FIRST TIME REACTION!! | Eddie Van Halen - "Eruption Guitar Solo" (Live in New Haven 1986) 

I’m happy y’all appreciated it. He was a legend. He is a legend. R.I.P. Eddie.

RIP Eddie Van Halen. A true master of his craft.

Eddie literally tapped into the universe. RIP.

Eddie was a virtuoso. Classically trained pianist and self taught guitar player. Simply put, he’s the 🐐. His son Wolfgang is carrying the torch now. Rip King Edward.

I never get tired of watching reaction videos of Eddie Van Halen. No matter who is watching or what kind of music they are into it never fails to blow their mind seeing it for the first time. Reaction videos have just completely confirmed how great the music was during these years.. Such satisfaction to see just how many people love what I grew up on. Never gets old.

EVH passed away exactly 3 years yesterday October 6th. Although his passing leaves a great big hole, it really does my heart good to see people still learning about what a treasure he was. RIP to the master. Always missed, NEVER forgotten. He just left too much much fabulous music behind. You should check out his son Wolfgang playing the lead for a well known song of VH's called Hot For Teacher. Wolfgang is a chip off the old block and a fabulous musician in his own right.

When Eddie makes people smile, I tear up with joy.

I love when people discover Eddie!! Congrats!!🎉🎉 RIP G.O.A.T.

Hey guys, loved your reaction because you listened to it and didn't pause it every 10 or 15 seconds to make a comment on the video. I'm gonna check out more or your reactions. Great job.

What you saw when he was turning a knob was what’s called “ Swells”. It was just the volume button on his guitar. He was just turning it up and down really fast to get that affect. There were guitar geniuses back then. But Eddie flipped the script on a lot of what we hear today. But back then it’s like that old saying “ Eddie wasn’t the student, he was the Professor that was shot back in time”. There is NO OTHER!! RIP, Eddie Van Halen! Thee undisputed heavy weight guitar GOAT!!

You guys just witnessed the greatest guitarist to ever walk the face of the planet straight 🐐🔥

Long Live the King.....Eddie Van Halen 🎸🎸❤❤💣💣🤘🤘

I still can’t believe he’s gone 🥲 a true legend right there no one will or could play like Eddie I’m so grateful I got to see him play live it would just take your breath away you would be just in awe of him playing just amazing 🤩 talent 🎸🫶🏻🤘🏻🙌🏻💕 RIP Ed you are so missed by millions 😔🙏🏻

He was magical 🔥

Seen this so many times and it never gets old… saw it live several times and getting to watch new people experience it awesome 👍🏼 Eddie was one of a kind. And is sorely missed 😢

King Edward! The GOAT! RIP...This man and his music shaped my musical life. Truly missed...but he`s still with us. Just push play.

I think it sounded more like a cello than a violin. Great solo from a guitar god!!

I was there both nights they filmed for this video special in New Haven. I look back now and realize how incredibly fortunate I was. I love VH.....any year/era.

That’s what you call a guitar Virtuoso. Legendary!!

I'm so glad that I was born in 1966 I grew up listening to VAN HALEN Eddie Van Halen is one of THE BEST guitar players that you will ever see.

No sound effects pedals no gimmicks, just those hands are what made this man the greatest we will ever see RIP Eddie 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

This was Eddie. It was a combination of solos. He has done starting with 316 from the Album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and then part of Eruption from the album Van Halen, then Cathedral from Diver Down, then the intro solo from the album Mean Streets, then back to Eruption which is what blew everyone away when that came out in 1978. He played like a pianist and percussionist and loved to make sounds that no one was doing! Like Jimi Hendrix he took guitar to levels no one saw before and is considered one of the biggest influences on modern guitar. He is the best rhythm guitarist and he didn’t just play cords, he played riffs throughout his songs! Always the best and boy is he missed! RIP Edward!

November 1st 2007, Verizon Center, Washington DC will FOREVER be one of the greatest days of my life. I bought the VIP 5 star package with backstage passes for my elderly father and I. We had front row that night and was able to stand next to Valerie Bertinelli who was there to support her 16yr old son Woflgang who was playing bass guitar. We were let into the venue during soundcheck (125 of us) and Ed walked down the line and shook all of our hands and chatted for a few seconds. He autographed my guitar and took a picture with my dad and I. Will never forget that night. I still have the guitar (I have David Lee Roth, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan, and Ted Nugents autos on it as well) and it will go to my son when I leave this earth. So thankful I was able to meet Ed in this lifetime. Great guy.

Eddie was TRULY gifted. Great reaction, y'all!!!

I was fortunate enough to have witnessed this 3 nights in a row on this tour. It's probably one of the absolute best shows I've ever experienced. It is a scripted solo with subtle changes for one show to the next. Glad you could appreciate it, and acknowledge his greatness.

