Please get back to them! React to Poundcake, it's with their 2nd singer Sammy Hagar which was a whole different era for Van Halen being somewhat divisive amongst Van Halen fans but I think a majority of fans love both eras. If you are a fan of Eddie Van Halen for his superb songwriting, you'll love the Hagar era just as much!
Seen Van Halen 7 times Live...You should check out his son's band Mammoth WVH's new album, which has the tribute song to his Dad called Distance, and the song Don't Back Down is a playlist candidate...the kid(well he is 30) has his dad's rhythm for sure...Love the content guys, Happy New Year!
You really need to check out I’m the One or Ice Cream Man from the first album or Eruption. Those were the tracks that really blew everyone away when we heard them.
EVH was an innovator and shredder but his rhythm playing was second to none. You need to see him live. No one had more joy playing. It’s infectious. Thanks for keeping his music alive.
@@grilledspaghetti um..his best in his prime was the '78 California Jam, he wasn't destroyed by cocaine and alcoholism yet. The band was hungry then, they weren't stuck in a rut musically with a different lead singer.
As a guitar player myself it wasn't just Eddies incredible note choices that blew me away, it was also the spaces he put between them. His timing and rhythm was off the charts amazing
Don't sleep on the bass player, Michael Anthony, either. He's always holding down the bottom end and providing all those high harmonies and backup vocals
@@johnbryant6610 Nothing against Wolfie but Michael Anthony's bass playing and vocals were a HUGE part of the Van Halen sound we all love. And good on Wolfie getting success on his own terms. RIP Eddie.
Great observation guys! Don’t think I’ve heard anyone ever point this out simply because fans were always in awe of what he could do playing lead, but that’s an important thing to understand about him and his brother as musicians. Anthony and Roth are great too! But Eddie was a pioneer that literally changed rock while his brother Alex was and is still is one of the most underrated drummers of all time.
The out solo in this song may be Eddie’s best ever. Nearly 40 years later, it still raises the hair on the back of my neck. Plus I love the lyrics, the lyrics in the body of the song seem to be spoken and have a rap vibe to it where they’re singing the chorus. This song is nasty and dark, I love it. Fair Warning is the DLR era best album.
@@Terk131 Michael never got the credit and props he deserves with his work with VH. I'm sure his backing vocals were still on the Pro Tools when VH toured until their last days.
Roth is highly underrated as a lyricist. FAIR WARNING seems to be the favorite VH album of many musicians. It’s certainly their darkest album. A real masterpiece.
Roth was the real artist who dedicated his life to being a rock n’ roller. Amazing commitment to giving up “normal life” of marriage, kids, getting fat in old age, etc. the other guy was a businessman posing as a rocker. It’s obvious now
Gentlemen, I been following you for over 2 years now. Maybe 3. Your appreciation of music has truly come a long way. You pretty much have a bachelor's degree Music Appreciation now. You enjoy rap the way you are supposed to listen to rap. You absorb musicianship the way musicians do. You understand complex time signatures and why to respect that. You appreciate Pavarotti, Jazz, Blues, Rap and Rock alike. It is NOT easy to get to that level of musical love. What a great 2+ years I've had watching all your videos. Thank you boys! Love.
Met Eddie around ‘96. I worked at a music store and got called to bring an amp to a club in Boston for a pre-gig show. He was the nicest guy ever. I stood there and watched him set up the amp. He was the reason I had long hair, worked at a music store, played guitar and moved to Hollywood to Boston. Surreal. He remembered my name when I left. RIP.
That’s an awesome story!! Really envious!! I saw Van Halen 1 time in my life. Monsters of Rock at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis TN. 1987. Unfortunately it was with Sammy singing lead, never got to see em with DLR as the lead singer. But Eddie was awesome that night & I’ll never forget it!! RIP Eddie!!!
@@brianparker7674 he called the store the next day and I wasn’t there. He had a kid, who didn’t even like Van Halen, bring a four track to his hotel room. He got to hang with Eddie for 3 hours. My first rock concert, 1980, Women and Children First tour. 12 years old. Blew my face off.
Eddie Van Halen won the National classical piano competition for colleges 3 years in a row and he could not read music. He fooled his classical music teacher until the teacher once said you didn’t turn the page Eddie. Eddie told his teacher he could not read music and he learned all that classical music by memory
Ah man can you please do a VH marathon!? There are so many other tracks to check out to do them justice. Im the one, ice cream man, fools, cathedral, unchained, Spanish fly, and of course Eruption! The list goes on....
@@ChappySinclair because they released this video on Patreon a year ago. I follow these guys on Patreon. I guess patreon and UA-cam are somewhat connected now?
FYI guys. Eddie was the humblest guy on the planet! The drummer is his brother, Alex Van Halen! Eddie called it the brown sound. RIP King Edward!!! Love you!! Thanks for reviewing this song and for reviewing Van Halen.
Eddie VanHalen was definitely a prodigy, but his brother Alex VanHalen, has been overlooked. He did the same thing with drums. Creating different sized drum shells by combining them together in ways nobody has done and nobody has used besides him.
Easily my favorite VH album. I was a freshman in HS when it came out. Michael Anthony needs more than a little credit for backing vocals and holding down the rhythm on the bass.
@Ronald williams VH II is a great album for sure! That's the one that got me into VH. i wasn't listening to music the year the first VH came out. I heard "You're No Good" on the radio and I was sold.
Women and Children First is just as consistently brilliant as Fair Warning ...in my opinion. Not surprising, given there’s only a year or so between them. They were on fire in the early to mid 80s!
My favorite riff from EVH is still from the song, “Drop Dead Legs”. It just flows so well. You guys have to check that one out. It’s a less popular song, but one of my absolute faves.
For as massively popular as it is, I still think 1984 is underrated. Drop Dead Legs is but one of several unheralded gems tucked away in those grooves.
Nobody had Eddie's tone, or his Brown sound as he called it. There will never be another Eddie Van Halen. You need to check out the video. Eruption, Live without a net. It's a guitar solo. RIP Eddie
I am sooo impressed and glad you chose "Mean Street". This is one of those early songs that doesn't get a lot of play now-a-days. This has been one of my top fav's of VH once I discovered the early days. I encourage you to listen to more early albums. Shout out to EVH, Alex VH, Michael Anthony and none other than David Lee Roth. Thanks guys. Looking forward to more. If I were to make a suggestion. Maybe listen to his solo songs and intros. Spanish Fly from VHII, the intro to Little Guitars from Diver Down and the reprise at 2:10 In the middle of "In a Simple Rhyme" from Women and Children First. The lyrics, the harmony, it is almost like being at a classical concert. RESPECT!!!
ALEX VAN HALEN (drummer for VH) needs to be in any conversation about his brother, they were one. Do yourselves a favor and play this album from beginning to end, it's a game changer.
Just as Michael Jackson appreciated Eddie, we appreciate you guys giving some of the music we grew up with an honest listen! That makes this channel great.
Eddie was a kind soul with substance issues that also fueled his creativity and gave us the most incredible music within this genre. I was born in 1984 and ever since my teen years i have worshiped his playing and the bands songs. Every time i listen to Van Halen it always feels like the first time, nuff said, glad you guys loved it too. peace.
Yall picked the perfect tune for this one. Eddie shows a bit of the 70s funk vibe which a lot of hard rock bands had back then. Fair warning was their darkest album by far, and didn't sell as well as their more good time party material. They kind of pulled back from the darker and heavier stuff thereafter, which was a shame to a lot of us in the fanbase.
