View Poll Results: Ed's defining solo is...?

Voters
32. You may not vote on this poll
  • Push comes to shove

    4 12.50%
  • Eruption

    20 62.50%
  • Beat it

    3 9.38%
  • Dance the night away

    0 0%
  • Hot for teacher

    5 15.63%
  • Light up the sky

    0 0%
  • Cathedral

    1 3.13%
  • Runnin' with the devil

    0 0%
  • Humans being

    0 0%
  • Drop dead legs

    3 9.38%
Multiple Choice Poll.
Results 1 to 36 of 36

Thread: Eddie's defining solo

  1. #1
    someone's doormat
    Commando
    Yount's Avatar
    Member No
    27771
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Alberquerque
    Age
    42
    Posts
    1,099
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    16

    Eddie's defining solo

    Just curious as to your thoughts on Ed's defining solo.

  2. #2
    Commando
    Etienne's Avatar
    Member No
    25547
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Switzerland
    Posts
    1,196
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    15
    I voted for Hot For Teacher studio recording. The solo sums up perfectly the story of the song. It seems EVH never gets out of ideas. And all makes really sense.

    It's the epitome of an EVH solo.

  3. #3
    The true JBC
    TOASTMASTER GENERAL
    kwame k's Avatar
    Member No
    24030
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Holly, MI
    Age
    55
    Posts
    11,302
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    52
    Personal feelings aside, I have to go with Eruption.........that solo changed how guitar was played and brought a strat-styled guitar to the forefront of hard rock.

    It is his defining solo......if you use the criteria of influence, changing how guitar is played, the style of guitars that became popular and guitar tone that one solo changed it all.

    My personal fav, on the list is DDL but I voted for Eruption.
    Quote Originally Posted by vandeleur View Post
    E- Jesus . Playing both sides because he didnt understand the argument in the first place

  4. #4
    Sheep Pen noob
    ROTH ARMY SUPREME
    vandeleur's Avatar
    Member No
    24919
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    uk
    Posts
    9,870
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    54
    Am with k .... Eruption started it all .. Fuck , he still plays it
    fuck your fucking framing

  5. #5
    The true JBC
    TOASTMASTER GENERAL
    kwame k's Avatar
    Member No
    24030
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Holly, MI
    Age
    55
    Posts
    11,302
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    52
    ....and he's back to the old Eddie Van Fuckin' Halen!

  6. #6
    Perpetually Befuddled
    DIAMOND STATUS
    chefcraig's Avatar
    Member No
    3871
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    "A Confederacy Of Dunces"
    Posts
    12,172
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    74
    I went with "Push Comes To Shove", as it contains examples of just about everything that I love about the guy's playing. But in terms of cultural significance, it would hard to top "Beat It." That little solo right there dramatically altered the landscape of so-called pop music, and was a game-changer for just about anyone that heard it.









    “The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.”
    ― Stephen Hawking

  7. #7
    When You Tell The Truth
    Crazy Ass Mofo
    SNIPER's Avatar
    Member No
    5738
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Earth
    Age
    52
    Posts
    2,625
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    26
    It does not matter how killer any of Eddies' solos are. Eruption will always and forever be the most known as "Ed's defining solo" to the world. But for me out of this list it is between DDL and Push. ...I had to vote Eruption just because.

  8. #8
    Youcan'thandleTheTruth!
    Veteran
    Zing!'s Avatar
    Member No
    27445
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    MN
    Posts
    2,363
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    25
    Quote Originally Posted by chefcraig View Post
    I went with "Push Comes To Shove", as it contains examples of just about everything that I love about the guy's playing. But in terms of cultural significance, it would hard to top "Beat It." That little solo right there dramatically altered the landscape of so-called pop music, and was a game-changer for just about anyone that heard it.
    I'll get flamed for saying this, but I have to agree. Ed's solo on Beat It is amazing.
    My karma just ran over your dogma.

