Thank You Pat Travers

Got your ass handed to yourself by Ed on the Court, and never knew it was Ed. Turned around an got the greatest interview of your life. Good for you man.

I’ve never heard him this open in an interview. He was really enjoying himself

This interview is almost verbatim to the last big interview he gave in 2015 for the Smithsonian. He was totally honest right from the beginning when he was unknown right through all the international success to his last days.

Honestly this felt like Eddie came back down from heaven and told us a brief history of his life & Van Halen. It felt like he never left.

The willingness to have your amps re-tubed after 10 hours in the name of chasing tone says it all about Ed.

Not even 8 minutes in and already I can tell this is one of the most important interviews of Eddie Van Halen ever recorded. Wow! 👍😭😎THX! ❤️👍👋

"Why don't you interview me man, nobody ever wants to interview me", says EDWARD VAN HALEN!!! Thank you so much for this Jas. What a memory it must be to have spoken with Eddie all those years ago before the rest of the world caught on. I read your interviews for years and always found them beautifully written and informative. You were kind enough to review an album I did many years ago with my friend TJ Helmerich called "Quid Pro Quo". It was one thing to be reviewed in Guitar Player Magazine but to have the review done by yourself meant so much to me. I'll never forget buying that first Van Halen album the day after it arrived in my little town in rural Australia. Life changing for sure. RIP Eddie. The greatest.

Playing 8-10 years and already changed the world. When you're a genius it emerges early.

This interview is like losing a loved one and calling their phone just to hear their voice on the recording. Just 4 minutes in and it’s already an unbelievable encounter. Playing ball with who would become the most influential guitarist of our lifetime that no one would interview. How amazing, I can’t wait to hear the rest. Now that I’ve finished….wow. There’s so many things he clarified about his set up.

I read this interview when it was first published back in 1978 and remember a lot of it to this day, Jas. It became a very big influence in that a lot of what Eddie had to say impacted what I was getting into....figuring out how to balance a Trem bar so it would not go out of tune, getting the most out of the Marshall amp I had bought only a few months before, etc. I had only been playing guitar for about a year at that point, and anything coming from any EVH interview became almost 'biblical' to me. Living back in NY (Long Island) I had never heard of the band or Eddie, and like just about everyone else I knew at that time no one could figure out what he was doing on Eruption, and no one had ever heard a guitar tone like Edwards. I wore out the first album within weeks of buying it right after it came out, and had been slowing down the record by playing parts of songs and solos at 16RPM...the whole bit. You couldn't possibly pick out what he was doing at 33RPM...and obviously there was of course no software, no You Tube, etc to learn from back then, so you had to come up with your own method if you wanted to figure out or come close to what he was playing. A lot of other guitar players I knew back then would say 'Oh, that's just tricks', but I wanted to learn as much as I could from him as I was so new to the thing. I would spend 6-10 hours everyday playing to VH, Hendrix, Jeff Beck and other classic albums to 'accelerate' my progress, but those first albums were the main things for me. In any case thanks so much for this recording, and thanks for that first interview, Jas...like millions of other players, he really changed everything for me. RIP Edward...

Still the first and one of the best interviews with Ed ever.

I grew up in Arcadia California and went to school with michael Anthony's younger brother Dennis at arcadia high school. We knew full well that van halen would dominate the rock and roll world just before they put out the VH1 record. Rock and roll icon forever, eddie van halen! Thank you so much for shareing this amazing interview. Most of the back yard parties that they played at in pasadena, Arcadia, san Marino... you had to park 4 or 5 blocks away and then walk to the party house. Same with great white back in those days. Cheers

"Why wont you interview me? Nobody ever wants to interview me" Ah man..... i miss eddie.

For those of us who read the original transcript in Guitar Player Magazine... This is just beautiful. Thank you Jas!

Interesting that in 1978 he already had in mind that synthesizers would be used on the next albums. It took a little longer than planned because David and TED were against it, but then he really took the risks and made it happen. His story is incredible. He had only been playing guitar for about 8 years before the first album. What else can you say? He has been a gift from heaven.

This is absolute Gold! It should be in an interactive form at the Rock hall of fame, National archives, Smithsonian, and worldwide in various languages. You can just hear how confident and driven he is. This should be chapter one, page one, of Edward Vanhalen 101.

Eddie and Yngwie are my 2 all time favorite guitarists thank you. I’ve been listening to them almost everyday since i was 14 in 1991 i enjoy their playing that much.

Thank you!!!!! I love that people are releasing old Eddie interviews. I miss him!!!

