Was Eddie Van Halen the most innovative guitarist in rock music history?
What are some of the most commonly asked questions of all time? You may think of the likes of, “Why are we here?”, “What is our purpose?”, “Where do we go?” and you can be credited for your approach towards the bigger picture. However, a much more important question that should be pondered over just as much as the most outlandish philosophical issues is: Who is the best guitarist of all time?
Very similar to a lot of philosophical questions, there is no correct answer, only different ways to approach the question. What do we mean by best? Is it who was the best at writing songs on the guitar? The best at soloing? The person who did the most to bring the guitar to the forefront of our minds? All of these are valid points; therefore, it’s pretty challenging to have a definitive answer, but let’s argue for the sake of it.
One of the tell-tale signs of a good guitarist is someone who gives the audience something they didn’t know they wanted. It’s one thing to do what people expect to a high standard, but doing something that they didn’t know was previously possible is what separates a good guitar player from an extraordinary one.
Eddie Van Halen didn’t just play the guitar well; he ultimately expanded upon what playing the guitar was. To look at how an instrument is played and learn it is one thing; to understand it and then put your own spin on how to play it is something else entirely.
It’s worth noting that before Eddie Van Halen picked up the guitar, while people had played around with the tapping technique, no one had used it to the extent he did. He utilised that style of playing to craft some of the most intricate solos of all time and create dynamic riffs, the likes of which rock music hadn’t been exposed to before.
It’s challenging to listen to ‘Eruption’ and genuinely believe that one person is making all that noise. Akin to the likes of an entire orchestra, Eddie takes his guitar and makes it sing in a way that other guitarists couldn’t even fathom. This style of shredding is now a mainstream practice in rock and heavy metal music, which wouldn’t have happened were it not for the likes of Eddie.
Rock stars from all over the world agree that Eddie had a talent that was cutting edge at the time. Black Sabbath once admitted they regretted having Van Halen support them on their tour because of how difficult a band they were to follow. They weren’t just playing good music but treating the audience to something brand new. How are you supposed to go on stage after that happens?
When Eddie passed away, it was a loss that could be felt across rock music. As people paid tribute to the guitarist, it was evident how much of an impact he had on the instrument. Was he the best ever? That’s difficult to say; however, his uncompromising innovation took the guitar to new levels, and not many musicians can say they’ve done that.
