Introducing 24Yr Old Musician to Eddie Van Halen Eruption Guitar Solo!

[@Seven50ml]

I never get tired of watching Eddie. He's like a big kid with his favorite toy. That smile says it all. Rip legend

[@IdahoRanchGirl]

I saw him at the first Monsters of rock. With Dokken, Scorpions, Metallica and a few other bands. What a blast!

[@Seven50ml]

@@IdahoRanchGirl im jealous, I saw him a couple times, but that show is legendary

[@zenn5150gaming]

Dude that smile was like he knew the secret to everything but wasn't quite ready to share it with the rest of us mere mortals...

[@Frank-o2e1s]

I'm 71 and Eddie never gets old for me ,it brings tears to my eyes Everytime I watch him . RIP king Edward.❤

[@summergivens242]

Know what you mean. I'm 67 and I remember watching this on VH1 when it first came out. Was blown away as I still am everytime I see it !

[@TheDeaFiles]

@@summergivens242 ditto. I'm 54. I'm always blown away by the whole Van Halen family! Wolfie is most definitely carrying that passed on torch up so fckn high!!

[@rockymascioli2681]

Concerts like this were the norm back then. I miss those days unbelievably.

[@zappa19666]

i miss those days to,,,kids today dont know shit

[@safiramusica]

I saw Van Halen in 88, Monsters of Rock in Miami. Amazing. Eddie is a gift to music. Thank you Eddie!

[@rockymascioli2681]

I also saw the Monsters of Rock in Philadelphia. Yes! Spoken, Metallica (when Cliff was alive), Scorpions, and Van Halen. You will probably never see another concert with big names like that again on tour. And it's a shame today's kids don't know shit about music like we did. I think this is the first generation not influenced by current music, like every generation before it. And that's a good thing. Maybe the little boy music currently popular is sending a message to record labels they need some balls and change there attitude on what people really want to hear. Maybe.

[@rockymascioli2681]

I meant Dokken. Dam auto correct.

[@michaeldamulis9942]

You are in no way a musician if you have never heard eruption (EVH) long live the king !!!!

[@Triggerhippie70]

His description of an instrument being the extension of you was so spot on

[@kenkonwick6660]

A couple of things. Edward is also a classically trainer pianist, a solid back up vocalist, composed all the songs, built his own guitars and created sound from an array of things. The very 1st sound u hear on the first track of tge first Van Halen album is 3 car horns washed thru a distortion Amp. He also uses a Makita drill on one of his later songs called Poundcake. As for this solo, it's 8 snippets of album songs with a lot of freestyle connected them together. A lot of similarity and yet different every night he played. BTW, he also did the screaming guitar solo on Michael Jackson's Beat It. This guy will only be imitated, never duplicated or surpassed

[@douglassloan6831]

All really great points. He was one of a kind, bro.

[@impala666]

Indeed.

[@j.h.3777]

There are a few classical songs in there as well.

[@damianbiondo812]

You forgot "patent holder." Eddie has several U.S. patents on musical equipment.

[@howarddrake6079]

and lets not forget the beginning of poundcake in which Eddie plays the guitar WITH A CORDLESS DRILL!

[@jenniferfoster1692]

Eddie was a classically trained pianist! His father was a musician so he started the kids (his brother is the drummer, Alex) on instruments early and gave Eddie the middle name of " Lodewijk", which is Dutch for Ludwig, Beethoven's middle name. Eddie then named his son Wolfgang, after Mozart. Some of the stuff in Eruption is based on classical pieces. His son, btw, is an incredible musican, drums, bass, guitar etc & great voice. He joined Van Halen as the bassist at 16 yrs old. He played all the instruments & wrote all the songs on both his albums & has a touring band called Mammoth WVH. Their 1st tour was with Guns N Roses, they're now on a 2 yr tour opening for Metallica, they do their own tours, he's been on music mag covers etc. He's the real deal. Check out Don't Back Down, his awesome song & video.

[@ruthlafler5622]

Yes, I can definitely hear Bach in the first couple of segments and other segments have classical bases I recognize but can't identify. Eddie would know them on the piano, which gives him the foundation to riff off them on the guitar. So probably neither memorized nor improvised, but a combination of the two.

[@markupton1417]

Classically trained pianist who couldn't read music.

[@jenniferfoster1692]

@@markupton1417 Correct. "But he never learned to read the sheet music, he later explained. Instead, he would mimic the instructor's hand movements and play by ear to realize works by Beethoven and Mozart. During recitals and competitions, he would use memory recall and improvise, earning praise from judges for his stylizations."

[@custercrazyhorse8616]

I don't think Eddie sat around critiquing other guitar players. He picked the guitar up,and went to town on it. He created his own path. The music industry is just mostly imitators since Eddie played.