The 70's were a time in rock music that was incredible. So many great bands, rock gods. Was a teenager and loved rock then and still do Van Halen, DOA, Runnin With The Devil, Unchained, on and on, fucking awesome, would give everything I have to go back and know what I know now. Crazy

This is a TREASURE for musical history! The original transcription to a published article (which I missed) was special, but to hear Eddie's voice, in his youthful exuberance, explain what it means to play whatever you want with the musicians you connect with in front of the world, is next level! Thanks Eddie!

Isn’t it wonderful that Pat Travers blew you off? A little under two years after this, I won the spelling bee at school and used the gift certificate that I won to buy a Van Halen record. My world was never the same after that. Wow, what a treasure. Thank you for this, Jas. 🤟🏻

Talk about a sound chaser, never mind the game changing musicianship. I never knew the crazy level he got his hands dirty with experimenting with necks, bodies, amps, univox echo motors etc. He must’ve been tirelessly searching and finding. Seemed like a really straight up guy. Really enjoyed this.

Soooo cool to hear his young voice!!

This makes me emotional for some reason He sounds so young

Hearing this after all the interviews I've read all my life is just mind blowing .

Wow, So cool how this came about with the basketball game 👍🎸☺.

He was here for 10 yrs and already was the biggest guitarist around

man, this is one of the very few if not the only interview he ever did where he freely talked about his gear and equipment. such a useful insightful interview. so important.

man... this is HISTORIC

That was nice, hearing Edward being so honest at the outset of his career.

I can't believe how that meeting took place. Too cool. That's just as good as it gets.

i was 12 when VH- 1 came out . i had already started playing and listening to hard rock very intensely. It’s hard to convey how radical this guy was. Not only was the record and his playing from outer space, but his approach was so DIY. You can’t image how radical this was. It was like he had built this sacred guitar and just blew up the world

I read the original interview in the original magazine, hearing this though brings back the exact memorys. I see it in my head and now it's come alive again. I love all the noise in the background, the games and the band noise. This is the best interview ever of Eddie. You can see his smile as he laughs, such a gem.

Absolutely love it. Really cool to hear everyone in the background too! Makes me feel like I'm living in history

TOTALLY GET YOUR FIRST RESPONSE!! As sophomores in high school we went to catch Black Sabbath. We’d never heard of Van Halen-all I knew was that I thought Diamond Dave was Jim Dandy at first LOL! So Van Halen came out and EXPLODED ON YHE STAGE!! The most energy I’d experienced-including Terrible Ted then at his peak! Eddie is doing this insanely fast playing (we’d never heard tapping!) and running around the stage. Diamond Dave is doing flying Kung Fu kicks & his awesome screams and OWNING THE COLISEUM, Michael Anthony was a ball of energy GLUED to the pocket with killer high harmonies! We left like 4-5 songs into Sabbath it was such a drop in energy LOL! Thank GOD we DECIDED TO GET THETE EARLY ENOUGH TO CATCH THE OPENING ACT!! 👊🎉🍾🥂

Why - WHY - just WHY didn't we get to hear this YEARS ago?!?!?! I remember reading the interview but it wasn't like actually hearing Eddie in his own words or all the other things in the background like the other guys playing football and the train. I learned all that I needed to know about lutherie from Eddie - hacking up Teisco Del Rey guitars and making my own pickups and pickguards and painting and routing guitar bodies. If it weren't for Eddie I don't think I'd still be alive!! This man was my inspiration for living and music for over forty years. I'm just glad that we finally get to hear this. I'm just sorry we didn't get to hear it when Eddie was alive. Thank you ever so much for sharing this with us. It brings back a lot of fond memories.

Talk about straight out of the vaults. What a treat to hear this interview! Thank you Jas for sharing this wonderful and classic tidbit! RIP EVH

R.I.P. Mr Edward Van Halen. You were the GENUINE REAL DEAL. Humble and down to earth even in throes of serious adulation and praise. Amazing parenting by your folks to produce such a real person

The guy just single handedly reinvented rock guitar, created the most coveted rock guitar tone ever, and here he is asking to be interviewed!!! Incredibly, I am dumbfounded how much Eddie was a shooting star.... 💫😢❤ The world knows Eddie now!! RESPECT!!!

He was such a great real guitarist and person. Eddie is surely missed.

He plugged a marshall into his American home that was set for European voltage....and thought the amp was broke....left it on and came back to it and it sounded awesome to him but it was real quiet.....that's how he got the idea for using voltage for volume.....and saturation.....