Everybody was bowled over by his lead work, and it's impressive to say the least, but Eddie's rhythm playing was outstanding, super cool rhythm parts he came up with.
Roth's vocal swagger was a necessary ingredient that complemented Van Halen's guitar playing. A match made in heaven. Please note that one band and guitarist you have missed in your reaction videos is Ozzy & Randy Rhoads (also from the early 80s). You have probably heard Crazy Train but give Over the Mountain a listen to from the album Diary of a Madman. Rhoads won best new talent in December 1981 from Guitar Player magazine, and with good reason. He died shortly after (March 1982) in a very unfortunate plane crash. Before his death, he recorded two albums with Ozzy, Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman, both legendary albums, again, with good reason. For only two only albums, a live album released five years after he died, and a bunch of live bootleg recordings, he left behind a virtual manual on how to play guitar in a rock/metal band, from soloing & melodicism, to heavy yet catchy riffs, soft playing to super heavy, and everything in between. In my opinion, he was one of the few guitarists from that era who could have given EVH a run for his money.
I concur! They really should delve into Randy Rhoads. God rest his soul!🙏 And he was finally inducted into the Rock-n-Roll HOF just a few months ago. Almost 40 yrs after his passing! But, better late than never I suppose.🤷
Diary of a Madman the track is just an absolute metal masterpiece and these guys should totally listen to some solo Ozzy stuff considering how much they love Sabbath.
This was my jam in the 80s, cruising around as a teen rocking this...thanks for bringing back those memories. Nobody could touch Eddie in the 80s. RIP EVH
Same here Steve. I'm very fortunate to have had the chance to see them twice in concert. The 1984 tour with David as the lead. Also 0U812 with Hagar as the lead. …RIP Edward Van Halen!!!!
That song in particular is just about my favorite guitar tone ever. Eddie really had things dialed in with those vintage Marshall amps and Charvel guitars. Unbelievable sound.
Growing up.... Within the same time and space with Van Halen...."NOW"Thinking about it, actually makes me emotional.... Really does.... I can remember the EXACT moment when I purchased my Fair Warning "Cassette"..... Put it in my "Panasonic" player...... And could not believe what I was hearing through the headphones.... Mean Street changed my life.... Still gives me goosebumps today! 🤜🤛🍻🙌
Edward Van Halen was the greatest and will be long remembered as that. He totally changed everything with the rock guitar & the way players look at the instrument today. He has been a huge influence on me not only as a player but as a person and I am very grateful that I got to meet him and chat with him for a while back in 2014.
I’m glad you gave props to Alex (the drummer…also Eddie's brother) because how the drums enter into the song gives me goosebumps. And just how Eddie and Alex's respective instruments meld together is amazing! “Mean Street” is up there for me as one of my favorite songs as far as Van Halen tunes go.
Eddie was extremely melodic and nuanced despite the speed and distortion... check out "And The Cradle Will Rock" as great example of EVH toning it down and showing off his immense skills all at the same time.
Gents, Stellar song, stellar video. The beginning of song when it fades in are all harmonics found on the guitar. Yes it does sound like a synth. Yes Alex his brother is a great drummer as well. RIP- EVH definitely a musical genius. Writer,arranger,producer,guitar player, inovater and yes inventer. He is in the Smithsonian Museum. Dude designed and built his own guitars, pick ups, amplifiers and introduced the Floyd Rose locking trembleo to the world ( Yes Floyd Rose is a real person). Being a guitarist myself I own 4 of his guitars Wolfgang(2), Music man(1),EVH(1). Great, practical, workhorse guitars. For me EVH is one of the main reasons I ever picked up a guitar. Hopefully you'll do a Van Halen marathon since there were two different and distinctive eras. The Roth years then the Sammy years. I've seen both eras live. Great either way. Saw them with Roth in 84 and 2015 then with Sammy in 88. Keep that marathon in mind.
Everyone associates Eddie with his solos and tapping etc but, for me, it was his rhythm guitar and fills that made him so special. Listen to ‘I’m the one’ from Van Halen 1 - some of the best hard rock guitar ever in that song. The fills are too good, his rhythm playing is so tight on it too. The absolute bomb his guitar work in that. 💥
My favorite Van Halen song. I play this song real loud in my car with windows down when I leave for work (fulfillment center) at times. Co-workers have know idea who it is. This song was ahead of its time. IMO.
I have to say, as a VH fan for nearly 40 years, I’ve probably soaked up every drop of Van Halen related UA-cam content available and your reactions to VH are by far my favourite. Your willingness to dig deeper than the usual face value reactions and actually learn a little and get a sense of an artist’s contributions and legacy is so refreshing. And I believe sets you apart from most, if not all, other reaction based channels. It also struck me while listening to your commentary that your initial impressions of VH and especially Edward, are really what a lot of us felt decades ago when just starting to dive in to their awesome catalog. Keep up the great work, and as always, bring on more VH !
It's so refreshing to watch you guys, considering everything that's going on in the world today. Thank you for playing some more Van Halen and making me laugh! Keep up the good work! 😘
As a 60 year old man who lived and breathed this era of music I am grateful that these songs set my taste and flavor for music. And now I want to say I appreciate the way you guys engage with what is the soundtrack of basically my life and of so many other people's also.
This album often gets overlooked, personally it's my favorite, I mean unchained, hear about it later, so this is love, push comes to shove. This was the first concert I ever went to at the Hampton roads coleseum in Virginia on Halloween night, sold out of course, like all their concerts were. Back then general admission was the way concerts went during that time, so I was 30 feet away from Eddie. At 14 years old I thought I was in heaven. Back to 'beat it's. The only group that was second to Michael Jackson was Van Halen. I mean they were standard to be compared to, so popular that mainstream society knew who they were. Thanks fellas!!!!
Most Van Halen fans I know all say this is their favorite album. Some say it's the first album. I also like Women and Children First as maybe my 3rd favorite.
The most unheralded, underrated VH track ever. There's almost a funk element to Eddie's riff and the rhythm section. When I was little, this album didn't resonate much with me. Now, it's one of my favorites.
Yes!!! This is one of the premiere hard rock tunes period! VH (and Eddie in particular) resurrected American hard rock. This album, "Fair Warning," is a seminal icon and Eddie's best work in my opinion...many tunes with multiple guitar tracks. Van Halen (self titled) is one of the greatest albums of all time and it started emulation by multitudes of players and bands. This was a Win in Vegas! Happy New Year to you!!!
Such a groove. Eddie was a master of rhythm guitar. Left space for the music to breathe and didn't over play. It's an orgy of sound. The whole band just Masters at their roles.
Eddie was a virtuoso. Artists like him transcend music genres. This is one of the most underrated rhythm rifts I think. Eddie is always celebrated for his fretboard gymnastics, but he could lay down a dirty ass funky groove just like the best of them.
Van Halen do have music in their blood. Of course Eddie being the amazing guitarist that he is, but also his brother and drummer Alex deserves a shoutout! Also, they even played with Eddie's son Wolfgang Van Halen, who played bass in the band since 2006.
Their dad was also a classically trained woodwind player who giged A TON to keep their family afloat when they first came to America. He talks a lot about his dad in his 2015 interview with smithsonian
Eddie will always be known to ME personally as a great songwriter. Yes he was amazing as a guitarist but he always served the song. He knew exactly when to cut loose and when to hold back. The song spoke to him and he did what the song needed.
One of my favorite songs by Van Halen from what I consider their masterpiece, Fair Warning. As you guys alluded to, I love Eddie as much for his killer rhythm parts as I do for his solos. He drives the song with those riffs. Cheers!
