Van Halen “Unchained” Session was a blowout!

[@n1tmtu37]

Oh, Fair Warning... I bought that album the morning it dropped and only had that day to try and memorize it because they were playing their first show that night in Halifax, NS. What a f'n concert. My main memory was Alex's airport lighting under his kit. Lit the entire place up like noon on a sunny day. Had floor seats, one section back from stage. Best concert to this day.

[@pomod]

Fair Warning was the first Van Halen record I bought when I was 11 years old and I just picked it off the new releases rack at DrDisc in Northland Mall because the cover art was so weird and cool. Fair Warning was my gateway drug not just to the Van Halen catalogue but also to rock music in general, guitar playing, and the idea that music was something cool to get into.

[@scott6828]

@n1tmtu37: I agree, "Fair Warning," the best VH album and probably one of the greatest hard rock albums ever written. Older brothers had the first three Van Halen albums on 8-tracks!! 😂

[@danielabilez3619]

😊Fair Warning. Loved it like no other. I always wanted that "growth" to be a song on the next album.

[@phillipleblanc6508]

Hey! I was at that Van Halen concert in Halifax too!

[@backtoshallabal6662]

what a time to be alive. This was before/after Lennon and Randy died right?

[@mindeloman]

Fair Warning is my favorite VH album. The real story of the album isn't the leads or the solos. It's Ed's rhythm work. It is astoundingly good.

[@mljrotag6343]

Completely agree.

[@patricksheppard585]

Absolutely f’in correct

[@mindeloman]

@@patricksheppard585 every time Dave starts singing a verse in "Unchained" i just marvel at what Ed is doing behind it. Crazy complicated rhythm work. Everytime i hear that song, i just listen to the guitar. I don't hear anything else.

[@JohannDaart]

@@mindeloman It goes from 4/4 to 2 x (3/4 + 4/4) and the main riff strats on 4th's "and", not on 1.

[@mindeloman]

@@JohannDaart it's a feeling and groove that can't be choreographed on paper. Sort of like Runnin' with the devil. No one ever plays it right. It always sounds wrong because Ed always tuned to what sounded right to his ear. Sake goes for Dance the night away. The whole song is out of tune.

[@ivorharden]

Those first six Van Halen albums with DLR have this magic on them which has never been replicated.

[@sparkster65]

💯

[@hipgroove68]

Truth !!

[@gtamediaproductions1]

Yes agreed! Works of art!

[@Extinction.of.Innocense]

Just like ACDC with Bon. Must be a 6 thing.

[@remember_Pat_Tillman]

​@@Extinction.of.Innocense most bands can only keep that magic for 3 albums.

[@mpesta]

The Push Comes To Shove solo is EVH perfection.

[@MrN75nokia]

Straight up

[@AC97_]

Yes it is straight up nasty

[@sbrave]

For sure!!!

[@herbcanter2114]

It's truly unreal .

[@autk]

NASTY!

[@chrispistol6043]

Unchained was always and remains my favorite VH tune of all time. Very simple but catchy and captured the personality of the band perfectly.

[@grahamjarman]

panama is no slouch

[@johanrooney5802]

If someone said, give me the “epitome” and “essence” of Van Halen in one song….”Unchained” would be it…

[@johanrooney5802]

Meanstreet isn’t far behind

[@johnbattiest3061]

This Album and women and children first are the best imo so raw and organic.

[@recklessfable8292]

Absolutely.

[@jmm1817]

Nothing tops VH1

[@TheReubenKincaid]

As mind blowing as a eruption was, and still is, that intro to Mean Streets was just WTF back in the day . Even watching someone play it on You Tube to demonstrate is amazing . After 40 years all of Eruption has been unlocked and their are tons of videos on KZbin , but there are not many who can pull off Mean Streets Intro

[@StONed-mb1iv]

TheReubenKincaid well fricking said,man!

[@patricksheppard585]

Right and even though here we are some 40 years later....and. people still marvel at the technical brilliance of eruption....and now you can go to KZbin and a million people show you how to play it.....well....back in the day there wasn't KZbin....you had to figure it out for yourself....so now...... Eddie wrote it....and all of it's brilliance and technique.....those staccato palm mutes that are liquid fast... the crazy wide pull off's.....the memorable tapping part....crazy whammy bar dive's.....never ever had anybody played with such fire and passion....and THE TONE..... he was the Total game changer even more so than Hendrix and just to back up my belief that Eddie was the absolute So-Cal Guitar King.....Grover Jackson recently in an interview was stating that he was around obviously and from his assessment....and being well aware of Randy... said there was Van Halen and then there was everybody else......again I am not taking anything away from Randy I love his playing.....but Edward is the KING....and there WILL NEVER EVER be another one like him again....EVER

[@micjisters]

i totaled 3 cars back in the 80's. listening to that cassette each time. i remember hearing dirty movies as i was sliding thru a hairpin and barrel rolling down a mountain in WV. those moments are in slow motion and its funny how the music seemed to slow down too. i got lucky that night. didnt kill anyone.

