hellz ya man hes awesome great great great guitarest bitch!

most ppl ripped off his 2 hand taping

INSANE GUITARIST!!! \,,/

Second to Jimi

4

its about fucking time

Wicked guitarist, but has slowed down artisticly speaking.  Exciting player during the 80's, but there were others that were technically better during his time.

a good musician but kind of an egomanic. His playing is fast but sometimes not very inspiring

Best of all time!

What's wrong with people who bash EV? It's simple; there are musicians who innovate and change music forever, and musicians who don't. Eddie did! Enough said.

Proof of what a wanker this guy is with the guitar...

(yes, i know it's a joke..)

Literally dying

Great guitarist, no emotion in his music though. No real technicality, just fast playing.

The guy is a technically proficient soloist and was initially innovative with his finger tapping style and all but, I really lost interest in anything that Van Halen did after about their third album. EVH's style also has a tendency to be a bit soulless. He's fast, he impresses people with his fingers flying up and down the fretboard and his wall of amps and his flashiness but, there always seemed to me to be a lack of real substance to his material. EVH (and Van Halen as a band for that matter) always came off to me as a real 'flash in the pan' act and never really did anything that I would consider very visceral or essential, it was just California party cock-rock turned up to ten and when he switched to keyboards I switched the dial.

There is no doubt in my mind that Eddie Van Halen is the greatest and most influential rock guitarist of all time. Man I was 16 and learning to play guitar when Van Halen's first albulm came out. Up to that very time, two names were most prominent in the rock guitar World...Hendrix and Page...I personally thought Page was better than even Hendrix at the time, but was amazed at Hendrix's feedback and other techniques. And for that I give Hendrix major kudos because he developed those techniques wholly on his own. But that does not make him even in the top 10 greatest in my opinion. Just about any half decent guitarist with the same amps and guitars can fairly easily play anything Hendrix put out. Now when Van Halen came out with that first album I know for a fact it changed rock guitar forever. I can remember hearing the album in a friend's car for the very first time, (on 8 track tape), and I was blown away instantly...NOT by "Eruption", but by "Ice Cream Man", which just happened to be the very first Van Halen song I ever heard. I asked "who the hell is that"?! My friend replied "Oh thats a new band called Van Halen". I said, "no not the band, the fucking guitarist"! I had never heard anyone play guitar that fast and crystal clear esp at those speeds. And those were the days of analog recording. Just listen to the solos on that one simple song. (That was a ONE TAKE recording, like most others on that albulm).I then borrowed that 8 track and listened to the entire tracks many times over. I was blown away. I can tell you...I loved great guitar work at that time and I know for a fact that practically overnight every other guitar fanatic teen just like me in the WORLD knew Eddie Van Halen was the greatest rock guitarist ever!..The Hendrix, Page "who's best" arguments were out the window...just like that. The only other guitarists I can think of that really comes close to Eddie, (and I'm talking sheer innovative technique and personal technical brilliance in mastering the guitar), is Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. And Steve Vai is a very close second. I mean Steve can play equally well right handed or left handed. There are many great guitarists in the history of Rock, but Eddie Van Halen has influenced far more guitar players than anyone else ever. Love EVH or hate him, that's just the way it is.

And yes he can play the aquistic ...Listen to "Spanish Fly"...

Sure, he was great. Inspiration for many great guitarists. But be reasonable. He is no god.

Best Guitarist Ever :)

Man, All you have to do is download or buy VH1. Just that first album. Listed to the wicked ass fast solos, sounds, and bad ass, ingenious cord compositions. THE NEVER-BEFORE HEAR or EVEN IMAGINED INGENUITY and SKILL. Listen to"Ice Cream Man" and tell me he is a shredder...And really listen. Then take yourself back in time to 1978. Nobody had EVER heard anyone play an electric guitar like that!. Every major guitarist in the World was in "Shock and Awe"...He was on the cover of every major guitar magazine around the World within weeks. That's never happened before. If you really listen and think about the fact that these amazing sounds were coming from a 21 year old self taught guitar genius, and you might just get it. You might just understand why EVH is at the very top of this list. EVH is without a doubt the greatest ROCK guitarist of all time. And by far the most influential. Also I saw Eddie in concert in like '82 at his prime. He played a 5 minute solo, (Not "Eruption"), that was unbelievable. It was melodic, extreamly complicated, unique and wickedly fast. I don't think anyone in that stadium could believe what they were hearing. The fastest guitar playing I have ever heard is The Great Kat, (Female Shredder), playing "Flight of the Bumble Bees"without missing a single note. But I swear Eddie was playing that solo even faster...so fast it seemed like he was strumming cords at times...but it was not shredding...it was something else...it was EVH..you just would have had to be there to understand...Malmsteen and Petrucci are amazing, but they haven't got got shit on Eddie in his prime. I don't think anyone ever will.

Eddie is truly amazing, irreplaceable, but read on ...

I can play all other guitarists' work with relative ease (maybe except some parts of Nuno Bettencourt and John Petrucci) ... but I can't do Eddie. And Eruption does affect me at more than a shred level. EVH was not known for slow teary-eyed whiny licks, that wasn't his specialization ... it's useless to slam Eddie for not doing that ... I'm most grateful he didn't.

I guess it's useful to compartmentalize and then compare. When it comes to powerful-expressive playing, Eddie is King. The other artists some of you all mention are also King, but in different areas, some in soul, some in brightness, some in music-theory-law-abiding playing.