I remember buying this album when it came out. This song especially has the most killer guitar tone ever, and will likely never be surpassed. It is what an electric guitar through a hi-gain amp was meant to sound like. It's just the best. Dynamics, attack, sustain, not to mention the technical virtuosity and creative genious - VH had it all. I hope if DLR puts together the tribute tour with Satriani they will get the live sound right, pretty sure Satch won't mess that up.
They really need to react to some Toto! And it seems that Luke has yet to release a statement in the wake of Ed's passing. He must be feeling it hard, just like when Jeff Porcaro passed away... 😔
FYI, fellas... Eddie VanHalen REARRANGED ALL of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" song, not just the solo... And, HE DID IT, NOT ONLY, FOR FREE, BUT DID NOT WANT to be "credited" on the album... (I think that was also because he was an admirer of Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones, and doing it outside of his "VanHalen" obligations, and his band members.) He was a REMARKABLE talent, lost WAY too soon, AND MY "GUITAR HERO/GOD" (WHO MADE ME pick up my first guitar in 1983)!!! Miss him like crazy, there will never be another... RIPEdwardVanHalen [standing ovation/bowing down] PS. The drummer is his brother, Alex VanHalen. Bassist Michael Anthony, lead singer "Diamond" David Lee Roth. "Greatest American band" to date.✌🏾
And Eddie's boy, Wolfie (since 2006). Dave and Eddie and Alex and ALL of them have said that if it wasn't for Wolfie, they wouldn't have survived their blow-up. When they all melted down on each other, that would have been the end of Van Halen. But Wolfie was able to have them all check their egos and keep the band together, literally.
@@djjazzyjeff1232 And I believe it was Wolfie in part who encouraged them to go back and rework some of their old demos for their last album, so kudos for that too!
@@djjazzyjeff1232 And I believe it was Wolfie in part who encouraged them to go back and rework some of their old demos for their last album, so kudos for that too!
I like how you guys do your research and really analyze it with intelligence. One of my favorite songs from my favorite band. On Fire off their first album is a very under rated song. Eddie just rips it up. RIP Eddie Van Halen.
Michael Jackson always had guitarists he admired on his albums... Steve Lukather of Toto was the one who played rhythm guitar on 'Beat it' and members of Toto contributed to the 'Thriller' album. Slash from Guns N' Roses played on 'Black or white' (the intro) on the 'Dangerous' album... Steve Stevens (of Billy Idol's band) played on 'Dirty Diana' on the 'Bad' album.
Actually, In the video for Black and White, the kid is watching a rock video and Slash is the guitar player for that video piece. But the song itself is Tim Pierce playing the solo. Slash is not on the record.
My boys nailed it on two points. We all knew who Eddie was and what he did for the guitar and for guitarists in general with how he played it so differently, but most people didn’t take interest in it until he passed and that’s ok, we’re human. The other was an incredibly critical and rock solid point/observation in general. Sure, we can shred on guitar and solo but he said how he knew how to dial it back and make a smooth rhythm resonate under the vocals. He adds licks here and there to fill gaps and THIS is what makes a musician versus a guitarist. The more I studied his sound and how it was created and progressed over time, it got so overwhelming lol. Look up the wet/dry/wet sound. Pretty much everyone does this now but he was pretty much the guy who created it. The world lost its modern day Mozart/Beethoven. Rest easy EVH
Great insight on Eddie's ability to play at a certain technical level, yet make it musical and groovy. My friends and I used to talk about that there were shredders that just played insane over the top guitar but most people couldn't quite relate to it. But Edward was able to connect and play in a "rock music" kind of way that eluded the other technical wizards, most of whom were inspired by him anyway. Part of this was just being in Van Halen since you had Alex, Michael and definitely Dave making up the sound and style, but it was also Ed's natural groove and sound. I wouldn't call it commercial, but an appeal that most everyone could like, get into, and even be inspired to pick up a guitar. No other "shredder" type guitarist had the success or influence of the late great EVH.
No one had more fun playing then Eddie - he was ALWAYS smiling - fun fact: Eddie/Van Halen is the most used pop culture reference in 80’s/90’s movies (bill & teds, back to the future, etc etc etc )
Have to say this brethren - your analysis was so spot on! EVH had feel and was just a different player. I’m an advanced player - can do just about anything he can do, BUT he created it! He didn’t raise the bar, he put the guitar in another Universe! There will never be another guitarist like him - not even close. Again, his sound had a lot to do with it - it matched his style and that sound of his was meanest and most sizzling guitar sound ever!!! Love you guys - you get it big time!!!!
Mean Streets was always one of my favorite Van Halen songs. We used to go cruising to it with the windows down and the radio blasting (heavy on the bass) just enjoying life… ahh…good times 😁
Great reaction guys! I get goose bumps every time I hear this tune and I remember when it first came out. Easily in my top 3 VH tunes ever! Also, I like how you guys were busting out the groves to the music!
That was nasty - Truth! Eddie, Alex, Michael and David for a time ruled rock music like few bands have. Van Halen of the late 70’s early 80’s were rock gods. RIP Eddie
He's a big contributor to the recording process also. He also used a Variac to plug his guitar amplifier into which changed the voltage of the amp to give it the "brown sound" nearly catching the thing on fire but played the hail out of it... That guitar sound is one of a kind. The KING! Not only did he contribute to music and instruments he was a real song writer creating beautiful melodies, harmonies, and memorable structured songs...
The most influential part of EVH’s playing for me is his particular form of palm muting. Listen to the palm muting on Jump, On Top of the World, Panama, Ain’t Talkin Bout Love, Runaround, etc. It’s the palm muting sound I mimic the most.
Great point... There is "shredding" and there is "rhythm" guitar. Eddie effortlessly floated between both. Check out "I'm The One" from Van Halen's 1st album... BLISTERING.
Something to note, if you haven’t been told a million times already, is that the drummer is Eddie’s brother Alex…..and that they began in music being trained as classical pianists as children….and their father was a professional jazz clarinet and saxophone player!
and his father actually played on "Big Bad Bill".. also Eddie, even though he was a trained classical pianist and won several awards as a child, can't really even read music. he just learned by ear. he fooled his teacher
What a song - glad you did this one! Great job! There will never be another band like them. Greatest guitarist, Greatest Front Man, Great drummer, Best backing vocals! Never again gentlemen!!! Another thing you have to point out is that EVH had a very unusual, sizzling tone. Man that tone was just another thing that set him apart!!
Van Halen wad one of my favorite groups growing up and I'm 60 now. They where very good musically but where one of the greatest live shows in the business. They where also fun to drive to. Have every album and I'm a lifelong fan.
“Van Halen” is the drummer too 😆! His brother Alex. Not making fun just to be clear. Bet you both know that now. I unfortunately never learned to play guitar and, there’d be a lot of guitarists I’d “chase” their skills as influences….. Eddie though….. would be the NUMERO UNO that I would “chase” the most of all!!! I would HAVE to own one of his Frankenstrat models! I’d even mount a framed one to my wall right now to pay homage to the man if I had the 💵 for that. Great reaction as always fellas!!!! 👊
@@jimmyraidjames I was saying this to my bro the other day… “Van Halen” seems to me to be equally both of their band. It’s their name sake of course. Eddie is the main feature. They played on the same wavelength together. One of my faves for sure
People mention Yngwie as a great guitarist. He's extremely talented, but I agree fitting the guitar and solos into the song is what sets guitarists on another level for me.