[@briancarr4607]

Well said 😊

[@G_Demolished]

People mostly stopped copying Eddie when grunge came out. That was over 30 years ago.

[@jonlate4581]

Ed didn't really listen to alot of music. I remember an interviewer asking him I think in the early 2000s what was the last album he bought and his response was Peter Gabriel's So, which was about 20 years old at that time.

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

I think it's unfair to say it's mostly imitators. There are a lot of great original guitarists out there. I love Eddie but you can love someone without knocking other people.

[@TXP2P69]

"The music industry is just mostly imitators since Eddie played." Said by every musician since music began from sticks and drums to Mozart to today. Music like most other thing builds upon its predecessors. IMO the original studio version has more power and appeal and feels more real and natural and was such a shocking transition. This seems forced and dated trying to impress those that have already seen the magic happen. Lets face it the intro is from the Kinks and was a cover. Dont get me wrong, I truly believe this is one of if not the greatest solos of all time, but this over engineered "live" version is just fluff.

[@lindamoran7548]

When you say theres nothing like this talent anymore you have to realize its because it doesn't have to be. Musical technology has replaced this level of talent. Its still out there, but nobody has the passion anymore. Our musicians were and still are second to none.

[@251omega]

I'm a “Boomer” of 73 years. Your young friend nailed it. It really was EPIC, and we were all experiencing, with the world, so many excellent new bands, that are now considered to be real ICONS in Music History. We, intuitively, understood that those were very special times, even though, it's true that we were not educated in musical theory, we did KNOW WHAT WE LIKED!

[@docdurdin]

Same age here.. We got to enjoy the best of the best.

[@251omega]

@@docdurdin Yes. I got to go to a JETHRO TULL concert, where they performed all of the songs on three of their albums, for the concert, and then came back out for two more encores, playing an entire album each time, for a GRAND TOTAL of FIVE ALBUMS! It was truly an exceptional experience!

[@amyaeschbach3581]

FYI Eddie built his first guitar out of cardboard when he was 5 years old!!! ❤

[@christophermastrocola3048]

Spot on about the industry stifling this kind of talent and the power & leverage it gives the band.

[@JDogg1971]

Y’all really need to listen to the original “Eruption” from the album. It was ground breaking and to this day, ahead of it’s time. Keep going!🤓🤠👊🏼🤘🏼

[@shirleygarcia8092]

I came here to say the same thing. 💥

[@janeteitsworth8824]

Eddie Van Halen stated the recorded one had errors.

[@johndonson1603]

To me the greatest guitar solo is still Michael Schenker on UFOs “Rock Bottom “ only 19 years old when he recorded it .

[@FireBladeRR-RSP]

I was 15 and a friend in my neighborhood said hey you want to see VH tonite I have a extra..This was my 1st concert. I had no clue what I was in store for… I was never the same … To this day I can’t believe the luck I had and feel like I was struck by lightning… so cool I can re- live this night in my life! 🎸⚡️🎸⚡️🎸⚡️🎸⚡️

[@jessluxsozzy]

They were my first show too in 1985, it was the 1984 tour.

[@FireBladeRR-RSP]

@@jessluxsozzy awesome luck for both of us! The crazy thing is the VHS “ Live without a net” is this video but most don’t know they spliced together from 2 consecutive nights and they wore the same exact clothes so they could do this. The promoter was on the local rock station after Eddie’s death and said he had armed security bring the clothes to the dry cleaner because he was afraid the clothes would go missing and screw up the option of stealing parts from nite to nite on the VHS!

[@bluedawg2]

This was August of 86. First show with Sammy and not Dave. New Haven with 3 friends right before my freshman year of high school. Absolutely awesome!

[@scoutbeavers7355]

That's great 🎉

[@Joepacalypse1107]

Eddie was not just a big name, he was an innovator not only in technique, but in hardware also such as dipping pickups in paraffin wax. Eddie was the GOAT on guitar but also was a classical trained pianist. Rest well EVH. People sat during Eddies big solo, but during most of the show, they were standing! I saw him live in June of 1988 for the first time. My parents got me tickets for my high school graduation. A day I will never forget!

[@lisagray1418]

People often forget that Eddie was a classically trained musician by his father, as was his brother, Alex (the drummer).

[@TheDeadStretch]

Yep Eddie did a heck of a lot more for Guitar and Guitar related tech than he did for Guitar music. Let that sink in for a second. As amazing of a musician and songwriter he was he had a bigger and longer lasting impact on the tech side of it all.