I was there in the Colosseum that night. This was truly transcendent.

Eddie actually began as a classically trained concert pianist in his youth. Later on he & his brother Alex taught themselves to play guitar and drums respectively. BTW, Alex's drum solos are incredible as well. It has been said that Alex could play the double kick bass faster than what could even have been created digitally-it's insane & sounds like a roaring engine when he does it.

When Ed was asked how it felt to be the greatest guitar player he answered, “I don’t know, I’m not Roy Clark.” I still loved you Eddie! I would have given anything to see you and Roy play together, that would have been insane.

His parents were both classic trained musicians this solo was a tribute to them ,his father was his favorite musician

My unit when I was in the Marine Corps, used to blast Van Halen for the Somalis, but that was before Black Hawk down, fun times! And they told us that rock&roll would never die! RIP Edward ❤❤

He Was The Best & Always Will Be!

legend

If you like drums, check out his brother’s drum solo from the same concert. Which, somebody probably already mentioned it in the previous comments, but he and his brother started on opposite instruments. Ed started with drums, Al with the guitar. They ended up switching and became the best at their craft.

Great reaction!! Eddie, (RIP), was a genius, that inspired a Generation of Musicians, including myself!! How lucky are we to still be able to enjoy his legacy!! Checkout more Van Halen!!! I'll be sure to check it out with you!!🤘🏻🤘🏻

Appreciated the jumping right into the video reaction. Glad you enjoyed it. Nice job!

You were knocked out watching this on video, you shoulda been there live to see it in person. This was the first & only tour I went to see VH live back in 86 when they play my city, and it was totally mind blowing all the way through. Eddie worked up a solo to play for all the concerts, and they were all pretty much the same with maybe a few subtile difference, but he stuck to the same pattern of piece's he played. The knob he's turning is is the volume control, and he's using an effect called a digital delay to make it repeat what he's playing. He discovered while playing the digital delay & using the volume control he can make it sound like a violin or viola. The man was a master of his instrument for the style he played.

In an interview he said he learned how to do all that because when he was starting out, he could not afford the effect pedals, so learned how to a lot without them.

Edward Van Halen started on piano as a kid before he became the GOAT on Guitar. Check out what he did on piano/Keys on songs like - I'll wait. Even Michael Jacksons clan asked him to do the guitar solo on Michaels big hit song -Beat it - and ofc Eddie played it. Enjoyed ur reaction

I loved this Eddie was over powered in this video with talk in the back ground, thank you you guys, were awesome the best !

Best to ever do it. And his brother Alex, the drummer, is one of the most underrated drummers ever…mostly due to being in a band with this monster. This solo is actually multiple solos that he’s recorded on albums, with a smidge of freestyle sprinkled in. A great Van Halen video to react to next would be Unchained Live at Oakland Coliseum.

One of the Kings of the Whammy Bar. Legend.

Love you guys. And never stop a guitarist during his solo

Eddie made me want to play guitar. Fun fact: other people mentioned he was classically trained and how his brother Alex is on drums. But they didn't mention...when they started, Alex was given a guitar, and Eddie wanted to play drums. One day, they decided to play each others instruments if memory serves me. Good thing. And you need to look up the solos of Alex and Michael Anthony as well. This truly was a supergroup, with all the talent they had.

At 6:49 Eddie's right hand is on the "Volume Knob" and his left hand is on the "Fret Bar". This man could make a guitar sing it's own song just by adjusting the volume and strumming a note on the fret bar. Eddie explored every millimeter of that guitar and made music within his explorations. There are greats....There are Legends and then....... There are GODS!!!!! Eddie was a GOD!!!

About 20,000 hours of practice to even come close to Eddie Van Halens level. R.I.P. Eddie.

This was my first concert I was 15 .. I was never the same again.!! ⚡️🎸⚡️🎸⚡️🎸⚡️🎸⚡️

Fabulous Reactions! I saw them in 1984 at the "Cow Palace" right in front! After growing up as a child with VH, it was simply, one of the best concerts I've seen. And, I've seen some! Anyways, Eddie made all his own guitars (creating his own sound). That one is the infamous, "Frankenstein" His brother on the drums ain't no slouch either. Ranks in the top 25 drummers of all time. Look/Listen in on, "Hot For Teacher" Eddie has his solo but, his brother Alex opens that tune. His drumming on that tune, pretty much cemented his place as a top drummer. It is also a superfab & funny video. Peace On Ya

IMO the greatest rock guitarist ever. RIP the king

Happy to be apart of your channel. Thanks for having me. New member, at the time this was written!! Can’t wait to see more from y’all!! Chris Stone. Billings Montana. Oh and PS. I saw Eddie Twice live in concert. Once with David Lee Roth on vocals, then again with Sammy Hagar!! He did this EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. With different variations. Love and light to you both. Hope you do a lot of ACDC. Start with BACK N BLACK!! Every one else started with THUNDER STRUCK!