Much love guys!! I'm so glad people are starting to really appreciate the Genius of EVH and not just how Great he was but how he Changed the world with his Playing. I Love All VH but the Dave years were just Magic!!!
EVH said in an interview in the early 90's that he literally walked into the studio, met Michael Jackson who said "I love that high fast stuff you do" then he strapped on his guitar & listened to the solo section, then he did 2 solos, & Michael picked the one you hear on the recording.
Eddie was what ever the song required!! A true musician, His rhythms are absolutely incredible and we didn't even talk about his alien like tunings and tecnique!! Thanks Ed! I was there every step of the way brother! Rest easy ol boy, Wolfie is takin over!! Peace brothers
Both "Mean Street" and "Unchained" are Top 10 Van Halen songs. Same album: The vastly underrated *Fair Warning.* Plus, "Saturday Afternoon In The Park" was EVH's original synthesizer experiment that paid huge dividends later-on. Great album.
Since 1979 I have lived and breathed Van Halen! As a once professional drummer the first six Van Halen albums were, are, and will ALWAYS be MY OWN PERSONAL rock and roll Bible! I am 56 years old and because of my grandfather (Cholly Atkins choreographer for Motown records from 1964 to 1973) my father (Pat Sherrod drummer for Little Anthony & The Imperials, Jazz Greats Joe Williams and Wes McCann) and my uncle William Guest (one of the ORIGINAL "Pips" with my Aunt Gladys Knight) I GREW UP on Soul/ R&B music, it's in my veins whether I like it or not! My point is that when I first heard Van Halen at the age of thirteen they gave me the exact same electricity all through my body that I got from good ass soul music! (i.e. The Commodores "Fancy Dancer", Arerha Franklin's "Rock Steady", Marvin Gaye's "Got To Give it Up", and Teddy Pendergrass's "Only You"! NO OTHER "ROCK" BAND HAD EVER DONE THAT TO ME BEFORE OR SINCE!!! Thank you for "getting" what I "got" four decades ago! Much love and respect to BOTH of you good brother's!!!
This is an old Patreon early access video released around the time of Eddie's passing as a tribute fyi guys. Enjoy!
Please get back to them! React to Poundcake, it's with their 2nd singer Sammy Hagar which was a whole different era for Van Halen being somewhat divisive amongst Van Halen fans but I think a majority of fans love both eras. If you are a fan of Eddie Van Halen for his superb songwriting, you'll love the Hagar era just as much!
Savatage! Hall of the Mountain King!
Seen Van Halen 7 times Live...You should check out his son's band Mammoth WVH's new album, which has the tribute song to his Dad called Distance, and the song Don't Back Down is a playlist candidate...the kid(well he is 30) has his dad's rhythm for sure...Love the content guys, Happy New Year!
You really need to check out I’m the One or Ice Cream Man from the first album or Eruption. Those were the tracks that really blew everyone away when we heard them.
Steve Lukather of Toto played the rest of the guitars on Beat It.
Let’s also remember Alex’s drums. One of the most under appreciated drummers in rock and I think equally as important to the VH sound
Yeah I agree. Eddie and Alex. Then there was Vinnie and Dime. Interesting how that worked out…
Yes. It's the most rocking disco beat ever
Absolute gun
Alex is a monster!
Alex is under appreciated by who??
Fair Warning is one of the greatest hard rock/metal albums ever made. Not a bad song on the entire record.
And Mean Street IMO is THE best VH song.
agreed
it's not VH's best album, but without it, we would have missed SO much of Ed. best intro ever x 2 and best blues solo by Ed ever in So this is love?
Fave VH Album!❤
All killer no filler
EVH was an innovator and shredder but his rhythm playing was second to none. You need to see him live. No one had more joy playing. It’s infectious. Thanks for keeping his music alive.
5150 Live Without a Net. Best live snapshot of Eddie in his prime.
@@grilledspaghetti um..his best in his prime was the '78 California Jam, he wasn't destroyed by cocaine and alcoholism yet. The band was hungry then, they weren't stuck in a rut musically with a different lead singer.
Ouch 2nd to Malcom.
Yep! Saw them 3 times in Biloxi with Roth. Was right in front of Eddie's mic for this show.
Always played with that smile on his face!
As a guitar player myself it wasn't just Eddies incredible note choices that blew me away, it was also the spaces he put between them. His timing and rhythm was off the charts amazing
Don't sleep on the bass player, Michael Anthony, either. He's always holding down the bottom end and providing all those high harmonies and backup vocals
Mikey is the shit!
Amen and Alex in any other band, is a legend. Chops and sound (tuning) of his drums are signature and instantly recognizable
Yeah, I always thought it was so cool how Mike covered both ends of the sonic spectrum!
@@johnbryant6610 Nothing against Wolfie but Michael Anthony's bass playing and vocals were a HUGE part of the Van Halen sound we all love. And good on Wolfie getting success on his own terms. RIP Eddie.
Always!👍
Eddie's rythym playing often times gets over looked. We all know he could shred, but he was an incredible rythym player too.
No doubt. His solos may be amazing, but he wrote some of the most slick and iconic riffs that unfortunately get overlooked by many.
His rhythm playing is even better than his solo runs, I'm so glad they never got a rhythm player so Ed carried the song and filled in the gaps.
That's what I like about both him and Hendrix. They both were masters of rhythm and lead.
You don’t need a rhythm guitarist when you have a bass player like Michael Anthony. They chord the bass just like a guitar.
Great observation guys! Don’t think I’ve heard anyone ever point this out simply because fans were always in awe of what he could do playing lead, but that’s an important thing to understand about him and his brother as musicians. Anthony and Roth are great too! But Eddie was a pioneer that literally changed rock while his brother Alex was and is still is one of the most underrated drummers of all time.
The shredding is one thing but Eddie was the king of Rhythm Riffs. Those rhythm riffs are amazing.
After hearing his leads, many of them are very similar. But, I personally think he is the best rythm rock guitarist bar none!! And tune smith!
Agreed. He was a force of nature.
Word....mean and nasty.
The out solo in this song may be Eddie’s best ever. Nearly 40 years later, it still raises the hair on the back of my neck. Plus I love the lyrics, the lyrics in the body of the song seem to be spoken and have a rap vibe to it where they’re singing the chorus. This song is nasty and dark, I love it. Fair Warning is the DLR era best album.
Yessir, one of my favorite albums of all time!!
He actually did the same on another track on this album Dirty Movies
Its a crime that it was faded out 10 seconds too early, as heard on the isolated guitar track here. ua-cam.com/video/WltDS7gPO-s/v-deo.html
Let's just go ahead and call it the best VH album hands down. Menacing, dark and grungy. VH at their peak.
@@bobl5481 for sure.
The guitar on Dirty Movies was stellar!!!
They was all killing it on this track. The bass was thumping big time.
Michael Anthony is one hell of a bass player and delivers ass kicking backing vocals which is why Sammy takes him wherever he goes.
Yup, Michael and Alex so tight!
@@Terk131 Michael never got the credit and props he deserves with his work with VH. I'm sure his backing vocals were still on the Pro Tools when VH toured until their last days.
@@gradywilson3006 facts.
This is definitely in my top 10 Van Halen songs
Roth is highly underrated as a lyricist. FAIR WARNING seems to be the favorite VH album of many musicians. It’s certainly their darkest album. A real masterpiece.