[@permanentgrin5405]

If anyone has nailed Eruption I'd love to hear it. I've seen many attempts.

[@techmiter6299]

Cathedral too man. No one knew what the fuck he was doing when that first came out. I had no idea what a dotted eighth note delay even was lol. But for me, the hardest thing to play still to this day is picking the trill on the open E, B, and G strings while left hand tapping the bass notes in the intro of Little Guitars. When I first heard that Ed played those two parts simultaneously, not overdubbed like I assumed, I was just in awe once again at his genius.

[@woozee100]

Fair warning is the best album of van halen!

[@FREISTUDIOS]

Agreed

[@diezmon]

I read that this was the first album where Eddie explored a different sound and had more leeway to go a different direction. Apparently Dave wasn't a fan. My favorite vh album by far. I feel like Drop Dead Legs and Girl gone bad are of that same kind of mood. They both could have been on fair warning.

[@calvincooley1074]

Yes. Yes it is.

[@mattharvey968]

Absolutely!🤘🏻

[@Zodibigh]

My favorite for sure.

[@erictobias7]

"Pictures on the silver screen, greatest thing youve ever seen"

[@bwdrums1]

"Lights, camera, oooh-action !"

[@すうぃーとほーむあらばま]

now her name is up in lights.

[@toms3664]

Of

[@JPTyler]

"Ah man....remember when she was Prom Queen?"

[@BrnSnd]

"Showbiz is so thrilling the camera rolls she's willing..."

[@tubewrestler]

tapping was an extension of his playing, which allowed him to speak in more languages. it frustrates me when some people cant understand its not a show off thing..it allows the player to do more

[@rightchordleadership]

Agreed. I never saw it as a show off thing. It was just another tool in his musical toolkit.

[@walterevans2118]

@@rightchordleadership Yes.....Only idiots call it 'show off' or a 'gimmick' because THEY FAIL TO SEE ITS POTENTIAL IN EXPANDING HOW THE INSTRUMENT SOUNDS....What the HELL for instance could be show off or gimmick about playing a guitar neck to sound like a HARPSICORD ?? ....These dismissers are VISIONLESS.

[@dantana8570]

Why would you let something like that bother you who gives a fuck what they think

[@msw812]

Great point. Proof it’s not a “show-off” thing or difficult is way back in the 80’s my friend finally got an electric guitar at 14 and was two-handing a measure of Eruption in a couple days before he learned a G chord. Eddie used it so brilliantly and musically.

[@tdz69]

Glad I’m not the only one who was irritated by this guys comment. It’s def a show off thing for many....but it was a core part of eddies playing and how he expressed himself

[@daktarioskarvannederhosen2568]

'mean street' is, imo, the very best of evh all wrapped up in that one song.

[@morningstar577]

For me it's Light Up the Sky

[@jamesragsdale8202]

The original Voodoo Queen was the shit and should have been kept as is.

[@tommytrinder.1226]

You,sir are DEAD RIGHT!. Unchained is my second favorite VH song.After Mean Street.

[@benjaminbaird9303]

Yup

[@rick3747]

Thank you Sunset and all. Thank you Edward. RIP❤ - A fan since May 1978

[@jasonalba1365]

My favorite VH album. I listened to it yesterday at work. Album still holds up and kicks ass. Eddie's guitar playing is next level in this album.

[@shucksful]

I remember the day that fair warning was released....I thought....Now, Eddie has really done something amazing, here. Lol.

[@ernestobonscott3509]

Mine too...As good as the first time I heard it.

[@bozep7712]

You are saying that in 2021... imagine what people said in 1981...

[@paulaporter778]

I listen to it driving to work and back. Unchained gets me going to walk in the door "hit the ground running"🎵🎶🎸🎸🎸🔊🔊🔊🔊

[@asnark7115]

@1:00 Tapping was never a "show-off" thing from EVH. For a few years after he started doing it, he turned his back to the audience so nobody could see the technique. All about the sound.

[@Scottocaster6668]

This guy's a Dee Tee Dee.

[@bowriverblog]

Hear about it later... One of my all time VH songs ever 🤟🤟👊👊

[@dannyreyna2821]

Whenever you hear "Unchained." CRANK IT UP!!!🤘

[@yearginclarke]

There's gotta be something wrong with someone if it doesn't give you that urge to crank it up immediately!

[@butcho7492]

I saw that video from the Oakland show on MTV and bought a guitar the next day.

[@yearginclarke]

@@butcho7492 It was aired on MTV? Awesome, great performance that deserves to be aired.

