In a candid reflection on his career, Eddie Van Halen once said, “I thought it was about the lamest song I ever wrote in my life.” These words referred to one of Van Halen’s earliest hits, “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love.” Eddie’s journey as a guitarist, his unique approach to music, and even his humorous recollections of a strict music teacher shed light on the genius behind the legend.
When asked how he developed his speed, Eddie shared a story filled with humor. Born in Holland, Eddie moved to the U.S. with his family at the age of seven. His musical training began early and under strict conditions.
“Well, I’ll tell you. They used to lock me in a little room and go, ‘Play fast!’” Eddie joked. “I was actually trained to be a classical pianist. I had this Russian teacher who couldn’t speak a word of English. He’d sit there with a ruler, ready to slap my face if I made a mistake.”
Both Eddie and his brother Alex began their music lessons in Holland and continued in the U.S., where their father found another talented teacher. This early training sharpened Eddie’s ear, developed his understanding of theory, and improved his dexterity.
Yet, rock and roll beckoned. Inspired by bands like the Dave Clark Five, Eddie shifted his focus. “When those bands came out, I wanted to go [plays riff from ‘You Really Got Me’],” he explained. “I didn’t want to go clink, clink, clink.” Despite the transition, Eddie continued to play piano and even dabbled with the violin.
Eddie acknowledged that his classical piano training subtly influenced his guitar playing. As he demonstrated the continuous left-hand tremolo technique from “Spanish Fly,” he remarked, “Things like this are classical. I know that had some psychological effect, but I don’t sit down at the piano and try to apply it to guitar.”
Eddie’s approach to guitar solos combined structure with improvisation. “Feeling,” he emphasized, was paramount. “I don’t care if it’s melodic or spontaneous. If it’s melodic and has no feeling, it’s screwed.”
Sometimes, Eddie meticulously planned his solos, as he did for tracks like “Runnin’ With the Devil” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love.” “By ‘set,’ I mean that I figured out something melodic instead of just going for it,” he explained.
Other times, his solos were entirely spontaneous. “’Ice Cream Man’ was one,” Eddie noted. “That was a first take. The solo in ‘You Really Got Me’ was totally spontaneous. Next time you listen, turn the balance to one side. There’s only one guitar, no overdubs, but it sounds full.”
Onstage, Eddie preferred to mix things up. “I rarely repeat,” he said. “Sometimes I remember how I did it on the record and follow it, unless it’s a melodic solo like in ‘Runnin’ With the Devil.’ But if I start noodling, kids go, ‘Hey, that ain’t the same song!’”
One of the most surprising revelations in the interview was Eddie’s initial disdain for “Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love.”
“When I wrote it, I thought it was the lamest song I’d ever written,” he admitted. “It took me six months to show the guys. But kids go nuts for it! I love the beginning — Am and G.”
Eddie Van Halen remains in the spotlight thanks to the documentary The Journey to Frankenstein, which chronicles his quest to perfect the “Super Strat” guitar. The film traces Eddie’s decade-long experimentation with Les Pauls, Stratocasters, and the Ibanez Destroyer in search of his ideal instrument.
Additionally, Alex Van Halen recently announced his memoir, Brothers, which includes the final song he and Eddie worked on, titled “Unfinished.” The memoir, available as a 720-minute audiobook, will also be released in physical and ebook formats.
Eddie’s legacy, marked by innovation, humor, and an unwavering commitment to his craft, continues to resonate with fans and musicians alike.
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