[@nadjasunflower1387]

@@TheDeadStretch yup...because he never had money for the ' new ' stuff coming out, so he made his own, or did things in a way that ' tech ' adopted it, and made something to do what Eddie was doing without tech to do it.

[@kdm71291]

Long live King Edward!

[@MOE-db8oc]

@@nadjasunflower1387 The tech in sound carried past the guitar. Back when he made 1984, keyboards didn’t make those sounds he used. He talked about running the keyboard through his guitar effects and finding a way to overdrive it without blowing it up. Which he blew up several keyboards trying to get there.

[@agatehuntress499]

I got to see them during the 1984 tour. What an incredible show, and the tickets were only $11 too.

[@user-md4kj5yj5t]

Guys, the band already did half of the show and took a break while Eddie did this and then the band came back to do the other half. It was common for him to do this in the shows. A combination of improvising and licks from other songs. Peace.

[@rickwelch8464]

Then he'd get his rest while Alex did his drum solo.

[@ForgeAheadwithMike]

That’s what makes it even more crazy - Eddie didn’t take a break! That’s some serious energy…

[@Tjeffers128]

I've lost count how many times I've watched this and I get chills every time! He was a true guitar god!

[@Kipperbob]

When this eruption solo came out nobody had ever heard anyone make a guitar sound like that, that's why it hit so hard when it did.

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

I mean we had. The original Eruption came out in '78. This is from '86.

[@AhronLong]

Jeff beck did all of this in the 60s, too.

[@KarlFardman]

​@@AhronLonglol...no he didn't. You don't know about guitar if you believe that. Beck was great..but he didn't do what Eddie did here. That's just silly talk

[@jefformsby5604]

Eddie was extremely humble too. He was asked by an interviewer how it felt to be the greatest guitar player in the world. His answer… “I don’t know, you’d have to ask Roy Clark.” Eddie was a genuine all time legend.

[@stevenewcomer8837]

I saw them in concert in 1980. I was at the stage right in front of Eddie.

[@chrissattler7260]

Had the opportunity to experience Van Halen "live" many times. King Edward's solos never disappoint! Extremely entertaining and engaging shows. Nothing like it today. Miss you EVH... RIP

[@Ken-h5d]

Yes, you hear a lot of classical influence. Eddie was a classically trained pianist as a child. Then he went to drums and brother Alex picked up the guitar. Came home from school one day and Alex was at the drums, so Eddie said," Fine then, I'll play your guitar". The result is history. For the same talent level but totally different genre and style check out Roy Clark, (Malaguena), Jerry Reed, Glen Cambell, Jim Stafford, and Chet Atkins. Roy Clark was a master of guitar, fiddle, and banjo, but could play anything with strings. Also, not shabby on the piano and a couple of wind instruments.

[@pauloles2475]

I, indeed saw Eddie on the 1984 album tour. PHENOMENAL!!!!!

[@IdahoRanchGirl]

I saw him at Monsters of Rock. The first one they had.

[@jakemidkiff5720]

I was lucky enough to see Edward live 20 times in my life and he NEVER ceased to amaze me. When he played you could hear a pin drop in the arena because everyone was so in awe of and paying such close attention to him and his craft. RIP Edward...You are sooooooo missed!

[@wolfeyes9357]

Again, i am 59 and i get goosebumps watching and hearing EVH play.....we lost a GREAT rock guitarist and the GREATEST innovator on guitar when EVH passed. There is a picture of The Pearly Gates and Eddie is walking up to Hendrix and Jimi saying, man....I have been wanting to jam with you for a long time!.... Beautiful!

[@tonyarodriguez2098]

😓 It brings tears of joy

[@TwoRavens222]

I was lucky to be born in 1970. I feel like I grew up with great music and I did get to go to a Van Halen concert. It was my first concert ever. Loved it!

[@Tmac327]

Eddie was so amazing live! He and I got to see them live twice, Alex really were connected throughout the entire concert! Damn I miss Eddie Van Halen and the Band Van Halen so MUCH!!!

[@janeteitsworth8824]

One thing about classic rock is top bands had amazing guitarist

[@nadjasunflower1387]

couldn't be a ' top tier ' band without one. guitarist was 2nd only to the vocalist in terms of need. (sometimes 1st depending on band)

[@sandralybrand9425]

As well as musicians and real Singers! ❤

[@johnhulshoff4794]

I love seeing the appreciation of these two younger listeners. I am one of the blessed few who stood inside one of those arenas in the 80s and was completely transformed by Ed. As I sit here now and watch this video I have tears streaming down my face as I relive those experiences and how Ed's music literally altered my DNA and infected every fiber of my body and soul as he played. It was as though I was in a trance and both completely aware of what was happening to me and at the same time not fully understanding. It is only over time that I have come to appreciate what Edward has come to mean to me and how much I really miss him not being on this earth. He truly belongs among the Mozarts and Beethovens. RIP my brother. Keep rockin the heavens!

