Eddie Van Halen: The Complete 1980 Interview, Tape 1 (HD Audio)
Eddie Van Halen: The Complete 1980 Interview, Tape 1 (HD Audio)
A Candid Conversation, With Lots of Guitar Playing!
Eddie Van Halen often claimed that the most important elements of his sound were his imagination and his hands: “The way I play is in my fingers,” he insisted. “I can play through any amp and it still sounds like me.” During the interview linked below, Eddie proves this beyond all doubt. Playing his unamplified Frankenstrat, he does note-for-note covers of favorite Clapton solos, demonstrates specific parts heard on the first three Van Halen albums, shows how he composes the band’s music, and demos original songs that were rejected by the band.
This interview took place a couple of weeks after the interview heard in “Eddie Van Halen: The Complete 1979 Interview (HD Audio).” Near the end of that conversation, Eddie asked me to write a cover story on him – his first one ever – for Guitar Player magazine. I quickly arranged for this to happen.
About two weeks later we met on the morning of January 15, 1980, at Neil Zlozower’s photo studio in Hollywood. Eddie drove himself over in his brand-new Jeep CJ. He walked in wearing beige corduroys and a black-and-white checkered shirt. He was carrying two guitar cases. One held a guitar he’d recently assembled using an extra-thick Boogie Bodies body and a Floyd Rose locking tremolo system. The other was the latest incarnation of what would become known as the “Frankenstrat.” At this time, the guitar’s body was spray-painted red with black and white striping. Its full-sized white pickguard had the standard holes for the two pickups nearest the neck, but there were no pickups in these positions. Eddie had enlarged the rear pickguard hole to accommodate a vintage Gibson P.A.F. pickup.
In addition to his extensive playing during this first part of our four-hour meeting, Eddie talked about a wide array of subjects, including his piano background, how he learned to play guitar, the differences between his “planned” and spontaneous solos, the limitations of rock and roll, blues influences, the importance of phrasing, where the band’s money goes, VH bootlegs, the recording of the just-mixed Women and Children First album, and, naturally, his pedalboard, amps, and guitars. I hope you enjoy the interview!
A special thanks to engineer/producer Nike Hunt for his stellar work cleaning up the sound of the 43-year-old master tape.
For more Van Halen:
Eddie Van Halen: The Complete 1980 Interview - Tape 2
Eddie Van Halen: “My First Interview” (Complete, HD Audio)”
Michael Anthony: The Complete 1981 Van Halen Interview (Audio)
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ⓒ Jas Obrecht 2023. All rights reserved.
Edward Van Halen used a Variac (a variable transformer) to lower voltage to the amplifier and, thus, attenuate the volume level necessary to get that crankin' Marshall sound at less than earsplitting, brain-damage levels, as well as to save wear & tear on those pricey EL34s. A byproduct of lowering the voltage is the "browning" effect on the sound as he describes. As any qualified electronics engineer, amp tech etc., which I am definitely not (simply a humble guitar player), will attest, using a variable transformer to increase the voltage will cause not only egregious harm to the amplifier but also potentially fatal harm to the operator. There are better, safer ways to get the same effect without the safety hazard. The late Edward Van Halen's irresponsible comments to an audience of thousands, just to throw the legion of tone chasers "off the scent" are unconscionable. I do hope that you post some kind of advisory as to the danger of using any variable transformer and certainly in the manner described. Otherwise, outstanding interview. Great to hear the audio after reading it, as well as the first one, so long ago! Long time admirer of yours and Edward's.
Bil
Long Beach, CA