Ed's favorite album . A favorite in guitar magazine polls by readers and the professional players . Roth rules over his "replacement"
Roth was the real artist who dedicated his life to being a rock n’ roller. Amazing commitment to giving up “normal life” of marriage, kids, getting fat in old age, etc. the other guy was a businessman posing as a rocker. It’s obvious now
Eddie was PISSED off during these recording days😂😂
Gentlemen, I been following you for over 2 years now. Maybe 3. Your appreciation of music has truly come a long way. You pretty much have a bachelor's degree Music Appreciation now. You enjoy rap the way you are supposed to listen to rap. You absorb musicianship the way musicians do. You understand complex time signatures and why to respect that. You appreciate Pavarotti, Jazz, Blues, Rap and Rock alike. It is NOT easy to get to that level of musical love. What a great 2+ years I've had watching all your videos. Thank you boys! Love.
Perfectly said
Yes, they really do seem to catch a lot of the little nuances, etc pretty fast. They have surprised me a number of times. Hope they keep it up.
Met Eddie around ‘96. I worked at a music store and got called to bring an amp to a club in Boston for a pre-gig show. He was the nicest guy ever. I stood there and watched him set up the amp. He was the reason I had long hair, worked at a music store, played guitar and moved to Hollywood to Boston. Surreal. He remembered my name when I left. RIP.
Most musicians are pretty cool. Not all, but most.
That’s an awesome story!! Really envious!! I saw Van Halen 1 time in my life. Monsters of Rock at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis TN. 1987. Unfortunately it was with Sammy singing lead, never got to see em with DLR as the lead singer. But Eddie was awesome that night & I’ll never forget it!! RIP Eddie!!!
@@brianparker7674 he called the store the next day and I wasn’t there. He had a kid, who didn’t even like Van Halen, bring a four track to his hotel room. He got to hang with Eddie for 3 hours.
My first rock concert, 1980, Women and Children First tour. 12 years old. Blew my face off.
@@brianparker7674 That’s awesome! I was at Monsters of Rock in LA in 1987.
Monsters of Rock was 1988.
The best follow up to this would be “unchained”. Their catalog is so good you almost can’t go wrong no matter what you pick.
Yep
@@GuitarPlayerNoah no joke!
Unchained!
Can’t get this stuff no more.. :/
@@metaphoria3 yeah, very little out there. Music truly does suck.
Eddie Van Halen won the National classical piano competition for colleges 3 years in a row and he could not read music. He fooled his classical music teacher until the teacher once said you didn’t turn the page Eddie. Eddie told his teacher he could not read music and he learned all that classical music by memory
Ah man can you please do a VH marathon!? There are so many other tracks to check out to do them justice. Im the one, ice cream man, fools, cathedral, unchained, Spanish fly, and of course Eruption! The list goes on....
Eruption that live take is a must watch!
@@ChappySinclair because they released this video on Patreon a year ago. I follow these guys on Patreon. I guess patreon and UA-cam are somewhat connected now?
Ice Cream Man for sure.
One album is just over 30min. Heck. They could do one side and spend 20min total with stopping and the breakdown lol
Fools has some of my favorite Eddie riffs out of the entire catalog.
FYI guys. Eddie was the humblest guy on the planet! The drummer is his brother, Alex Van Halen! Eddie called it the brown sound. RIP King Edward!!! Love you!! Thanks for reviewing this song and for reviewing Van Halen.
Eddie wasn’t to humble, though later in his life he became humble yes. He was an amazing player, my all time favorite. 🤘🏽💯
Eddie VanHalen was definitely a prodigy, but his brother Alex VanHalen, has been overlooked. He did the same thing with drums. Creating different sized drum shells by combining them together in ways nobody has done and nobody has used besides him.
Easily my favorite VH album. I was a freshman in HS when it came out. Michael Anthony needs more than a little credit for backing vocals and holding down the rhythm on the bass.
Yep, by far my favorite VH album. Absolute classic.
@Ronald williams VH II is a great album for sure! That's the one that got me into VH. i wasn't listening to music the year the first VH came out. I heard "You're No Good" on the radio and I was sold.
Women and Children First is just as consistently brilliant as Fair Warning ...in my opinion. Not surprising, given there’s only a year or so between them. They were on fire in the early to mid 80s!
@Ronald williams VH II is my favorite too….. love all their albums but VH II is my favorite!
You have excellent taste!
My favorite riff from EVH is still from the song, “Drop Dead Legs”. It just flows so well. You guys have to check that one out. It’s a less popular song, but one of my absolute faves.
For as massively popular as it is, I still think 1984 is underrated. Drop Dead Legs is but one of several unheralded gems tucked away in those grooves.
Always one of my favorite VH songs
I love that damn song. So groovy! Great backing vocals too.
My fave VH song on my fave VH album. Great shout. My only gripe...wish it didn't fade out. Although it does leave you wanting more of course.
I tend to think of recommending the slower, heavier, riff-based songs here, so I'd pick Drop Dead Legs and maybe Take Your Whiskey Home.
Nobody had Eddie's tone, or his Brown sound as he called it. There will never be another Eddie Van Halen. You need to check out the video. Eruption, Live without a net. It's a guitar solo. RIP Eddie
More of a highlight reel/best of compilation.
wolfgang knows all this i have seen him play his old mans shit perfect
I might be wrong, but I think they already did a reaction to the Live Without a Net performance
His tone on this track is so awesome.
I am sooo impressed and glad you chose "Mean Street". This is one of those early songs that doesn't get a lot of play now-a-days. This has been one of my top fav's of VH once I discovered the early days. I encourage you to listen to more early albums. Shout out to EVH, Alex VH, Michael Anthony and none other than David Lee Roth. Thanks guys. Looking forward to more. If I were to make a suggestion. Maybe listen to his solo songs and intros. Spanish Fly from VHII, the intro to Little Guitars from Diver Down and the reprise at 2:10 In the middle of "In a Simple Rhyme" from Women and Children First. The lyrics, the harmony, it is almost like being at a classical concert. RESPECT!!!
ALEX VAN HALEN (drummer for VH) needs to be in any conversation about his brother, they were one. Do yourselves a favor and play this album from beginning to end, it's a game changer.
For me, the best of all of the VH records. Fair Warning is so dirty, grungy, and course, it makes the rest seem tame. It is just so, so good.
Best all-time album for me. AVH...beast of all beasts!
Just as Michael Jackson appreciated Eddie, we appreciate you guys giving some of the music we grew up with an honest listen! That makes this channel great.
Dirty Movies is another great underrated song on this album. You can’t go wrong with any of them. Unchained amazing song. RIP Eddie. VH forever
Definitely....one of my favorites off of Fair Warning.
Hear About It Later is another one that i really love.
YAAAAAAAAAASSSSS!!! That song is BADASS!!
@@mdwayne741 My two favorite songs on Fair Warning. Dirty Movies has a real funky groove.
"Remember when that girl was prom queen??
Awwwww wow!😎
This whole album is 🔥. My fav album of VH
Eddie was a kind soul with substance issues that also fueled his creativity and gave us the most incredible music within this genre. I was born in 1984 and ever since my teen years i have worshiped his playing and the bands songs. Every time i listen to Van Halen it always feels like the first time, nuff said, glad you guys loved it too. peace.
Yall picked the perfect tune for this one. Eddie shows a bit of the 70s funk vibe which a lot of hard rock bands had back then. Fair warning was their darkest album by far, and didn't sell as well as their more good time party material. They kind of pulled back from the darker and heavier stuff thereafter, which was a shame to a lot of us in the fanbase.
This is still my favorite album of theirs.
