*POLL* - Question for those who grew up in the 80's

[JamesHetfieldsAcneScars]

I know EVH pretty much invented the 80's style of rock guitar playing that would come after he hit the scene, but when i was growing up, there was already hot shot guitarists on the scene like Lynch, Vai, Yngwie, DeMartini, and a whole slew of others, so EVH was just another one on the list to me. To others like me that grew up in the 80's, did you feel he was "special", or was he just another guitar great on the list to you?

[Psychobolia.com]

... there was already hot shot guitarists on the scene like Lynch, Vai, Yngwie, DeMartini, and a whole slew of others, so EVH was just another one on the list to me...

But were those guys already out there playing the clubs in 1975 or 1976?! EVH hit vinyl first in 1978, he wins, he's the shit, the original full-meal deal!

[Tommy2Tone84]

He was above all those other guys with the exception of RR and maybe George Lynch

George fell down the rung for me after his Lynch Mob days

Randy is still an even tie with EVH. Randy accomplished in two albums what many
can’t in their whole career.

[GreatWhiteSnake]

You wouldn't have had many of the others you mentioned without Edward...

[DonJuanDeMarco]

You wouldn't have had many of the others you mentioned without Edward...

Same goes with David Lee Roth. They really set the blueprint for a lot of bands.

I didn’t realize how great Eddie was right away because I grew up in the Sammy Hagar era.

When I gave the original 6 records a good listen, 2 things really hit me.

1.Eddie’s tone “the brown sound” was fantastic. Warm and not overly distorted.

2.He made it look easy.

He was a natural. He wasn’t showing off or trying too hard. That was just the way he played. He was having fun.

[Turner Coates]

The first time I heard Van Halen was Runnin' With The Devil on the radio. I thought, "Wow, Black Oak's lead player has really improved." For reals.

[DonJuanDeMarco]

The first time I heard Van Halen was Runnin' With The Devil on the radio. I thought, "Wow, Black Oak's lead player has really improved." For reals.

Good point! DLR definitely borrowed from Jim Dandy! But after VH, I never heard any 80’s rock guys say they were influenced by BOA.

[Gibsonite]

Kid: Mom, can I have an Eddie Van Halen?

Mom: No Billy, we have an Eddie Van Halen at home.

*Eddie Van Halen at home*

[LAglamrocker]

He probably inspired everything I love
But his sound is super annoying and worst band in Metal Edge basically

I’m so glad I don’t like him at all until his kid became an internet sensation villain

[maninblack]

VH1 was great songs. There was also so much going on on it. I played it for years and never tired of it.

[HoldenSSV]

I voted No even though I love his playing and hold him in very high regard as a trailblazer and innovator.

It was apparent that a lot of the hotshots had surpassed him, which is normal for progression and advancement in many occupations.

Rhoads was barely a blip for me, especially after Yngwie hit (and now, thanks to YouTube, it is even more obvious that he was light years ahead of Randy).

[maninblack]

I voted No even though I love his playing and hold him in very high regard as a trailblazer and innovator.

It was apparent that a lot of the hotshots had surpassed him, which is normal for progression and advancement in many occupations.

Rhoads was barely a blip for me, especially after Yngwie hit (and now, thanks to YouTube, it is even more obvious that he was light years ahead of Randy).

Malmsteen cant write songs. I couldnt listen to anything by him. Also Malmsteen has copied everything off ritchie blackmore, and to such an extent that he should have died of shame.

[Love_Industry]

... there was already hot shot guitarists on the scene like Lynch, Vai, Yngwie, DeMartini, and a whole slew of others, so EVH was just another one on the list to me...

But were those guys already out there playing the clubs in 1975 or 1976?! EVH hit vinyl first in 1978, he wins, he's the shit, the original full-meal deal!

Yngwie and Warren were 12 in 1975. Vai 15. George Lynch was playing the clubs back then though, playing from 1973 with The Boyz.

[Gibsonite]

I voted No even though I love his playing and hold him in very high regard as a trailblazer and innovator.

It was apparent that a lot of the hotshots had surpassed him, which is normal for progression and advancement in many occupations.

Rhoads was barely a blip for me, especially after Yngwie hit (and now, thanks to YouTube, it is even more obvious that he was light years ahead of Randy).

Malmsteen cant write songs. I couldnt listen to anything by him. Also Malmsteen has copied everything off ritchie blackmore, and to such an extent that he should have died of shame.

That one lick Yngwie drove into the ground was pretty impressive for a year or so tho lol.

[DonJuanDeMarco]

He probably inspired everything I love
But his sound is super annoying and worst band in Metal Edge basically

Are you kidding me? Up until this post, I thought you WERE David Lee Roth!!!

Give the early Roth stuff another listen. There's gotta be something there for you. I like some Sammy stuff too but he went for a real high gain sound with the Peavey 5150 amps. I like the old sound better.

[TravisBicklesMohawk]

Yes, EVH is a legendary guitarist, and probably one of the most talented musicians from my generation of rock fans.

Why anybody would question this is beyond any comprehension.

Let's move on . . .

[LAglamrocker]

A good Van Halen song doesn’t mean it’s a good song just “good” for Van Halen

Nothing Van Halen ever done is 3/10 or higher
All of it really is mediocre garbage

Discovering bands like Kingofthehill-Bulletboys- Bon Jovi - Poison- and 500 others . No reason to ever listen to Van Halen ever. Only reason I saw F*CK tour on back to back nights was for big show feel. If I grew up in a real town would have never gone. Just wait for something cool like Fasterpussy Cat or Lillian Axe
Roth would have been a better WWF manger growing up on Superstars and Challenge shows
Roth and Jake The Snake would have been Jake could have beat Hulkamania for the belt

[skinni]

he was a great player.

special status is reserved for players like jeff beck

[dmbrocker]

Yes, EVH is a legendary guitarist, and probably one of the most talented musicians from my generation of rock fans.

Why anybody would question this is beyond any comprehension.

Let's move on . . .

Agreed, but I see what OP is trying to say here. Enough guitarists started copying him in the 80's that it was a bit easier for Ed to get lost in the shuffle, I guess. And enough bands started borrowing elements of VH's musical style as well. And that Charvel/Jackson ad above is legendary, right down to that goofy finger point by Vinnie and dumb smirk by Vai.