I believe you can't possibly rate or comment on something unless you're a fan of it at some level. I'd allow myself to compare Eddie, Bettencourt, Satch, Vai, Malmsteen, Petrucci, ... cause I *like* and *understand* all of them. I would never comment on Hendrix, Page, SRV, hell even Randy Rhoads, etc. cause I never really liked their music (either because I did not spend enough time listening to them, or gave up too easily, whatever, it matters little)

P.S.: I like those comments here that say 'I like X, Y or Z' instead of this person's bad and the other's good. Makes no sense to slam artists unnecessarily. Most of their songs have given us enjoyment at some point of time or the other, so why criticize them. Will it help the future of music to do that?

he is o.k but i like jimmie hendrix alot more

yuck, oldschool-shit

Eddie was okay, but today he is a has been. Thanks for the memories.

Eddie was a good guitarist. Today, there are many better ones.

Arguably the finest hard Rock albums of the late 70's was Van Halens self titled debut. Eddie's style at that time was compleetly original. Showcasing his technique on great numbers like "running with the devil", "eruption",  "You really got me" and " Aint talkin Bout Love". True many can imitate, but copying another players technique doesent mean your as good as they are. Van halen had some of the best licks, catchy rifs and wicked hot solos. Easily top 3 in my book.

Man, you really need to do some research before opening up on a public board with assertions as silly as these. For example, could you expound on these "Inventions that are still commonly used on electric guitars?" Are you referring to the Floyd Rose? I am curious. Further, if you spent ANY time during the mid 80s in guitar stores, you'd know there are plenty of people who can play like Eddie (just ask Steve Vai). Now, when was the last time you heard someone sound just like Hendrix? The difference is, Eddie's style is based on a physical technique, that is actually quite repetetive, as were his licks. Whereas Hendrix was NEVER repetitive. Also, Hendrix was a far better rhythm player and composer. Now, let's hear about all these inventions you're spouting off about...

Is one of the greatest, but he himself said that
Rex Carroll was better than him.

Just saw him live. Amazing. Maybe others can play like him, but no one can SOUND like Eddy!

I appreciate his influence on hard rock/metal guitar playing but by the same token I can blame him for for all the sh*tty metal bands he influenced - everyone from pisspoor efforts like White Lion and all that hair metal cr@p through to all those late 80s shredders, thrash metal etc. Being influential isnt necessarily a good thing. After all Hitler's an influence on Aryan Nation and the KKK.

Eddie is the fuckin GREATEST guitarst fuckin ever.ever ever. EVER!
#1:EDDIE VAN HALEN BEEHIIATTCH!
#2&3: dudes from judas priest. with their combined awosomeness, they're almost as good as edddie
#4:Ace Freehley of KISS
#5&6: the allman brothers for their sheer stamina
#7:dude from aerosmith for the greatest riff ever, walk this way
#8: dude from def leppard
#9 dude from Queen
#10: jimi hendrix
#11: sammy hagar, i really like him better for singing ability than guitar ability

and Ywnegive or whatthefuckever his name is, is just a bunch of technical crap.

Really like Eddie, but UNFORTUNATELY for HIM, he cannot compare to Ywengvie Malmsteen (sorry about spelling) ~ which I am surprised to not see in AT LEAST, in the top 100 , HE was @ 19 years old, what Eddie aspired to be his whole career.  Don't get me wrong, Eddie IS awesome, but , he took the turn at "glam" and left originality behind.

Very good

of course he is brilliant,don't care for the non dave material but i'll give credit where it's due.fave:women in love

What is he doing on top of this list? He cant play acoustic, the TRUE test. Must be a link to EVH fan site.

Eddie Van Halen was the first guitarist to record tapping, plus he revolutionised the whammy bar, used a killswitch, and mastered sweep picking and legato. The slap funk style in the intro to 'Mean Street' is another amazingly skilful and original bit of playing. Plus, he was the first guitarist to play in a neoclassical style, and he has also played funk, metal and pop/rock. Amazing talent.

I am surprised that Prince was not on this list. Prince needs to be in the top 5 at least!! Eddie is number #1!

hear eruption...the best ever solo guitar in the planet.

Sorry, can't remember any of Eddie's original licks (a prereq for getting higher than a 2 out of me). At least I remembered his name. :)

At his peak, fast, wide range of techniques and a great shredder, but best guitarist ever? For me, a top guitarist has to be still playing ( unless dead ) and still making consistently great music. Some have suggested he's the father of guitar techniques? I think not, plenty of great guitarists before Eddie came only. Do I like him? You bet. But Sorry, he's not the best ever ...

apperently some of you dumbasses dont realise the impotance of eddy and how he changed music forever. without him, you wouldnt have that showoff stupidass herman li! yall suck go west coast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great talent gone bad. When David Lee Roth left, the band should have followed ZZ Top...three members...little singing...lots of music. How great would it have been if Van Halen just played music! Lots of Eddie on the guitar...lots of Alex on drums...Michael booming out the bass.

probably #2 behind Jimi Hendrix on all-time list

the best ever

"I'm a beginner compared to Jeff Beck" Eddward Van Halen. At least he recognizes who is the Daddy of them all guitar players.

by far the best guitar player of all time

Most influential rock guitarist in our lifetime.

c'mon man, theres only a couple contenders:
Others are SRV, Clapton, Vai, and Hendrix (originality, was before his time)

HYPE guitar playing... oooh fast is so cool. Buckethead is better than Eddie.

The best ever, period.

Eddie Van Halen has given birth to a style of play that has confused the daylights out of young guitarists-to-be; yea, it's the shreddin' tapping thing that produced the hideous hulk of souless, meaningless guitar by the name of Malmsteen and a cadre of others (Vai, the possible exception...).   It seems like there are so many players heading into this empty direction where theres no coming back,...sadly.  VH was an innovator and a REAL artist, but he created a monster that hopefully will die sometime in the coming decades.

Has cancer. Wont be around much longer.