  9. #9
    Perpetually Befuddled
    DIAMOND STATUS
    chefcraig's Avatar
    Member No
    3871
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    "A Confederacy Of Dunces"
    Posts
    12,172
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    74
    Quote Originally Posted by Zing! View Post
    I'll get flamed for saying this, but I have to agree. Ed's solo on Beat It is amazing.
    To truly put it into perspective, consider everything that took place after it. Run DMC hooks up with Aerosmith, The Beastie Boys released Licensed To Ill, Anthrax puts out I'm The Man, Faith No More came up with what is arguably their only good album (The Real Thing), and metal bands started hooking up with rappers.

    On the negative side, the combination also lead to the ghastly sound of Nu Metal and talent-free twit bands like Korn and Limp Triscuit, the latter of which contained the dubious and quite frankly questionable artistic merit of Fred Durst, a man whose one claim to fame would be introducing date-rape rock to a generation of frat-boy assholes and sadists.

    "Beat It" allowed for a cultural cross-over in genres of music that followed it, good, bad or just plain awful.
    Last edited by chefcraig; 04-07-2012 at 03:12 PM.

  10. #10
    Rice Cooker
    Crazy Ass Mofo
    knuckleboner's Avatar
    Member No
    120
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Fairfax, VA
    Posts
    2,927
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    25
    the knuckleboner's favorite? ice cream man.
    most significance for rock? eruption, nothing else close.
    i would disagree that beat it led to limp bizkit. (with or without beat it, rick rubin makes the move to walk this way.) but, without question, eddie's guitar helped launch michael jackson to the statosphere. having a van halen guitar on a black pop music song got it on MTV. michael jackson's career, and all of pop music that followed was the result.

  11. #11
    Lick me
    TOASTMASTER GENERAL
    Terry's Avatar
    Member No
    181
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    USA! USA! USA!
    Posts
    11,950
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    55
    It'd have to be Eruption.

    Did Dance The Night Away even have what could be defined as a proper guitar solo? Not too sure about that track as a poll choice...

    Light Up The Sky wouldn't really spring to mind as one of Ed's most memorable, either.

    Eruption was a jaw-dropping display of where rock guitar was headed. Possibly more so for budding guitarists than the larger record buying public (I'd tend to agree that Beat It was very instrumental in introducing Eddie Van Halen and Van Halen to a much wider audience than they tended to reach around 1982, and this along with Jump probably broadened their audience and made 1984 such a big smash...much bigger than Diver Down). However, Eruption is just one of those defining moments in the evolution of rock guitar.
    Scramby eggs and bacon.

  12. #12
    someone's doormat
    Commando
    Yount's Avatar
    Member No
    27771
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Alberquerque
    Age
    42
    Posts
    1,099
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    16
    We're so blessed to have a choice with Ed. I had to cull the poll list down from 20, and had a very enjoyable time just going through the solos from each song one-by-one. I chose Beat It also, but really.... coulda gone with anything really. Was tempted to say DTNA; short, sweet, girl-friendly. That song should have been number 1, what a shame!

  13. #13
    someone's doormat
    Commando
    Yount's Avatar
    Member No
    27771
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Alberquerque
    Age
    42
    Posts
    1,099
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    16
    Quote Originally Posted by Terry View Post
    Did Dance The Night Away even have what could be defined as a proper guitar solo? Not too sure about that track as a poll choice...

    Light Up The Sky wouldn't really spring to mind as one of Ed's most memorable, either.
    I probably let my personal bias influence Light Up The Sky and Humans Being. Sorry I missed Jump too. But Dance the night away... yeah I know. Wasn't sure if you could call it a solo, but it's just very very memorable moment and so very tasty before the outro chorus.

    So what was the big favourite in 1979 when II was released?? Surely not Spanish fly?? Outta love again?

    And also... what about breaking it down into eras. Van Hagar defining solo? Van Cherone?

    I'd go with maybe Judgement day (the two-handed tapping on the fretboard) or Top of the world...
    and...
    er, Year to the day

  14. #14
    Tattoo Tattoo
    Full Member Status

    Sensible Shoes's Avatar
    Member No
    25002
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    4,650
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    31
    Funny, Beat It came on the radio tonight and I got a chance to listen. Didn't blow my socks off.

    Oh dear.

