

You're half right...I definitely can't make those things look cool, but neither did your mancrush Eddie

Wow, impressive balls

 

[skoora]

I'm not a huge VH freak, but I'd honestly say that Ed is the best rock rhythm player I've ever heard; I just don't think it gets better.

Eddies rhythm playing and timing is absolutely superb ... doesn't get mentioned often.

Big +1. Love his sense of rhythm and his feeling of swing was something his 80's followers and imitators rarely understood or comprehended in the slightest. Plus he would use cool chord voicing's too I thought.

Honorable mention to one of my favorite Game Changers

 

[metalmaniac93]

Sah5150 it's OK fanboi I have seen your midriff. No need to get panties in a bunch like little school girls. Eddie is Eddie BFD. Played the same solo for the last 50 years and adds a volume swell here and there give me a break. I said I was kidding. As for Gilbert looked pretty effortless for a guy who didn't write it and probably never practices it off the cuff. Ever see Eddie play it like that? Doubt it and I saw him in 1980 and he didn't pull it off.

Did you hear Gilbert say he was "running out of juice" in the second video? That means it was not effortless, nor did it look effortless to me as he was playing it - his face was looking a bit contorted at some points, indicating it was tough for him to play. I've never seen Eddie play it like that, I've only heard him play it like that on the album because he never played it on a nylon string live.

Another thing - I'm a fan of EVH's early playing in VH clearly, however, I've been as critical of EVH over the years as anyone. I've posted many times on here that I'd never give him another penny because of the drunken embarrassment I had to sit through at Staples in '04. I also agree he's been playing the same solo for a long time and hasn't innovated in forever as a guitarist. None of that makes me any less of a fan of what he did early in his career that had such a huge effect on a generation of guitar players and continues to influence many young players today. I wouldn't say I'm a blind fan or "fanboi" as you put it, because I see the good and bad in EVH's career. I certainly wasn't one of the guys chanting "EDDIE!!! EDDIE!!! EDDIE!!!" at the top of their lungs while EVH drunkenly rolled around on the floor making this horrendously hideous noise with feedback and his sustainer at the '04 show I mentioned (this was the "highlight" of his "solo" that night, BTW - I could have played a better EVH-style solo that night than he did, which is pretty sad).

Also - I'll never understand why some people feel the need to resort to confrontational and meaningless drivel about "fanbois" and "panties in a bunch" when they don't agree with something someone else is saying in a discussion. It adds nothing to the conversation and some people take offense.

Finally - I don't see what my tanned, rock hard, six-pack abs have to do with any of this. I guess haters gonna hate.

Steve

Well said Steve!!! I was a huge fan at the beginning of his career and there was no one like him especially on VH S/T to Fair Warning. I became very critical of him later in his career especially during the Sammy years even though I did like (not love) the Sammy stuff. It is very hard for some of the later generation to understand the impact of his playing unless you grew up during the late 70s/early 80's. Yes, he is not as technically proficient as people who came after him, but he started the so called "shred" type of playing that paved the way for others. When I heard VH S/T in 1978 I was floored at the very young age of 10. That lasted up until Randy Rhoads came along and VH started turning out LPs like Diver Down, etc. I then gravitated to other guitar players, but that never diminished what he did from 1978-1984 with pockets of greatness during the Sammy years.

There will always be hater and people can hate on EVH all they want, but he was definitely one of the greatest guitarists of all time and had the biggest impact on rock guitar as Hendrix did. Is he my fav? Nope, but he had a huge impact on my playing.

 

[rupe]

You're half right...I definitely can't make those things look cool, but neither did your mancrush Eddie

Wow, impressive balls

Thanks bro...I've waxed them since this pic was taken. Maybe Rogue will share the pic we took where they're laying on his chin

 

[Rogue]

 

[rupe]

 

[sgill72]

You're half right...I definitely can't make those things look cool, but neither did your mancrush Eddie

Wow, impressive balls

I wish mine were that small.

 

[Mailman1971]

Yeah.....hes a Great player....
but what about his tone?
Brown...tone...Brown sound....
how is it put?





























Sorry couldnt resist!

 

[bpetersen]

Maybe other guys are more technical or whatever, but none of them have ever written songs as badass as Eddie has. Sinners swing, unchained, girl gone bad, the list goes on and on...Eddie's ability as a guitarist never would have gotten as much recognition without those songs man.

Quoted for TRUTH!

Steve

Double quoted for truth!

TRIPLE quoted!!!

 

[bigdaddyd]

Sah5150 it's OK fanboi I have seen your midriff. No need to get panties in a bunch like little school girls. Eddie is Eddie BFD. Played the same solo for the last 50 years and adds a volume swell here and there give me a break. I said I was kidding. As for Gilbert looked pretty effortless for a guy who didn't write it and probably never practices it off the cuff. Ever see Eddie play it like that? Doubt it and I saw him in 1980 and he didn't pull it off.

