[BostonCard]

I realize it is not Stanford-related or even sports related, but we do occasionally venture into music on this board, and man it seems like cultural icons are dropping like flies these days.  Van Halen had cancer, so I don't think it was a shocking death.  Still, he was only 65.

BC

[BostonCard]

I realize it is not Stanford-related or even sports related, but we do occasionally venture into music on this board, and man it seems like cultural icons are dropping like flies these days.  Van Halen had cancer, so I don't think it was a shocking death.  Still, he was only 65.

BC

[PVTree]

With throat cancer, he was Livin' on a Prayer!

Enjoyed his music. One of the bands on my list of bands I haven't seen that I want to see.

[PVTree]

With throat cancer, he was Livin' on a Prayer!

Enjoyed his music. One of the bands on my list of bands I haven't seen that I want to see.

[Papa John]

With throat cancer, he was Livin' on a Prayer!

Um, you do know that Livin' on a Prayer is a Bon Jovi song? And that's not really funny anyways, IMO.

As a middling guitarist, I listened many times in my youth to Eruption, just fantasizing that I might someday approach EVH's virtuosity.

[Papa John]

With throat cancer, he was Livin' on a Prayer!

Um, you do know that Livin' on a Prayer is a Bon Jovi song? And that's not really funny anyways, IMO.

As a middling guitarist, I listened many times in my youth to Eruption, just fantasizing that I might someday approach EVH's virtuosity.

[OutsiderFan]

So does this thread devolve into the inevitable who was better, David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar Van Halen?

Eddie Van Halen seems to me to have been the first sort of rock 'n' roll guitar showman. There have been many great guitar players, but what made Eddie VH an icon was his flamboyance. Louis Armstrong once said they key to being a great musician is that you have the ability to create a sound that makes everyone who listens know it is you.

You know when you are listening to a Miles Davis song for the first time. You know when you are listening to Eddie Van Halen play guitar. Eruption - intro to Girl, you really got me (covered from The Kinks). Whenever I think of Eddie Van Halen, I hear this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCwigPhpiXs

[OutsiderFan]

So does this thread devolve into the inevitable who was better, David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar Van Halen?

Eddie Van Halen seems to me to have been the first sort of rock 'n' roll guitar showman. There have been many great guitar players, but what made Eddie VH an icon was his flamboyance. Louis Armstrong once said they key to being a great musician is that you have the ability to create a sound that makes everyone who listens know it is you.

You know when you are listening to a Miles Davis song for the first time. You know when you are listening to Eddie Van Halen play guitar. Eruption - intro to Girl, you really got me (covered from The Kinks). Whenever I think of Eddie Van Halen, I hear this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCwigPhpiXs

[Papa John]

OF, I listened to Van Halen for Eddie's guitar, so I didn't really care who sang the vocals. But that's just me. I know that others had strong opinions re: who was lead singer.

[Papa John]

OF, I listened to Van Halen for Eddie's guitar, so I didn't really care who sang the vocals. But that's just me. I know that others had strong opinions re: who was lead singer.

[Mick]

So does this thread devolve into the inevitable who was better, David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar Van Halen?

No devolution, and no argument.  It's Van Halen, not Van Hagar.  Sammy Hagar is the palest of pale imitations.  David Lee Roth rules.

Loved Panama, Jump and Hot For Teacher. But I reaaaaaally liked...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDsKGyu0F98

[Mick]

So does this thread devolve into the inevitable who was better, David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar Van Halen?

No devolution, and no argument.  It's Van Halen, not Van Hagar.  Sammy Hagar is the palest of pale imitations.  David Lee Roth rules.

Loved Panama, Jump and Hot For Teacher. But I reaaaaaally liked...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDsKGyu0F98

[slide]

OF -- on showman guitarists, I'd probably start with Chuck Berry.  he seemed to have created/defined the genre.

[slide]

OF -- on showman guitarists, I'd probably start with Chuck Berry.  he seemed to have created/defined the genre.

[newguy]

in my opinion, the greatest guitarist who ever played, after hendrix.

[newguy]

in my opinion, the greatest guitarist who ever played, after hendrix.