  15. #15
    Lick me
    TOASTMASTER GENERAL
    Terry's Avatar
    Member No
    181
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    USA! USA! USA!
    Posts
    11,950
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    55
    Quote Originally Posted by Yount View Post
    I probably let my personal bias influence Light Up The Sky and Humans Being. Sorry I missed Jump too. But Dance the night away... yeah I know. Wasn't sure if you could call it a solo, but it's just very very memorable moment and so very tasty before the outro chorus.

    So what was the big favourite in 1979 when II was released?? Surely not Spanish fly?? Outta love again?

    And also... what about breaking it down into eras. Van Hagar defining solo? Van Cherone?

    I'd go with maybe Judgement day (the two-handed tapping on the fretboard) or Top of the world...
    and...
    er, Year to the day
    Far as 1979 goes, I'd say either Somebody Get Me A Doctor, DOA or Outta Love Again far as strictly solos went.

    Spanish Fly was very fine, but a bit too much like an acoustic version of Eruption too be nearly as unique.

    I mean, I enjoyed what Ed did on DTNA as well, but have never thought of the song as having a solo as such...but hey, that's just me being a cunt as per norm.

  16. #16
    Lick me
    TOASTMASTER GENERAL
    Terry's Avatar
    Member No
    181
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    USA! USA! USA!
    Posts
    11,950
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    55
    Quote Originally Posted by Sensible Shoes View Post
    Funny, Beat It came on the radio tonight and I got a chance to listen. Didn't blow my socks off.
    The Beat It solo wasn't exactly mindblowing for me, either, but I imagine for someone who hadn't heard what Eddie Van Halen was doing until Thriller was released hearing Beat It as their first exposure would be somewhat jawdropping.

  17. #17
    Sniper
    vaijuju's Avatar
    Member No
    23921
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    france
    Age
    58
    Posts
    830
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    19
    Of course PUSH COMES TO SHOVE!
    http://vhfrance.activebb.net/ (1 er Site Francophone sur Van Halen)

    http://www.youtube.com/user/VHFranceVideos (Our new Channel)

  18. #18
    Veteran
    So this is love's Avatar
    Member No
    27806
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    N.America
    Posts
    2,395
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    18
    Quote Originally Posted by Terry View Post
    It'd have to be Eruption.

    Did Dance The Night Away even have what could be defined as a proper guitar solo? Not too sure about that track as a poll choice...

    Light Up The Sky wouldn't really spring to mind as one of Ed's most memorable, either.

    Eruption was a jaw-dropping display of where rock guitar was headed. Possibly more so for budding guitarists than the larger record buying public (I'd tend to agree that Beat It was very instrumental in introducing Eddie Van Halen and Van Halen to a much wider audience than they tended to reach around 1982, and this along with Jump probably broadened their audience and made 1984 such a big smash...much bigger than Diver Down). However, Eruption is just one of those defining moments in the evolution of rock guitar.
    Couldn't have said it better.
    Now who`s that babe with the fab-u-lous shad-ow?

  19. #19
    Youcan'thandleTheTruth!
    Veteran
    Zing!'s Avatar
    Member No
    27445
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    MN
    Posts
    2,363
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    25
    I should also add that other than the lick on Beat It, as far as official VH albums go, the solos on 'Bottoms Up' are hard to beat. Hands down my favorite - particularly the second that ends the song. The musical definition of BAD ASS.

  20. #20
    The Menace Is Loose Again
    TOASTMASTER GENERAL
    sadaist's Avatar
    Member No
    6381
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    So CA
    Age
    52
    Posts
    11,625
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    61
    I voted Eruption because it is his DEFINING solo. However, Push Comes To Shove is his best in my opinion.
    “Great losses often bring only a numb shock. To truly plunge a victim into misery, you must overwhelm him with many small sufferings.”

  21. #21
    someone's doormat
    Commando
    Yount's Avatar
    Member No
    27771
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Alberquerque
    Age
    42
    Posts
    1,099
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    16
    Quote Originally Posted by Terry View Post
    I mean, I enjoyed what Ed did on DTNA as well, but have never thought of the song as having a solo as such....
    So what is it then? A tasty fill? An Eddie-supermarket-sample?