[@butcho7492]

@@yearginclarke Yeah! You can catch it on KZbin. Back then you couldn't pull up vids of your favorite bands at will. It was almost mystical to be able to see them. Lol.

[@yearginclarke]

@@butcho7492 I know what you mean. Although younger, I was a 90's kid who used to watch music videos. The most popular ones were played the most, and if there were particular ones you wanted to see other than that you likely had to wait a while.

[@bigimskiweisenheimer8325]

I've been really diggin the sudden appearance of all this early Van Halen material and liner notes and demos. I find myself watching all night long. Thank you ✌

[@Knutwolf]

Same!

[@philstone3859]

Fair Warning is an American Classic!

[@helterskelter1178]

My favourite VH album with the iconic Brown Sound.

[@br1rocks]

Hmmm disagree about tapping being “showing off.” sure it can be, but listen to the tapping in Eruption...it’s melodic and integral to the flow of the piece.

[@f674]

It’s how Edward played all along. May be show off for other guitarist, but Edward owns it.

[@andybaldman]

Yeah, this guy seems like a square. Dance the night away is out of tune? Who the fuck cares.

[@247riffraff]

Its show off cause he can't

[@BrianOboylemusic]

Dude well said , the finger tapping in eruption was a sound that I immediately didn’t recognize and blew me away..

[@shaunloynds5317]

My Fave VH album by far. The songs, the artwork, everything.

[@VangeliRock]

Unchained is just a monster song, can't imagine arguing with EVH about it.

[@andrijasentic9702]

1:20 thanks for derailing a Jimi Hendrix stoy

[@herrent]

People thinking of their questions and not listening to the conversation

[@PNW_Sportbike_Life]

Seriously; what a dumb thing to do

[@jeffcowan603]

yeah, this guy did the same thing a couple other times when he was about to tell a story. Shame he couldn't just shut up and listen

[@medievaltimes6473]

Inconceivable....Princess Bride.

[@ajmpatriot4899]

It’s crazy to know that Ed wrote most of Fair Warning on piano. I can’t imagine any of how that might sound. True genius! 🙏❤️

[@bobwreck3775]

It just shows you how important playing keyboard is to overall musical understanding. Every guitarist should learn the basics of keys.

[@stringtheoryguitars4952]

@@bobwreck3775 I assume it's because a keyboard allows you to see all the notes and intervals. Easier to learn when it's visual instead of conceptual. But I don't play keys so it's just a guess.

[@bobwreck3775]

@@stringtheoryguitars4952 I don't play keys either but from what I can understand theory is taught better on keys. Or shall I say maybe easier to learn.

[@intercommerce]

Love to hear those piano versions!

[@jamesragsdale8202]

I didn't know that but now I can hear it.

[@ajmpatriot4899]

For Ed the tapping was a musical thing not a show-off thing.

[@tjh315]

The man said it was a 'show off thing'. And he's never lied to us before.

[@tedwojtasik8781]

Many players were tapping before Ed, he was doing nothing new. Steve Hackett had been tapping since 71' but it was Rick Derringer who Ed really ripped off. Eruption is not even an original composition, it is a mash up of the intro to an old Camel song with the bulk of it being a note for note ripoff of a Derringer live solo from Rock and Roll Hootchie Coo. Derringer is pissed about to this day. VH were going to Derringer shows and that is where Ed came up with his tapping style.

[@autk]

​@@tjh315 he's lost

[@autk]

​@@tedwojtasik8781 bollocks

[@BrandonBennett-c2z]

But on the American Institute of music interview Edward says he saw Page doing his version of tapping at the Zeppelin concert at the Forum in Inglewood, and Ed then modified what he saw Page doing ​@tedwojtasik8781

[@chiefjayhox]

Fair Warning is the Van Halen fans Van Halen album. Unchained was the very first VH song I ever heard and to this day, my favorite, and my ringtone on my phone

[@shannonhawkins5739]

Fair Warning is my absolute favorite Van Halen album. The solo to Hear About it Later is one of my favorite solos of all time

[@JohnDoe-jc3cl]

Sunset Sound-- This s-- is pure gold! And I’m in Sunset Sound via KZbin?? Wow Keep em coming!

[@brownsfan7753]

I just want to say thanks for the insider look!! This music means so much to us all!!

[@lylemoultrie5498]

I was just listening to FW today....and something which i've noticed for years is ...WHAT IS IT??...about his guitar sound on that record...which is a few degrees MORE delicious (to me...)...than any other VH LP? There's SOMETHING about his sound on that record...which never happened before...or after. Or am I imagining this? As much as I love 1984 too (almost equally...)...I keep coming back to FW as their apex masterpiece. That album has a sound and tonal color which is quite special along with the exquisite depth and breadth of song construction - that together...forms such a satisfying and cohesive whole.

[@STRATMAN1969]

The absolute perfection of perfection .I agree wholeheartedly .

[@StONed-mb1iv]

To me FW is the definition of Eddie Van Halen's true relationship with brown sound.....then on DD came CATHEDRAL....What a guit-artist!

[@StONed-mb1iv]

FairWarning cleanses neurons....it's like a month of weekends off work....paid!

[@lylemoultrie5498]

@Kevin Hayes i would not agree with the status of "blows"....as it's a matter of degrees...for me. ;-)

[@SteveOuimette]

FW has always been my go-to for the best EVH tone. There's just something about it. Of course it could be the riffs and production as well, but it's heavier and fuller on the low end, and just bigger sounding. Those first 4 albums all have their version of the "best" tone but FW is my favorite too.

[@briankeith1147]

Wait, I'm confused....did Doug say that a few days after Ed shared Dance the Night Away with him, he met Valerie toward the end of the Fair Warning tour??? That tune was on VH II.....two years earlier.

[@evanmiller2579]

Great seeing these. It has been so many years so I think Doug is doing the best he can at remembering. The stream of consciousness as he went between Dance the Night Away (VH2) to Fair Warning was priceless. He believed it all happened during the same week. :) Thanks for posting all the content.

[@coralbasie]

Priceless and annoying.

[@edwinjewell5359]

Fair Warning was the Best Album they ever did.

[@jamesmccracken9323]

Wrong ,maybe in just your own opinion,the ultimate and greatest VH album is the first!!

[@techdeathhippie6319]

I just wish it had a couple more songs

[@techdeathhippie6319]

@@jamesmccracken9323 obviously VH1 is cool but VH2 ,women and children , and AFI warning are a better listen for me . VH1 was the poppy one for me . But I love them all

[@jamesradcliffe3985]

2 of their best songs ; unchained and mean streets, plus a lot of other very good songs. EVH was the shit.

[@sbrave]

Best guitar tone he ever had on record

[@juanpablomarin5463]

Eddie Van Halen created a killer, catchy and totally mind blowing tone that transcended the world to the most¡¡ a genuis!! The best guitar player!! Legendary interview! Thank You so much!!

[@JohnnyBeane]

Dance the night away was 2 years before Fair Warning.

[@AllenGarberGuitarFun]

Also, the guitar during the breakdown on “Dance The Night Away” is NOT out of tune, it’s in one of his deliberate alternate tuning offsets.

[@mojodojo5533]

I think he must be mistaking it for another song. Why who he hear DTNA during FW recordings.

[@mojodojo5533]

Hey Johnny Bean, I know Ed wasn't the first to tap, but was he first to tap harmonics?

[@scottnagy3222]

He didn't say it was the same time as FW. They obv met a few times over the years.

[@AllenGarberGuitarFun]

@@mojodojo5533 It’s obvious that he was jumping around in time frame, it’s obvious he knows he’s talking about “Dance The Night Away”...it’s just funny how the clip mentions ‘Fair Warning’ in the title and there is very little to do with ‘Fair Warning’ in the clip.

[@Guitargate]

Dirty Movies is the cats meow. One of the very best VH choruses of all time, and that bass line. You KNOW Eddie did that one. Such pure VH that only they could do.

[@techdeathhippie6319]

You’re right ! The best chorus ever !

[@featherinthewind333]

The chorus is reminiscent of Drive my Car

[@flashy5150]

I like Alex’ drum sound and beat, then Ed’s ferocious rhythm guitar power chords rip into to the song with that thumping bass guitar. It really makes me envision driving down the Main Street in a large city at night and seeing all the strip clubs and lighted signs with “Nude Girls” written on them and prostitutes on every corner. “Fair Warning” was and is such a very different album than all the rest. To be honest, I didn’t like it when I first heard it and now it’s one of my favorite albums of all time, so gritty and powerful. Like Eddie said, “Unchained” was his favorite song and mine too, but the whole album is ingenious.

[@Guitargate]

@@flashy5150 Absolutely. Couldn't agree more.

[@Guitargate]

@@techdeathhippie6319 YUP

[@APK-pn4qh]

Anyone that thinks Eddie's tapping was just "showing off" has entirely missed the point. Best VH album in my opinion is VHII. Every song a classic. But then I love all the albums lol.

[@UedoTqm1NI]

Tapping isn't even remotely as difficult as many of the techniques that Ed used. Only a non musician would dismiss it as a showy parlour trick and not realise the complexity of many of the other sounds that he employed.

[@craigharrison5406]

Ya this guy sounds like every other guitar player from the generation before EVH (except Brian May). Any technique that was invented after them is just automatically considered as "flashy" or "showing off". It's such a closed minded point of view. Tapping is now a staple in electric guitar technique so it is much more than just showing off.