[@justinatest9456]

All music is a matter of evolution, for the most part. But Eddie was like an alien, he was a whole new species. Hard to appreciate in hindsight what an impact he had on music and the fans.

[@michaeltammaro482]

Music is an evolution? Is that why Beethoven, Mozart, etc. are still listened to and considered the GREATS?

[@rogerdaly6326]

Van Halen I came out in 1978 and at that time The Bee Gees and Donna Summer ruled the airwaves cause of the Saturday Night Fever movie success. That album introduced the world to Eddies playing and no one had heard anything like it before. The impact of his playing was monumental on the guitar world. Really changed how people approached guitar playing since then.

[@Kurac12]

NO OVERDRIVE GUYS. OR PEDALS OR ANYTHING. ALL EDDIE Only Eddie - I remember as a kid watching this in 1986 on MTV. -- THE Best of the BEST !! Love it -GOD rest his soul !!

[@ricksurratt9034]

Just a little trivia, but the song beat it by Michael Jackson. The guitar solo was done by none other than the man you’re watching.

[@guppie19833]

Correct sir.

[@reesewilliams3183]

Eddie also changed the arrangement of the song and played it for Michael and he went with it

[@Clayton139]

Steve Lukater of "TOTO" fame, other big acts, and a studio musician, a friend of Eddie Van Halen played all the guitar parts on "Beat it" except the guitar solo by EVH.

[@twoturtleshomestead]

Haha, I saw Van Halen multiple times in the 80's. Always a phenomenal show! Nice to see you youngster appreciate the greats!

[@dmill9020]

Eddie and Dime are probably the goats for me on what they could do in a band with one guitar. Let alone themselves. And Eddie burying one of his famous guitars when Dime passed away is legendary. RIP to them both.

[@nadjasunflower1387]

yup..it was the yellow twin to the red one he was playing here. which I believe are his first ' tour ' guitars. (forget the details now) but there was only 2 of them, he'd made by hand including the design, red and yellow. Yellow got buried with Dime, red is with Wolfgang his son.

[@moonsniper3543]

The richness and diversity of music in America is unparalleled, probably in history. Blues, Rock, Country, Jazz, Soul, Rap... The pastime from the hollers of Appalachia to the Mississippi Delta was mastering cords and lyrics on porches. Then look at what Motown did. It's all unbelievable.

[@chrisnedbalek2866]

It's because we're free, or at least we used to be, before the deep state went ape shit. Same exact thing with movies & comedy: used to be but not anymore.

[@janegarnham]

exactly one thing true about America

[@MorandMelissa]

Van Halen was the first concert I ever went to.

[@tammyhendrick8380]

I’m so glad I was able to see them. We had the best music ever. Nothing compares.

[@justinatest9456]

As for the knob turning trick - Eddie is working the volume knob, turning it down as he impacts the string and creates the note, and then raising the volume to let the note ring out. It creates the effect of a violin in a sense, in that there is no hard percussive strike that accompanies the notes, which we're used to hearing with an electric guitar. As for the knobs, it's just volume and tone - sometimes one each for the whole guitar, or sometimes as separate knobs for the individual pickups. Gain and overdrive, etc, are all added later in the signal chain.

[@NoblePhantasm23]

I'll just add to your comment that Eddie is also using a digital delay effect. Without it, it would just sound like he's turning the volume up and down. The delay allows you to pluck a string but the more doesn't sound until a split second later.

[@dorianstube]

Exactly

[@terryaustin5976]

Typical guitar has volume and tone controls. The effects come from introduced effects pedals. Many available and usually they have a few favorites for their "own" sound.

[@dorianstube]

Not for that effect. I use the volume control on my guitar and I can replicate what he does on "Little Guitars". Malmsteen also did the trick.@@terryaustin5976

[@nadjasunflower1387]

@@terryaustin5976 pedals didn't exist at this time. Eddie and a few others are the reason pedals even exist now. so those effects can be added on the fly without having to do the finger witchcraft Eddie pioneered.

[@susiburkett6012]

Can you imagine how that crowd felt??? You know that was going through their bodies as well as their ears!! Amazing...Amazing...Amazing!!!

[@FireBladeRR-RSP]

It was amazing ! My first show as a 15 year old… I remember when he made the guitar sound like a violin I was like WTF to my buddy I went with… I truly feel like I was struck by lightning being at this show… it was absolute electric and the crowd was awesome…

[@jerrybutler1336]

remember they are sitting down because they are worn out, and it shows respect and awe

[@andrewschliewe6392]

Even the fans needed a break. VH concerts were easily 2.5 hours long

[@KevinSPeace]

I was jumping in to say this too! I saw them twice in that era and they were both long ass shows and the fans needed the break too .. pure insanity and times I will never forget!