Wow. Great interview. My babysitter took me to this Day on the Green when my parents were in France. This is what ignited music and rock and roll and metal in my life. It was a true neat experience at age 9. Thanks so much for posting this GEM!!!!!!

Wow.Totaly lost for words after listening to this.I remember reading this article years ago as well.Ed sounds so energetic and enthusiastic just like his playing!

My Idol since I was 10 yrs old in 78, I have heard it all. This is incredible.

It Was Awesome Hearing a Young Ed Talking About The Thing He Really Loved Playing His Guitar 🎸

Every time I say I want a time capsule style video to watch, this is usually what I mean. The feeling I get when listening to this is extremely rare, almost like you’re just sitting out in that basketball court with them absorbing everything he says…

Eddie @ 27:38 “I’ve never given up on rock and roll” …and we’re so glad and thankful you never did, Edward. Also, at 9:20 we hear someone exclaim “Heyyy!” as he’s presumably walking by. This to my ears sounds like none other than Diamond Dave himself. Note how Ed tells him “hold on a minute I’m doin an interview.” Such innocence here…so young and hungry. It’s been said that VH saved R&R music and I tend to agree w that assessment. At a time where: California soft rock and disco were all the new thing, the world’s richest rock band LZ were on hiatus, in another year Aerosmith would fizzle on account of Perry walking, Floyd were reaching the end of the road in another couple years. All these acts had their run and now it was time for VH to get out there and deliver BIG ROCK MUSIC. And that’s exactly the shot in the arm it needed at the time. Great interview here. Thanks for sharing!

That's what I love about Ed. The fact that he was always himself. He never changed as a person.

A classmate of mine in high school made me a copy of this article. Years later I got the magazine. What a treat to hear this on tape! Classic!

Definitely, the best EVH interview ever. I mean...he never changed. He always semmed to be a nice guy. But this interview went so deep into his amazing work...love it!!!

Man he was so young , a FRESH NEEDED push on the guitar.he was incredible .his songwriting. Not just his lead .but his rhythm was unparalleled..Eddie changed the game ,set the bar ,and gave us so much awesome music .He will FOREVER be the greatest. This interview was so cool to listen to. THANKS

"Plans for the future? Just keep rocking out and playing good guitar." ~ Edward Van Halen Mission accomplished!!

So great to hear his voice again... especially so early in his/their career.

Eddie was a Cool guy great musician didn't know he played basketball neat.

This is an amazing interview. So great to hear him say that he just learned how to play by figuring things out on his own and built his guitar through trail and error. Little did he now that his experimentation changed guitar playing and music forever. Thanks for sharing!

An historical recording of Edward Jas! I am so grateful you kept this audio and released it. The world will be thanking you for centuries! ❤🖤🤍🎸👑

This is gold. You can hear the excitement in Ed's voice to do this interview. Thank you for posting this important historical record! 🤘🏼🎸

Thank you so much for posting. It’s like Ed came down for a day to give us this beautiful gift.

I remember reading this interview in print. It's great to hear Ed's voice. Thank you for uploading this!

Authenticity defined. Ed was/is the coolest.

holy crap. That's a great story. It was meant to be....

Why do i like basketball all of a sudden? 😁 Talk about fate and the stars lining up!

I read the interview some time ago but damn, to actually here it out there in the open with people flinging a basketball around is so awesome. That's for making this available.

Wow! Wow! WOW! This is such a historic interview!!!! I was 13 then. I picked up the guitar when I was 13 because I wanted to be Eddie Van Halen. Just look at him on stage in any video from back then! Such a master, no... a god. RIP.

Ed’s early guitar tech just sent me this. It’s amazing!

Very cool! N humble. What a champion guitar god. Thanks for sharing! R.I.P. Eddy

Although I already knew must of this stuff about them, it was amazing hearing it come from Eddie himself. And it seems from listening he was a cool dude to hang and talk with , wish I could've meet him just to pick his brain about guitar . You are truly missed Eddie

Fantastic how is this not the most important interview of Eddie ever ? It’s gold dust

Thank you Eddie and thank you Jas. And thank you Pat Travers.

Changed the way guitar was played and by far the most innovative player Changed my life when i first heard Ed VH was and is still my #1

History was made on the day this interview took place. Jas is the best guitar journalist of all time.

This was great. Ed sounds so young and vibrant. (For lack of a better word.) I remember where I was and what I was doing the first time I heard VH I. It’s been in steady rotation for more years than I care to think about.