[@bls8959]

@@craigharrison5406 Not to mention tapping predates all those guys

[@RotterStudios]

Sad and yet very cool when he pointed and said.....Ed was standing right there.

[@hoodwalker802]

Saved all my lawn mowing money and rode my bike to the record store to buy this album for my girlfriend! Awesome memories!

[@Roundtablewithdrew]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@BruceStephan]

​@@RoundtablewithdrewBest boyfriend of America

[@Joesfosterdogs]

I was blessed w being in high school during this classic era at the Starwood in Hollywood...Fri and Sat nights we saw them all and this kid called Randy Rhoads! lol

[@ryanriley181]

Wow!

[@Joesfosterdogs]

@@ryanriley181 i wish i was smart enough to bootleg those gigs...UGH we didnt know better...this was just normal back then to see Motley Crue and Quiet Riot on a weekend...my buddy took guitar lessons from Randy in high school...we all lived next to each other

[@jonnydoe85]

I think this guy is getting his stories mixed up. He says Eddie called him when they were recording Fair Warning to play him a mix of Dance the Night Away. That song was from VH2, not Fair Warning.

[@donavonmacallister3101]

I doubt even half of his story is true people tend to believe these videos as truth when they have no truth to them whatsoever

[@quinnly]

OMG we need more stories from Doug! This is internet gold.

[@TempoDrift1480]

This guy couldn't tell a story if he fell from 10 of them.

[@ministerofdarkness]

Best VH album next to the debut. PLAY LOUD ⚡️

[@m00ndawg]

Fair Warning was peak VH. I had a backstage pass for that tour and next to US Festival '83 it was my all time fave show

[@flashy5150]

I’ve also heard that Eddie went into the studio in the middle of the night and recorded his own part on “Unchained” and Ted didn’t realize that Ed did this until the album was in final mastering. Thanks to Ed for being his sneaky self😜👍👍👍🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@BruceStephan]

If I remember right , it was more Ed and Donn Landee stayed in the studio while everyone else left . Donn would be his partner in crime to secretly remix the songs behind Ted's back . Ed often mentioned that Donn Landee deserved most of the credit for all the Roth era albums sound .

[@WhizMitchell]

Unchained. My # 1 favorite VH song!!!

[@duckydrummer6331]

Good stuff. I could watch this all day. Wish there were more stories, behind the console secrets, etc.

[@SteveStockmalMusic]

00:53 I totally disagree. Yes you CAN show off by doing tapping (from Eruption for example), but it’s also a great way to add an octave note or two within a solo and get a really unique beautiful sound, lick, style. I understand you don’t like it (and not only because you can’t do it lol) but to put it in a box and say it’s “show off“ is in my opinion unfair and small minded.

[@calvincooley1074]

My favorite VH album!

[@SuperLandslide]

The most impressive thing about this guy is how he can be as accomplished as he is, yet be so clueless on some of the topics he talked about in the interview.

[@danriley5848]

I agree

[@kevinhayes2389]

He’s a kook

[@yearginclarke]

Well honestly I've always noticed this about lots of random people here and there in this industry over the years...whether it's the musicians themselves, or the producers, etc. Also I've seen tons of this same type of thing in real life experiences of mine over the years. (non music related)

[@Durwood71]

@@ChrisP3000x For one, him saying that tapping is a show-off technique.

[@Durwood71]

@@ChrisP3000x It's called an ignorant opinion.

[@johnstarr8858]

One of my all-time favorites so this is Love hey I just want to say thank you for bringing this interview to us much appreciated, VH🤘's

[@Lynchfan88]

I'm a new subscriber as of a week or so ago and I gave this one a thumbs up before I even played the first five seconds because A) It's Van Halen, it's about the sessions concerning Fair Warning and B) Sunset Sound!! Keep this excellent stuff coming fellas (and ladies if there's any ladies there, lol)

[@christopher-xi2ey]

Bought this record for 25 cents at a yard sale in '88 blew my mind, still does, I was 13

[@Roggiedodgie]

Good purchase 😅

[@sagatuppercut2960]

I love to hear stories like this.

[@Brio-ko8lf]

Why is he talking about Dance the night away while discussing Fair Warning DTNA is on VH 2 ????

[@randall9000]

Guy’s gacked out of his mind. “I knew Hendrix when he was Jimmy James! 👀”

[@shorerocks]

Pure gold. Thanks for sharing.

[@chrisgarcia9629]

Amazing album!

[@8triagrammer]

I met Doug at his studio many years back. Nice guy.

[@fiddlefolk]

Proof that sometimes producers and so called experts just need to stfu and get out out of the way. They all tell you they want to capture the magic yet they don't even know when they've captured lightning in a bottle. Eddie stood the world on their ear and made them take notice with his vision of what his music should be. RIP Eddie!!!!

[@bizbuildershawaii1719]

I thought Dance the Night Away was on VH II...how did he hear it newly-mixed during Fair Warning sessions? Maybe he's a bit confused or I am...

[@walterevans2118]

Eddie RE-DID the solos by coming into the studio at about 4am with Don Landee to Re cut them better....The rest of the band didnt even notice....But thank God Eddie did because those solos were DIFFERENT and TERRIFIC....Solos like HEAR ABOUT IT LATER, UNCHAINED ,

[@legatomisterioso7]

That was during Fair Warning, this also led to Ed creating his own studio. I’m not exactly sure what time it was, but it was when the rest of the band wasn’t there.

[@KeithCanisius]

@@legatomisterioso7 its true

[@KeithCanisius]

@@Roundtablewithdrew its true

[@walterevans2118]

@@Roundtablewithdrew Ed's no longer with us to ask him bless him....I think it was mentioned in an interview with GUITAR WORLD magazine in the Early 1980s. Is Don (Landee) still with us ?

[@walterevans2118]

@@Roundtablewithdrew Ah, so glad to hear that....Now DON LANDEE is the unsung hero with Eddie's work in the studio (whether Sunset Sound or 5150) Him & ED were a terrific team and Don would know more than anybody ....He was a sonic craftsman who preferred to stay out of the limelight & just do a great job...It was hard to even find photos of him in the media...In interviews & on the Album sleeves his name was always there & as a young person I would always be going 'Who is this guy ?...I wonder what he looks like' ...lol...I remember Eddie describing Don as being one of the few on his list of what he called his 'DEEP HUMANS'.

[@DaveRucci]

Looks like Ed got his way. Not that the fans would notice. I say keep the artists happy. #1

[@odiumpugnator472]

Tapping is showing off? Well yeah, sure it is. It shows off how fantastic Eddie's musical mind was, and how he could then transfer that to his hands and fingers to make music coming from an electric guitar that had not been heard before in the way the EVH did it. Since then, yes, there are a lot of fantastically great mechanically gifted guitar players who do tapping that is arguably "better" than Eddie. BUT, Eddie's tapping was new and fresh, and musical. That's the difference. It was MUSICAL. Thank you Eddie for all of your wonderful showing off of your fantastic musical and guitar playing prowess.

[@mikeatkinson2836]

Steve Hacket of early Genesis was tapping before Eddie! He may not have been the first either!

[@3500ton]

Most of it are arpeggios. From basic to more complex. If that’s not musical what is. It sounds musical to me

[@odiumpugnator472]

@@mikeatkinson2836 Yes, "tapping", was done before Eddie. There was nothing like that coming from any guitar player before EVH, even those guitarists who also did tapping, which is also used by age old Flamenco players.

[@odiumpugnator472]

@@3500ton To me as well. :)

[@nonmember8725]

It's not important.

[@GTX1123]

Ah the elusive brown sound of Eddie's Marshalls. In the early years Eddie was extremely secretive with just about everything because he had guitarists in the L.A. music scene trying to copy him. It's why his first conversation with Randy Rhoads got a bit awkward when Randy innocently asked him how he could do all those crazy dive bombs and keep his Strat in tune. Per his Marshall amp mentioned in this video, Steve Soldano, Steven Fryette and probably a couple of other tech heads got to look at that amp first hand. They both said it was bone stock 100 Watt Plexi but Steven Fryette did say it looked like it might be a transition 1970 JMP. Ahhhhh - now that might explain some things. Marshall frequently changed parts - sometimes two or three times in the middle of a model year due to price increases. In most cases those changes were subtle so my guess is that Eddie's 100 Watt Marshall was slightly hotter than the older Plexis. The real secret of the brown sound appears to be the Variac which Eddie used to lower the voltage of the amp. This compresses the signal which shaves off some of the more shrill highs and accentuates those wonderful Marshall mid range tones.

[@aviduser1961]

Had Eddie just been known for painting guitars, he would have been famous around the world. But he did much more. So much more.

[@STRATMAN1969]

He should be up there with the modern greats of the time .

[@rickleblanc8900]

@@STRATMAN1969 he is

[@STRATMAN1969]

@@rickleblanc8900 Damm right wish like hell I could have seen that met exhibit .

[@zinnyzan]

Great channel and interview! Thank you so much for doing this! Keep going!

[@Jason247]

Yeah…that time when he may have used his black and white guitar to record the out of tune middle section of dance the night away for the fair warning album with his tapping that he “showed off” while keeping his back to the audience.

