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Any guitarist who's been around long enough has dealt with their share of imitators. Itâs inevitable that someone will borrow their style, and while it can be frustrating, the true mark of a great guitarist is staying ahead of those who try to follow in their footsteps. Although no one could quite replicate Eddie Van Halenâs groundbreaking style, he once called out a session guitar legend as one of the biggest copycats heâd ever encountered.
Itâs hard for any guitarist not to be influenced by Eddie. While tapping had been around in some form before him, Eddie perfected it, using it to craft entire musical passages. There were glimpses of it on Steely Dan records, but when Van Halen dropped âEruption,â it was like watching someone reinvent the guitar in just two minutes. Suddenly, the same old blues licks werenât going to cut it anymoreâEddie had raised the bar for everyone.
The session scene, though, had already started exploring different musical directions. Steely Dan, for example, had top-tier jazz and fusion musicians, but Rick Derringer was making waves on the rock side. While he was known for his hit âRock and Roll Hoochie Koo,â Derringer was also celebrated for his standout work with Edgar Winter, particularly the iconic lick in âFree Ride.â
Despite his own skills, Derringer couldnât resist drawing from Eddie after seeing Van Halen on tour. But instead of just being inspired, he started outright copying Eddie's moves.
According to Eddie, Derringer would go onstage and replicate his solos note for note, saying, âRick Derringer opened for us last year, and he did my exact solo. The next night, he does my solo again and ends the set with âYou Really Got Me,â just like we do. So I told him, âIf you keep that up, youâre not opening for us anymore.â And I kicked him off the tour.â
Even Eddie knew the game. When Van Halen opened for Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi noted that the band had borrowed some of Sabbathâs licks, making their music sound even darker and heavier.
Derringer copying Eddieâs style was a sign of the changing times. Guitarists who clung to traditional blues riffs were being left behind, while Eddie Van Halen had set a new standard, pushing the guitar to uncharted territories. If players didnât adapt, they risked fading into obscurity.
âExclusively Van Halen" is the ultimate destination for all things Van Halen. Step into the world of rock and roll legends as we delve deep into the history, music, and trivia surrounding one of the most iconic bands of all time.
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