Thank you for this interview. I had an older cousin who was a radio programmer at college. He was into other types of music , but knew i might be interested in this new group? He let me listen to an advance copy of the LP in early February of 78. I could not believe what i was hearing and the rest is history. To this day i remind him of that and thank him as well. Thanks for the music Eddie!!!!

Absolutely one of the best guitar players , innovative, natural ,inspiring. What gets me is this thing called addiction:( It’s so sad and such a hard industry, turns great people into something they had no idea they would gradually be trapped into . Can we please put an end to the old school hang over that really needs to be cured once and for all:)👌🌈🎄🌴😃 I really miss the energy and intensity from that era , I grew up with it 👌 Let’s keep it healthy and real. Please please 🙏

I remember reading this interview in the Guitar Player duo issue w/ Jimi Hendrix, in 1983. I had been following VH since the beginning, thanks to my sisters albums. Completely life changing interviews of a true legend, the Mozart and Beethoven of our time! Thank you Jas, for finally releasing the audio files of this interview! They truly expose the context of which Ed was speaking!

This is the definitive straight from the horses mouth VH interview. All the lore starts here.. incredible!

This is incredible!! To think what's to come for Ed, Al, Mike, Dave and later Sammy, Gary and Wolfie! Some of the most important music to come about, particularly for the Guitar world.

Just wow. He sounds like a kid that is enjoying the moment. Great interview and thank you for sharing.

Such an amazing interview, what a gem. Eddie captured in time before his super stardom.

I read this article about 25 years ago and I always wished I could have played on the basketball court with you. To listen to this is a privilege.

astonishing. you never know who you're talking to amazing you saved it

Incredible! Gems like this are the best of KZfaq

Eddie is why I play guitar, 7th grade,VH 1 Heard new that's what I was gonna do. Legendary Interview.

That Edward’s impersonation at 3:01 gets me all the time 🤣. You were the luckiest guy that day, my friend.. thanks for sharing it with us!!

Thank you for posting this interview! This is pure gold. Also hearing that there are more interviews to follow just made my day!

What a very humble guy! Even more respect!!! Edward my 1st guitar hero! =) RIP Edward

Speechless. I still have the Guitar Player magazine with this interview imagining Ed’s voice. Already 5 years into guitar sitting on the edge of my bed plying to FM radio songs as I did for hours after homework done just getting to grips with latest Rush release and one night along comes Eruption followed by You Really Got Me… Ed changed everything overnight.

This was the golden age of Van Halen. No distractions, no marriages, drug use but not abuse. Just clarity of purpose. Plug in and play. The first three records are just an incredible exercise in pure attitude. No-nonsense, to the point, hit you right in the heart rock n' roll. Ed was just singularly focused on playing the guitar. He didn't have to balance out maintaining a happy marriage AND his obsession with making music. That's where it started to go south.

This is absolute gold! I just want to cry.

Amazing. EVH was able to do what he did in 12 years!! @21 years of age he was able to not only learn to play but innovate and expand the sound of the guitar. An amazing musician and great human being. Eddie was born at the right time in the right place with great parents and a cool older brother. His talent and passion all came together to produce one of Americas greatest rock guitarist. A great mix of luck and talent. Mostly talent.

You just changed my life by releasing this interview!! THANK YOU JAS!!

Thank you fir this amazing interview. ✌️

Perfect. Incredible to hear him detailing things he may have forgotten in more recent years.

Timeless interview. My favorite one of all Rock star interviews.

THIS INTERVIEW IS GOLD . Thank You for Sharing , and for all of your others you have been sharing with us

Thanks, Jas. we've been waiting for your Edward interviews to hit the modern media outlets. That April 1980 cover interview was the most read and sacred interview I had as a 13 yr. old. Not only using a Plexi these days full up, but it is where Allan Holdsworth came into my awareness. Bless you for posting this.

Amazing interview, you captured the excitement and energy of the time, right at the start of EVH's journey.

GREAT INTERVIEW AND INTERVIEWER!!

First time Eddie said he learned music theory when taking piano lessons. That makes so much sense why he played guitar like he did! On piano every finger can produce a note but playing guitar regularly with a pick only ur fret fingers can produce a note so he probably said why can’t I use my other hand like I do on piano and Bam he started tapping. With the theory he learned on piano he had knowledge of harmony and prollly knew a ton of piano chords that he just figured out how to play on guitar. Lots of professional guitarists started on piano and some of the really good players I know started on piano too and many older musicians have said the first thing any musician should learn is piano which makes sense you can use all of the skills you learn on piano on other Instruments