Van Halen Stories #20 Phil X of Bon Jovi

[@killereverb3928]

Phil is the baddest. Period. I really do enjoy listening to his observations insights and comments. Super funny guy - and plays his ass off.

[@pvdguitars2951]

I was 17 in 1978. That first album floored me! For months it didn’t leave my turntable. You had to be there to know what it was like!

[@edwardskol1812]

This is one of the best interviews I have ever seen!! I loved every second!! Thank you!! Phil X is a true super VH fan. He has great insights and enthusiasm!! 🎸🎶🤘

[@guitarwayneo]

Phil X is the coolest guy around ! I love how down to earth he is and his positive energy. A great player and storyteller.

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Totally!!

[@MarcoPolo-je5ej]

I was fortunate enough to go backstage in 1995 and meet Edward Van Halen. Saw all their shows from 1982 on. I feel you, Phil. 😄 Meeting the King is almost an out of body experience. What a great guy he was. Always humble and had a smile for everyone. Great interview.

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Thanks!

[@tylerthompson1842]

I don’t understand how Bon Jovi is still selling out arenas singing the way he does.

[@Bpjames]

I play guitar at an intermediate level at best, but I LOVE to play. So when I here someone like Phil X, who is a phenomenal professional player, humble himself when talking about EVH... man, I just think first of all, what a cool dude and second but most of all, Eddie really was and always will be the king!

[@dspencer1201]

Another great interview. Phil's got charisma!

[@brianforgie7724]

True down to earth respectful Canadian boy. Its like talking with your brother after a night out. Love The Drills. Phil is at his best playing his way. That dirty bar sound is great

[@rawkinj6609]

Phil X makes you wanna go outside and scream : ''I'M ALIVE AND I LOVE IT!!!''

[@sirgarence]

Phil is the best, and his Fretted Americana videos are amazing, well worth checking out.

[@kenny3485]

Great interview. Long live the King!

[@garykramermusic]

This interview is out of control. So much awesome info! Thanks for sharing!

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Thanks for watching!!

[@lgmnowkondo938]

but then again, nobody nails every note more than EVH....with a freaking smile too!

[@stevebracher6998]

Remember when Ed would get a new cover story in a magazine. Had to have the new copy right away. Those were the "Van Halen Days" so fortunate that was our intro to music- nothing like setting the bar high!

[@beachcomber4141]

LOL! So true!! You made me think of me cutting out every picture of Eddie I could find in a magazine back then to put on my wall. If he was in a magazine, I had to have it.

[@caleshtcincredibles]

Eddie's rhythm playing was so precise , so tight in the pocket was another part of his genius . I heard some videos with his tracks isolated, just mind blowing .

[@FranckBassist61]

Great interview! Phil is a real cool guy and a great guitarplayer that knows what he's talking about!

[@jodymills3138]

Great talk guy’s, love the story Phil shares. Thanks

[@waffl3st0mp]

This is wonderful. Thank you so much for this. Phil X is a national treasure.

[@georgeshepherd3381]

Remembering first hearing VH!!

[@BOOMER-DAD]

Phil’s one of those cats that you meet and aren’t disappointed because they are a jerk. He deserves every success that comes his way. I like his Framus model SG W/ the P 90’s

[@bradhardisty1652]

He had some interesting stories from more recent times.

[@iluvj50]

Sporting the modern Ty Tabor look! Phil X = King's X.

[@beachcomber4141]

Fantastic interview here. Phil is such a monster but so damn cool. Phil is also one of the very few that can REALLY pull off playing Eddie. He has that 'swing' that so few really have in order to really play like Edward. I loved hearing Phil's stories about meeting Ed, and I felt his pain when he saw him when he was really messed up on drugs and drinks. I remember hearing rumors that he was not going to make it much longer as hard as he was hitting it, thank God he finally did get sober. I also shed a tear when both were reliving the day he passed. I was just getting off work, and before I left my computer, I hit up a news site and saw his picture, and was so devastated. I had not really listed to VH in a while, but he is the reason I (and every other friend of mine in the 80's) got a guitar. I called some old friends, and actually shed some tears as he was our idol and the coolest, most influential guitar player since Hendrix and there has yet to be another one who changed the way a guitar was played like he did. Cheers to EVH!!!!

