Eddie's defining solo

[CROWBAR]

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.

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.

[Terry]

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.

[FORD]

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.

[loucap81]

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?

[fourthcoming]

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?

[vanshipman]

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.