Van Halen
USA, 1972–2020
Los Angeles band formed in 1974. Eddie Van Halen's two-handed tapping technique, first heard on the instrumental 'Eruption', changed standard practice in rock lead guitar.
MusicRoots documents 4 artists who influenced Van Halen and 4 artists Van Halen influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Van Halen?
- Cream — Eric Clapton was Eddie Van Halen's declared main influence — at 14 he could play Cream's live 'Crossroads' note for note; Clapton's tone and simplicity shaped his phrasing.
- Led Zeppelin — Jimmy Page's pull-offs on 'Heartbreaker' set Eddie thinking about two-handed tapping — the seed of the technique that made Van Halen; 'Jimmy Page was more the way I am'.
- Deep Purple — Ritchie Blackmore got Eddie 'hooked on the whammy bar' — Deep Purple's guitar drama a fundamental influence on his early playing.
- Eric Clapton — Eddie Van Halen's declared main influence — at 14 he played Cream's 'Crossroads' note for note.
Which artists did Van Halen influence?
- Pantera — Dimebag's first hero, named in interview after interview. He won the Dean ML he played for the rest of his life by performing 'Eruption' note for note at fifteen.
- Bon Jovi — Van Halen's Sunset-Strip hard rock was the contemporary template Bon Jovi's arena-metal sound built on.
- Poets of the Fall — Van Halen's melodic hard rock and guitar virtuosity are among Saaresto's cited influences on the band.
- Poison — Part of the glam-metal mix Poison were built from, with the New York Dolls, Kiss and Mötley Crüe.