Slash Gives His Take on Eddie Van Halen

Guns N Roses guitarist Slash was an Eddie Van Halen fan, like most other guitarists of the 80s and 90s. In this interview, Slash tells what Edward Van Halen meant to him and to the guitar.

[@groovelife415]

You'll never hear Slash insult another guitar player, yet everyone shits on him. He's the most humble, hardest working guy you will ever meet.

[@FrozenByFire]

@Skeletal_Anguish Okay, we are anxiously awaiting your contributions to the world of guitar playing. . . .

[@ALANRMOREY]

Your right SIR ! I drank a beer with Slash. Chili's dude ever ! We talked guitars and whatever ! Love Slash

[@starjunkie5328]

Slash has always been a very, very humble Cat. He knows what life is about and what is important.

[@JPR17]

Agree

[@vanshipman]

I’ve always loved Slash, what an incredible guitar player. His acknowledgment of Edward is very humble, kind, and accurate. I met Edward once in 1998 and got to chat with him for about 5 minutes and then of course people started recognizing him and it was game over. He was such a sweet and humble guy. I asked him about his metal picks and why the change, too long of a story for here. He said he had 3 left and would give me one but they were going to Japan and he had to make sure he didn’t lose those. I didn’t dare ask him for one, he just wanted me to have one. He gave me a handful of his plastic picks and that was great. The main thing was I got to meet him. I actually got to hang out with Michael Anthony for a couple of hours at the beach bar of our hotel. The band was all staying there. Mike was one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet. Great memories, but it’s so sad to think about losing Edward, what a tragedy. Van Halen has been my favorite band since I bought their first album in 1978. R.I.P. Edward, you are the GOAT🙏🎸

[@rickrick6933]

Slash had been playing 4 years when he joined GNR..some are just born with a gift..but also dedication to their craft

[@danielbreaux1842]

I have seen a lot of young people pick up a guitar and a few years latter they are stage worthy. Something about the right person picking it up! Love to see it.

[@Darcinator-music]

@@danielbreaux1842 yeah some people just pick it up so quickly

[@jamesthecat]

​@@danielbreaux1842Yes, and I think having like-minded band members who will support, not necessarily in an emotional way, but in terms of ideas. For example, famously Slash was doing a warm up through the scales, missing out some, and not thinking anything of it, when the others in the band, said 'hey, that would be a cool riff'. That would became the iconic opening of 'Sweet Child of Mine'!

[@mary-vy3mo]

Warren of Ratt was only 1-2 years when he joined the band and wrote round and round.

[@scottwaszak698]

Yep, playing 8 hours a day.

[@STEVEN-STEELE]

Slash is a all around great guy. Back in the day Joe Perry of Aerosmith got in a tight and had to sell his 59 Les Paul. Eventually he got in a place where he could buy it back. He had people looking everywhere he guitar tech showed up oneday saying I found your guitar. In a guitar magazine he pulled out the centerfold and it was Slashes guitar collection. He immediately got through channels and got in touch with Slash. He said as soon as Slash picked up and knew it was him. He said Joe man please dont ask please dont do that. Joe offered him double its value and Slash said he would think about it. Well time passes and its Joes Birthday. The party planner had Cheap Trick come and play Joe said he sat in for a few songs. He said his guitar tech walked up to him with a guitar case. He opened it. There was his 59 Les Paul. Slash had gave it to him for a Birthday present. That is just screams class act.

[@TheBlockbuster1982]

I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing that story.

[@chrisorrell3066]

Yes specially when double of what the 59 goes for , I could be way off but I’m guessing close to the half million mark? Specially considering who it belongs to and played by might add a few more bucks. Amazing guy!

[@sdthrutheroof9161]

I saw an interview with Joe Perry where he told that exact story. It was on the show "Breaking the Band" Aerosmith, on the Reelz channel.

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

First time I heard Joe Perry recount that story, I was amazed. Jaw to the floor. I mean, who just GIVES someone a ‘59 Les Paul as a birthday present??? As time has gone by, I’ve become more and more a fan of this Slash character. Hell of a guy.

[@Danmckenna912]

Eddie was amazing. R.I.P

[@chrissyjackson8932]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ I love his music and his family ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@00tree]

Slash is such a cool dude. Mad respect for that man.

[@RockNewsQuickies]

Still miss EVH.

[@Wodenson5150]

Me too.

[@aces553]

Me too.

