Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Angus Young: Eddie Van Halen is an innovator like Jimi Hendrix


Legendary rock photographer Neil Zlozower recently completed his second Van Halen hardcover coffee table photo book, "Eddie Van Halen,” to be released October 12.

The Van Halen News Desk has an exclusive quote from the book, courtesy of AC/DC's Angus Young.

"AC/DC played on a bill with Van Halen back in 1978 or 1979 for a Bill Graham Day on the Green show. I didn't know much about Van Halen then except that I remember seeing film clips of them, especially the one of Eddie playing the solo piece 'Eruption', and I was very impressed. I didn't meet Eddie until years later when there was a Monsters Of Rock open-air festival in England. I was shocked to hear he liked my playing, because I've never rated myself as a guitarist.”

“Eddie is an innovator,” continues Angus. “When I grew up we had a lot of guys from England who were great players, like Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. And then, of course, when Jimi Hendrix came along, he changed the game. I’d put Eddie in that category of being an innovator like [Jimi] Hendrix. He changed the game for his style of playing. When Eddie came along he spawned so many imitators. Like Hendrix, suddenly you started to see people wanting to buy the same guitars he played and also play his licks. He turned the rule book upside down in terms of his approach. There was a lot of experimentation to his playing. Eddie also crosses into that avant-garde thing, which puts him in the same category as Hendrix.”

'Eruption' is a favorite track. He’s got everything characteristic of his playing in that song - there’s a bit of everything.”

“When Jimi Hendrix came along it was like, 'Where did this guy come from?', and I think that was the same feeling with Eddie. When Eddie appeared on the scene, every guitarist I ran into said, 'You’ve gotta hear this guy!'"


For more details on the "Eddie Van Halen" book, click here.

To pre-order an autographed copy of Zlozower’s book, click here.

Still no official word on when the new VH album will be released, or even when the first single is likely to drop.

Van Van Halen

Eddie Van Halen – Eruption
Selland Arena - Fresno, CA – September 22, 1978

See also: Van Halen: New single due next week? Van Halen to tour Australia in 2012? Van Halen: Soundwave Revolution fest cancelled Van Halen top the hennemusic Hot 10 for 2nd week Van Halen: Ted Templeman talks about how he ended up on ‘Unchained’ Jul 31: Van Halen top the hennemusic Hot 10 Eddie Van Halen a little nervous about new album Sammy Hagar says Chickenfoot III is best record he’s ever made Van Halen: Sevendust drummer raves about new album Van Halen: World Tour rumored to start in November Van Halen producer says band is ‘on fire’ with new album Van Halen, Bruce Springsteen named Top American Rock Bands of All Time by Gibson Van Halen: New music update Michael Anthony: Chickenfoot vs. Van Halen Alter Bridge guitarist hears new Van Halen album Eddie Van Halen interviewed by Smithsonian magazine Van Halen mixing new album, says Slash Eddie Van Halen photo book due in October