[@Ibaneddie76]

I just saw this KZbin video of Phil from the late 80's demoing this crazy Floyd Rose Tremolo arm, I think it was called the wiggle stick or flick stick something crazy like that. He was straight up playing Steve Vai type licks, definitely an immensely underrated guitarist/vocalist/musician/performer, I think he should be way more famous than he is!

[@jimmyjames7946]

I love Phill!! He is such an amazing unique talent!! Trying to learn some of his licks was extremely hard !! 🤘🤘

[@10alexa10]

Thank you. That was amazing.

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@djwinston99]

Great stories, great interview, Phil X is da man!

[@johnfatorich3494]

Thanks for the stories Phil, never tire hearing about Ed.

[@PoppaOn2]

Jeff, im a HUGE VH fan and have been watching your channel for a while. What a great interview I love the enthusiasm and Phil X is such a great player, and seems like an awesome laid back guy. I love the Drills. Keep up the awesome VH content!!🤘👍

[@scottyo64]

I saw woman and childern, then the mean strett tour, then took my little brother to see the 1984 tour. To this day his says I ruined him for concerts to come as nothing has lived up to Van Halen. Saw Van Hager a couple of times, but nothing was like the original band and the chemistry.

[@vanshipman]

I’ll never forget when VH 1 came out, my brother-in-law (R.I.P.) pointed it out to me. We both got the 8 track and cranked it in his car and I’ve never been the same since. I had only been playing a few years and I was a Clapton fanatic, after hearing Eddie my entire look on the guitar was rebooted. I later realized one of the millions of reasons why I was so drawn to his playing was of the Clapton influence and there is a lot of it in Eddie’s playing. Listen to a lot of Cream live and you’ll hear it. A good one will be “Stepping Out” or “Spoonful.” I never dreamed one day I would eventually get to meet him and it was just once, meeting your hero is a bucket list item for sure. He gave me a smoke and a pick. It was the best. I still can’t believe we lost him so early. R.I.P. Eddie, you are the GOAT 🙏🎸

[@roberthijar4793]

Damn good interview. Ed was a regular guy that was super talented as was his brother. They just devoted themselves to doing what they loved and didn't compromise. Eddie was still human in every way and he had addictions and marital problems, and a world of responsibility on his shoulders. He had mega ego's around him that were great artists but were also caught up in being rockstar personalities, ie: David lee Roth and Sammy Hagar. He was not like them, he was about his creativity. He could come across as an asshole maybe, but he wasn't trying to be a rockstar, he was about the music! He was always working on his guitars, amps, studio, he was an introvert. Phil X tells it like it was, great perspective.

[@stevebracher6998]

Third time watching this one Lol. Long Live the King

[@mikeymojo8299]

Just finished watching this, WOW. what a great podcast. So cool hearing both of you guys go deep and tell your stories. Phil your passion and love for Ed is awesome and contagious. I CAN’T WAIT to hear your sound check of LUTS! And pray Mikey plays on it 😉 Another great podcast Jeff, thanks for doing these 👊🏼👊🏼 LONG LIVE KING EDWARD 🔴⚪️⚫️ 👑 #EVH4ever

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Thank You!!

[@marktabscott5803]

Best interview! Solid work!’

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Thank You!

[@erickimm5150]

Such a great channel man. Love what you’re doing with all the Van Halen stuff. Well done.

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Thanks! Got some really exciting stuff brewing! Stay Tuned!

[@hollylewis5302]

Super Awesome interview Jeff with PhilX! I saw a couple of his videos early on about EVH. You both have such enthusiasm for him. It is refreshing and contagious. Phil is super funny! I love how he speaks truthfully and also with such reverence for "The King!" Love the EdG...Johnny B right? Thanks again! You guys ROCK! ❤🖤🤍🎸👑

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Thanks Holly!!