[@Studio13Official]

Same here, I wish I would've learned about rock and roll and metal before high school. As of I'm 23 right now, and yet if I had to do it all over again. Had I discovered especially how great of a player Eddie Van Halen was, I would've ditched the saxophone to take guitar in high school in 9th great. Rock on in Peace Eddie! Your music and legacy live on! 🤘😢

[@cristenhartman5185]

Going to miss him forever.

[@rickwelch8464]

@@Studio13Official It's never too late.

[@garynielsen8553]

R.I.P. EDDIE ❤ There will never be another Eddie Van Halen!🤘 I'm so grateful I got to see him play live many times!!❤🙏

[@sunnystormy4973]

~ rest in paradise ~ 😔 🕯

[@vincent7160]

Me too! One of the best to ever do it live!!

[@charlesguimont1655]

@@sunnystormy4973😊

[@phyllisgoodson9865]

I agree with everything that slash said

[@PatrickWentzell-jd9gq]

legend admires another legend . 🎸 🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹

[@DeltaElites]

I was lucky enough to grow up in Pasadena California and saw Eddie at backyard parties. I saw them perform in 78 at the Civic and in 83 at the US Festival. Every performance was better than the one before.

[@richardboss3358]

That's so cool👍🏻

[@badmonkey2222]

I was 10 years old when VH 1 came out i was already playing drums and tinkering with guitar both my parents were musicians but anyway the first time i heard the album full through it literally scared me, the fierceness and nastiness of his tone and licks on that album still give me chills to this day.

[@danroose3813]

And you are a hell of a guy as well Slash, keep the torch burning 🔥 👏 🙌

[@deanodebo]

Slash has soul in his playing. I’m actually not really a fan of his bands - but man his playing and riffs and solos are just chock full of grit and soul

[@stephanieredden8861]

Slash is so badass, that wrinkles even leave him alone.

[@anthonywandowicz8084]

Too bad his heart appears to be killing him

[@stephanieredden8861]

​@@anthonywandowicz8084He's still here though and he beat the odds by more than two decades. He knows he's fortunate.

[@daleofriver6746]

What do u mean?

[@mahlonedwards6826]

I don't believe any other guitarist smiled and showed his joy as much as Edward Van Halen

[@coldwinter5710]

Every other player is quite boring to watch in comparison. Edward oozed joy from every fiber of his being.

[@mahlonedwards6826]

@@coldwinter5710 Stevie Ray Vaughan

[@cristenhartman5185]

That was one of the greatest things about him. You just knew he was passionate about it.

[@karenparnell6588]

You are Loved!!! Eddie is Loved & Missed much!!!❤ ❤❤❤❤

[@wamcalif5]

That first Van Halen album was incredible. I had it on 8-track.

[@dirtayk6742]

Still have the album that I bought when it came out.

[@kamakaziozzie3038]

I have an 8-track in my new Toyota

[@floydholder597]

I wore out two 8-tracks of their 1st album, then had it on cassette.

[@Mick_Ts_Chick]

​@@kamakaziozzie3038 Seriously? Where did you find one these days? Or did you already have it from another vehicle? I think my dad still has a portable 8 track player and some tapes. Reminds me of happier times.

[@davidrubio-lf5rc]

Wow. 8 track. Now that's old school. I had one too. Actually it was my mom's player, but I took it over.

[@joehohmann6015]

I still can't believe I'll never get the chance to see Eddie and Sammy and the boys on stage ever again...

[@user-tw6wb2if8d]

And you'll never see Alex waste his time with that 2-faced rat for being a rat . You don't rat on your friends for any reason .

[@AllenCameron-eg3bn]

I love to hear other rock stars.Talk about how inspiring he was. I'm lucky to be a van halen fan

[@ScareglowSkull]

Such a humble guy

[@reflect916]

Rest In Peace Eddie.

[@alistairmcdonald2382]

This gives me goosebumps just listening to the history in the making 👍

[@stevenholquin2127]

Slash Has a Early BCRich Koa Neck Through The Body Mockingbird We Only Made 8 Hand Crafted Mockingbirds a Day Hand Made Means No Machinery Hand Crafted Means Some Machinery That Guitar 🎸 Was Built Around 1978 or 1979 at The Original BCRich Garage on Valley Blvd Behind The Sip and Shoot Bar Once Michael Anthony Came To The Garage We Built Him a Red Mockingbird Bass Guitar in 1979 Sorry i Went Off Point Yet That BCRich Slash Is Playing Is a Real BCRich

[@RockNewsQuickies]

Very cool!

