Paul Gilbert plays Spanish Fly by Van Halen

Paul Gilbert has a crack at Van Halen's Spanish Fly, from the Yellow Matter Custard backstage footage. And for the two million people who quite uniquely think they've discovered Mike Portnoy at the start - yes, it is Mike Portnoy.

[@AWGMJANS]

Seeing Paul playing this makes me realize once more what an amazing player Eddie Van Halen really is. Back in the seventees this was like science fiction.

[@pauljude]

This looks like he heard it once, went 'cool, got it' and played it lol.

[@RoomforSquires]

What I love about Paul Gilbert is how incredibly humble he is despite being a virtuoso.

[@galenmarek8287]

I love how he always seems to be havin the time of his life when he has a guitar in his hands, he truly loves making music.

[@mlmr11]

He doesn't play it note for note ...in fact he did the impossible ....He frikkin ADDED notes !!

[@HarrrySpider]

He is unbelievably talented... should be more famous... IMO

[@Emet.V]

He is huge in Japan!

[@coolcoconutbud3166]

I agree. Maybe I don't remember mr big being that popular... I guess they sold out arenas. PG is my man crush for sure.

[@JohnsOnStrings]

Awesome. Totally kills it on steel strings. "My hand's running out of juice."

[@kevingeorge5159]

the way he handles the pick, tucks it away, pulls it out...unreal.

[@jshkings89]

just noticed that. legend.

[@Tyler13R]

How can you not like Paul Gilbert, not only is he one of the very best, but he's such a down to earth and fun guy!

[@skipmichaels6184]

It would be nice if Paul could at least make it look like he's having a hard time once in awhile.

[@CurbsideLife]

I could do that. You know the part where Portnoy says "Yeah".

[@redwhiteblue9866]

Best 55 seconds I've spent in quite some time

[@aleekazmi]

"my fingers runnin out of juice". HE IS HUMAN

[@dodothaboi4078]

Paul Gilbert is an alien... to awesome for human...

[@guitarttimman]

Paul is the doctor of guitar player's. When you need medicine, he's there to provide! WOW! What an incredible guy!

[@taekwondo1337]

Hi my name is paul gilbert and i can play spanish fly in 150% speed

[@Juaniguitarra86]

coolest guitar player in the world

[@evalex71]

This was one of the coolest things I've ever seen

[@f4phantom2500]

what the hell, just whips out a practically perfect rendition of spanish fly off the cuff? paul gilbert, you are a god among gods.

[@MacPro8CoreMan]

Paul is awesome and this just shows how complex Eddie Van Halen's compositions could be. I could watch this 20 times.

[@lukemanify]

I really love Paul not for being able to do anything or anyone but being so positive and making it fun to watch. And I'm talkin with experience hailing from Racer X and the times Eddie was THE man

[@Shredberry]

HIS FINGERS DO RUN ON JUICEEEEEEEE

[@prabhuslegalhub]

Damn.. Never seen such shredding on an acoustic guitar

[@artcamp7]

Paul Gilbert is like the guitarists' spirit animal

[@Chanzilla]

Guitar MASTER! He didn't even need to think about it. So amazing!

[@R_Thomp]

Holy crap! That's why Paul Gilbert is Paul Gilbert, he kills everything he touches (after he turns it to gold)! Man, Eddie gotta feel good!

[@misterfantasy9126]

Paul is one of the best guitarist ever, and might ne my favourite and He seems to be such a nice dude

[@SpaceAce1993]

Paul Gilbert is a genius musician

[@larrybirb5967]

Paul Gilbert seems like a cool dude to hang out with

[@darrell6800]

Paul - great guy. great talent. Loved his Yellow Matter Custard

[@philipreedwallace]

Dam he nailed it.

[@shizzle5150]

How many other guitar players are there that would take the question "Hey how about some spanish fly?" and say oh why the hell not... Not many I can tell you that.

[@pinzellacchero1848]

Ma vadevialkù! tutta tecnica e zero cuore...Non è uscita una nota, dico una, suonata con sentimento... bravo!! bravo!! Applausi!!!

[@burnindownthehouse]

This is pretty amazing. He plays it note for note with precision. Yeah, Paul Gilbert is awesome. And from what I have seen on youtube, he's an awesome teacher, too. Not all great guitarists are great teachers. In fact, some really can't teach well at all. But it appears as if Paul Gilbert is a natural when it comes to teaching music. It's as if he was born to teach.

[@rafaelfreitasgt]

Man, he's a beast, I love him.

[@Fretworx]

Paul is so insanely good... love that guy

[@slashandfred4evr]

"Runing out of juice!" Paul is so awesome!!!!

[@GlenGrunge]

1 of the best guitarist in the world Paul Gilbert!!! 1 of my favorite!!!!!

[@JimDewdGuitars]

So clean and on an acoustic! Only Ed and Paul can make it sound that clean

[@brunofelixmusic]

Like a boss.

[@TheyLetMeOutOnSunday]

He makes me want to practise. And practise. And practise. So that one day I might meet him and tell him what an insanely potent influence he's had on me as a guitarist.

[@OneThousandWorlds]

I could do those taps at the start, but those harmonics and the sweeping afterwards, just.. CHRIST, this man melts faces with grandpas guitars..

[@YodaVanGrindey95]

One does not simply, Play Spanish Fly... unless you're paul gilbert...

[@RareHarmony]

So amazing to see a legend play a riff from another legend.