[@TillKahrs]

Just AWESOME interview-Thanks! I saw VH at Anaheim Stadium in 1978 and at The LA Sports Arena in 1981-The Best!!

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Wow! Killer! The parachute show!

[@TillKahrs]

@@FinalResonanceTV YES, that was the one...they pulled off the parachute thing very well at The Big A...no one had any idea it was staged...we all thought they were Gods...BTW...That show had about 10 folks on the bill and one of those was Sammy Hagar as well as Black Sabbath...

[@JeffPulinski]

Really enjoyed this one. Love this series.

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Thanks Jeff! I’m going to be reaching out to you for the Smithsonian Anniversary Show I’m planning! Stay Tuned!!

[@JeffPulinski]

@@FinalResonanceTV Great!

[@daveyboy8907]

Great interview..I have been binge watching these interviews..Thanks for giving us VH fans a place to come..

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Glad you like them!

[@adiohead]

I was at the '95 Bon Jovi concert at Wembley Stadium with Van Halen! Was such a great show!!

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Awesome

[@BCyr1991]

I was wondering about the Aldo Nova connection from that time period, but Phil makes a good point that a lot of time and faces had passed since then.

[@terryeaster1]

@13:25 amen man that is exactly right, the fun in the spirit

[@horsecockexpress7612]

Phil X Fretted Americana brought me life. Some of the most amazing moments ever caught on video

[@bradhardisty1652]

I remember when I heard he had joined Bon Jovi.and I did searches for fan shot vids on KZbin because I wanted to see Phil playing in Bon Jovi.. i was excited for him.

[@mikerocket62]

Eddie, we miss you...

[@johnpaikopoulos7691]

My Greek guitar hero 🤘🏽 Cheers from Montreal!

[@brianborowski7892]

Hey Philx The times I’ve met you with Kurt Deimer you were so cool I was so nervous when I met you at the art theater in Hobart Indiana and you walked in and you were so fucking down to earth and you made me feel that I needed to relax this why I say you’re not far away from being the king your self I’m just local drummer in my little town of Hobart but when I listen to you play your instrument you take me on another fucking journey just like Eddie so that being said you’re not some person dude❤and this interview is so freaking awesome I love it❤️

[@RichieRich61270]

You Da Man Jeff. Great Interview and Excellent Content.

[@FinalResonanceTV]

I appreciate that Buddy!

[@warrenyoung7503]

The last Time I saw him live in 2015 I knew it was the last Time too.

[@78evh22]

Great information and interview Jeff, I was at maple leaf gardens in Toronto just like Phil. Mind blowing watching Eddie ❤❤

[@sweetwilliam5150]

Phil’s comment about Dave singing EWS is hysterical and completely accurate. Bring back the piss and vinegar!

[@mikerocket62]

Phil, big fan insight, When I saw you for the first time on the tube rocking and smiling playing like a superstar all those songs I love, I was like wow check this dude out, I knew instantly you were going to be huge ... keep rocking tell Jon I said hi,

[@scottbawden834]

Great interview Jeff! Phil is awesome.

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Thanks!!

[@petewoodroffemusic]

Hes a good player with great attitude and personality so deserves his success! Pete Woodroffe Music UK

[@jackwillson8099]

Cool shit love it. big Ed fan now big Phil x fan

[@jeffcrandall5799]

How could you overlook this guy on the Van Halen tribute tour ? He'll kill it...Great natural player !

[@DVincentW]

0:08 *You're the King. Great music and interview.

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Thanks!

[@ccerwin]

2006 that breaks my heart to hear this.

[@georgeshepherd3381]

Wow. Roughly contemporary. This resonates!