  22. #22
    Veteran
    So this is love's Avatar
    Member No
    27806
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    N.America
    Posts
    2,395
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    18
    Quote Originally Posted by Yount View Post
    So what is it then? A tasty fill? An Eddie-supermarket-sample?
    DTNA has no solo in it and Ed did mention at one point that...and its somewhere in my guitar world issues that he did not consider that song relevant guitarwise...anyways my words not his words but it sums it up well...supermarket but I like it alot ...but no guitar solos in that song.

  23. #23
    Commando
    katina's Avatar
    Member No
    28249
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Argentina
    Age
    60
    Posts
    1,469
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    21
    I voted Eruption.

  24. #24
    Crazy Ass Mofo
    78/84 guy's Avatar
    Member No
    12663
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    MN.
    Posts
    2,557
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    28
    Eruption isn't really a solo to me. It's a piece of music. Or a song for that matter. Hot For Teacher is everything Van Halen is. It's fun, mean, in your face & has one of Ed's top 3 solo's on it. Plus the coolest video ever on MTV !

  25. #25
    Veteran
    So this is love's Avatar
    Member No
    27806
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    N.America
    Posts
    2,395
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    18
    I wonder what Ed, Dave and the gang think when they read these threads...and I suspect some of them are even posting in here...lol...love you all

  26. #26
    Youcan'thandleTheTruth!
    Veteran
    Zing!'s Avatar
    Member No
    27445
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    MN
    Posts
    2,363
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    25
    Quote Originally Posted by So this is love View Post
    I wonder what Ed, Dave and the gang think when they read these threads...and I suspect some of them are even posting in here...lol...love you all
    Dave's gotta be someone here, right?

    My vote is GAR.

  27. #27
    Atomic Punk of Los Santos
    Full Member Status

    fryingdutchman's Avatar
    Member No
    11316
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    The Original Capital
    Age
    54
    Posts
    4,132
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    32
    Quote Originally Posted by 78/84 guy View Post
    Eruption isn't really a solo to me. It's a piece of music. Or a song for that matter. Hot For Teacher is everything Van Halen is. It's fun, mean, in your face & has one of Ed's top 3 solo's on it. Plus the coolest video ever on MTV !
    Agreed. "Eruption" stands alone as a composition in its own right.
    Originally posted by perilouspete
    fryingdutchman you pretty much own everyone.....sick comebacks, well put. top class wit.

  28. #28
    Veteran
    ALMOSTsaved's Avatar
    Member No
    1485
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Mississippi
    Age
    53
    Posts
    2,183
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    26
    Although it's not listed I think "Little Dreamer" is quite amazing.

  29. #29
    Feeding My Addiction
    DIAMOND STATUS
    binnie's Avatar
    Member No
    20165
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Here, there, every fucking where
    Age
    42
    Posts
    19,144
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    56
    Eruption is the most defining.

    HFT is my favourite.

    (I actually really love the music in Humans Being.......)
    The Power Of The Riff Compels Me

  30. #30
    Sheep Pen noob
    ROTH ARMY SUPREME
    vandeleur's Avatar
    Member No
    24919
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    uk
    Posts
    9,870
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    54
    i aint heard much van hagar except for hearing the inital album that came out ...shudder ...but have heard humans being . I have to say i like some of ed's guitar work on it and liked the pacing of the song .. tho the chorus seemd a bit lame and sammys voice just blurgh

  31. #31
    um...yeah
    Commando
    CROWBAR's Avatar
    Member No
    8292
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    jet stream
    Posts
    1,283
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    21
    Quote Originally Posted by 78/84 guy View Post
    Eruption isn't really a solo to me. It's a piece of music. Or a song for that matter. Hot For Teacher is everything Van Halen is. It's fun, mean, in your face & has one of Ed's top 3 solo's on it. Plus the coolest video ever on MTV !
    Quote Originally Posted by fryingdutchman View Post
    Agreed. "Eruption" stands alone as a composition in its own right.
    I agree that Eruption isn't really a solo as much as an instrumental piece of music. Defining? You betcha! But not a solo per se. When I think of guitar solos, I'm thinking within the context of a particular song. With Ed, it's really difficult to pick just one. I'll get back with ya.

