Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Hero Worship part V - Eddie Van Halen


OK, I was tempted to put one of the many unflattering pics of this guy up but I decided to be kind. I regard this as giving the devil his due. It is my firm conviction that this guy hasn't played a single note worth listening to since he fired David Lee Roth. With Dave the band consistently rocked and could do no wrong. Ever since they've gone from pop pathetic to pablum puke. Why can't this be love? Because it sucks, that's why. OK, 'nuff said about the forgettable songwriting. On to the guitar playing. You have to give it to the guy. When Eddie came on the scene he was following the likes of Hendrix, Beck, Page, Iommi, Blackmore and Clapton; not an easy lot to follow on. Yet he did it with attitude and style. His two handed technique was so unusual at the time that I've heard he would play with his back to the audience so no one could see what he was doing. If so it was with good reason. If Hendrix was the greatest innovator on the electric guitar since Les Paul invented the thing then this guy surely took it the next step. Only Hendrix and Page inspired more imitators and in the three decades since he probably has more than both of them combined by now. As I write these I realize I should be a lot more technical in my descriptions and specific in my citations but to hell with it. They're my heroes. I'll worship them anyway I want. I should mention that Eddie has another point in his favor: He's sober unlike so many of his contemporaries. He'll probably outlive most of them as a result. However in the minus column he married Valerie Bertinelli. At the time I thought she was the prize of the century. I've since come around to be a more MacKenzie Philips type of guy. I'll say this much: Dave was a lot better after Van Halen than Van Halen was after Dave no matter WHAT the money said.

6 comments:

lime said...

dude, i only take issue with one thing you said here.....mackenzie phillips?????

jillie said...

I was SOOOOOOOO in lust (or love) with Eddie Van Halen in the late 70's early 80's. When they turned into "Van Haggar" well....I have no use for their lack of talent. I so agree....they turned pop. Great blog!

Anonymous said...

I'm so dumb about technics and style into guitar playing... but for sure I agree... David Lee Roth was 'the' band.. ;-)
BTW... Happy New Year!

Dallas Meow said...

having spent many a year wishing I looked like bertinelli.....
hmmmm, do not recall who mackenzie phillips is -
will NEVER forget either Eddie or Dave
yum

AndyT13 said...

Update: Eddie and Val are divorced and Eddie's reportedly whacked out on alcohol and crystal meth which would certainly explain his corps-like look and insane demeanor lately. Whatever, good luck Ed. You need it.

Winterswan said...

I too was in love with Eddie back in the day; I thought his guitar playing rocked and he was just so cute...I hope he can get off that stuff. As far as Valerie, she still looks pretty damned good; I think she just got tired of all of the crazy alchy behavior.