[@heyjarrod]

Awesome! Looking forward to this interview. I’m pretty old-school, so I only remember Bon Jovi with Richie Sambora. But I did see Phil play a few weeks ago over here at one of those Tuesday night Ultimate Jams at the Whisky. That was gnarly! I believe he had that cool striped SG. I’m sure I will see him around more now that I recognize him. 🤘🏻🔥🎸😝

[@vintagesounds5150]

PhilX is an Excellent Player and an Encyclopedia of Guitar Riffs Respect!🎸🎶🆒

[@jimmyfrombrooklyn8550]

Phil picked up on EVH’s ‘swing’ and how important that was to Ed’s whole vibe. Amazing! There’s so much to EVH that Phil brought to light that most of us took for granted. Phil is the natural heir to the throne of rock greats and by being himself- listen to the drills, thrilling guitar front to back, great vocals and his sense of humor. If he wasn’t Canadian he’d be a national treasure

[@stevebravo1422]

Hi Canadian here, we’ll claim him for you! Great musician and great guy

[@jimmyfrombrooklyn8550]

@@stevebravo1422 re Phil- this guy got me through my Covid lockdown and reignited my love for rock guitar. Makes me wish I was Canadian too! Happy holidays!

[@robertbernas1104]

That was awesome- thanks so much - great vibes reminiscing EVH🤙

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Thanks for watching!!

[@seanb199zero]

Great convo! Phil seems like a cool dude

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Super cooll! Thank You!

[@superflysoulbrother]

I swear, Phil X and Nuno must be long lost brothers

[@jodymills3138]

Now you have the cape X bad monkey days to where you’ve played congrats man!!

[@francoisfavreau769]

Wow,such a great interview and what i like the most is knowledge but not so much about what happened here and there but more the "how to" parts of how it was achieve and all thechnical part about amps,guitars,playing.Thanks for another gem.

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jkesslermusic]

Phil X is great!

[@lucabiolzi1767]

This interview is the Best Xmas present ever man! 🤩🔝🥳 It's amazing to hear and see... and actually FEEL Phil's pure love and admiration for Eddie. ❤️ He speaks the heart of so many of us. Not only a phenomenal player, but a great guy as well! Your interaction was so spontaneous too, and that is what makes an interview turn from ok to amazing. 😉🔝 Thanks for doing it Jeff, you made my day, week, and Xmas! 🙏🏻 P.S. ...can I get that mp3 too? 😅

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Thanks So Much!

[@mmarcz]

Being at work as an adult and finding out that EVH died, made me feel like I was 15 in high school again, finding out that SRV died. I felt crushed.

[@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973]

I was lucky enough to meet SRV . He was with Lonnie Mack, who was a friend of my Dad , in Indiana at Mack's farm. Stevie was staying with Mack and his wife for a couple weeks before they returned to Texas for a bunch of club gigs. I was 16 years old and had no idea who he was. He was really nice though. I remember thinking he looked really small compared to Mack and my Dad. I don't think he weighed more than 125 lbs

[@sdj7fajo]

I legit saw and talked to Phil X in person after he played in a Drowning Pool set. Got his guitar pick. I''ll sell it to someone if the price is right. Just kidding.

[@jeffro.]

I can't believe it--PhilX comes up with licks the way i do! He feels compelled to come up with licks that nobody else does, even ones he can't play... Then he works on 'em until he masters them. Wow. The more i learn about PhilX, the more i like him. Seriously, he's a musical genius. He claims he can't read (music) so everything is by ear. Me, too. I can sorta read music, not sure whether tabs or music score is worse, though.

[@Checkthe3onyourtelephone]

Love your channel great interview!

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Much appreciated!

[@TheGuitarBreakdown]

Great vid!!! Phil is one of the golden gooses ... absolutely love him and everything he does for music and the guitar community. Great interview/questions!!! Keep up the great work! What is that book you referred to written by "john geneliki"? (i know i'm probably spelling that name wrong.

[@FinalResonanceTV]

It was a how to paint a guitar book he put out way way back 2004

[@user-yz3et4lq9y]

Has anyone ever noticed how cool musicians are as a whole? They are always just like the coolest guys in the room, even when they don't mean to be! :-) No wonder they're such chick magnets!

[@georgeshepherd3381]

Liking! Thanks!

[@marramusic]

Great guitarist. King of the humble brag.