    From this list, Push Comes to Shove is the tastiest.

  32. #32
    Lick me
    TOASTMASTER GENERAL
    Terry's Avatar
    Member No
    181
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    USA! USA! USA!
    Posts
    11,950
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    55
    Quote Originally Posted by Yount View Post
    So what is it then? A tasty fill? An Eddie-supermarket-sample?
    I suppose the tapped harmonic part could be considered a solo, although really it's just the same chords in the verses and chorus, only with the individual notes singled out during the tapped harmonics.

    I'd consider it more of a thematic tapped harmonic interim (which, by definition, is brief) than a proper solo. Certainly not a fill. By way of comparison, the run Ed throws in Beautiful Girls after the first chorus that is played while Roth says "woooo, c'mere, honey, c'mon, c'mon" would be a tasty fill. Mad Dog 20/20 would be an Eddie Supermarlet Sample.

  33. #33
    Fuck this and fuck that
    ROTH ARMY MODERATOR

    FORD's Avatar
    Member No
    32
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Cascadia
    Posts
    58,749
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    144
    You have to remember that Eruption wasn't even going to be on the album. Ed was playing it to "warm up" in the studio and Ted Templeman said "whoa, what the fuck is this. Warm up?? Are you fucking kidding me? This is going on the record!"

    Wise move from the producer. And yeah, Eddie's had many other great solos since then. Even that 30 seconds he gave to the one-gloved pedobear. But Eruption is the one that made the world sit up and take notice. Spanish Fly wasn't bad either. That one actually gets the attention of classical music fans who ain't even into rock n roll all that much.
    Eat Us And Smile

    Cenk For America 2024!!

    Justice Democrats


    "If the American people had ever known the truth about what we (the BCE) have done to this nation, we would be chased down in the streets and lynched." - Poppy Bush, 1992

  34. #34
    Head Fluffer

    Member No
    28475
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Philadelphia, PA, USA
    Age
    43
    Posts
    450
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    15
    His signature solo is Eruption. No way around that.

    But as far as my favorite solo, I'm going to go with an option not listed, and that is the guitar solo he performed during the 1984 tour. For me that was the highlight of the 1984 shows. He came up with new material that to my knowledge never appeared on any album and it's shame it's been kinda "lost" other than the bootlegs. The "new" material I'm talking about goes from 0:08 to 2:30 on this video. (The guitar solo for 1984 could get as long as 15 minutes, and the person on YouTube uploaded it in two parts). How the hell is he even playing the guitar at that angle?


  35. #35
    fourthcoming
    Guest
    I always loved the way Ed tears into the first note of his solo on Outta Love Again......not for anything, the solo on China Town is pretty mean too. Quick question.....Humans Being?
    Last edited by fourthcoming; 05-04-2012 at 03:33 PM.

  36. #36
    Head Fluffer
    vanshipman's Avatar
    Member No
    4066
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    NC
    Age
    62
    Posts
    207
    Status
    Offline
    Rep Power
    21
    I agree that Eruption is pretty much the greatest solo guitar ever recorded by Eddie or anyone else for that matter, but I'm gonna go with the solo from Sinners Swing! It's a face melter and has that falling down the stairs and landing on your feet factor that Eddie is so fond of.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Eddie's real cancer
    By jacksmar in forum Main VH/DLR Discussion
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 10-02-2004, 12:54 AM
  2. Eddie's Appearance
    By BARE BONE in forum Main VH/DLR Discussion
    Replies: 38
    Last Post: 09-08-2004, 11:24 PM
  3. Eddie's Dog
    By Orgazmo in forum Main VH/DLR Discussion
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: 09-06-2004, 10:06 PM
  4. Eddie's Ready to Tour
    By gslinger in forum Main VH/DLR Discussion
    Replies: 83
    Last Post: 06-23-2004, 09:48 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •