Eddie Van Halen Solo in their U.S. Festival Performance

[snakeisland1977]

Ok, I realize now R.S. has redeemed themselves by issuing a new "100 Greatest Guitarists" list, which places Eddie respectfully at #8.,, However, their recent "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" completely omits VH. So one step forward, one step back for this ridiculous magazine.

[snakeisland1977]

Realize that Rolling Stone places "Jack White" well ahead of EVH in their greatest guitarists of all time list a few years back. Someone please burn that magazine down, thanks.

[nirtera]

Whoever dislikes this video is a Hagar fan.

[Seebohm17]

i love his expressions. its like its nothing to him....so eaasy

[Seebohm17]

could you imagine being right in front of those speakers....no wonder he felt his music lol

[ajaxrules1975]

THE KING

[frekijsimpson]

I was there... it still screams in my brain!!!!! ..NOthing compares.

[MrMegaFredzeppelin]

MR. EDWARD VAN HALEN!!!!!!!

[koolkeith1985]

@MrMegaFredzeppelin Oh yeah!!! lol

[MrMegaFredzeppelin]

I was there 28 years ago tomorrow HEAVY METAL SUNDAY!!!!!

[agony664]

I like Van halen music but I dont like their Singers!!!

[tl46]

the shit he does at 5:45 is literally the coolest thing i've ever seen on guitar in my life. Edward is so much better than anybody else on the planet it's silly.

[CAMARO30082]

i was there also and im still fucked up from that festival!! dammmm!!!!!!!!!! (:>)

[vangelis721]

I was there for the whole fucking weekend!! Jack-n-Coke, Budweiser, Killer Green Buds, Cross-Tops, Killer CAIN, fried chicken and the Mighty Van HALEN!!!!!! This was when AMERICA KICKED SOME SERIOUS ASS!!!Now we have "P- Sniffy" and "Lady GOO GOO" Just disgraceful.....! Great upload!!!

[leeri001]

I WAS THERE !!!!!!!

[Tonechase]

This is probably the best solo you can find of eddies on youtube, The US festival was literally when he was at the top of his game

[ICanSellYou]

The most awesome highlight of a subpar Van Halen show courtesy of David Lee Roth. The Scorps and Triumph really made the show. Will never forget the experience. Heavy Metal Sunday at it's best!!

[takeuchitb007]

fuk starting at 2:00 where he goes into the high position, those crazy bends are sick, the fukn tone he gets is out of this world.. that guitar is sreaming like it's getting murdered!

[tl46]

@takeuchitb007

you took the words right out my mouth. i've been watching this boot since i was 12 or so, it still amazes me. love that camera angle where you can see him FEEL the shit he's playing. awesome.

[takeuchitb007]

@tl46 you got that right man, starting at 2:02 it's pure magic.. Those over bends he does on the high neck position is sick.. incredible feel and tone.. That is some of the greatest moments in rock guitar history!! 

[takeuchitb007]

THE KING OF 10 FINGERS AND SIX STRINGS! Pure straight up no bullshit rock n roll guitar playing at it's finest!

[SgtPepperzzzz]

Californian?

[ChrisRodgers5150]

it was the US festival, not the U.S. festival.

[dmohr7]

HOW ON THE EARTH DID HE DO THAT AT 3:14 AND HIS HIGH E DIDNT POP OUT OF HIS TREM?

[Chillybeef123]

@dmohr7 LOL, i'm playing along with this trying to mimick some stuff, and that happened to me . . .

i think the old school ones were built more solid or something, but i'm always afraid to bend that high on my replica i built

also i think it might have to do with the fact that he used slightly smaller stringer, (9's for the high E, vs 10's/11's you'll typically find) so they might bend easier . . . idk, its crazy

[meb12341]

this is bad ass

[davidsocal77]

this is a "eddie" at his prime.......i have seen him 3 times.....since 1980....and he is on his "game" here.....no thought. this is the best i have seen him. truth be told. ya.

[DarthKazi]

@davidsocal77 Believe it or not, since his equipment has improved and he's "matured", he's actually performed more "interesting" things since then. Check out the solo on "Year to the day" from the last album he put out.

[n2motocross]

This solo was pure insanity back in my youth. Thanks for rewinding me back to these GREATdays of REAL Rock-n-Roll.

[TheJustme222]

Eddie Peaking. It never got any better than this.

[demolishionhammer]

come on people lets get some thumbs up for this video

[johnnybeane]

I know a guy who was at this show. He said is crazy!!!

[lfbales]

At 1:34 he playes a bit from the solo of jump. Jump is on the 1984 album that came out in 1984. Now we know where he got the insparation.

[theShowStopper321]

@lfbales All of his solos are bits and pieces of other licks or solos that he has. If u listen to his solo spot, and their studio recordings, u can hear licks from one song in another. He had a bag of licks and called on them when he felt.

[lfbales]

@theShowStopper321 Good point

[1961gibson]

@lfbales oh i never noticed that

[edzola1]

how bout the ufo at begging of the set

[xp0ferens]

where is the continuity between the phrases?

[dmohr7]

5:46 wtf and how is he doing that squeak sound?

[collfc76]

hAHAHA too much coke Eddie

[Dimerah]

@collfc76 yeah. its all coming at him too fast.

[collfc76]

OHHH YEAH

[SgtThump]

There's a tiny bit of the "Hot for Teacher" lead at around the :58 second mark (this would be before the 1984 album - obviously.)

[EvhCharvel]

i wish i was alive for the Us Festival

[racer500gp]

i was 23 at the time and the show was the biggest fucking blast ever !!!!

[EvhCharvel]

nice dude. people dont even get how lucky they were to live back then. you obviously understand it. i respect that. :P rock on man.

[MrSteve103]

Goose bumps or wot, love it

[Cedrictheheadric]

he showed himself as an alien right here 7:12

[johnpeterhussey]

peter framton ait got got shit on this

[EvhCharvel]

dude not many people do.

[jfo1014]

One small request, if you're reading this, Ed/Alex & co: Get those ticket prices under control!!! As a fan of nearly 30 years, i'd like to think I can see you again like I did back in the old days, floor level, under $100. Your fans deserve it for sticking by you. What do you say guys? Seriously.

[dogtownskater777]

holy crap i know right?

[djsds72]

One of the greatest ever. I hated trying to learn his stuff, it was all so frigging hard but i'm glad I did now.

[TWLguitarist]

i wonder what david lee roth was thinking during this 11 minute period of time lol. insane guitar solo!

[nirtera]

Best. Solo. Ever.

[mikeydhh]

The passage at 5:59 is pretty much impossible to play - I learned everything else he did, but I could never figure out that part... brilliant guy.

[dogtownskater777]

long live most amazing king of all time!!!!!!