[BostonCard]

Don't forget Eddy Van Halen's uncredited guitar in Michael Jackson's "Beat It".  He apparently had an agreement with the rest of Van Halen not to do any side gigs, so when Quincy Jones reached out to him, he agreed to do it on condition that no one find out.  So, he asked that his guitar go uncredited, he didn't want to be paid, so he did it for a case of beer, and all he asked for in return was for Jackson to teach him how to dance sometime.  Van Halen evidently rearranged the song while Jackson was busy doing something else.  He recorded his guitar in a single take.

There's a story (may be apocryphal) that Van Halen was at Tower Records.  "Beat It" was playing on the store in the store and as the guitar solo comes on, Van Halen overhears a couple of guys saying something like "Listen to this guy rip off Eddie Van Halen's sound" and Van Halen goes up to the guy who said it and tells him, that it was Van Halen on the solo.

Anyways, here's Michael Jackson and Eddie Van Halen in Beat It.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdxUFDoQe0

BC

[BostonCard]

Don't forget Eddy Van Halen's uncredited guitar in Michael Jackson's "Beat It".  He apparently had an agreement with the rest of Van Halen not to do any side gigs, so when Quincy Jones reached out to him, he agreed to do it on condition that no one find out.  So, he asked that his guitar go uncredited, he didn't want to be paid, so he did it for a case of beer, and all he asked for in return was for Jackson to teach him how to dance sometime.  Van Halen evidently rearranged the song while Jackson was busy doing something else.  He recorded his guitar in a single take.

There's a story (may be apocryphal) that Van Halen was at Tower Records.  "Beat It" was playing on the store in the store and as the guitar solo comes on, Van Halen overhears a couple of guys saying something like "Listen to this guy rip off Eddie Van Halen's sound" and Van Halen goes up to the guy who said it and tells him, that it was Van Halen on the solo.

Anyways, here's Michael Jackson and Eddie Van Halen in Beat It.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdxUFDoQe0

BC

[Mick]

Prince is pretty good too.  At least Eric Clapton claimed in an interview that he was... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efhlDbZ4SmY

[Mick]

Prince is pretty good too.  At least Eric Clapton claimed in an interview that he was... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efhlDbZ4SmY

[Spiny_Norman]

My friend Julian here in LA grew up in Pasadena with the Van Halens and David Lee Roth. In fact, the first big house concert that Van Halen played was at Julian's house. He had been friends with Edward since 7th grade, over 50 years.

They stayed in touch and EVH offered regular support through Julian's own cancer diagnosis and treatment. While the music world mourns, Julian is really hurting from losing a good friend. For Julian, EVH's memory will always be a blessing.

[Spiny_Norman]

My friend Julian here in LA grew up in Pasadena with the Van Halens and David Lee Roth. In fact, the first big house concert that Van Halen played was at Julian's house. He had been friends with Edward since 7th grade, over 50 years.

They stayed in touch and EVH offered regular support through Julian's own cancer diagnosis and treatment. While the music world mourns, Julian is really hurting from losing a good friend. For Julian, EVH's memory will always be a blessing.

[teejers1]

My friend Julian here in LA grew up in Pasadena with the Van Halens and David Lee Roth. In fact, the first big house concert that Van Halen played was at Julian's house. He had been friends with Edward since 7th grade, over 50 years.

They stayed in touch and EVH offered regular support through Julian's own cancer diagnosis and treatment. While the music world mourns, Julian is really hurting from losing a good friend. For Julian, EVH's memory will always be a blessing.

Thanks to all for the EVH tributes and the videos of incredibly talented guitarists.  Wow.

[teejers1]

My friend Julian here in LA grew up in Pasadena with the Van Halens and David Lee Roth. In fact, the first big house concert that Van Halen played was at Julian's house. He had been friends with Edward since 7th grade, over 50 years.

They stayed in touch and EVH offered regular support through Julian's own cancer diagnosis and treatment. While the music world mourns, Julian is really hurting from losing a good friend. For Julian, EVH's memory will always be a blessing.

Thanks to all for the EVH tributes and the videos of incredibly talented guitarists.  Wow.

[OutsiderFan]

Had to laugh yesterday morning listening to the CBS radio news. The narrator read story about EVH's passing, touting him as the renowned guitar master he was, and what song was playing in the background? Jump! AYFKM!?!?! They even played a synthesizer part! I'm like, how the hell do you do a story on EVH passing and not play a guitar riff??!?!!?

