Yes, he was as glamorous as the rest of his big-haired brothers, but he was by no means in any flash.
His fingers didn’t just move up and down the fretboard, they were sprinkling.
And when he played the trio on the iconic “Outbreak” – using both hands to tap the notes – it was a clear message to all the other members of the club Light F Lightning Fast Guitar Solos: Beat It.
As the music world mourns his death, this is the perfect moment to review some lesser-known Van Helen facts.
He started it with piano and drums
Although Van Halen will always be known for playing his virtuoso guitar, it all started with another instrument. Along with his older brother, Van Hale received piano lessons at an early age. For three years, he won first place in the annual piano competition in California, beginning in 1964.
After his brother. Alex, turned on the guitar, bought a drum kit from Van Halen. But his natural talent with the guitar prompted him to ask his brother to switch again.
According to Eddie Van Helen’s Birthday Special Newsletter: “When Alex learned to play the drums, Eddie surpassed his own abilities, the youngest of the two guitars immediately joined him – a teenager locked himself in the bedroom. To practice, Walking around the house. ”
The two brothers will later form the main part of what will become Van Halen – releasing more than a dozen albums through Platinum Albums in four tumultuous decades, selling the doors to tourists and singers.
He could never read music
Van Halen learned everything he knew from the observation of other musicians.
In an interview, he talked about how to improvise during a piano lesson.
I once said, “One hundred percent of the things I do on the guitar, if I had taken lessons and learned to play through a book, I wouldn’t be able to play the way I do.” “
It is named after another legendary musician
Originally from Amsterdam, Van Helen’s Dutch parents named him Edward Lodevic van Helen; It is a nod to the famous musician Beethoven.
As biographer Kevin Dodds writes: “Edward Lodewijk van Halen followed on January 26, 1995 (because of his music the father named the future desert after Ludwig van Beethoven).”
He had an undisclosed role early on on Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’
Van Halen’s guitar and supporting voice made cameos in the tracks of many other artists (including Frank Sinatra.).
But one of his most memorable contributions to the history of music is Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” On is his 20-second glowing solo.
It took him half an hour to record, and he did it for free in favor of producer Quincy Jones, while the rest of his Van Helen bandmates were out of town.
“I said to myself, ‘Who knows, I played on this kid’s record, right? No one is going to find out.’ Wrong! ”He told CNN. Said. “The big time is wrong. That year ended up being a record.”
His band set a Guinness World Record
In 1983, Van Helen was transferred to San Bernardino, California. Performed with his band on “Heavy Metal Day” at the festival. They made 1.5 million for a 90-minute set.
At the time, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized it as the band’s highest paid single.
In an interview with Guitar World in 2014, Van Helen said:
He told Guitar World in 2014, “I remember listening to a DJ on the radio that we make a lot of money per second.” What he didn’t realize was that we had put every penny of it into construction. ”
It has several patents
The man who created Frankenstein (the cross between Fender and Gibson guitar) has three different patents. – It all has to do with guitars.
His first patent in 1987 was for an auxiliary device that allowed the musician to perform hands-free “thus allowing the player to create new techniques and previously seem unfamiliar to any player.”
In 1997, he received a second patent for “Guitar Peghead” and in 2017, his third patent was for “Adjustable String Tension Control Wired Instrument”.
He once used a power drill as an accompanying sound on the track
Musicians can be creative when it comes to getting the perfect sound.
Van Halen took it a step further: incorporated the sound of a power drill into the “poundcake”. You can hear it in the song introduction and guitar solo.
As biographer Kevin Dodds puts it: “(Van Helens) Guitar Tech Matt Brooke was using a drill. Tiny tiny tiny tiny toxins.
Her band actually banned Brown M&A from the backstage
M & M’s story has followed Van Helen throughout his career, and it’s really true.
In the band list of requests, also known as Contract Rider, there was a clause banning Brown M&M backstage. Reason: It was the band’s way of confirming the place that paid the most attention to the document.
“If I came backstage to be one of the architects of this lighting and staging design, and I saw Brown M&M on the catering table, then I’m sure the promoter didn’t read Contract Rider, and we’ll have to make a serious line.” “Singer David Lee Roth said.
He has been officially cemented as the greatest guitarist in history
In 2007, Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This year, Guitar World ranked him fourth in its annual poll of the 100 Greatest Guitarists.
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