Rick Beato doesn’t steal music. He teaches people to love it.

It’s nice to hear someone give Dave the credit he deserves, I’m tired of hearing people say he was a crummy singer, he was amazing and essential!

The more I watch Rick's videos the more I believe the internet was created for him to do this very thing.

Michael Anthony is the most recognizable and pleasurable background vocal in rock. Plus he’s a great guy by all accounts.

Roth was an amazing singer. Those iconic screams and yelps were incredible. He also had a cool, unique voice with good vibrato.

I was in a Peaches Record Store in Tulsa OK and that intro came on the store's sound system. Everyone in the store stopped whatever they were doing and started looking around. NO ONE had ever heard anything like it. Total game changer.

In his younger days, Dave's voice was absolutely incredible. I sure am glad I was part of the later 70's and 80's music., best years rock music. What an era for music!

Mr. Beato, I have very rarely commented on a video on youtube but I can no longer remain silent. I am a 25 year old student about to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Audio Production. I can play drums, bass, guitar, and minimally keyboards. I feel grateful that not only am I somewhat educated on the musician side but the engineer's side as well. Even though this is my passion and I wouldn't want to do anything else, there are times where it can feel almost boring or me having lack of motivation. Being a prog rock and old school music fan of jazz, rock, and bands like Frank Zappa, Yes, King Crimson, and ELP you can imagine that there are not many people at my school that share the same taste. Most at my school are just into hip hop and rap. When I feel a lack of passion, I immediately put on one of your videos. The amount of insight you give from both sides of the business is astonishing. Once I watch one of your videos, my passion and motivation comes flooding back in. You give people like me something way more important than insight or knowledge. Simply put you have the power to "INSPIRE." It is inspiration that is the first step to someone changing the world. I very much hope to see you continuing to make video that inspire so many of us to keep fighting the good fight and not give up. I hope to one day becoming someone on your level sir. I salute you Mr. Beato.

Sitting here after hearing of Eddie's death. Hard to believe we will never hear him play again.

Rip Eddie, never has such a guitarist inspired so many people around the world, even with just one song, you will be missed

Not only there couldn't be no Van Halen with out Diamon Dave but also the Legendary bass player Michael Anthony and his backup voice!🎸🎤

Blows my freaking mind how good Mike and Alex sound even before Eddie kicks in with his magic. The isolated recording of Dave singing is amazing. Everyone is perfect here!

Besides being a great bass player, Michael Anthony's voice was an integral part of the Van Halen sound.

So, I’m 48 yrs old. I’ve heard that song 10,000 times. Gotta admit, you kinda reintroduced me to that song. I’ll listen in a new way next time I hear it. Thanks man.

Years late for this one, but I just want to say that part of the Van Halen magic was because not all of the players tried to lead the songs. Bass and drums are powerful but both are stay at home players providing an incredibly tight, deep, and complete support for the song so that there was place for Eddie and DLR to stand out. Even then, Eddie knew instinctively just how far to back down to create the space for the vocals and the vocal parts, and the vocal harmonies provide the support for DLR screaming and going over the top - while turning around and leaving plenty of space for Eddie to run the show at other parts of the song. The true power comes from the players doing their parts without being selfish, giving the space to others, and that drove the band for the first 3 or 4 albums solidly.

Runnin with the Devil has always been my favorite Van Halen song and always takes me back to walking out of "The Music Store" our record shop when I first heard the intro. I was in 9th grade with my buddy Randy. We both turned around and asked the guy behind the counter who it was. We went home to scrounge up $7.95 to get that album. Agreed on joint custody and split the cost. Took it home and immediately copied it to, two cassettes and put it in the record archive for safe keeping. This is one of those times when I heard something I had never heard before.

You can tell that they were a band that toured and played a LOT before even dreaming of getting into a studio and recording something. EVERYTHING is in the pocket, they play tight as concrete, yet the dynamic and the feel is outstanding! And then you play the whole Sh*t TOGETHER in the studio! You've got all those bleeds testifying it! Such a great band! Rest in Peace, Ed! Thank you for lifetime inspiration and making me wanting to play a guitar at the age of 15!

DLR is an underappreciated singer. I always liked his vibrato!

Eddie is eternal. He will never die as long as there are people remembering him. I bet you in a few years from now he will be held in the same respect as we hold Bach, Beethoven, Mozart... not only he revolutionized the guitar, but he revolutionized music as a whole. RIP Eddie Van Halen.

