<![CDATA[ Latest from Guitar Player in Eddie-van-halen ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/tag/eddie-van-halen Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:42:46 +0000 en <![CDATA[ “It was already on the conveyor belt.” The two strangest things Eddie Van Halen ever took to airport security ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/it-was-already-on-the-conveyor-belt-the-two-strangest-things-eddie-van-halen-ever-took-to-airport-security sFDqiee4z7A6UEfTifZEP3 Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:42:46 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He didn’t have the tapping — and he was still unreal.” George Lynch recalls the stunning impact of early Eddie Van Halen ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/george-lynch-on-a-pre-fame-eddie-van-halen WsjG6n4zyKEdYCQcsuY7FV Wed, 25 Mar 2026 18:47:11 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He wanted to crucify me.” Sammy Hagar says Eddie Van Halen “micromanaged everything” on ‘Balance’ ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/sammy-hagar-on-rising-tensions-while-recording-balance-with-van-halen nNSNnztC9GdAGumnSc7RJY Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:42:07 +0000 Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:43:51 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I don’t remember too much between the drugs and the alcohol.” Valerie Bertinelli opens up about life with Eddie Van Halen in rare comments about the late guitar virtuoso ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/i-dont-remember-too-much-between-the-drugs-and-the-alcohol-valerie-bertinelli-opens-up-about-life-with-eddie-van-halen-in-rare-comments-about-the-late-guitar-virtuoso 8VuZTEiFUm5KTNCgFhw2AD Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:24:33 +0000 Fri, 20 Mar 2026 11:26:09 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I thought we were done.” Our Lady Peace say Sammy Hagar nearly kicked them off the Van Halen tour. And then Eddie stepped in ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/when-sammy-hagar-tried-to-kick-a-band-off-one-of-their-tours-the-van-halen-brothers-intervened T5KFj86vsNFu7RyuLwcnxP Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:26:55 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I know what he means.” Sammy Hagar compares Alex Van Halen to Roger Waters in new swipe at former bandmate ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/sammy-hagar-compares-alex-van-halen-to-roger-waters FLBF82NXX2AvPy3AmNbzHZ Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:56:41 +0000 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:09:09 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Valerie looked at me like, ‘Oh no…’” Steve Stevens showed up to rehearse with Eddie Van Halen — and instantly knew he’d made a mistake ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/how-eddie-van-halen-s-generosity-shaped-steve-stevens-gear EjbzGediURDb2HZSPMLytX Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:41:43 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I was a real bitch. I couldn’t keep my temper.” Lita Ford reflects on anger, ambition — and how Eddie Van Halen convinced her to start again after the Runaways collapsed ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/lita-ford-how-eddie-van-halen-helped-me-after-the-runaways-broke-up Y3SaHg9CNnDmhuZHwyjJ7R Sat, 28 Feb 2026 13:00:28 +0000 Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:36:10 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The rest is history. That’s how close it got.” Alex Van Halen on how he and Eddie nearly made an album with Ozzy Osbourne ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/how-van-halen-almost-made-an-album-with-ozzy-osbourne UAtwxHyvKBMX4wbNktBSJg Thu, 26 Feb 2026 19:39:25 +0000 <![CDATA[ “If they want to do it justice, they should finish it up as a great instrumental nod to Eddie.” As singer Paul Rodgers rejects Van Halen album offer, bassist Michael Anthony says the music should remain as it is ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/new-van-halen-album-paul-rodgers-and-michael-anthony PLUcmEbgrrremhVmUTUHwM Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:46:14 +0000 <![CDATA[ “These recordings were going to be the next Van Halen record.” Alex Van Halen on the new Van Halen album and Steve Lukather’s role in it ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/alex-van-halen-steve-lukather-album-update BqgYkhULucxgvoTn7LMj97 Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:51:31 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It made me feel like, ‘Wow, is that how people perceive me?’” Eddie Van Halen on the one guitarist he said out–Van Halened him ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/eddie-van-halen-uneasy-about-steve-vai maSP2ieE2LTe4esvNQbzvB Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:46:28 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Randy was trying to get backstage to meet him, but Eddie was bouncing off the walls in