[@caleesi]

He was a master of not only the guitar, but also the piano, the cello, and several other instruments. He was a music prodigy!!!!

[@Misitheus]

I was there....both nights...package deal with the local radio station. I was 22...and no clue how we got back to the hotel....Peace!

[@judyjohnson630]

Just the first night for me (26th), can you believe it's coming up on 40 years ago????

[@izasol-5225]

MARCIN is POLISH!!! I would be grateful if you remember this, please! Marcin is our national treasure. I love your channel and your reactions. Eddie is a genius. He built the guitar himself. There is a documentary on YT where he talked about it. Worth seeing. Greetings from Poland.

[@mellokeith]

One of the coolest things about Eddie’s playing… those unusual techniques that you see him using, like hammer-ons, to get those effects, were created by Eddy himself. My understanding is that when he was young, he couldn’t afford effects pedals, so he experimented.

[@kathigreen1479]

Please react to Roy Clark. He could play anything with strings!! Start with his appearance on The Odd Couple. He's AMAZING. ❤ RIP, Eddie, we miss you!! 🌹

[@jessekellerthecollectingne5058]

Kinda disappointed in my generation, dudes almost the same age as me and it's his first time hearing eruption? One of if not the greatest guitar solos of all time.

[@veiga__1]

same tought

[@ricksurratt9034]

That whole album is fantastic. In my opinion.

[@Bren3669]

I’m just happy to see that there are people his age who are aware of this

[@glennhayes9376]

Wake 'em up Baby!!!

[@carlosnyc13hiker]

It’s ok man. In another 20 years people won’t know who Eddie Van Halen was. Just like time has taken some other great musicians away from us.

[@JudithBright-ql1zr]

😮😮a regular/ normal Van Halen show was about 2 hours to 2hrs. 10 minutes.

[@mstewart109]

Guitarist on this era was a guy named Terry Kath of the band Chicago. RiP Terry Kath. Try 25 or 6 to 4. Anything with him included was mind blowing.

[@DaWease]

that tanglewood concert footage of him playing.... yeah was a mutha fuckin beast

[@jom7604]

Edward Van Halen is the greatest guitarist of all time. He built guitars and ever redesigned then The Mozart of guitar ❤😂

[@christopherjunkins]

Erruption started off as Eddy's warm up for practice, and became that...

[@tcconnection]

Eddie would not be upset at all, he would just say thank you and point out there are fine musicians all over the world that not everybody can be exposed to all of them, and to keep on doing what makes you happy

[@glennwhittaker1417]

This was 1986 or around there. Eddie said you can't learn anything new going by the book. Now there are people in a lot of bands doing these things while others say it's nothing ,anyone can do it. After 40+ yrs of him mastering it and sharing it? Yes a lot can, but more can't. Eddie did his thing and didn't worry about anyone else, a true legend.

[@Daehawk]

Wall of sound. Im glad & lucky I was a kid in the 70s and teen in the 80s. I got the best of music and lived through it playing it loud and proud. I still play it today. Man we lived the good life back when we lived. Long live Gen X folks.

[@JohnGunn-o6l]

Underrated not well known Gary Richraft flying turkey trot live REO Speed wagon guitar solo he did the tap stile in early 70s check it out mind blowing

[@ricksurratt9034]

For sure

[@stevenewcomer8837]

Love Gary Richrath. His song “Golden Country” live is killer!

[@brianlipskey8440]

11 glorious live Van Halen shows I saw....every one of them made my jaw drop at times....even touched Eddies feet once at a show when he sat at the edge of the stage (I was front row)....didnt wash my hands for days....I dont recall EVER sitting during a VH show either.... we stayed on our feet the whole time....

[@mattblatchley2061]

Bought this VHS tape back in 1988 and wore it TF out...I am so jacked that it is such a popular presence in KZbin culture to this day...I never tire of watching reactions to it!

[@Sal-e8f]

I have seen every VH tour since 1979. Many years multiple shows and lots of times sitting in front of Eddie within the first couple of rows. So fortunate to be able to watch him do this year after year. When their first record came out in 1978 it changed the way people looked at the guitar and how they played the guitar.There will never be another like him. Rest easy Eddie.

[@MyberTube]

---- This entire show is called "Live Without a Net" and can be found in it's entirety on KZbin --- a must watch start to finish. Saw them back in 1986 at Alpine Valley Wisconsin when I was going to college. Great memory for sure. Keep rockin' fellas.