[@distrojer85]

i would gave away my left testicle to play as half as good as he plays.fast and furious,but always with heart,i am amazed by him,truly.

[@kdoran709]

That is fucking madness

[@HarpoSpoke]

Awesome. He even holds the pick the same way EVH does when he taps. I think Gilbert also exhibits the same joy at playing music that EVH does.

[@Slears]

and that is why PG is my Idol

[@Chillybeef123]

God damn . . . I'm a HUGE EVH fan, but this guy blows me away. He's so god damn precise. On everything. I've been playing VH for years. and I will never get close to this good. Take this from an Ed Head. This is just as good, if not better, than the studio version

[@davesdrum]

Paul is the Ultimate! My favorite guitar player!!!!

[@chefgaryklein7551]

The dude is just the best

[@tomasagustinveravicentin7789]

When after 10 years you get down the first exercise of intense rock 1 0:54

[@patrickdelehanty]

The point is imagining being able to do that someday with enough practice... that's what keeps me going!

[@allrapsucks]

Holy smokes! Paul Gilbert nails this difficult Eddie Van Halen solo almost perfectly. Mad skills for sure! Peace.

[@Existmusiccloud]

This kicks ass!!! Best cover I have heard, damn good!!!!!!!

[@VinmanMJ23]

Paul Gilbert is the man. THere aren't many guitarists out there that can do what he does.

[@spunkybrewster1972]

@0:42 "My hand's running out of juice!" :-0 I say that too, whenever I think about attempting any Paul Gilbert.

[@jeffatkinson3288]

Got to see Paul at Alta Loma Music back in the late 80's early 90's ...such an amazing musician 👍

[@boomer2094]

....Is there anything guitar-wise Paul cannot play? *sigh*

[@kewlbns69]

i once asked the same question after i saw him play led zepplin and black sabbath on a spice girls song haha

[@JoeJammersmith]

How could any one give this a thumbs down ! Paul is funny as hell at times but no joke at all I have never heard him play anything that was not far beyond 90% of any player out there great job paul

[@mrdabuten]

that speed killed the guitar xD

[@Person-cv9dj]

He played it flawlesly and made it more difficult

[@jimmyeray133]

Fuck it.....I quit.

[@michaeldavidson8971]

Awesome!

[@CatGameDaiyE]

ALL HAIL!!!

[@karsonmapes]

WOW! impeccable performance!!! and that’s before i reiterate that he is such a damn guitar samurai getting that sound on a GOTdamn acoustic HOW!

[@gurvijaybecker]

The spanish fly became a dragon after that !!

[@dougsteeleguitar]

I just love that guy!!

[@1965kid]

Amazing.

[@StoneCold3.16]

God of guitar

[@lamontcranston4022]

Paul is the fucking man now, dawg.

[@NinjaRodent]

Paul is just insane

[@H270127]

Gotta luv the guy

[@adamboynton7726]

Anyone who can come this close to Eddies Spanish Fly is a certified bad ass. Cheers Mr. Big Gilbert.

[@francescocusato]

Maestro

[@Chizeech88]

Hearing him say "my hand is runnin' out of juice!" makes me feel much better about myself for never being able to make it through the whole thing hahaha

[@jeffprokes8990]

Incredible player...🤘🤘❤️

[@bogse]

Oh man he s really one of the greats.

[@Geotubest]

Freak of nature. I mean that in the most complimentary way. Great guy.

[@U2WB]

Paul is king

[@tonygSDWR]

Man that's satisfying.

[@paulr.4968]

Way cool❗️

[@jetshull]

I owe you an apology i was looking at the selections on the side saw yours and said to my self, spanish fly ok mr spanish fly, i'm probably wasting my time here, but jeeeeezuz............... frickin' blew me away...........

[@raymemichaels]

The man is a GOD!!

[@astralaudio101]

That was truly awesome.. 🙏

[@StefanoScarlataDuranGuitar]

...Incredibile...come se bevesse un bicchier d acqua...

[@BirwHite]

perfect cover

[@jgray6868]

Nice MC5 shirt, Gilbo!! Now, there was a band.,,..

[@SanaOvaisKhan]

this guy is a freak of nature. age is not slowing him down one bit

[@QuantumStates]

Paul is a machine.

[@03kyousuke]

he made it perfect!

[@SASLEAD666]

Paul Gilbert is the fucking man.

[@gattart]

"...has a crack at..." ??? Doesn't even break a sweat! I'd be happy if I could get through the first 10sec of Spanish Fly on my butter smooth SG without cramping up!

[@apexdoxer9662]

Imagine just hanging out chilling with this guy

[@davidhaspell6417]

Outrageously good!

[@ScoutSniper1990]

Diggin' that MC5 shirt haha.

[@VuDuBu]

I love how his fingers move just too fast for the camera to capture...

[@chemyalvarez]

He has a perfect picking technique! Fucking awesome!

[@MrGuruYoda]

Just when I thought he couldn’t get any cooler!

[@ArmellArzvel]

fantástica la tecnica ,,virtuosismo puro,, ..a lo mejor, le falta " alma " but I suppose just a sample ///// FANTASTIC !!!!! Feliz Año ,,,,, a disfrutar de lo lindo . Santé, Bonheur, Chance á Vous Tous. A.

[@TonyMontana-mn1lh]

Damm.. He is my inspiration.. I learned guitar coz of him. And ya My father name is Paul