his underwear.” Kelly Garni sets the record straight on the rivalry between Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/quiet-riot-bassist-on-randy-rhoads-and-eddie-van-halen-rivalry aGZRd2WFMEbFMeCmAZmvBC Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:10:59 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Al, you and dad changed the world of music.” Alex Van Halen shares video of a young Eddie Van Halen playing guitar ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/al-you-and-dad-changed-the-world-of-music-alex-van-halen-shares-video-of-a-young-eddie-van-halen-playing-guitar mRWTCsXCNbmx2gzYDArBuh Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:09:01 +0000 Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:11:01 +0000 <![CDATA[ “We’ve known him for a long time. He was one of the true best friends.” Alex Van Halen says he and Steve Lukather will work on a new album ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/alex-van-halen-says-he-and-steve-lukather-will-work-on-a-new-album YLFrcMyNcm8Gx2rLsQBH55 Fri, 02 Jan 2026 15:08:06 +0000 Fri, 02 Jan 2026 15:39:47 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Finally, no Sam versus Dave debates.” A new Van Halen album features Eddie, Alex and Wolfgang Van Halen playing classic tracks without a vocalist ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/music/new-van-halen-recordings-without-vocals-released uzCpCERvfqpJUpPCRUEnt8 Sat, 20 Dec 2025 15:33:39 +0000 Sun, 21 Dec 2025 03:45:45 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It was the worst show I've played in my life. I could not stop thinking: He's right there!” Jerry Cantrell on his friendship with Eddie Van Halen and how the rare guitar Ed gave him went missing ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/jerry-cantrell-on-his-friendship-with-eddie-van-halen mEobYrvitYF3cAcsBwx9nW Thu, 11 Dec 2025 23:08:29 +0000 Thu, 11 Dec 2025 23:09:34 +0000 <![CDATA[ “If you don’t hear that it’s a template for ‘Eruption,’ then you don’t have ears.” A veteran guitarist says Eddie Van Halen copied Ace Frehley. We dismantle the claim with one simple fact ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/veteran-guitarist-says-this-kiss-guitar-solo-was-eddie-van-halens-template-for-eruption 5Xmbb2imKLdrW7QraqqzNh Wed, 12 Nov 2025 17:49:42 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I called Eddie and Alex and said, ‘I’ve got some songs — you want to help me do these demos?’” Gene Simmons on the guitar solo Eddie Van Halen recorded for a Kiss hit— and Ace Frehley copied note for note ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/music/albums-singles/gene-simmons-had-ace-frehley-copy-an-eddie-van-halen-guitar-solo wj5nRpqSScTj2KA7QrbYZ Mon, 10 Nov 2025 14:16:01 +0000 Tue, 11 Nov 2025 15:10:21 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I said, ‘Ed, what are you doing!?’” Carl Verheyen on the time Eddie Van Halen one-upped his band with his own Gibson Les Paul — then nearly destroyed it ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/carl-verheyen-on-the-time-eddie-van-halen-borrowed-and-nearly-destroyed-his-les-paul sZhwGKJqtXSSt5cq2GMw9D Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:21:02 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I said, ‘I grew up on your ass. How can you do this?’” Eddie Van Halen had a legion of copyists. But when one of his idols began to steal his solos, he put a stop to it ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/eddie-van-halen-on-guitarists-that-copied-him LgfqaBNhpZNmwBgsUxk9v3 Thu, 23 Oct 2025 16:14:33 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I’ll have Frankenstein, my wife, and we’re good.” Wolfgang Van Halen says he kept Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstein in his car and ready to go at a moment's notice during the “doomsday” L.A. wildfires ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/wolfgang-van-halen-frankenstein-strat-la-wildfires 6q5vSXddRoSrEMqsSVEkrB Wed, 01 Oct 2025 20:35:06 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I said, ‘What happened?’ He said he just got really nervous. Crazy, considering his future.” Allen Hinds on Jeff Buckley’s guitar genius, and his “stupid” question to Jaco Pastorius ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/i-said-what-happened-he-said-he-just-got-really-nervous-crazy-considering-his-future-allen-hinds-on-jeff-buckleys-guitar-genius-and-his-stupid-question-to-jaco-pastorius QMUbyUfKUhFQUrHXSsb8Zf Fri, 26 Sep 2025 15:00:00 +0000 Tue, 30 Sep 2025 03:46:42 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Eddie ended up playing half the show with gloves with the fingertips cut out. It was the craziest thing ever.” Watch Eddie Van Halen perform in a blizzard as Sammy Hagar unearths never-seen video clip ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/van-halen-play-in-a-denver-blizzard-in-1995 SCJMcy2qmVPrKCFKy4a3Y8 Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:17:07 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He’s on fire, the real thing. I wish I