[@normanvance7263]

It’s actually the right here right now concert. One of my favorite albums of theirs.

[@NolanHolladay]

one of the things that doesn't always get mentioned is how Eddie basically invented this level of guitar finger tapping. so when you say you're watching history, literally you are because he inspired a whole new generation of guitarists who learned these techniques by listening to him and listening to this solo over and over and over. there are KZbin videos of so many of the greatest guitar players in bands these days who talk about the first time they ever heard Eddie play like this and how they'd literally sit there for hours upon hours working out and deconstructing how he played and just keep practising... I love that! that people weren't like "well clearly he's a savant and no way I could ever be that good" and instead took it up as a challenge "I'm gonna keep at this no matter what until I get it!" ❤❤

[@armandocardenas2999]

Need to check out Eddies direct competition for the time....Randy Rhodes. Specifically the live recording with Ozzy for Mr. Crowley.....a definite MUST!

[@4302arod]

In their early pre-teen years Eddie and his brother Alex who is the drummer for Van Halen learned to play the piano and competed in piano competitions. Their parents wanted them to become classical pianists but they chose rock music instead. Eddie never learned to read music and played by ear. The rest is history!!!

[@thomasgentry6201]

Eddie was by most guitar Legends said Impossible or close to Duplicate! Saw original tour in Think 1978 KC Mo, Kemper Arena they just left LA formally Mammoth un freaking Believable Talent! P.s Never same after Roth Left!

[@rosewaters4497]

Eddy R I.P

[@PMed]

Parts of this solo were on their first album released in 1978. I heard that version of Eruption at a party when I was in high school and I was at the record store when they opened the next morning.

[@donholliday2068]

I enjoy watching people react to music from the time that I was growing up. This was before cell phones, PCs, internet. There were only 3 channels on the TV. We played outside all day. We had to find ways to entertain ourselves. He probably spent hours every day practicing, and you can tell by the expression on his face that he is really enjoying playing that. Thank you for the reaction.

[@jillgross6232]

Beautiful Sammy's introduction of my favorite guitarist ever! Eddie is a Rock God.

[@boshiken4914]

Back in the day there was no social media platforms as a young player to learn from. He was such a unique talent.

[@stevemilby4666]

I got to witness this live in 1984 and yes, it was awesome \../ When I was 14 years Old

[@spiccolirocks3580]

Edward was definitely a treat and a sight to see! My oldest brother turned me onto them when I was in elementary school. Once I heard Eruption and Ain't talkin' bout love that was it! VH 1 is still today my all time favorite album! I became a VH fanatic! My bedroom walls were plastered with their posters! They were the soundtrack of my childhood and early years! Just so amazing! Thank you Edward for creating all of this incredible music and your legend will live on forever! Much love!❤🎸🙏🏻🤘🏻

[@chipperg25]

I've heard him play this 1000 times, watched him 6. I saw this tour 20 ft. from the stage!! Every time I hear it I close my eyes and remember the shear magnificence!!!❤

[@russburton7660]

My Generation is this One and Talent is crucial for the 80s Genre of Rock and absolutely No One Personified this Better than Eddie Van Halen. I'm so Grateful that I got to be Alive to see and hear such talent Never Stop Rockin and Kicking ASS!!!

[@ruralhappy2835]

I saw Van Halen in concert in 1986 (the year of this performance). Eddie's solo was so beautiful so so beautiful and perfect...and the whole band was just amazing it's hard to find words sufficient to describe it. I wish you could have been there! Eddie is the GOAT!!! He gave so much to the music world what with his music compositions, inventions, guitars/amps etc... he created that you can buy for yourself now. He is sorely missed by millions 😢💔

[@Sunny-jz3dy]

I remember when Bon Jovi first came out & he was imitating David Lee Roth who was the first singer they had in Van Halen! lol He was wearing the flag & everything! lol

[@Immortalheart66]

I was at this concert,… 10th row on the floor. New Haven colosseum. Electric night for rock n’ roll. “King Eddie kills it again. Never gets old!!!!🤘🤘🤘

[@llopez951]

Music has changed bug time. Artists of the 70's and 80's were true artists who had a real passion for the art.

[@damianbiondo812]

"Eruption" was the very first song I heard from Van Halen, and I remember exactly when and where it was -- my best friend's house, just after he received a shipment of cassette tapes from one of those subscription services. He had an extra slot for one more, so he chose this funky title called "Van Halen," based on the album cover alone. He told me to come over to his house, and he played this tape on a small little 'breadbox" cassette player -- in mono. And I was still blown away. Eventually, we were able to play it on his dad's stereo. Within weeks, we had every Van Halen album available by then, and a year later, we were sitting in the audience at the Houston Summit to hear the band play live. Best damned show I've ever seen. Tied with Rush, this band made adolescence bearable.