[@user-zy3nv1jy1m]

Slash has no neck lol

[@Dav_A_007]

RIP EVH

[@williampasternak1623]

So humble and kind slash is.

[@michaelmuchler4825]

That 1st VH album came out when I was about 10 and I played that so much I thought I was wearing it out....I still love it!!

[@Gratefulman1965]

I can only think of two guitarists that were so happy when they played guitar that they always smiled. First would be “Dangerous”Don Rich and Eddie Van Halen. If you visit Dons gravesite his headstone states “Always smiling” two legends gone well before their time.🎶

[@scottramirez49]

The first Van Halen album came out in Spring of 1978

[@katc2354]

LOVE YOU BOTH❤❤❤

[@user-vi4cv2pe5v]

Very kind words from another rock legend. Humble and kind. ❤

[@mneugent7658]

Eddie was the moonwalk, the moon landing, the horseless carriage, Kitty Hawk. He changed everything.

[@martinhonan9588]

Thank you Slash. Eddie you are the Mozart of my generation and we truly miss you.

[@markmonahan2642]

What a beautiful tribute! Slash is an absolute guitar legend, with his own unmistakable sound, who really revived pure Rock and roll!🎸

[@harryrestivo3148]

I appreciate the originality both of you possess. Excellent playing 👏 time and time again R.I.P E.V.H

[@gerrett108]

❤never lost, never forgotten , Eddie, Jimi, the list will go on ....

[@Mick_Ts_Chick]

Yep, rock and roll heaven is really gathering them up fast now. 😔

[@VEE1959]

Love Slash, he's an amazing artist, I could listen to just his guitar solos all day. He definitely makes it sing.

[@jamesreding6336]

We miss Eddie Vanhalan I'm 66 the first time I heard there first album in 1978 At my friends house Joe condensed I was amazed by it !!!!!!!!

[@joedivald1051]

That last line was so true.

[@joemcgraw5529]

yes I was In High School when first album came out ,I was blown away as everyone and we partied our asses off to it always !!!!1

[@JohnHughes-Ottawa]

He's dead on....and Eddie was local in L.A I imagine Slash got to see him around town. What an experience that must have been...

[@eliaramirez2868]

Thank you for the respect ❤️ RIP EVH ❤🖤🖤

[@SilverSurfer5150]

Spot on, Slash!

[@AnkurWow]

Interesting because Slash was considered to be an antidote for all the theatrical shredders Eddie inspired in the 1980s. The two of them bookend 80s guitar playing nicely.

[@georgewhiteley3653]

That's for sure. We lost a guitar icon the day he passed on.

[@TomTaylorPhotography]

Great guitars in this video!

[@licksnkicks1166]

You will never see another Eddie come down the pipeline in yours and my lifetime. The man was a world class virtuoso. He was the best of the best! RIP EVH! 😢

[@JakeyBro69]

He’s extremely humble for being one of the most recognized guitar players on earth. Legend.

[@OMEGATECH]

Eddie didn't just play the guitar. He dominated it🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@dougg1075]

When VH 1 came out it was mind blowing to us . I remember we listed to it over and over all day. It was an unbelievable musical discovery to all of us . Thanks for the soundtrack to my youth. And in my old age

[@user-mu3oj1nw3x]

Yes Slash is an amazing person, and very professional and always ready to help

[@S3AN_]

Picks up a guitar, 8 years later comes out with some of the most iconic guitar solos of all time.

[@kenkramer6761]

RIP EVH 👑 🎸

[@randallespinosa4264]

Rest In Paradise Edward ❣️

[@garla5851]

The Good Ole Days of Real Music !!

[@anneannabu5130]

Slash is truly nice, and I love his respect for others❤

[@dougzwaan925]

Thank you for the words Slash.

[@chris2fer45]

When I first heard that album I thought damn this dude is an alien.

[@highlovevibration]

Eddie was one of a kind, and so are you Slash ❤

[@Cordova4444]

❤🙏

[@marshallderriek1858]

Not only did guitar playing change then .. today it doesn't exist in mainstream music ..

[@thelifeboxmediachannel]

Thank You For Sharing Respect And Prayers

[@reverendg5937]

Slash saved the Gibson Les Paul when Super Strats & Pointy Geetars Ruled the Day. Just Saying 😎

[@gymbo230970]

You don't know what you got until it's gone .