[OutsiderFan]

Had to laugh yesterday morning listening to the CBS radio news. The narrator read story about EVH's passing, touting him as the renowned guitar master he was, and what song was playing in the background? Jump! AYFKM!?!?! They even played a synthesizer part! I'm like, how the hell do you do a story on EVH passing and not play a guitar riff??!?!!?

[lex24]

Prince is pretty good too.  At least Eric Clapton claimed in an interview that he was... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efhlDbZ4SmY

Prince was an incredible musician.

---

And then there was Jerry. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NI5pnVTwO5U

There was nothing like a Grateful Dead concert, although this is from Jerry Garcia Band. And if you never heard Old and in the Way, check them out. Jerry on Banjo. David Grisman on Mandolin. John Hartford and Vassar Clements on fiddle. Great bluegrass.

[lex24]

Prince is pretty good too.  At least Eric Clapton claimed in an interview that he was... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efhlDbZ4SmY

Prince was an incredible musician.

---

And then there was Jerry. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NI5pnVTwO5U

There was nothing like a Grateful Dead concert, although this is from Jerry Garcia Band. And if you never heard Old and in the Way, check them out. Jerry on Banjo. David Grisman on Mandolin. John Hartford and Vassar Clements on fiddle. Great bluegrass.

[Mick]

Eddie Van Halen's guitar influences:  Les Paul & Leo Fender.  Eric Clapton "at the top of my list."  Page, Beck, Townshend.  Hendrix, not so much.  Peter Green "who's more Clapton than Clapton himself."  Angus Young's vibrato "AC/DC has one song, but it's a hell of a song."  Richie Blackmore, Smoke on the Water.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music...s-1071780/

[Mick]

Eddie Van Halen's guitar influences:  Les Paul & Leo Fender.  Eric Clapton "at the top of my list."  Page, Beck, Townshend.  Hendrix, not so much.  Peter Green "who's more Clapton than Clapton himself."  Angus Young's vibrato "AC/DC has one song, but it's a hell of a song."  Richie Blackmore, Smoke on the Water.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music...s-1071780/

[lex24]

Speaking of Bluegrass. If you ever get the chance to see “The Infamous Stringdusters” do it.  Saw them a couple times at The Filmore. Great stuff. (Skip the ad)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2qWhBkLe6Q

---

And someone has to add BB. Here with John Mayer. Who is a monster on the guitar

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f6dnI1WsFrA

[lex24]

Speaking of Bluegrass. If you ever get the chance to see “The Infamous Stringdusters” do it.  Saw them a couple times at The Filmore. Great stuff. (Skip the ad)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H2qWhBkLe6Q

---

And someone has to add BB. Here with John Mayer. Who is a monster on the guitar

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f6dnI1WsFrA

[Mick]

Jack White, Jimmy Page and The Edge in "It Might Get Loud."  Well worth a watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3LpxAce..._gRtAcvFx6

Where Kashmir came from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgnSymDG...x6&index=7

Where Seven Nation Army came from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liNSvgaM...x6&index=4

I Will Follow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ELpJqa4PaY

[Mick]

Jack White, Jimmy Page and The Edge in "It Might Get Loud."  Well worth a watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3LpxAce..._gRtAcvFx6

Where Kashmir came from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgnSymDG...x6&index=7

Where Seven Nation Army came from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liNSvgaM...x6&index=4

I Will Follow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ELpJqa4PaY

[JJJ]

As a middling guitarist, I listened many times in my youth to Eruption, just fantasizing that I might someday approach EVH's virtuosity.

“Middling guitarist” my a$$. You guys should hear Papa John shred and croon. Real treat.

[JJJ]

As a middling guitarist, I listened many times in my youth to Eruption, just fantasizing that I might someday approach EVH's virtuosity.

“Middling guitarist” my a$$. You guys should hear Papa John shred and croon. Real treat.

[OutsiderFan]

As someone who has seen It Might Get Loud, I fully endorse.

[OutsiderFan]

As someone who has seen It Might Get Loud, I fully endorse.

[winflop]

Took my older son to see Van Halen in 2012, his first concert. On the way out he says "Dad, I didn't know you could do THAT with an electric guitar."

And Van Halen >>>>> Van Hagar and it's not even close.

[winflop]

Took my older son to see Van Halen in 2012, his first concert. On the way out he says "Dad, I didn't know you could do THAT with an electric guitar."

And Van Halen >>>>> Van Hagar and it's not even close.