I remember there was one Van Halen video I saw where Dave was kinda bent over, and he turned his head and looked away from the camera for a moment, and then turned his head and looked back at the camera....
So anyway, after that video came out, like a pack of trained chimpanzees, I saw several vocalists in various club bands aping that same move....
And then of course, leg warmers became popular, and it became cool to have a bunch of bandannas hanging off your belt, etc.
I have always despised trend followers. Dave was an original. Unique.
And it was often funny to see other singers doing their best to act like him.
Of course, there were many guys out there who were trying to copy Ed.
I knew one guy in Kansas named Glen, who was a complete and utter Ed clone. He later moved to L.A., and one of my friends out there saw him and told me he was the same. Did his very best to buy all the gear Ed used. Spent his days and nights trying to be like Ed (though I dunno if he could drink as much as Ed).
I mean, it is one thing to emulate your musical heroes long enough to find your own identity, but this guy had no identity of his own. Just wanted to be Ed.
As far as that goes, I would not mind being a world famous rock guitarist with an actress wife and a home in Beverly Hills....but I would prefer to be one WITHOUT being a drunk asshole...