Love that you said, "I could have picked any song off the first four albums." I would 100 percent agree with that. The first album I ever bought was Fair warning, I think I was 13. Ten trillion years later and I still love that album.

Hearing Rick break down these iconic songs into their components and watching him enjoy playing the parts back is like seeing a master sommelier: explaining the theory, swirling the wine in its glass, drinking it, enjoying it as one of life’s pleasures and telling you what he feels.

David's voice is phenomenal right off the bat....perfect throughout!

It hurts me to watch how easily he can do Eddie's riffs and solos. Respect.

Thank you so much for appreciating Michael Anthony. A Bass line is like woman's make up, the better it fits, the less you notice that. Being so rhythmic AND solid AND pushing AND doing backing vocals as he did, all at the same time ain't that easy.

RIP Eddie..!! Thank you for the fun times down at Cabo Wabo with Sammy !!! Great memories for the rest of my life..!!

In 1978 I was 11 years old. One day my friend's older brother brought home a record by this new group Van Halen. This was the first song I heard. Stunning. 40+ years later this record is still amazing. Thanks for the breakdown Rick

Amazing bass playing? He’s even a better singer Very underrated

The mighty VH.... The reason I play guitar in the first place. I was fortunate to have been there when it came out and we all immediately shook our heads in utter astonishment. Guitar took this great leap forward. The party was on.

This brings back memories. My friends and I were leaving work, and one of my friends had just bought a really nice new car stereo. This album had just come out, but I had not heard it yet. We all sat down in his car to listen to the stereo, and this is the song that he played first. With the surround sound of the four speakers, and the totally unique sound of the band, I was blown away. It gave me goose bumps. Lol!

I was young and didn't know "you really got me" was a cover song. Then I discovered the Kinks and was absorbed into that. Love Van Halen harmonizing. Van Halen was always on the radio in 1980s southern CA.

This song and album was like an invasion of ROCK at a time when bell bottoms and Disco were about to be pushed the F out - the feel of the drums bass and EVHs iconic guitar sound was like a marching army assault feel - thank God I got to enjoy VH in its prime and see so many of the tours - legends !!!!

Whenever I have a really hard work day or my ole lady is being crazy, I just find a Rick Beato video to cheer me up

RIP EVH you will be missed !! I was 12 when I became a VH fan I’m so bummed that I’ll never get to see EVH play live again.. TY Ed for the great memories..

I have so much more respect now after hearing Ed's tone and rhythm playing isolated. He is truly a real musician. Will there ever be another recording done so organically like this one these days? I can only hope.

Van Halen was the loudest R&B group of 1978. They had that swing, as a group and as individuals. We were so blessed to have had the gift of Van Halen... Rest Well Sir Edward.

Michael Anthony was the metronome for VH, an underrated bass player

"I pretty much could have picked any song off the first four records." Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!!!

Album still sounds like it came out of nowhere. Fantastic.

Rick, I had to come and watch both this and ep#62 tonight. Eddie has passed away from cancer, and it only seemed right to listen, watch and enjoy everything that made him an icon. Even my father was touched by his death saying "every time you call me I'll hear him play!" My ringtone on Mom & Dad's phones are Right Now and Eruption.

I remember this well, Im 4 yrs younger than you, and Van Halen "Van Halen" was a life changer as far as music went like the first time hearing Jimi Hendrix, when I heard Eruption for the first time it was a WTF is that moment

Michael Anthony does the best background vocals, often overlooked element of Van Halens sound

Here's the kicker about The Frankenstrat Bumblebee. When Dimebag Darrell was murdered on stage, Eddie Van Halen went to the funeral. Eddie took his original Bumblebee guitar and had it buried with Dimebag in his casket.

This is my new favorite series on KZfaq for a whole lot of reasons!

Absolutely right about Michael Anthony. His backup vocals alone are an important part of Van Halen, but the opening of this song set the standard for 80's basslines.

In college, I took a basic music theory class. I've learned more from watching Rick's videos than that class.

Rick, I'm thankful for your takes on Van Halen. You're helping us get through this loss and enhancing his legacy. We will never hear a sound like his again.

It's hard to be a rock and roller and age with dignity.. Rick has done that.. and brought his years of experience to the web to share. Thank you Rick.

"Without Dave, there is no Van Halen." A truer comment was never said. Like it or not, he was a crucial part of that mix! First band I ever saw live and Dave hooked me with the big, blue guitar intro in the spotlight for "Ice Cream Man".