“Makes you want to play’.,I’ve been playing guitar for 45 years and I’m pretty good. Ed was from another world. Much higher level than anyone!!! I just thank God he was here and recorded❤️❤️❤️🎸🎸🎸

Was an eargasm when i first heard it... Still an eargasm today!!! R.I.P EVH!!!

Lucky enough to see VH live ….this guy was a genius,no question. RIP EVH….heaven has one hell of a band.❤️🎥❤️great reaction.

Eddie was the greatest innovator and experimenter ever. He always was trying for new sounds he could create. Total legend. RIP.

THE KING!!!!!!!!!!! EVH ⚡👊🏻⚡

He's one of a kind. Many have tried to duplicate but no one has ever equal Eddie Van Halen. He literally created a whole new genre of guitar playing when he hit the scene.

EVH is the GOAT. He developed so many amazing techniques and his ability to make the guitar talk was legendary. I was fortunate enough to see him live several times, including the 5150 tour where I watched this very solo in San Francisco in 1986, which was my first time seeing him play. Eddie Eddie Eddie!✌🏻

Absolute LEGEND 🔥 RIP

This is my favorite so far. 🥹 RIP EVH

That was his volume knob he was turning up and down...along with an echo effect and another modulator effect to make that sound.....it's from a instrumental track called "Cathedral" from their "Diver Down" album (1982)...mde to remind you of a church organ but also sounds like a cello or a violin. This was a compilation of various riffs and techniques from things that were on the albums over the years....he did a similar solo for every concert...but there was some improv in there as well...just to mix it up a little! THIS IS LIKE THE 40TH TIME I'VE WATCH PEOPLE REACT TO THIS PERFORMANCE...AND IT NEVER GETS OLD! I've seen Van Halen three times in concert...and it will never be enough!

I saw him twice, truly MAGICAL, 🎉 He built that guitar, & his love of Classical music brought him to this point, amazing artist ❤

And he would still finish the whole freaking concert🎉 after all this night after night. Professional😢

So one of the greats, and under rated for sure.. RIP heavens a little more musically better

It's just insanity...he was at his absolute peak too! He literally just makes people fans of the guitar.

There will never be another Eddie, or Rhodes, or Dime, or the legend SRV. The best always die. You definitely NEED to react to Texas Flood live at the El Mocambo. One of my favorite pure blues performances ever.

I saw Van Halen open for The Doobie Brothers around 1976. I had heard of them but didn't know much about them. About 90% of the fans were there to see The Doobie Brothers as I was. Needless to say I was blown away!

RIP MR. EDDIE VAN HALEN Who was the Elvis, Michael Jackson, Prince and Eminem of the BEST AT WHAT THEY DID & EDDIE BEST GUITARIST always W/the cigarette stuck under his guitar strings❤ I was comparing him to the people we know as Legends at what they do! He belongs there for what he did the Best at. 🙏🏻🌼🌹💐🥀 I seen Van Halen in concert when David Lee Roth was with them. 💯💯😊 THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES FLAWED & MEAUX YOUR AWESOME 🌹🥀🌼🤘🏻

RIP Eddie. The GOAT.

The violin/cello/synthesizer sound is made from guitar swells, a technique where you turn the volume down while the string is struck by the guitar pick, then turn it back up so you can hear the note continue to ring out.

When i visited the Rock and roll hall of fame I almost cried when i saw the Famous guitar standing there... Thanks for the childhood memories from a punk kid

all with a volume control and some awesome pickup design. What a master.

Yeeeeeaaahhh!!!!! Let’s Fucking Gooooooo!!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

I saw him perform this solo on this tour and the next. Absolute genius

This is the difference between a great guitarist and a virtuoso. There are certain gifted people who have abilities beyond the capabilities of us mere mortals.

Great reaction 👏 he's the goat

One of the Best to EVER DO IT !!!! WHEN YOU KNOW GIFTS ARE GIVEN BY THE MAN UP ABOVE

There will never be another Eddie Van Halen. The genius of Eddie was he made the guitar sound anything like a guitar! His sense of rythm and timing was unmatched. We miss you Eddie RIP.

An ALL TIME MOMENT IN HUMAN HISTORY!

Eddievanhalen. And randyrhodes. Opened. Up. A whole. Different,dimension. To playing. And to this day. Stands. Its. Ground. 💫💥💯💫💥💯💯💫💥💥💫💯💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💫💫💫💫💫

The Master of the Harmonics and finger jive on the guitar. I like the one part that sounded as if they were cries of Whales.