[@andylong7759]

LOL

[@randallbates9020]

Great album and so well written. Honestly my personal favorite group of music from the great Van Halen is Women and children first, I hold that album up with my collection of Led Zeppelin work but I also turn up any song from Fair Warning, So this is Love is just awesome. At 60 years old i can say I grew up in an incredible time musically and yes I still crank the volume up to max.....

[@kennykistler6735]

I don't understand the timeline of this guy's story. Eddie played him a mix of "Dance the Night Away" and then a couple days later, it was the end of Fair Warning?

[@TempoDrift1480]

He's so full of shit that if you gave him an enema you could bury him in a shoe box.

[@tgorycki]

I was thinking the same thing. Wonder if he meant Dancing in the Streets, which was from Diver Down, the next album. But then he mentioned the chorusey guitar part in the middle. Who knows. Good drugs, LOL!

[@chrisc12172]

Hes mixing the stories and timeline up. VH 2 was in 79 and Dance the Night away was on it. 2 albums later in 1981 was Fair Warning and Unchained. He's old and forgetful. Surprised the other guys in the interview didn't correct him or call him out on it.

[@zman0729]

FW has been my favorite since its release, when I was 12. Like millions of other people Ed made me want to play guitar. However, I had a short attention span and wasn't properly motivated; I took the lead singer path in the late 80s. Started teaching myself about 9 months ago - & its going well. Just started learning 'Hear About It Later' a few weeks ago. 🤘😎🤘 I still ❤️ that album.

[@ChoochContrino]

My favorite cassette, played it nonstop.

[@Juan_lauda]

One of the greatest albums of all time. Raw as fuck. The rhythm guitar chugging is so tight, sexy and groovy.

[@carloslozada470]

The red guitar was the black one he repainted it

[@briancarr4607]

And before that it was white

[@marleyhatesyouall8394]

Nope the red one is above ground and the black one is buried with dimebag....

[@carloslozada470]

@@marleyhatesyouall8394 no the guitar on the back of van halen 2 had yellow stripes that was barried with dime bag

[@LawrenceD]

@@marleyhatesyouall8394 no. The yellow and black in is buried with Dime

[@SuperSpear2009]

That's the beauty of art .. not everyone likes everything. Eiddie's tapping changed the world.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

I can tell - this guy Doug must be Annoying to be around. He has an Air of Jealousy about him. (I just can't explain, but I sense that vibe from him). So he is s better (self proclaimed) guitar player then Ronnie Montrose huh ?

[@rickleblanc8900]

Guess it's hard to admit some players are just kickass better. Ego is a fragile thing

[@gsoltis29]

I think we all got that vibe 👍

[@brownhooque]

Star fucker for sure.

[@nigelsmith721]

He's had smoke blown up his ass while dining out on these stories for so many years that he now feels like some kind of touchstone sage.

[@liberiofrank]

Agree.

[@corybarnes2341]

The tapping thing allows for really fast licks with wide intervals to be played on one string so that the tone remains the same. Even not tapping and playing on one string creates a very interesting tone. We're so used to hearing people play across the neck but if you play the same lick across the neck it doesn't have that almost "synthy" sound to it.

[@DrewMIATL]

This whole band is criminally underrated. Why the fuck do I not see Van Halen shirts when I go to target or kohl’s, but I see Green Day shirts?? Like, what in the actual fuck?

[@andybaldman]

Licensing. Green Day sold out.

[@nckhed]

Van Halen is absolutely NOT underrated at all. 🤦‍♂️

[@jmad627]

You know what? You make a good point regarding the Green Day t-shirts. Now as far as being underrated, I dunno. They’re fairly well regarded. I don’t think anyone has undervalued Eddie's guitar playing capabilities and contributions.

[@douglasmcclure9492]

Your so right ive thought the same thing greeday i just puked excuse me

[@ROCKNROLLFAN]

My favorite grandma in the whole wide world liked jump by Van Halen and I'm wearing her T-shirt in loving memory of her right now.

[@mrwilliamwonder]

Ahhhh, might as well jump!

[@bigwillie5717]

Fair Warning second best song (after you’ve heard Unchained 4000 times)….Dirty Movies. Holy F that song rocks. Excellent background/chorus. I never get tired of it…

[@atticussampson776]

I wish this was longer. Loved it!

[@Roundtablewithdrew]

Just a clip. The whole 90 min is up

[@Roundtablewithdrew]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYvTn2SQhL6DZpo

[@atticussampson776]

@@Roundtablewithdrew Thanks!!

[@williammussey1219]

1st time on tape that ED used dropped D tuning!!!

[@CribNotes]

How are they talking about listening to a mix of "Dance the Night Away" before release....and then a couple days later finishing Fair Warning? "Dance the Night Away" was TWO albums earlier.

[@douglastull3908]

One of the acts that I worked for, recorded in this very room. It's a legendary space.