[@cheribee968]

Definitely got the sweet personality

[@OlafBathoorn]

Great interview and I remember in '95 Van Halen blew Bon Jovi off stage big time in Europe ;-)

[@nyhtopossu4858]

I would like to recommend Russ Parrish (Satchel of Steel Panther) for Van Halen Stories. He played in VH tribute band Atomic Punks and thus have 10,000+ hours of practicing Eddie's guitar parts and has always praised Eddie. I'd think, that if he ever met Eddie he would also say that it was like meeting Jesus. I don't know, so interview him. Just get him off the Satchel character and interview him as himself.

[@FinalResonanceTV]

I would love to have Russ! I gotta catch him before he hits the road! I have some friends that are close to him, so definitely a possibility!

[@Illinois_Steve]

Phil has such adoration and respect for Ed. But, I think because he never got to know Ed on a personal level, that he continues to see him and revere him with the same eyes as he did when he was 14. Without really trying, Phil has become Ed's curator; something I'm sure he would be embarrassed (and even upset) to hear being said. But I can't think of a greater honor nor a better person to carry that weight.

[@frankrichards3089]

He is right ZZ Top was so big for VH but ZZ was powerul af in their heyday too.

[@sophanarakpreap5559]

I was at Van Halen concert 2015

[@surferdudehb352]

Unchained is probably the greatest live performance in rock history

[@rmedzoyan]

He called it. The ZZ Top influence is kept behind smoke and mirrors, and it does not need to be. No shame in that, ZZ Top is awesome, and the level VH took it to was also very original.

[@funhistory]

Regarding the "white" (slightly blonde?) Les Paul mentioned briefly at 24:55, he played that for most of the set I saw while opening for Sabbath in Sep. '78, including "Eruption", where he simply went crazy on the tuning keys for the final growls in lieu of a whammy bar. Rudy, his tech, then handed him his B&W Frank for YRGM, basically the opposite of what you see in the Fresno & Niagara clips. So yes, the variability in raw guitar tone PLUS the variability between rigs A & B definitely added to the dynamic quality of his performances on any given night. (Footnote: The Shark was on a stand ready to go, but he never played it that night.)

[@bobpugliese4428]

I would love too see someone open the vault to eddies collection.. i always trip on the picture of him with the 58 or59 les paul with one pickup.

[@tonythompson4192]

Agreed and appreciate it was that life changing fair warning diver down thanks to v h ,

[@frankrichards3089]

As Dweezil Zappa said if you didn't know the blue jumpsuit is a Superhero outfit ;)

[@RGZ112]

I thought you guys knew, that on the recording of Van Halen , the Ibanez Destroyer was not yet the shark guitar. Edward said that he didn't like the sound of it after he modified the guitar

[@frankrichards3089]

Exactly what i said. Never shook his hand nor met him but the dude was 5'8" the stretch on Ice Cream Man etc take a large hand. Much like SRV or Jimi. All mot big men but all had hands that were abnormally large for their size bodies.

[@richb6291]

Brilliant interview Geoff - Phil is such a wonderful interviewee . The VH Bumble Bee Book sounds interesting ??? Do you think its still available ? Hope you ( and Phils ) your family have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy and Peaceful New Year too. Thank you for these excellent interviews.

[@FinalResonanceTV]

Yes Van Halen Store! It’s incredible!

[@5150gtrman]

He should be the Guitar Player in the Current TRIBUTE band! I love Satch but PHIL has the tone and sound and feel!

[@FinalResonanceTV]

I would expect he will participate at some point

[@frankrichards3089]

I'd equate his searching for tone and always trying new things to Tiger Woods in golf changing his swing after he won 4 major golf tournaments in a row. Always striving for more.

[@BillDerBerg]

Eddie's tone in those live bootlegs like that in the intro is unmatched. Just saying

[@jperryfan]

Totally agree VH was very influenced by ZZ Top. Who were Jacked up John Lee Hooker. The Boogie Chillin riff on steroids

[@JohnW335andTele]

How ironic that a dog barks at 1:16:35 when he mentions a dog-eared P90!

[@pinofredd]

Sorry to ask, is there any reference to the book about to build a white and black stripe replica?

[@FinalResonanceTV]

No longer out there

[@ricardoslhenriques]

Phil X is 56???!!! 🤯