could be like that.” Eric Clapton on the one guitarist who mastered the “difficult” art of modern blues. They’re no longer speaking ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/eric-clapton-on-the-one-artist-whos-mastered-the-difficult-art-of-modern-blues uRisPVHMnVCBMQsLv8bdh3 Thu, 18 Sep 2025 19:01:03 +0000 Thu, 18 Sep 2025 19:01:57 +0000 <![CDATA[ “My style evolved from me consciously trying to play bass and rhythm guitar at the same time” How Eddie Van Halen and Metallica's Kirk Hammett pushed Primus bassist Les Claypool to his musical destiny ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/les-claypool-on-eddie-van-halen-and-kirk-hammett gqzAcBKXHKon2bFbv3xghL Thu, 11 Sep 2025 16:26:33 +0000 Thu, 11 Sep 2025 17:01:53 +0000 <![CDATA[ “The next day, the phone rings, and it's David.” Steve Vai on accepting his most impossible guitar gig: playing Eddie Van Halen to David Lee Roth ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/steve-vai-on-playing-with-david-lee-roth-and-not-competing-with-eddie-van-halen NrfVS8C4aFofkpAP2U7H8Y Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:29:38 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It shows you what you can do with two chords”: Did Van Halen's Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love really start life as a parody of the Ramones? ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/michael-anthony-on-aint-talkin-bout-love-and-punk 2Mo3tgcCTzJeRr8cZBswYL Wed, 13 Aug 2025 13:44:49 +0000 Wed, 13 Aug 2025 13:44:58 +0000 <![CDATA[ “A true grail that connects TWO giants of heavy metal”? Eddie Van Halen’s 1982 Kramer expected to fetch $3 million at auction this fall ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitars/electric-guitars/eddie-van-halens-1982-kramer-auction cuDURDXuReQejjWMguw2yF Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:57:24 +0000 Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:57:33 +0000 <![CDATA[ PRS are working on a Dumble-inspired amp that will make you "slack-jawed" says Mark Tremonti, as he reveals an unexpected Alter Bridge-Van Halen connection ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/mark-treminti-on-falling-in-love-with-dumble-amps-and-eddie-van-halen G9SayfpJnNtMff5dfUjB4a Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “He would play the part with all these nuances and squeals. On its own, it was perfect.” Why didn't Eddie Van Halen double-track his guitars? Recording engineer Ross Hogarth explains how he worked with the virtuoso ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitars/steve-hogarth-on-recording-van-halens-a-different-kind-of-truth BcXBu5Z4aHdTDxmT2yCqtZ Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:26:27 +0000 <![CDATA[ “A solo is to highlight the song, not to show off.” Eddie Van Halen's comments against shredding come to light in a previously unheard interview ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/eddie-and-wolfgang-van-halen-on-guitar-solos egWbHktULxiT2QNqbEvbfd Thu, 24 Jul 2025 12:02:51 +0000 Thu, 24 Jul 2025 12:03:10 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I'm either wishing I had this back in the White Stripes, or I am glad I didn’t.” Jack White introduces his weirdest guitar yet, created by Eddie Van Halen's luthier ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/jack-white-ugly-stick-guitar 2g5C75wwQ33SkjyktzyywJ Tue, 22 Jul 2025 16:10:37 +0000 Tue, 22 Jul 2025 17:25:22 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It was just as good, if not better, than Pete Townshend.” Eddie Van Halen could play this Who album note for note says Michael Anthony ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/music/albums-singles/the-gest-who-album-according-to-eddie-van-halen-and-joe-satriani GhgspXBGHtutm4S2bYiaoX Sat, 19 Jul 2025 13:25:24 +0000 Sat, 19 Jul 2025 13:29:20 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Respect was a huge thing. If you disrespected him, he held onto that for a very long time.” Eddie Van Halen was "a pretty complex person" says his longtime friend and biographer ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/steven-rosen-on-disrespecting-eddie-van-halen XgQPJn396ZRsNTijH4Dwjc Wed, 16 Jul 2025 18:38:03 +0000 Wed, 16 Jul 2025 18:38:43 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I said, 'If you don’t like what we do, I’ll just destroy it in front of you.'" Eddie Van Halen shot down a film soundtrack near the end of his life, saying he hadn't been playing much ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/eddie-van-halen-nearly-played-on-the-john-wick-soundtrack GEdU9JyWdT789JXu8BaDt7 Tue, 01 Jul 2025 18:15:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “When I first heard Van Halen’s version of ‘You Really Got Me,’ I laughed. It really misses the point of the whole meaning of the song.” Dave Davies on Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page and the Kinks’ power revolution ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/when-i-first-heard-van-halens-version-of-you-really-got-me-i-laughed-it-really-misses-the-point-of-the-whole-meaning-of-the-song-dave-davies-on-eddie-van-halen-jimmy-page-and-the-kinks-power-revolution AEMrSm9YTpJx8SFkfNQcqG Wed, 25 Jun 2025 11:42:34 +0000 Mon, 24 Nov 2025 17:00:40 +0000 <![CDATA[ "There were a couple of guys there listening at the door, and they wanted to hear what Ed played.