This was a montage of solos from different Vanhalen songs. He mixed it up at different shows but that is the core of it. RIP Eddie

Thanks for giving Eddie a solid like that! You should listen to the song 5150 live from same album (Live Without A Net .. this Incorporates the best guitar solo live into an incredible song with everyone else on their A game too!)

The knob he was turning back and forth was the volume knob, to create the violin effect

The undisputed rock guitar champion of the world. Master of his craft. The legend has passed but lives on in his son Wolfgang.

When Van Halen came upon the world in 1978, Eddie became a paradigm shift...he changed forever the way a guitar was played

Greatest guitar player of all time. It isn't even that close. He literally reinvented what a guitar is and can do. As a life long guitar player, his best work is actually in his rhythm guitar playing. So creative and skilled. Every song was like a duet with the vocal. Guitar has forever been changed by Eddie in a way that even Hendrix didn't do. Eddie could always jump around like crazy because his motto was, mute the strings you don't want to hear. it's much easier to mute strings than try to be super accurate with your right hand.

the way eddie came up with his solos was he took all the best parts from practicing and rolled it into a solo for the show

He was MUSIC. Had that light that very few are blessed with.

That was several riffs from several different songs with improve thrown in throughout. Eddie loved playing around on his guitar, and finding new sounds. This was just an exhibition of that.

This was a ling string of parts from different songs. Eddie was interviewed and asked about this performance. He was partying all day and was actually pretty lit up. And he was flawless. Also doesnt remember performing it.The segment w the sort of scifi effects is the back of the guitar is opened. Applying pressure on the body and neck produces distortion . He started on piano . Mastered that. Brother Alex started on lead and Eddie on drums. And he was very good. But older brother Alex wanted drums so Alex got his way and the rest is history. "The smiling guitar player" Eddis talent was as big as his humble nature. RIP Eddie. ❤❤❤

I grew up in an adjoining city to where all four of the band members lived. We all went to different high schools at the same time. Since I too played in garage bands we heard each other playing from time to time. Word of backyard parties grew quickly. Saw them play many time so I became familiar of Eddie. We talked many different times on various subjects. Nice friendly guy.

After seeing this epic you now have to travel down the Jimi Hendrix rabbit hole. I suggest “House Burning Down,” “Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)” or “Come On” from the album Electric Ladyland. Also, any live show because you never know what he’ll do. Eddie Van Halen was a cut above but Jimi Hendrix is The Godfather of Rock guitarists. He was doing it in 1967 without any of today’s digital and electronic advantages. I hope you take a listen. 🎸

The most mind blowing guitarist in my 52 years on this planet!

"When you learn the nature of a thing....Then you'll know what its capable of. " -Blade ;)

the knob he's turning is the volume knob.

And, this is why Eddie IS KING! And, this is also why Michael Jackson asked him to join him when Recording "Beat It".....

G -GUITARIST O-OF A-ALL T-TIME RIP EVH

The part with the Knob swells is called Cathedral from the Diver Down album

Eddie was a pioneer on the instrument. And he was mostly just screwing around in this video. The actual parts he came up with for many of their songs are wildly unconventional, and innovative. I will say, many guitarists who were learning to play in the 90's & 00's will know some or all of these techniques. I personally devoted more than a little practice time to tapping, slap guitar, and making crazy noises with random parts of the instrument, thanks to Eddie. Of course the amount of fun you can have with a volume knob (and/or a delay pedal) is nearly limitless.

I know that everyone has their favorite guitarist but hands down Eddie was and will always be the one true "guitar God!!" And to think that when he was performing this night that this video was recorded he had been battling alcoholism and drug abuse and yet he was completely drunk out of his mind and he never did remember this concert or this performance. You have to remember that Eddie never had a single lesson and when he did not have the money to buy a high quality guitar and no guitar that was being made had what he was wanting in his guitar so he built his own with a discarded guitar body blank that a guitar manufacturer had discarded and parts from all kinds of guitars that he liked the specific part until he had created what lovingly come to be called "Frankenstrat!" A guitar like no one had ever imagined or thought to make. He played that guitar until he became famous and guitar manufacturers were begging to have him partner with them to create his own guitar line. And those guitars are called the "EVH signature guitar". Eddie was a musical genius and a musical savant. Never learned that to read music but he could play the guitar like no one else as well as playing the piano which he had been taught as a child along with his brother Alex who ended up playing the drums in their own band called "VAN HALEN!!!" If you get time watch their video for the song "Poundcake" and see Eddie use an electric drill to play his guitar!!!😱😱😱it is incredible!!!😊

Gen X here we was so lucky to grow up listening to this man the greatest rock guitarist period Rip EVH