Did you hear Gilbert say he was "running out of juice" in the second video? That means it was not effortless, nor did it look effortless to me as he was playing it - his face was looking a bit contorted at some points, indicating it was tough for him to play. I've never seen Eddie play it like that, I've only heard him play it like that on the album because he never played it on a nylon string live.

Another thing - I'm a fan of EVH's early playing in VH clearly, however, I've been as critical of EVH over the years as anyone. I've posted many times on here that I'd never give him another penny because of the drunken embarrassment I had to sit through at Staples in '04. I also agree he's been playing the same solo for a long time and hasn't innovated in forever as a guitarist. None of that makes me any less of a fan of what he did early in his career that had such a huge effect on a generation of guitar players and continues to influence many young players today. I wouldn't say I'm a blind fan or "fanboi" as you put it, because I see the good and bad in EVH's career. I certainly wasn't one of the guys chanting "EDDIE!!! EDDIE!!! EDDIE!!!" at the top of their lungs while EVH drunkenly rolled around on the floor making this horrendously hideous noise with feedback and his sustainer at the '04 show I mentioned (this was the "highlight" of his "solo" that night, BTW - I could have played a better EVH-style solo that night than he did, which is pretty sad).

Also - I'll never understand why some people feel the need to resort to confrontational and meaningless drivel about "fanbois" and "panties in a bunch" when they don't agree with something someone else is saying in a discussion. It adds nothing to the conversation and some people take offense.

Finally - I don't see what my tanned, rock hard, six-pack abs have to do with any of this. I guess haters gonna hate.

Steve

Not for nothing, but Gilbert is completely self deprecating and humble. You can pretty much name a tune and he either knows it or will figure it out on the fly by ear. He does it at his clinics and it will either be spot on or super close. He is a master musician and super technical. EVH can do EVH. I love him and grew up on him and worshiped him, but he is limited in that regard. To think Gilbert couldn't play Spanish Fly perfectly if he wanted to with practice is seriously delusional. It is a great piece, but not even close to the technical stuff he plays to perfection on a daily basis. If you can't see that, then you really need to take off you red, white, and black striped glasses and take a better look.

 

[mojotone]

Eddies a hack... Seriously.

I agree. He and Hendrix both were hacks. Just guys who took the guitar, looked at the first few pages of the rule book then threw it away, developed their voice and style on the instrument that was unlike anything at the time. Ironically, both transformed the world.

There is a great value to this.

Much like Hendrix, Eddie did wonders with the equipment and technology that was available at the time. There is NO denying that fact!

 

[mentoneman]

that just happened.

 

[Mailman1971]

God DAMMIT....Eddie has the moves.

 

[mentoneman]

God DAMMIT....Eddie has the moves.

he makes it look so easy

 

[Mailman1971]

God DAMMIT....Eddie has the moves.

he makes it look so easy

I was thinking....."Might as well....JUMP!....Go ahead and ....JUMP!"
That would of won VMA video of the year if he only did this in the video...am I wrong???

 

[mentoneman]

God DAMMIT....Eddie has the moves.

he makes it look so easy

I was thinking....."Might as well....JUMP!....Go ahead and ....JUMP!"
That would of won VMA video of the year if he only did this in the video...am I wrong???

he was so confident back then. i believe this was taken at gazzaris in 77. look at at that extension....how relaxed his hands are.

 

[Mailman1971]

God DAMMIT....Eddie has the moves.

he makes it look so easy

I was thinking....."Might as well....JUMP!....Go ahead and ....JUMP!"
That would of won VMA video of the year if he only did this in the video...am I wrong???

he was so confident back then. i believe this was taken at gazzaris in 77. look at at that extension....how relaxed his hands are.

Yeah but still had that doubtfull look in his eyes......I think he wanted to do the Triple Lindy....but was scared and pulled it back at the very last minute......just saying.

 

[mentoneman]

many imitators followed but none did it like ed

here's to another 100 for the dutch fretwizard

 

[HowieJams]

The most amazing thing about EVH, his ability to play rhythm, riffs, and solos at the same time.

and smoke a Marlboro off the headstock

By himself he does what most bands would need 2-3 guitar players to play.

Think about what you are hearing from just 1 guitar, bass and drums.

I forgot how great he was until I watched this vid.

Thanks

 

[Guitar G]

His timing, swing, and sense of rhythm is what amazes me the most. I've attempted to take a backing track of some of the old stuff where the guitars have been removed and then me add the guitars back. My recordings get close... But there are nuances missing. To copy Ed's solos note for note are difficult - to copy his rhythm and swing, it's damn near impossible - at least for me. My true appreciation of that part of his playing came when doing these recordings.

Great player and total game changer.