Eddie Van Halen Was Amazing
We are celebrating the birthday of the legendary Eddie Van Halen on January 26th with 10 Fun Facts about this classic rock legend.
Here’s a Top 10 List of Little-Known Facts About Eddie Van Halen’s Music that hardcore fans and newcomers alike might find fascinating:
1. Eddie Played the Solo on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” for Free
Yes, that iconic solo on MJ’s “Beat It” was all Eddie! But did you know he didn’t charge a dime for it? He recorded it in about 30 minutes and even rearranged the song without asking Quincy Jones for permission.
2. His First Instrument Was the Piano
Before picking up the guitar, Eddie Van Halen was a classically trained pianist. He even won multiple piano competitions as a child but eventually found his true calling with six strings.
3. He Created His Own Pickups and Guitars
Eddie was an inventor as much as a guitarist. He famously customized his guitars, like the Frankenstrat, by combining parts from different models to create his signature tone and feel.
4. He Played the Bass Line on “Running With the Devil”
While Michael Anthony was the bassist for Van Halen, Eddie is credited with coming up with the iconic bass line for this classic track. Eddie’s creativity extended well beyond guitar riffs.
5. He Innovated the Use of the Whammy Bar
Eddie didn’t just shred—he reinvented how guitarists used the whammy bar. Listen to tracks like “Eruption” and “Panama,” where he makes it sing, dive, and scream like nobody else.
6. His Amp Had a “Dangerous” Voltage Mod
To achieve his signature “Brown Sound,” Eddie modified his Marshall amplifier by reducing its voltage to 89 volts (instead of the usual 110 volts). It gave his tone that unique distortion—but it was a risky move that could have fried the amp.
7. He Wrote “Jump” on a $400 Keyboard
The keyboard riff for “Jump” was composed on a modest Oberheim OB-X synthesizer, showing Eddie’s ability to craft hits with tools beyond the guitar.
8. Eddie Played Guitar for an Unreleased LL Cool J Track
In the early 1990s, Eddie collaborated with LL Cool J on a song called “Getting Over You,” which was never officially released. A bootleg exists, and it’s as wild as it sounds.
9. He Didn’t Read Sheet Music
Despite his classical training, Eddie admitted that he never learned to read sheet music. He played by ear, relying on his impeccable sense of melody and rhythm.
10. He Had a Secret Music Vault
Eddie left behind a treasure trove of unreleased music—literally hundreds of hours of songs and riffs stored in a vault at his studio. Who knows what other masterpieces are waiting to be discovered?