[@charleshemphill4018]

Amen brother.

[@2045Kell-ri5tm]

Slash is a good guy. Hope he hangs around with us a long time. Eddie was amazing guitar player but as a person, well he was an amazing guitar player.

[@lorenhooke8986]

I love Eddie .Slash thank you for great words from your mouth.ppl don't give time..❤ you bruh,rock on.😎🙏👌

[@CynthiaSenn-es1ru]

Eddie was a great musician an will 4ever be misses so sweet of slash to put in a beautiful most musicians won't do that thaks slash for your sweet words your a fan if mine as well

[@tymanngruter1808]

Even he get a hard one! Nice to hear him in such a humble way....... ♨️

[@starjunkie5328]

EVH IS THE G.O.A.T. Jimi and Jimmy are great, but they weren't EVH - not even close. Ed came along and just blew the guitar-world away - cut it right off at the knees. Every guitarist wanted to sound like him, but none ever succeeded. THAT, is a true guitar GOD.

[@carlosw1687]

Schenker and Gallagher and Roth are much better guitar players than evh. True evh was great though

[@mandoleyva9163]

The music that he created separates him from the other guitar legends.

[@blakespower]

loved early van halens music was just so good to listen to

[@Chris-p9l]

Dude all you guys rock man.

[@robertjancio6479]

Man I was 17 in 78 Sex, drugs and rock n roll A lot of rock n roll! Thank you V H you made A lot of parties a hell of a lot better.

[@dougwakefield7665]

You are a Great Guitar Player too Slash!

[@johnderfler5183]

Slash needs to slash the number of carbs he's taking in daily.

[@deadalready7467]

Wow A Humble R&R Star

[@mcfrenchfry2196]

Yes! Agreed bro. You’re extremely impressive too! 🎸🤙

[@phillipspring]

Slash is one of the greatest. Love you EVH.

[@lauriemoser4208]

Must have been mind blowing that in 1988 they were both on the Monsters of Rock tour.

[@seethemiddlefinger2759]

Great. I am thankfull Ive made it 70 years and listened to decades of great music. Slash is awesome. Eddie, well... no one like him.

[@therealdjmiller]

EPIC SLASH ‼️‼️‼️

[@knastera]

The true greats know whose shoulders they stand on.

[@carltond.bullington720]

Amen.

[@outlawblack123]

Oh EVH, I thought he was talking about me for a second

[@transitionlady]

I remember I met slash at the 2009 NAMM show in Anaheim he was signing autographs at the marshal Exhibit, he was so cool a very good guy.QUICKLY we talked about my guitar playing told me to keep playing no matter what.

[@user-vu9ud5ml1f]

THAT'S BEAUTIFUL TOO SAY' YASOO '

[@brucebynum2467]

1st Van Halen album was definitely badass.

[@marks8603]

In an interview Eddie was asked what it was like to be the Greatest Guitar player in the world. Eddie replied, "Ask The Edge". The trute greats never say they are great. They are humble and credit each other. That is the sign of true excellence...

[@Boblw56]

Well said and so true.

[@optimoprimus4608]

Rust In Peace, My Brother 🫗

[@ZIG4ZAG20]

The photo of Eddie with that miniature Gibson is epic. Wonder if it’s still with the family or his estate somewhere.

[@TheMrboskie]

Sweet child of mine guitar riff was slash just practicing and not intended for a song. The man has talent and is very underrated and doesn't get the recognition he deserves

[@RidaMalas]

RIP

[@Cormac-jd2kx]

He picked up the guitar in 79-80? That was late for him so he must have spent his whole teens practising

[@ecksfactor]

RIP, Eddie!

[@gman9035]

Bought VH1 when I was in high school. Every song rocked

[@mitchellhall4592]

He was the greatest. RIP EVH😊

[@darlenejeanson7131]

Thanks Slash for such great compliments about EVH- yu’re pretty great yurself Slash!!

[@fredpaige7268]

Amen

[@ivnplaintmodulas2348]

Poor Mr. Van Halen, he was the face of Rock n Roll for so many years, and we never thot Rock music wud ever die, and without Mr. Van Halen around so soon it feels so awful. All there is out there is some old guys like Dave Groll, Anthony Kedis, sorry if his name is misspelled.

[@JT-py7ze]

Yes he did, and yes we did