[@geneevans7885]

My favorite vh album.

[@davidmerlin3344]

His tapping was NOT showing off, it was part of his style to sound different. He didn’t want to sound like Richie Blackmoore. And the white guitar became the red guitar. The guy was there and can’t remember the iconic guitar he saw during Fair Warning?

[@billbeggs3765]

I know, right. How the hell could he forget the color of Eddies guitar he got to play?

[@paulaporter778]

Because he is obviously jealous of Eddie. Who the fuck does he think he is never heard his name mentioned ANYWHERE

[@andybaldman]

I thought the same exact thing. If I had had his guitar around my neck, I’d fucking remember it for the rest of my life

[@nckhed]

@@paulaporter778 I don't know his name, either, but many people prefer to stay out of the limelight because it's just not their thing. 🤷‍♂️

[@HazeOfWhearyWater]

Can anyone recommend to me some songs that showcase Doug Messenger's lead playing?

[@shaynarose4254]

LOVE the stories!!!! What’s the story of unchained???

[@JohnDoe-jc3cl]

Sunset Sound Thank you for posting this. It’s fascinating to a guitarist like me

[@tommilitello198]

“I don’t remember if it was the red and white or black and white guitar” that was the same guitar according to Eddie

[@Davidmallen429]

Right, same guitar. Surprising how little he seems to know about VH considering he worked with them. Eddie wasn't "showing off" when he tapped. It's just how he played. Most others who copied him were however, showing off. It's been said in many interviews that he would turn his back to the crowd so people couldn't see what he was doing when he was tapping. He acts like this is the first time he's hearing this.

[@bls8959]

Eddie made his tapping into musical compositions good sir....

[@nickknight5543]

Best Van Halen album

[@fraueimerkopf5541]

Love the Fair Warning album.Named my show horse Fair Warning and clipped the VH logo on the side on my horse

[@joeyvanostrand3655]

I'm pretty sure Eddie was just heartbroken over this shuffling rogaine ad and his inability to break out of the seventies. In thought and dress. Some people genuinely do thrive on mediocrity. This is a prime example of the elderly refusing keep up with the times as they age. $10 says he still has a house phone and an AOL account.

[@therealandrecorbin4050]

Great rock song, excellent riffs with his unique style.

[@RONIN2025]

I only found you guys after the bad news that Eddie Van Halen had passed but I realized since then I have watched hours of you I Don't Know Jack schitt about playing guitars or what anything you talk about just like you talking about my personal Guitar Hero him and Stevie Ray Vaughan thank you for everything. Nothing but love from Detroit🏭🇺🇸

[@grogueQ]

It was really cool to learn exactly where everybody was in the studio, it would have been nice to hear about something that happened. But at least we're very clear on where they all were standing.

[@bradhardisty1652]

I'm confused why is he talking about Dance The Night Away in regards to Fair Warning?

[@jts400hp]

@Garegh62 Lockdowns will do that to a man..

[@gwhiz3708]

@Garegh62 jackass

[@wgb01001]

Hey Brad. I think he’s actually referring to Hear About It Later but got confused. He seems a little foggy with the details. No idea why the other replies were being dickheads.

[@reneehill8648]

got to have another interview. the stories are so amazing. please share more. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@pashon4percushon]

can't believe even EVH had to battle through artistic freedom until Van Halen became megastars. Look what happened when he built his own studio.

[@timkapeller6948]

Interestingly are any of the records done at 5150 considered as epic as the original 4 ? 1984 damn good but after that?

[@pashon4percushon]

@@timkapeller6948 well, i guess that's typical of great musicians who turn to produce on their own music, but 1984 was blockbuster, so i'm really not going to say after that because when they got artistic freedom they came out with 1984. They disagreed with doing cover songs on their albums, but they still ended up on them. And being epic as the original 4, but we typically hear 1984 songs on mainstream radio. Everybody knows Jump, but not everyone knows Ain't Talkin Bout Love.

[@timkapeller6948]

@@pashon4percushon but which is better Jump or Ain't Talking Bout Love ? No contest..it Ain't Jump...radio play doesn't mean better

[@pashon4percushon]

@@timkapeller6948 Ain't Talking Bout Love is better. But I never heard of that song until last year. And in the 80s i was always listening to the radio and watching Mtv. So i never heard of them until 1984 came out and i bought the album. And Jump, HFT, Panama those were really incredible songs for me at the time. So radio play may not mean better, but album sales do.

[@nckhed]

@@pashon4percushon If album sales equate to better music, that means a lot of talentless pop stars are all better than actual musicians like Van Halen. And I don't know how you hadn't heard of "Ain't Talkin" Bout Love". I was born in '87 and that song was one of the first VH songs I was introduced to when taking guitar lessons, second after "Eruption".