Jeff Beck’s Candid Thoughts on Eddie Van Halen: A Love for Brilliance, But Not the Whole Show
When Eddie Van Halen emerged in the late 1970s, he captivated both budding musicians and seasoned professionals, drawing them in to witness his groundbreaking performances.
Much like Jimi Hendrix before him, the genius behind Eruption was revolutionizing guitar techniques in real-time, making it essential to experience his artistry live.
However, not everyone was swept away by the frenzy. The legendary Jeff Beck,while expressing deep respect for Van Halen’s remarkable talent,maintained a grounded outlook-having encountered numerous guitar prodigies throughout his career.
In the January 1985 edition of Guitar World, Beck shared his admiration for van Halen’s music, stating, “I think it’s phenomenal. I’ve been in that position before, but he’s truly passionate about it, while I’m not entirely immersed in heavy metal.”
He continued, “I’d love to see him perform live, but I might not stay for the entire concert.I’d catch a glimpse of his brilliance and leave, thinking to myself, ‘That guy is something special.’”
At that time, Beck seemed to feel that van Halen-similar to critiques often directed at the shred guitar scene-was placing too much emphasis on technical prowess and theatricality. Beck, on the other hand, prioritized emotional expression and storytelling in his music, something he felt was lacking in van Halen’s approach.
“I wouldn’t want to lose interest, which could easily happen with that genre,” Beck elaborated. “I enjoy concerts that take the audience through various emotional landscapes, but such experiences are rare these days.”
“Artists like Van Halen are undeniably talented, yet they frequently enough seem confined to a specific style. Nevertheless, his technique is remarkable; one must acknowledge his speed and the frenetic energy he brings. I could certainly learn a few tricks from him.”
This wasn’t the only occasion Beck praised Van Halen, despite his reservations about attending a full performance. “He popularized tapping, and I still consider him one of the moast tasteful players to do it,” he remarked in Van halen: A Visual history (via Van Halen News Desk). “It’s not his fault that so many others have tried to imitate him poorly.”
“I once witnessed Eddie play some blues, and it was truly stunning. It would be fantastic to hear him explore that style more often,” Beck added.
The two guitar icons eventually crossed paths in later years, sharing a moment together in 1987, although not in a performance context-demonstrating mutual respect for each other’s artistry.
In a 2011 interview with Rolling Stone,Van Halen reflected on his admiration for Beck,stating,”I didn’t really get into him until I heard [1975’s jazz-fusion album] Blow By Blow.The instrumental nature of it was interesting.And [1976’s] Wired had some intriguing elements.”
“I appreciated the experimentation in his work. Jeff Beck is truly one of a kind; you never no what he’s going to do next.”