It didn't sell as well ? As far as "fans" are concerned, it's their 2nd best of all time, just a tad below the first album
Everybody was bowled over by his lead work, and it's impressive to say the least, but Eddie's rhythm playing was outstanding, super cool rhythm parts he came up with.
Roth's vocal swagger was a necessary ingredient that complemented Van Halen's guitar playing. A match made in heaven. Please note that one band and guitarist you have missed in your reaction videos is Ozzy & Randy Rhoads (also from the early 80s). You have probably heard Crazy Train but give Over the Mountain a listen to from the album Diary of a Madman. Rhoads won best new talent in December 1981 from Guitar Player magazine, and with good reason. He died shortly after (March 1982) in a very unfortunate plane crash. Before his death, he recorded two albums with Ozzy, Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman, both legendary albums, again, with good reason. For only two only albums, a live album released five years after he died, and a bunch of live bootleg recordings, he left behind a virtual manual on how to play guitar in a rock/metal band, from soloing & melodicism, to heavy yet catchy riffs, soft playing to super heavy, and everything in between. In my opinion, he was one of the few guitarists from that era who could have given EVH a run for his money.
I disagree on the DLR take. Anyone listening to VH for the vocals was missing the point altogether.
@@rickwelch8464 -- You attempted to refute something I never said. But I disagree with what you wrote anyway.
Such a waste of a young Talent when Randy passed absolute damn shame.
I concur! They really should delve into Randy Rhoads. God rest his soul!🙏 And he was finally inducted into the Rock-n-Roll HOF just a few months ago. Almost 40 yrs after his passing! But, better late than never I suppose.🤷
Diary of a Madman the track is just an absolute metal masterpiece and these guys should totally listen to some solo Ozzy stuff considering how much they love Sabbath.
This was my jam in the 80s, cruising around as a teen rocking this...thanks for bringing back those memories. Nobody could touch Eddie in the 80s.
RIP EVH
Same here Steve. I'm very fortunate to have had the chance to see them twice in concert. The 1984 tour with David as the lead. Also 0U812 with Hagar as the lead. …RIP Edward Van Halen!!!!
Oh yeah....I used to drive around town in my 1976 Trans Am listening to VH.....especially Mean Street
“Hear About it Later” is another hidden gem off the same album.
Yes Fair Warning great album. Seen them in 1984 Hollywood Sportatorium .Awesome. Peace ✌
It's the 2nd best song on the album!
That song in particular is just about my favorite guitar tone ever. Eddie really had things dialed in with those vintage Marshall amps and Charvel guitars. Unbelievable sound.
Eddie was one of the greatest rhythm players there has ever been. He knew when to serve the song and when to go off.
Seriously for all his amazing solos, he is a hugely underrated rhythm guitarist
Growing up.... Within the same time and space with Van Halen...."NOW"Thinking about it, actually makes me emotional.... Really does.... I can remember the EXACT moment when I purchased my Fair Warning "Cassette"..... Put it in my "Panasonic" player...... And could not believe what I was hearing through the headphones.... Mean Street changed my life.... Still gives me goosebumps today! 🤜🤛🍻🙌
Awesome reaction !! “Little Guitars with Intro” really shows off EVH versatility as a guitar player !!! He was the Ultimate Guitar Hero !!
Plus "Little Guitars" is such a great song. Best high harmonies: " Senorita!"
Edward Van Halen was the greatest and will be long remembered as that. He totally changed everything with the rock guitar & the way players look at the instrument today. He has been a huge influence on me not only as a player but as a person and I am very grateful that I got to meet him and chat with him for a while back in 2014.
I still cry almost every time I hear one of Eddie's solos. It means a lot that y'all took the time to listen to the beat it solo right and everything.
Still difficult to listen to VH...
Eddy would want it to still put a smile on your face!😄
'Get Up' - Van Halen's most aggressive, loudest, fastest entry ever, deserves a play.
The guitar and drums are nasty sick!!!
And Roth could've never pulled that off. That song was for Sammy all the way.
I’m glad you gave props to Alex (the drummer…also Eddie's brother) because how the drums enter into the song gives me goosebumps. And just how Eddie and Alex's respective instruments meld together is amazing! “Mean Street” is up there for me as one of my favorite songs as far as Van Halen tunes go.
The fact that Eddie never made a solo instrumental album says everything about his priorities musically, he was all about the song and the band.
He's known for his tapping technique and solos. But I actually like his rhythm and fills even more.
This album is a masterpiece!
Eddie was extremely melodic and nuanced despite the speed and distortion... check out "And The Cradle Will Rock" as great example of EVH toning it down and showing off his immense skills all at the same time.
That’s actually Eddie on electric piano for the most part except for the short guitar solo in the middle.
that is keyboard through his marshall
Jan. 2023 and remembering once again why I love your reviews !!
Gents,
Stellar song, stellar video. The beginning of song when it fades in are all harmonics found on the guitar. Yes it does sound like a synth. Yes Alex his brother is a great drummer as well.
RIP- EVH definitely a musical genius. Writer,arranger,producer,guitar player, inovater and yes inventer. He is in the Smithsonian Museum. Dude designed and built his own guitars, pick ups, amplifiers and introduced the Floyd Rose locking trembleo to the world ( Yes Floyd Rose is a real person).
Being a guitarist myself I own 4 of his guitars Wolfgang(2), Music man(1),EVH(1). Great, practical, workhorse guitars.
For me EVH is one of the main reasons I ever picked up a guitar.
Hopefully you'll do a Van Halen marathon since there were two different and distinctive eras. The Roth years then the Sammy years. I've seen both eras live. Great either way. Saw them with Roth in 84 and 2015 then with Sammy in 88.
Keep that marathon in mind.
Everyone associates Eddie with his solos and tapping etc but, for me, it was his rhythm guitar and fills that made him so special. Listen to ‘I’m the one’ from Van Halen 1 - some of the best hard rock guitar ever in that song. The fills are too good, his rhythm playing is so tight on it too. The absolute bomb his guitar work in that. 💥
My favorite Van Halen song. I play this song real loud in my car with windows down when I leave for work (fulfillment center) at times. Co-workers have know idea who it is. This song was ahead of its time. IMO.
I have to say, as a VH fan for nearly 40 years, I’ve probably soaked up every drop of Van Halen related UA-cam content available and your reactions to VH are by far my favourite. Your willingness to dig deeper than the usual face value reactions and actually learn a little and get a sense of an artist’s contributions and legacy is so refreshing. And I believe sets you apart from most, if not all, other reaction based channels. It also struck me while listening to your commentary that your initial impressions of VH and especially Edward, are really what a lot of us felt decades ago when just starting to dive in to their awesome catalog. Keep up the great work, and as always, bring on more VH !
It's so refreshing to watch you guys, considering everything that's going on in the world today. Thank you for playing some more Van Halen and making me laugh! Keep up the good work! 😘
My thoughts exactly.
Yeah, I like how George looks like music hurts him when he's getting into it.
Feel the same way!
As a 60 year old man who lived and breathed this era of music I am grateful that these songs set my taste and flavor for music. And now I want to say I appreciate the way you guys engage with what is the soundtrack of basically my life and of so many other people's also.
This album often gets overlooked, personally it's my favorite, I mean unchained, hear about it later, so this is love, push comes to shove. This was the first concert I ever went to at the Hampton roads coleseum in Virginia on Halloween night, sold out of course, like all their concerts were. Back then general admission was the way concerts went during that time, so I was 30 feet away from Eddie. At 14 years old I thought I was in heaven. Back to 'beat it's. The only group that was second to Michael Jackson was Van Halen. I mean they were standard to be compared to, so popular that mainstream society knew who they were. Thanks fellas!!!!
