Eddie Van Halen “I've tried to avoid playing like Eddie. I've never learned the songs on purpose so I didn't steal anything. Then I had to learn the songs – I was like, ‘This is gonna be torture’”: Joe Satriani on his preparations for this summer's Van Halen tribute tour Satch is intensely studying the intricacies of the late guitar hero's technical quirks and tone, while trying to avoid outright mimicry. The fine line between paying tribute and copying is an act of needle-threading the virtuoso says he also faced during his tenure in Deep Purple “Eddie Van Halen had me play his 5150 guitar, and then he asked me to show the solo to him, because he’d forgotten it”: Jennifer Batten recalls re-teaching EVH the Beat It solo “Not the most relaxed situation for me,” the former Michael Jackson guitarist told GP in a 1989 interview "I showed Eddie Van Halen some of what I had to learn in order to pull off Frank’s music... Eddie said, 'Who would've thought that you'd be giving me a guitar lesson!': How Dweezil Zappa took EVH inside his father's playing, and left him in awe In this vintage GP interview, Dweezil also reflected on the idiosyncratic nature of his father's soloing, and how the elder Zappa worked around his technical limitations Latest Eddie Van Halen The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Van Halen Gear Surfaces in Historical New York Auction By Guitar Player Staff last updated 30 June 21 See this stunning collection unearthed from the vaults of rock history. Watch Rare Studio Footage of Eddie Van Halen Playing the "Amsterdam" Riff Years Before its Release By Jackson Maxwell last updated 25 June 21 The previously unreleased video shows EVH testing out the riff for the 'Balance' tune at 5150 Studios in the mid-80s. An Eddie Van Halen-Signed Kramer Paul Dean Guitar is Up for Sale By Jackson Maxwell published 16 June 21 The guitar was gifted by Eddie in 1988 to Tom Weber, a man who would – 19 years later – become his guitar tech. Five Autographed, Stage-Played Eddie Van Halen Charvel Art Series Guitars Sell at Auction for Combined $210,000 By Jackson Maxwell published 14 June 21 The lot included the last of the Art Series guitars, played onstage in May 2012. Eddie Van Halen Thought the First Van Halen Album "Sounded Like Shit," According to Wolfgang By Jackson Maxwell published 8 June 21 Eddie, it turns out, thought much higher of the tones he created with his own 5150 designs than those he made with his '68 Marshall Super Lead. Steve Lukather: It Bothered Eddie Van Halen that Guitarists "Turned the Guitar Into More of a Sport" in His Wake By Jackson Maxwell published 7 June 21 According to Lukather, when "intense uber-shredding" became trendy, "Ed was sitting there going, ‘I created a monster, fuck!’” Hear Eddie Van Halen Play Clapton's "Crossroads" Solos By Christopher Scapelliti published 28 May 21 The man who redefined virtuoso guitar soloing tips his cap to one of his great influences. An Eddie Van Halen-Signed and Played Charvel EVH Art Series Guitar is Headed to Auction By Jackson Maxwell published 11 May 21 Eddie used the guitar – a tribute to his iconic "Bumblebee" model – onstage at a 2012 Van Halen show in Tacoma, Washington. Watch George Lynch Salute Eddie Van Halen – on a Les Paul By Jackson Maxwell published 6 May 21 Lynch jammed on "Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love" during a recent appearance at the Dallas International Guitar Festival. Watch Nancy Wilson Give a Porch-Side Performance of "4 Edward," Her Tribute to Eddie Van Halen By Jackson Maxwell published 26 April 21 The heartfelt acoustic instrumental closes her debut solo album, 'You and Me.' 123456789Archives Get The Pick NewsletterAll the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors MOST READ1How Robin Trower crafted his blistering tonal triumph, Day of the Eagle2Gary Clark Jr. never asked to be a guitar savior 3Best Travel Guitars 2024: Top Portable Instruments From Lowden, Furch, Martin and more4“‘Those old Beatle bashers?’”: Paul McCartney talks Vox amps, and his love of dirty tones5“I was 17 years old and found it in this local paper. It said, ‘Gretsch guitar, 100 bucks.’ I called the guy up and asked, ‘Is it like Eddie Cochran’s?’ He was like, ‘Who?’”: How Brian Setzer forged his trademark twanging tone
The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Van Halen Gear Surfaces in Historical New York Auction By Guitar Player Staff last updated 30 June 21 See this stunning collection unearthed from the vaults of rock history.
Watch Rare Studio Footage of Eddie Van Halen Playing the "Amsterdam" Riff Years Before its Release By Jackson Maxwell last updated 25 June 21 The previously unreleased video shows EVH testing out the riff for the 'Balance' tune at 5150 Studios in the mid-80s.
An Eddie Van Halen-Signed Kramer Paul Dean Guitar is Up for Sale By Jackson Maxwell published 16 June 21 The guitar was gifted by Eddie in 1988 to Tom Weber, a man who would – 19 years later – become his guitar tech.
Five Autographed, Stage-Played Eddie Van Halen Charvel Art Series Guitars Sell at Auction for Combined $210,000 By Jackson Maxwell published 14 June 21 The lot included the last of the Art Series guitars, played onstage in May 2012.
Eddie Van Halen Thought the First Van Halen Album "Sounded Like Shit," According to Wolfgang By Jackson Maxwell published 8 June 21 Eddie, it turns out, thought much higher of the tones he created with his own 5150 designs than those he made with his '68 Marshall Super Lead.
Steve Lukather: It Bothered Eddie Van Halen that Guitarists "Turned the Guitar Into More of a Sport" in His Wake By Jackson Maxwell published 7 June 21 According to Lukather, when "intense uber-shredding" became trendy, "Ed was sitting there going, ‘I created a monster, fuck!’”
Hear Eddie Van Halen Play Clapton's "Crossroads" Solos By Christopher Scapelliti published 28 May 21 The man who redefined virtuoso guitar soloing tips his cap to one of his great influences.
An Eddie Van Halen-Signed and Played Charvel EVH Art Series Guitar is Headed to Auction By Jackson Maxwell published 11 May 21 Eddie used the guitar – a tribute to his iconic "Bumblebee" model – onstage at a 2012 Van Halen show in Tacoma, Washington.
Watch George Lynch Salute Eddie Van Halen – on a Les Paul By Jackson Maxwell published 6 May 21 Lynch jammed on "Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love" during a recent appearance at the Dallas International Guitar Festival.
Watch Nancy Wilson Give a Porch-Side Performance of "4 Edward," Her Tribute to Eddie Van Halen By Jackson Maxwell published 26 April 21 The heartfelt acoustic instrumental closes her debut solo album, 'You and Me.'