[@mikekean5902]

I was fortunate enough to see that guy tear the you know what out of that guitar 4 times live in concert. Twice at the Texas Jam (Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Check out vids for that) and twice at other arena venues in Dallas/Ft Worth. It was Such a treat just to watch him do the things he did with his guitar. Amazing! At one of the arena concerts I attended I remember just looking around the place and watching everyone’s reaction when Eddie broke into his solo. Everyone was in awe much like you guys were just watching, smiling and shaking their heads wondering how he did the things he was doing making those sounds. No one was at the concessions or running to the restrooms when Eddie was playing. To answer your guests question Eddie would pretty much play the same pieces of music but with a lot of ad lib as well. Keep in mind they always sold out every show so many times they would play 2-3 nights in a row depending on the city they were in. Truly amazing times. I gotta say you guys missed out on some great music. Not just VH but that whole generation of music.

[@BradleyJohnson-er8fm]

Great reaction! From a VH fan, I wanted to comment on to help shed some light on some questions/comments you had! 1- This is a combination of four of his main solos: 316, Eruption, Cathedral, and Spanish Fly. That accounts for about 50% of the video here, the other 50% is filler from Eddie 2- Eddie was THE inspiration behind what we now know as rock and metal guitar. Dimebag Darrell (Pantera's guitarist know as one of the first metal guitar gods) is even buried with one of Eddie's original guitars! In the real world we have AD and BC to separate the two timelines. In the rock world, its Before Eddie and After Eruption. Unfortunately the guitar is no longer the centerpiece to music as it once was, which is why things like this are more rare sadly. 3- Very good ear picking out his unique, classical chords and arpeggios. He was a classically trained pianist as a child, and his dad was a professional blues player. If you listen to any Van Halen music, you will hear classical and blues themes throughout! He was also known for arpeggiating chords nobody ever liked in ways that sounded beautiful. Rock on dudes!

[@valimardorrin6869]

This kid nailed it with saying it is like an extension of their body. He seems to truly get it.

[@Hax0rZ1]

I grew up just never able to stop seeing the big bands live. I saw Eddie 5 times live and every time his solo was different in many ways. Its right up there with my favorite shows ever. Black Sabbath, Dio, Dokken & George Lynch solos, Metallica, 1984 Beastie Boys Run DMC, Pantera with Darrel Abbott solos, Ted Nugent many times and was at his annavercery show in Detroit where he brought his guitar teacher on stage. Then 2000 with Linken Park and managed to catch them a last time before Chester died. I could go on and on but you get the point. It took me a while to reflect on all those shows. The two people I was just too young to see was Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaugh.

[@joewilliams3919]

Fantastic reaction guys - this group is so deep in material that is transcendent - consider the first album (all of them are great in their own right) - it’s nice to see the genuine appreciation for this…

[@katlee2371]

Greatest guitar solo ever. Point blank period.

[@jamesgreer9366]

Just finished watching you do this solo!! Thank you for spreading the love to someone else who just doesn't know!! I love this!!

[@thebigdaddyo]

I saw them in 1974 in a backyard party in Covina and we walked away knowing. They were just great!

[@Ramona57-TX]

I saw this live in concert. We had the best music in the 70s and early 80s. I love live music.

[@oldman3319]

Saw them in 1980 at the Pinkpop three day festival in the Netherlands when David Lee was their lead singer. David Lee always gave a very energetic show and during rehearsal he broke his nose while jumping into a light fixture. So he performed with a white band aid on his nose. Epic concert. Greetings from the Netherlands!

[@meboy76]

I was at this show and seen them 18 times live in concert . I seen when you first reacted to this and I wrote to long comments about stuff and my experiences etc and more stuff . I also told you I was at this show and seen them live 18 times and every concert I made sure to take at least one my friends to the show who's never seen them or him do solo live id pay for there ticket to take with my other friends to see them they always thanked me after the show for having one the best times there life. And Im so happy you sharing on here and also with people you know who haven't seen this or heard it. Like I shared and played with my nephew when he was young we always shared and played music in car when I picked him from school or I baby sit him 5 days a week from 6am to 6 pm since 2 weeks after he was born now he's in high school loves all types music because I taught him to be open to all kinds and have fun with it. Now hes in high school he takes lessons and plays guitar and now so many my favorite songs love it. Keep doing what your doin black pegasus I watch you stuff everyday for longtime I don't always comment on stuff I just add to my favorite stuff from your stuff. Ive seen you shred's this with many friends or guys you do music with and also everybody on utube.I havent done a lot your reactions to 2 my favorite bands all time led zepplin who I seen live in concert twice and Van Halen 18 time keep sharing with friends love it but I havent comment because when I listen to Van Halen or led zepplin reactions I've heard and seen so much I get so hyped up and go crazy I end up commenting huge messages on it and I'm sure you dont want read pages comments from me. ive seen you have shown this to at least 4 or 5 people and yourself on here wasn't sure if you showed it with ar or not would love to see you show him if he hasn't seen. keep doing your thing man remember I told you he played guitar on song mj beat it as well Eddie apprecatied classical music as his parents had him study and take piano lessons first then Eddie and ales got a guitar and drum set for gift but Eddie got drums and Alex had guitar but then the both kept Messina around with each others instrument and decided to trade and the both loved playing opposite and they both were. amazing great icons at what they did. there concerts and shows were always 3 to 4 hours long as well they would play all there best greatest hits and some new stuff.