Push comes to shove is one of my favorite solos of all time! Nothing insane, but crazy technical with a super smooth flow
+1, this album was their pinnacle, for me. Not a bad song in it!
Most Van Halen fans I know all say this is their favorite album. Some say it's the first album. I also like Women and Children First as maybe my 3rd favorite.
This album is dirty and mean and the best in their discography.
Fair Warning was their BEST ALBUM IMHO
The most unheralded, underrated VH track ever. There's almost a funk element to Eddie's riff and the rhythm section. When I was little, this album didn't resonate much with me. Now, it's one of my favorites.
Underrated? Nah....Granted, the Fair Warning is the slowest selling album of the Roth era, but nothing on the album is underrated
Yes!!! This is one of the premiere hard rock tunes period! VH (and Eddie in particular) resurrected American hard rock. This album, "Fair Warning," is a seminal icon and Eddie's best work in my opinion...many tunes with multiple guitar tracks. Van Halen (self titled) is one of the greatest albums of all time and it started emulation by multitudes of players and bands. This was a Win in Vegas! Happy New Year to you!!!
Such a groove. Eddie was a master of rhythm guitar. Left space for the music to breathe and didn't over play. It's an orgy of sound. The whole band just Masters at their roles.
Glad you guys mentioned the drums. It is what makes this song groove so well. Eddie can shred to anything but the beat just takes it to another level.
Sexy ass song, Alex was his brother Alex Van Halen was the drummer
Eddie was a virtuoso. Artists like him transcend music genres. This is one of the most underrated rhythm rifts I think. Eddie is always celebrated for his fretboard gymnastics, but he could lay down a dirty ass funky groove just like the best of them.
Van Halen do have music in their blood. Of course Eddie being the amazing guitarist that he is, but also his brother and drummer Alex deserves a shoutout! Also, they even played with Eddie's son Wolfgang Van Halen, who played bass in the band since 2006.
Their dad was also a classically trained woodwind player who giged A TON to keep their family afloat when they first came to America. He talks a lot about his dad in his 2015 interview with smithsonian
Eddie will always be known to ME personally as a great songwriter. Yes he was amazing as a guitarist but he always served the song. He knew exactly when to cut loose and when to hold back. The song spoke to him and he did what the song needed.
Outta love again off of VH 2 is an incredible song!!!! The definition of funk, groove and feel. You gotta do it.
One of my favorite songs by Van Halen from what I consider their masterpiece, Fair Warning. As you guys alluded to, I love Eddie as much for his killer rhythm parts as I do for his solos. He drives the song with those riffs. Cheers!
A not often requested Van Halen song would be "Me Wise Magic" from thier brief reunion to release thier greatest hits album.
OMG his guitar sounds so dirty in that song when it kicks in
definitely a must.
it is their best song with Roth, even tho Ed complained DLR's voice was shot.
I remember buying this album when it came out. This song especially has the most killer guitar tone ever, and will likely never be surpassed. It is what an electric guitar through a hi-gain amp was meant to sound like. It's just the best. Dynamics, attack, sustain, not to mention the technical virtuosity and creative genious - VH had it all. I hope if DLR puts together the tribute tour with Satriani they will get the live sound right, pretty sure Satch won't mess that up.
Steve Lukather from Toto played the rhythm parts on Beat It,another incredible guitar player and great friend of Edward !
They really need to react to some Toto! And it seems that Luke has yet to release a statement in the wake of Ed's passing. He must be feeling it hard, just like when Jeff Porcaro passed away... 😔
He was his neighbour and one of his best friends.
Eddie rearrange the rhythm section for the solo section. Spent 20mins on the entire session.
Too bad he is shit live
@@dancohen258 who Eddie? I’ve seen them 5 times and not a bad show.
FYI, fellas... Eddie VanHalen REARRANGED ALL of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" song, not just the solo... And, HE DID IT, NOT ONLY, FOR FREE, BUT DID NOT WANT to be "credited" on the album... (I think that was also because he was an admirer of Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones, and doing it outside of his "VanHalen" obligations, and his band members.) He was a REMARKABLE talent, lost WAY too soon, AND MY "GUITAR HERO/GOD" (WHO MADE ME pick up my first guitar in 1983)!!! Miss him like crazy, there will never be another... RIPEdwardVanHalen [standing ovation/bowing down]
PS. The drummer is his brother, Alex VanHalen. Bassist Michael Anthony, lead singer "Diamond" David Lee Roth. "Greatest American band" to date.✌🏾
The drummer is Alex Van Halen, Edward's brother!
And Eddie's boy, Wolfie (since 2006). Dave and Eddie and Alex and ALL of them have said that if it wasn't for Wolfie, they wouldn't have survived their blow-up. When they all melted down on each other, that would have been the end of Van Halen. But Wolfie was able to have them all check their egos and keep the band together, literally.
@@djjazzyjeff1232 And I believe it was Wolfie in part who encouraged them to go back and rework some of their old demos for their last album, so kudos for that too!
@@djjazzyjeff1232 And I believe it was Wolfie in part who encouraged them to go back and rework some of their old demos for their last album, so kudos for that too!
Alex is one of the Best Rock Drummers... Ever !!
I like how you guys do your research and really analyze it with intelligence. One of my favorite songs from my favorite band. On Fire off their first album is a very under rated song. Eddie just rips it up. RIP Eddie Van Halen.
Michael Jackson always had guitarists he admired on his albums... Steve Lukather of Toto was the one who played rhythm guitar on 'Beat it' and members of Toto contributed to the 'Thriller' album. Slash from Guns N' Roses played on 'Black or white' (the intro) on the 'Dangerous' album... Steve Stevens (of Billy Idol's band) played on 'Dirty Diana' on the 'Bad' album.
He was a Led Zeppelin fan when he was younger.
Actually, In the video for Black and White, the kid is watching a rock video and Slash is the guitar player for that video piece. But the song itself is Tim Pierce playing the solo. Slash is not on the record.
Black or White / Slash mistake is common:
ua-cam.com/video/UzOY0-sW7vo/v-deo.html
This has always been my favorite VH song but I honestly never realized how bluesy and funky it is...What a killer groove!
The way Eddie made that guitar scream gee god bless that man’s soul very inspirational 🙏🙏🙏 the greatest to ever do it❤️
My boys nailed it on two points. We all knew who Eddie was and what he did for the guitar and for guitarists in general with how he played it so differently, but most people didn’t take interest in it until he passed and that’s ok, we’re human.
The other was an incredibly critical and rock solid point/observation in general. Sure, we can shred on guitar and solo but he said how he knew how to dial it back and make a smooth rhythm resonate under the vocals. He adds licks here and there to fill gaps and THIS is what makes a musician versus a guitarist. The more I studied his sound and how it was created and progressed over time, it got so overwhelming lol. Look up the wet/dry/wet sound. Pretty much everyone does this now but he was pretty much the guy who created it.
The world lost its modern day Mozart/Beethoven. Rest easy EVH
Great insight on Eddie's ability to play at a certain technical level, yet make it musical and groovy. My friends and I used to talk about that there were shredders that just played insane over the top guitar but most people couldn't quite relate to it. But Edward was able to connect and play in a "rock music" kind of way that eluded the other technical wizards, most of whom were inspired by him anyway. Part of this was just being in Van Halen since you had Alex, Michael and definitely Dave making up the sound and style, but it was also Ed's natural groove and sound. I wouldn't call it commercial, but an appeal that most everyone could like, get into, and even be inspired to pick up a guitar. No other "shredder" type guitarist had the success or influence of the late great EVH.
