I don't get it, why do people listen to Eddie Van Halen?

Question

Ok, the guy plays fast, he invented the tapping technique, uses other awsome techniques and uses skills that are difficult to master.

So what?

Eruption still sucks. I just can't listen to it. What do people hear in Van Halen other than a series of meaningless shred?

lets get something clear, i dont like nu metal, punk, or almost anything that was realeased after 1998 (except The System Has Failed by Megadeth)

I dig shred metal, I like Randy Rhoads, Malmsteen, and Bettencourt.... Van Halen just doesnt cut it for me, the guy is nowhere near musical. He's got talent I admit, but his compositions suck in the most a** way possible.

Joe Satriani and Steve Vai are much more talented than Van Halen. At least their Music MAKES SENSE. Randy Rhoads and Marty Friedman both kill Van Halen.

Alexi Liaho (Children of Bodom) can certainly lay the smack down on Van Halen.

Heck, Duane Allman recorded a much better performance in Blue Sky than Van Halen ever did in Eruption, he was NOWHERE NEAR AS FAST.

Van Halen had talent, but a horrible taste in music. prove me otherwise if you can.

Answer 1

Eddie was a great innovator and wrote huge melodic riffs and his songs had compelling hooks and sold zillions on albums. Yes there are guitarists now that are technically more proficient but since they can't write a song to save their life they will remain anonymous.

Sure I like Satriani and Vai also but they never went mainstream because they didn't write monster hits like Ed.

And the guy who said SRV is easy to copy and play ... he's never picked up a guitar in his life, SRV is tone personified ... extremely difficult to emulate properly. But really the great guitarists always introduced something new which was copied, modified and improved upon by those who followed.

Answer 2

Why do people listen to Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and, Randy Rhodes?
Because, they are all legendary guitarists and, Van Halen, is listed among them. Eruption, was not meant to be a hard rock masterpiece but, to showcase His fingering technique.
maybe You should pick up an Acoustic guitar and, buy an Esteban C.D.

Answer 3

You are joking, right? I put only 2 other guitarists ahead of him - Randy Rhoads and George Lynch. Both Rhoads and Lynch learnd a lot of their craft from Eddie in the very early LA rock scene of the late 70's. He's an icon - and a guitar legend - not just for his playing but for creating a legacy of people wanting to emulate his style and generating interest in wanting to learn how to play a guitar. Few guitarists can claim that.

Answer 4

1st of all you might just be the most retarded music listening person in the world. Van Halen has some of the greatest music in the history of rock and roll. They are most likely better than any of this crap that you probably listen too, so stop your whining and grow up to respect music.

If you ever have another question about anything, don't waste 5 pts. because no one cares what you have to question about.

Answer 5

I made my living for 32 years playing guitar for famous artists. I was never a fan of Eddie's playing, but he does have a "hook" (meaning a sound that makes him unique). When someone is that unique it is a selling point for record companies.

Another example is Stevie Ray Vaughn. His style was so easy that any second year lead player could copy it. But he sold alot of records because everyone could identify him and his stuff was kind of fun to listen to. He, like other famous musicians became a bigger star after his untimely death.

Answer 6

he didnt invent tapping..classical guitarists have been doing it for decades before him..he did us the favor of bringing it to the mainstream...he can play fast..which is cool unless your someone who cant play fast or doesnt like it...and yes..he does use alot of cool techniques...you just made my argument for me...THATS why people listen to him

even if he didnt tap..even if he didnt play fast...he would still be a very well nuanced experienced and masterful player...i dont listen to eruption..but if it sucks so bad lets see you play mr.virtuoso

im not sure what music your into...but im pretty sure more people like van halen than what you listen to

bottom line...if you dont like it..change the effin station

Answer 7

Eruption still sucks

You sir are a jackass

Why they still listen I can't answer but why they did ...well if you don't know that just turn on your radio now and listen to the crap spewing out of that machine

Answer 8

Because people have different tastes in music. Not everyone hears a song and picks its faults to pieces. Most of us either like a song or we dont.

Answer 9

Some people are still stuck in the 80's i guess, that's my only solution

Answer 10

Why so negative? You listed the reasons in your own question.