[@Angel_Silver]

I saw this solo from Eruption in 1984 Live at the Cow Palace in Daly City, next to San Francisco. I was 18 at the time. The whole band was incredible, and yes, Eddie’s playing was really something to see back then! David Lee Roth was really something to see, too, with all of his energy. I saw a lot of great, amazing, killer shows back in those days, and yes, I really miss it. I really love that the two of you were watching this in your studio with your live reactions. It makes me smile. Thank you for sharing this. ❤❤❤

[@allenrobison8103]

I saw this live. RIP King Edward! Great reaction!! I cried the day he passed. Van Halen concerts were always a party. Such a big part of my life. Who can play the guitar intro to "Mean Street" on their Fair Warning album? It is insane.

[@steverobinson8214]

That man wrote the soundtrack to the best times of my life! First saw them in 83 at the US festival when I was 15. I’ve wrestled with the fact that I cried more when Eddie passed than when my father died and my father and I were very close. RIP king Edward.

[@gonzoshots4691]

i can't lie. love young bro's appreciation of this. dude is a true musician as well. real appreciation comes from real lover and this man is a real lover of music. all the best for him in his career.

[@markstoudenmire4935]

I was one of many that was lucky enough to see Van Halen a couple times back in those days, even earlier than this and their shows were phenomenal!

[@josephheitzmann7745]

Eddie was A God on Earth!!!…Talented is an Understatement when you talk about Eddie..He will be missed Forever!!..RIP Edward VanHalen…

[@metalhead-mf2zf]

The 80s were my late teens and 20s and yes I saw this tour within a date or 2 of this very show and witness this incredible solo live myself in 1986. The concerts of that decade were unparalleled and absolutely life changing. I saw them all. I remember them all like it was yesterday and miss those hallowed years like they were 1,000 years ago. It was a great time to be young. God's favorite decade!

[@Jd-im4my]

Got to witness it twice when I was a teenager. Great times, great music. Such a fun time to grow up in. Eddie R.I.P.❤

[@grantsmith128]

I got to see him do this live 3 different times. Insanely talented!!

[@DARTHKNOWS76]

When i was 10 years old in 1986 my brother took me to see Van Halen at the Forum in Los Angeles. and seeing Eddie 's solo and him shredding just blew my mind i wasn't the same after there are shows that change you and this one was one of them that changed how i looked at music !.

[@samredras]

Goosebumps every time. I had a buddy in the eighties who was a really great rock guitarist. He was an introvert in school and did nothing but practiced all the time. Even carrying it around everywhere and just practice wherever he was at. It's that desire and passion and commitment the youth lack these days.

[@douglassloan6831]

EVH was more than ahead of his time. He was the genesis of an entirely new style of playing. The possibilities he opened up for guitar players in the future were once in a generation and I don't think we'll ever see this again in our lifetime. The other thing to remember about Edward is that along with his instrumental virtuosity, he was an incredible songwriter. That's why there were 80K people there on any given night. Yes, they were there to hear Ed, but they were there to experience the amazing catalogue of music that Van Halen released in the 30 years they were around, regardless of who was the lead singer. Damn that was a great time to be a kid. I definitely miss those days. Thanks for doing what you do B.P. This truly is a great thing you provide to the viewers out there who will never be able to experience guys like Eddie, Randy Rhoads, Steve Ray, etc. live.

[@williamwalker-grimwrath]

Amen music is the mouthpiece of God it speaks to your soul God bless

[@JohnDuke9261]

Every band gave a 2 1/2 to 3 hour shows Just to witness the encores was epic. The crowds clapping and yelling. Stomping feet in the arena seats until the bands came back out to play 2 or 3 more songs maybe more depending on what band it was It was a great time. Lived it. Loved it.. the soundtrack of my life