No one had more fun playing then Eddie - he was ALWAYS smiling - fun fact: Eddie/Van Halen is the most used pop culture reference in 80’s/90’s movies (bill & teds, back to the future, etc etc etc )
Atomic Punk rarely gets mention when discussing VH but that song is righteous!
I could listen to Atomic Punk all day long
A-EFFING-MEN
Absolutely awesome song. A song that I absolutely love is On Fire, that song is a SCORCHER.
One of the greatest bands EVER!!
Kicks ass every time. Doesn't matter how many times you've heard it.
Have to say this brethren - your analysis was so spot on! EVH had feel and was just a different player. I’m an advanced player - can do just about anything he can do, BUT he created it! He didn’t raise the bar, he put the guitar in another Universe! There will never be another guitarist like him - not even close. Again, his sound had a lot to do with it - it matched his style and that sound of his was meanest and most sizzling guitar sound ever!!! Love you guys - you get it big time!!!!
Michael Anthony's baseline is so sick in this (really every) song he just doesn't get enough credit. All while belting high backing vocals...legend.
Mean Streets was always one of my favorite Van Halen songs. We used to go cruising to it with the windows down and the radio blasting (heavy on the bass) just enjoying life… ahh…good times 😁
You need to do The Cradle Will Rock, one of the best, no disappointment there.
Have you seen Jr's grades!?
Everybody Wants Some
Ed was all about the song. This, like so many VH songs, groove so well. The rhythm, melody, harmony and swing move so well together. The best!!!
Great reaction guys! I get goose bumps every time I hear this tune and I remember when it first came out. Easily in my top 3 VH tunes ever! Also, I like how you guys were busting out the groves to the music!
The rhythm to the solo is pure funk.
Greatest VH song ever?
Its my favorite. Summer Nights 2nd....
That was nasty - Truth!
Eddie, Alex, Michael and David for a time ruled rock music like few bands have.
Van Halen of the late 70’s early 80’s were rock gods.
RIP Eddie
By far my favorite VH album. I was 14 when it came out. Immediately loved it. RIP EVH !!!!!
Lol.....I was 14 also. Became my favorite VH album
He's a big contributor to the recording process also. He also used a Variac to plug his guitar amplifier into which changed the voltage of the amp to give it the "brown sound" nearly catching the thing on fire but played the hail out of it... That guitar sound is one of a kind. The KING! Not only did he contribute to music and instruments he was a real song writer creating beautiful melodies, harmonies, and memorable structured songs...
The most influential part of EVH’s playing for me is his particular form of palm muting. Listen to the palm muting on Jump, On Top of the World, Panama, Ain’t Talkin Bout Love, Runaround, etc. It’s the palm muting sound I mimic the most.
Great point... There is "shredding" and there is "rhythm" guitar. Eddie effortlessly floated between both. Check out "I'm The One" from Van Halen's 1st album... BLISTERING.
Something to note, if you haven’t been told a million times already, is that the drummer is Eddie’s brother Alex…..and that they began in music being trained as classical pianists as children….and their father was a professional jazz clarinet and saxophone player!
and his father actually played on "Big Bad Bill".. also Eddie, even though he was a trained classical pianist and won several awards as a child, can't really even read music. he just learned by ear. he fooled his teacher
What a song - glad you did this one! Great job! There will never be another band like them. Greatest guitarist, Greatest Front Man, Great drummer, Best backing vocals! Never again gentlemen!!! Another thing you have to point out is that EVH had a very unusual, sizzling tone. Man that tone was just another thing that set him apart!!
What you're hearing is that beyond Eddie's amazing soloing ability, he was a F A N T A S T I C rhythm guitar player.
Van Halen wad one of my favorite groups growing up and I'm 60 now. They where very good musically but where one of the greatest live shows in the business. They where also fun to drive to. Have every album and I'm a lifelong fan.
“Van Halen” is the drummer too 😆! His brother Alex. Not making fun just to be clear. Bet you both know that now. I unfortunately never learned to play guitar and, there’d be a lot of guitarists I’d “chase” their skills as influences….. Eddie though….. would be the NUMERO UNO that I would “chase” the most of all!!! I would HAVE to own one of his Frankenstrat models! I’d even mount a framed one to my wall right now to pay homage to the man if I had the 💵 for that. Great reaction as always fellas!!!! 👊
Yes good point that there was 2 Van Halens ( Edward & Alex) in the band and ofc one is still alive. Btw Van Halen will always be my fave band ✌
@@jimmyraidjames I was saying this to my bro the other day… “Van Halen” seems to me to be equally both of their band. It’s their name sake of course. Eddie is the main feature. They played on the same wavelength together. One of my faves for sure
Eddie Van Halen is the reason I picked up the guitar in the first place. He’s an inspiration to millions, like me.
People mention Yngwie as a great guitarist. He's extremely talented, but I agree fitting the guitar and solos into the song is what sets guitarists on another level for me.
Much love guys!! I'm so glad people are starting to really appreciate the Genius of EVH and not just how Great he was but how he Changed the world with his Playing. I Love All VH but the Dave years were just Magic!!!
EVH said in an interview in the early 90's that he literally walked into the studio, met Michael Jackson who said "I love that high fast stuff you do" then he strapped on his guitar & listened to the solo section, then he did 2 solos, & Michael picked the one you hear on the recording.
Has anyone ever heard the other solo he did . Would love to hear it!
How is everyone on hear not screaming for them to react to Eruption live?????? That literally highlights Eddys greatness. They need to see that.
Eddie was what ever the song required!! A true musician, His rhythms are absolutely incredible and we didn't even talk about his alien like tunings and tecnique!! Thanks Ed! I was there every step of the way brother! Rest easy ol boy, Wolfie is takin over!! Peace brothers
Both "Mean Street" and "Unchained" are Top 10 Van Halen songs. Same album: The vastly underrated *Fair Warning.* Plus, "Saturday Afternoon In The Park" was EVH's original synthesizer experiment that paid huge dividends later-on. Great album.
"And the Cradle Will Rock" was mostly synthesizer. Freaked me out when I learned that!
Sunday *
Since 1979 I have lived and breathed Van Halen! As a once professional drummer the first six Van Halen albums were, are, and will ALWAYS be MY OWN PERSONAL rock and roll Bible! I am 56 years old and because of my grandfather (Cholly Atkins choreographer for Motown records from 1964 to 1973) my father (Pat Sherrod drummer for Little Anthony & The Imperials, Jazz Greats Joe Williams and Wes McCann) and my uncle William Guest (one of the ORIGINAL "Pips" with my Aunt Gladys Knight) I GREW UP on Soul/ R&B music, it's in my veins whether I like it or not! My point is that when I first heard Van Halen at the age of thirteen they gave me the exact same electricity all through my body that I got from good ass soul music!
(i.e. The Commodores "Fancy Dancer", Arerha Franklin's "Rock Steady", Marvin Gaye's "Got To Give it Up", and Teddy Pendergrass's "Only You"!
NO OTHER "ROCK" BAND HAD EVER DONE THAT TO ME BEFORE OR SINCE!!!
Thank you for "getting" what I "got" four decades ago! Much love and respect to BOTH of you good brother's!!!
To a 70's kid, David Lee Roth was The Fonz of rock & roll