The late Eddie Van Halen offered a wealth of unique perspectives on some of the top figures in the music business.
The Amsterdam native enjoyed keeping followers on their toes by being extremely critical of himself and offering conflicting stories of icons.
The guitarist for Van Halen had every right to express such a wide range of viewpoints because, after all, he was one of the most influential people to ever pick up a six-string.
Eddie Van Halen wowed audiences with his scorching talent, which was a major factor in his band’s success.
With numerous recordings showcasing his prowess, he popularized guitar playing techniques that are now commonplace, such as string tapping and dive bombs on his whammy bar.
Even David Gilmour, the resident guitar hero of Pink Floyd, listed Van Halen as the guitarist he wanted he could play like because of how amazing he was at what he did. The British performer elucidated:
“I can’t play like Eddie Van Halen. I wish I could. I sat down to try some of those ideas, and I can’t do it. I don’t know if I could ever get any of that stuff together. Sometimes I think I should work at the guitar more. I play every day but I don’t consciously practice scales or anything in particular.”
Therefore, it seems sense that Eddie Van Halen felt at ease discussing his ideas with the public. He had the chutzpah to call Jimi Hendrix, arguably the most influential guitarist in rock music history, “sloppy” because he was so comfortable with himself.
In addition to going against the norm, this narrative is also hotly disputed because, for the most part, Hendrix is acclaimed for his technical mastery and accuracy.
Van Halen was no stranger to controversy, although his opinions were generally well-liked. They demonstrated the wisdom that only the real greats possess since they have a natural ear for music and the uncommon experience of performing at the very top of their game.
His claim that the late Jeff Porcaro was “one of the best drummers in the world” is one of his points that the majority of people can support.
Porcaro tragically passed prematurely at the age of 38 from a heart attack in August 1992, yet even at that young age, he had already left behind a huge legacy.
Porcaro is most known for being a founding member of the renowned Los Angeles band Toto and for being one of the most widely used session musicians in history, contributing to thousands of recordings throughout the course of his career.
One of Porcaro’s most lauded accomplishments is his work on Steely Dan’s 1975 album, Katy Lied, which established him as one of the best session drummers of the 1970s.
One of Porcaro’s most lauded accomplishments is his work on Steely Dan’s 1975 album, Katy Lied, which established him as one of the best session drummers of the 1970s. Despite all the odds, his work on the same band’s song “Gaucho” later in 1980 is often regarded as his best work.
Eddie said, “He was one of the best drummers in the world, Definitely the groove master. He was just so heavy.”
