Members bsman Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 I never did care for Van Halen very much. Perhaps the whole dumbass party-boy vibe they personified killed it for me, but at any rate I'm only now really listening to his stuff. That said, I still can't stand the stupid lyrics and their videos make me slightly ill... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hudman Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 Guys in their 20's and early 30's have no idea how big Eddie was after the first Van Halen album. He blew everyone away because there was nothing like it before. His tone and skill caught the attention of players and non players alike. His impact on young players in the late '70's and '80's was huge. He influenced a generation of players. I can only think of 2 other players with the type of impact Eddie has had: Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. People in this thread keep using past tense - "Eddie was" - The guy still is one of the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grantus Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 Jack White is the greatest guitar player who ever lived. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Meowy Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 I can only think of 2 other players with the type of impact Eddie has had: Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. And it just so happens that Eddie cites them as his two biggest influences Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steve_man Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 NO... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hudman Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 I never did care for Van Halen very much. Perhaps the whole dumbass party-boy vibe they personified killed it for me, but at any rate I'm only now really listening to his stuff. That said, I still can't stand the stupid lyrics and their videos make me slightly ill... It sounds like you are talking more about the band and not Eddie as a musician. I agree, the band Van Halen will never be known for songs with well crafted messages. They were always a party band. Eddie is the only reason why I am a Van Halen fan. His playing makes the band for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Russian Hammer Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hudman Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 And it just so happens that Eddie cites them as his two biggest influences Yeah, I read that a few times. I voted YES in the poll just because I thought the vote YES or vote YES option was funny. In all seriousness, I'm the kind of guy that has trouble picking a single favorite anything or declaring something the best. Hell, I don't even have a favorite color or a favorite food. With that said, EVH is definitely one of my all-time favorite players. I consider him to be one of the greatest ever. Hendrix, Clapton, Beck, SRV, Page, Rhoads, EVH, Satch, Gilmour, Yngwie and Lynch are my Top 10.......the order can change by the hour or day depending on who I listened to most recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bsman Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 It sounds like you are talking more about the band and not Eddie as a musician. Absolutely correct. The band Van Halen personified everything I detested at that point in my life, so as a result EVH had absolutely no influence on me. As I indicated, it is only now that I am rediscovering some of his stuff, but I still can't stand the fluffy bull{censored} in which much of it is wrapped... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EvilMinstrel Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 Not even remotely. He put out about 4 records of good material, then his solo work went down the {censored}ter when he tried to sound like Allan Holdsworth but couldn't. I would say he is somewhere floating around the top 50, but that's a bout it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LesPaulFetish Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 I gotta put him on the short list along with Page, Clapton, and Hendrix in terms of influence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dlxrev Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 I think EVH is a great guitar player and was influential beyond a doubt. However, to consider him the best would be to discount Jimi Hendrix who had even more influence on guitarists. I think VH's influence was really only one generation of players whereas Hendrix is in the 4th generation and counting. So, my vote is Hendrix as the greatest rock guitarist. However it is all subjective, which I guess is the beauty of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Uma Floresta Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 He's certainly in the top 200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members scolfax Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 I think EVH is a great guitar player and was influential beyond a doubt. However, to consider him the best would be to discount Jimi Hendrix who had even more influence on guitarists. I think VH's influence was really only one generation of players whereas Hendrix is in the 4th generation and counting. Excellent point! But surely it's more than one generation for EVH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaleH Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 Not even close. He may make it into the top 10 that are still above ground though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jtr654 Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 No but very good and copied beyond belief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Belva Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 He's good at doing Van Halen songs but not much else. I think he's entirely too one dimensional to even be in the top 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wagdog Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 Jeff Beck definately greatest guitarist, but he does so much more than rock. As far as a true rock guitarist, Angus Young gets that one in my book... Angus is #2, right behind Chuck Berry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dave_Mc_2 Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 Excellent point! But surely it's more than one generation for EVH. +1. he's still influencing plenty of people. also i mean it's hardly fair to criticise him for influencing one fewer generation than hendrix when hendrix was one generation older than him. that's a bit like saying dickens has influenced more people than thomas hardy. no {censored}, he was born 30 years earlier EDIT: just to clarify, I love hendrix too. I'd certainly have hendrix in my top 5 (if not top 1 or 2). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Willyguitar Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 No. For one thing he communicates NOTHING with his music. In fact, how could he? But anyway, sorry Dave, I like you and all, but no. No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EvilMinstrel Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 No. For one thing he communicates NOTHING with his music. In fact, how could he? But anyway, sorry Dave, I like you and all, but no. No. This is a good point. His solos really aren't communicative. They don't bring any emotion to the table. They are pretty much just gonzo wankfests. His rhythm is much more important than his soloing though, and his rhythm is incredibly tasty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members genesis3 Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 Is it official yet? These threads are so helpful 'cause they let us know the order of things. Thanks interwebz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dave_Mc_2 Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 i don't see how you can claim there's no emotion in eddie's solos. his solos are awesome. his vibrato is killer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BeanoBoy Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 These days he's not even in my top ten. Initially though, I was definitely gassed by Ed. He had a huge influence, for better or worse. Seeing VH at Madison Square Garden just for the Roth-Ed reunion curiousity and to keep my daughter and boyfriend company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members electrotar Posted January 18, 2012 Members Share Posted January 18, 2012 IMO greatest entertaining rock guitarist to ever live.Greatest rock thats disputable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.