Shredding the Keys: The Wild Tale of Eddie Van Halen's Piano Showdown with Marvin Hamlisch!
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The Night eddie Van Halen Transformed a Grand Piano into a Sonic Playground
In the summer of 1983, Eddie Van Halen found himself in a beachfront rental in Malibu, where a night of revelry led to an unexpected musical experiment on a pristine white Yamaha grand piano owned by renowned composer Marvin Hamlisch.
Equipped wiht an assortment of kitchen utensils and tools, including forks, knives, and screwdrivers, Eddie began to manipulate the piano strings, creating haunting sounds that would echo through the night. He even left lit cigarettes on the piano, leaving behind unsightly burns on its glossy surface.
“I completely wrecked his piano,” Eddie later confessed in an interview with Guitar Player. “There were cigarette burns everywhere. They had to restring it.”
This incident, while shocking, was not out of character for Eddie. The legendary guitarist had a long-standing habit of deconstructing instruments in his quest for unique sounds.A prime example is his iconic 1975 Ibanez Destroyer, which he famously modified with a chainsaw, creating a distinctive V-shaped notch that altered its tone forever.
Eddie Van Halen with his chainsaw-modified Ibanez Destroyer in 1978. (Image credit: Fin Costello/Redferns)
In his pursuit of sound, Eddie even damaged pickups, including a Gibson humbucker, while attempting to pot them with wax to eliminate unwanted feedback. However, the destruction of Hamlisch’s piano stands out as one of his most notorious acts.
Marvin Hamlisch, a celebrated composer known for his work on films and Broadway, including the classic “The Way We Were,” was frequently enough away from his Malibu home, which he rented out. This arrangement allowed Eddie and his wife, Valerie Bertinelli, to stay there during the spring and summer of that year.
“Everything was white – the piano, the carpet,” Eddie recalled in a 1995 Guitar Player interview. “We had to put down a hefty deposit for cleaning.”
Marvin Hamlisch at the 37th Annual Tony Awards After Party in 1983, around the time the Van Halens were renting his Malibu home. (Image credit: Ron Galella/ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
It’s likely that Eddie’s late-night escapades cost him that deposit and possibly more, as he recounted, “I got drunk one night - actually more than one night – and started messing around on this piano. I don’t know what got into me, but I grabbed forks and knives from the kitchen and began scraping the strings, experimenting with harmonics. I even recorded it all.”
“I don’t know what possessed me to do this, but I went in the kitchen, grabbed forks and knives, and started scraping the strings.”
Unbeknownst to Hamlisch, Eddie had the piano repaired without informing him.The resulting recording, dubbed “Strung Out,” captured the chaotic essence of that night and remained in the vault until the recording sessions for van Halen’s 1995 album Balance. Producer Bruce fairbairn sought an intro for the track ”Not Enough,” and Eddie shared his experimental tape.
“Bruce asked if I could come up with something for ‘Not Enough,’ and I said, ‘Well, I have some pretty twisted stuff you might like.’ He listened and said, ‘This is fantastic!’”
“It sounds like a terrible B-movie horror soundtrack. It was all in good fun.”
During their stay, Eddie also composed three instrumentals for the film The Seduction of Gina, which starred Bertinelli. He played both guitar and synthesizer for the project, showcasing his versatility. The film’s director was so impressed that he offered eddie the chance to score the entire movie. However, Van Halen was busy working on their groundbreaking album 1984, which would catapult them to international fame.
Shredding the Keys: the Wild Tale of Eddie Van Halen’s Piano Showdown with Marvin Hamlisch!
Shredding the Keys: The Wild Tale of Eddie Van Halen’s Piano Showdown with Marvin Hamlisch!
The Legendary Night in malibu
In the summer of 1983, rock legend Eddie Van Halen found himself in a beachfront rental in Malibu, california. Little did he know that a night of revelry would lead too an unforgettable encounter with a pristine white Yamaha grand piano owned by the acclaimed composer Marvin Hamlisch.
the Setup: A Pristine Piano and a Creative Mind
Hamlisch, known for his work on films like The Way we Were, often rented out his Malibu home while he was away. This arrangement allowed Eddie and his wife, Valerie Bertinelli, to enjoy the luxurious surroundings. However, the pristine white piano would soon become the canvas for Eddie’s wild creativity.
What Happened That Night?
After a few drinks, Eddie’s creative impulses took over. Armed with an assortment of kitchen utensils and tools, he began to experiment with the piano strings. Here’s a breakdown of his unconventional methods:
Scraping Strings: Using forks and knives, Eddie scraped the strings to create eerie sounds.
Slide Techniques: He employed screwdrivers and batteries to play slide on the strings.
Recording the Chaos: Eddie recorded the entire session, capturing the unique sounds he created.
The Aftermath: A Wrecked Piano
By the end of the night, the piano was left in a state of disarray, with cigarette burns and damaged strings. eddie later admitted, “I entirely wrecked his piano. There were cigarette burns everywhere. They had to restring it.”
Hamlisch’s Reaction
Unbeknownst to hamlisch, Eddie had the piano repaired without informing him. The incident became a legendary tale in the music community, showcasing Eddie’s relentless pursuit of sound and creativity.
Musical Innovations: eddie’s Experimental Spirit
This incident was not an isolated event for Eddie Van Halen. He had a long history of modifying instruments to achieve unique sounds. Here are some notable examples:
Instrument
Modification
Resulting Sound
Ibanez Destroyer
Chainsaw modification
Distinctive V-shaped notch altering tone
Gibson Humbucker
Wax potting
Eliminated high-volume squealing
Yamaha Grand Piano
Kitchen utensils
Unique, eerie soundscapes
Creative Process: The Birth of “Strung Out”
During that fateful night, Eddie recorded the sounds he created and dubbed the tape “Strung Out.” This recording would later resurface during the sessions for Van Halen’s 1995 album Balance. Producer Bruce Fairbairn was looking for an intro for the track “not Enough” and stumbled upon Eddie’s experimental tape.
Producer’s Reaction
“Bruce asked if I coudl come up with something for ‘Not Enough,’ and I said, ‘Well, I have some pretty twisted stuff you might like.’ He listened and said, ‘This is fantastic!’” Eddie recalled.The sounds he created that night were described as reminiscent of a “terrible B-movie horror soundtrack,” showcasing Eddie’s playful yet innovative spirit.
Musical Contributions: Scoring for Film
While staying at Hamlisch’s home, Eddie also composed three instrumentals for the film The seduction of Gina, which starred Valerie Bertinelli. His contributions included:
Guitar solos
Synthesizer compositions
Unique soundscapes that complemented the film’s narrative
Director’s Praise
The film’s director was so impressed with Eddie’s work that he offered him the chance to score the entire movie. Though, Van Halen was busy working on their groundbreaking album 1984, which would catapult them to international fame.
Lessons Learned: Embracing Creativity
The wild tale of Eddie Van Halen’s piano showdown with Marvin Hamlisch serves as a reminder of the importance of creativity and experimentation in music.Here are some practical tips for musicians looking to embrace their creative impulses:
Experiment Freely: Don’t be afraid to try unconventional methods to create new sounds.
Document Your Process: record your experiments to capture unique moments of inspiration.
Learn from Mistakes: Embrace the chaos and learn from any mishaps along the way.
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