“ Michael Anthony reveals David Lee Roth's career-saving advice to Eddie Van Halen during Van Halen's early days ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/david-lee-roth-advice-to-eddie-van-halen G9yHrdELGkPmuELkwP2fK6 Mon, 16 Jun 2025 11:50:51 +0000 Mon, 16 Jun 2025 11:55:52 +0000 <![CDATA[ “If he was that tuned into me and missed that point, then he missed the whole point.” Eric Clapton on the one thing Eddie Van Halen didn’t understand about playing the blues ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/the-interview-that-ended-eddie-van-halen-eric-clapton-friendship BVHorbZQRkHDjeFp7D3w8f Sat, 14 Jun 2025 16:15:33 +0000 Wed, 16 Jul 2025 17:46:18 +0000 <![CDATA[ “I’m going, ‘Cello? Dude, I’m ready to write a song with you on cello!’” Sammy Hagar says Eddie Van Halen was preoccupied with the classical instrument when he died ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/sammy-hagar-on-evh-playing-cello-and-calling-on-wolfgang-to-play-a-show-together Zv7AYGaJgLWVT6D9isNVvT Fri, 06 Jun 2025 18:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Since we don’t have a time machine, this is our best chance to solve a decades-long mystery.” Gibson launches hunt for the 'Back to the Future' guitar that inspired John Mayer and Coldplay's Chris Martin ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitars/back-to-the-future-guitar-search nFn9eTyH7bw625dPWZFsM5 Tue, 03 Jun 2025 17:58:25 +0000 Tue, 03 Jun 2025 18:05:49 +0000 <![CDATA[ Rick Derringer, famous for "Hang on Sloopy" and "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo," has died. Read our exclusive 2024 interview where he recalled inspiring Eddie Van Halen and performing with Johnny Winter ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/rick-derringer-rip-read-guitar-player-interview na8fChxUN9A6XA7sug2oWK Tue, 27 May 2025 17:10:42 +0000 Wed, 28 May 2025 00:05:41 +0000 <![CDATA[ "He played us a demo of this song. And we were looking at each other going, ‘So you're going to add guitars?’" Eddie Van Halen was looking for a change as he tried to abandon Van Halen and guitars in 1983 ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/gene-simmons-that-time-eddie-van-halen-tried-to-join-kiss thRYFnQh2qBEQBCtLFx8vE Sun, 25 May 2025 13:42:29 +0000 Sun, 25 May 2025 13:48:49 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Eddie said, 'If he's playing, I'm not.'" Yngwie Malmsteen says Eddie Van Halen listened to his music all the time but ran from him every chance he got ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/yngwie-malmsteen-on-eddie-van-halen-being-threatened-by-him Bkczij3xNEEa4PcbRiLeKm Thu, 08 May 2025 16:30:54 +0000 <![CDATA[ “There was no spare, and Edward didn't have another amp. He said, 'You gotta cover me!'" Eddie Van Halen's former guitar tech recalls the virtuoso's disastrous guitar battle before a packed NAMM show crowd ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/eddie-van-halen-michael-winslow-jam-1987 8FXYfQcudQ2NYRJbX7NHWN Wed, 07 May 2025 08:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ “It always comes through me. I'm the spark plug and the engine.” Eddie Van Halen talks tapping, “Eruption” — and why the weight of the band rested on his shoulders ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/eddie-van-halen-tapping-documentary 6EHah4a3JyrPo5kCu9mpzA Tue, 06 May 2025 18:00:39 +0000 <![CDATA[ "He had used that guitar neck up. He did everything and anything that neck could do.” Sammy Hagar claims he made Eddie Van Halen a better musician and says the guitarist "dried up" in the 2000s ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/sammy-hagar-on-making-eddie-van-halen-a-better-musician 8QzMtQeZ4UjxS2jBWFwYSA Thu, 01 May 2025 08:00:00 +0000 <![CDATA[ Sammy Hagar says his new single was co-written with Eddie Van Halen “from beyond”, over a year after he died ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/sammy-hagar-on-dreaming-of-eddie-van-halen-and-talks-of-one-final-tour pJ9eN62r29mQEbjq2qf46g Fri, 25 Apr 2025 15:31:16 +0000 Sat, 26 Apr 2025 12:56:42 +0000 <![CDATA[ “Make sure I’m dead.” Eddie Van Halen’s former wife Valerie Bertinelli hopes a Van Halen biopic never happens. Alex Van Halen has other plans ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/valerie-bertinelli-on-van-halen-biopic f9ggsu6m9dbxZjC7PiuDpJ Wed, 16 Apr 2025 16:00:58 +0000 <![CDATA[ "Ed said, ‘Did he say to you that he likes the high notes?’" Steve Stevens recalled Eddie Van Halen's hilarious comment about Michael Jackson after Stevens' own work with the King of Pop ]]> https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/steve-stevens-on-eddie-van-halen-and-michael-jackson NM383KKRhm2B9BisH46JPn Tue, 25 Mar 2025 17:48:12 +0000 Tue, 22 Apr 2025 08:19:23 +0000