Another one of my very favorite bands. I once met Michael Anthony in L.A., in 1985 when I was in the Air Force. At a resturaunt..., The Black Whale. That's my Michael Anthony story. Thanks for what you do Rick B.

Never would have noticed what you pointed out about the chords formed by the vocal harmonies over the guitar chords in the chorus when they sing the word the word "DE-VIL". Once I listened for it, it sounds amazing. Your analysis of the songs in this series are incredible. It's valuable scholarship that should really be compiled and preserved.

Eddie did not record running with the devil on the Frankenstrat. He recorded it on a white Ibanez Destroyer, and the noise in the beginning isn’t made at the top of the guitar but at the bridge.

I really think Eddie's sound is the apex of "heavy" saturated guitar. I remember the first time I heard Unchained. WOW, my head almost exploded! The cool thing about the whole thing is that Eddie had his tone from the get go. He didn't have to come into his own, he already had it.

the sound for most this album (and this song) is actually from an Ibanez 2459 Korina Destroyer that he later ruined when he turned it into The Shark..he didnt use the Frankenstrat on this song. I got to see the very first show they did under contract with WB...1978 at the Aragon Ballroom.He hadnt modded the Ibanez yet and his Strat was actually white then. They opened for Montrose and Journey. My dad began to cry during Eruption. Neal Schon was freaking out too

Rick, you continue to treat rock music as a serious subject and I want to thank you for breaking down how it was done, and why it worked. You are an informed, talented teacher of music production

I remember an interview, I believe it was with Neal Schon and he was playing a festival back in 1979 and he made the comment about Eddie that all the other bands who were there were saying "...who is this guy?" and "...I am just glad I don't have to follow them as the next band when they're done..." or something to that effect. Van Halen and Eddie was just so radical and unprecedented back then

And this is why I tease my more jazz-oriented friends by saying ”Van Halen is my favorite jazz-quartet”

I remember when this album came out. It was like a lightning bolt. Every song on it is good but several are great. And Running With the Devil is brilliant.

Besides all the theory you discuss, your most important comment was, “These are guys that play with feel.” I’ve played drums for about 40 years, and Alex’s parts are some of the most difficult to get right because of his unique feel and sense of rhythm. He’s not one of the 230BPM metronomes that permeate the industry. He’s a guy that knows the space between notes is just as important as the notes themselves, like Gene Krupa did.

I was in junior high when this album came out. I was reading return of the king for an extra credit assignment when I heard the song playing through my headphones, to this day I still picture orcs marching to it. what an awesome tune.

Runnin’ with Be-a-toooooooooooo!

Thanks Rick!! You probably don't know how important your work is for the rock culture and community. Fresh air and revisionism, all we need to fully understand and value our music.

This explains why Van Halen was who they are...... That was an awesome breakdown!! Thanks Rick!

I love this series. We all know VH are great but it is so good to hear the nuts and bolts behind WHY they are great besides just their showmanship and attitude and sound.

Have to say Rick, not being a musician doesn't stop the enjoyment of your effort. The opening you did here for "Running with the Devil" perfectly captures a moment so many of us share. It literally made me smile. Thank you!

Back in the early 80s the owner of my local pinball parlour, Bill, used to sit in his little change booth with a Flying V and a practice amp, cranking out the era’s contemporary rock. His take on Eddie’s sound was SO good. I just had to close my eyes and I was listening to VH1.

0:49 You can see Rick Beato's eyes light up as he gets the chills we all get from that bass line

Glad you mentioned Michael Anthony’s BV’s as very important but often overlooked. It is hard to believe this song was on a demo circa 18 months before they had it on the album. It is inconceivable that they found it difficult to get signed now but they did.

Never stop doing this.

I feel like I finally understand how measures are assigned all those weird time signatures. This guy is a great teacher, and for all of you that play songs by ear, without knowing how to read the music, he can teach you how to play them right. Just hope he does a video on your favs. I'll be looking for some Al Stewart and Seals and Croft songs.

It's a timeless song, still great today.

Eddie Van Halen RIP 🇳🇱🇮🇩🇺🇸 🎸

I thought a ufo was landing in my back yard the first time I heard Runnin with the devil....and that riff might be the best ever!

54 minutes in, still not blocked. This is a good sign. 😃

If you ever do another Van Halen again please do Mean Street... That song has it all

I saw Van Halen in 1978, tripping out of my skull, when they supported Black Sabbath at Glasgow Apollo! EVH running all over the stage with his b/w-stripped Frankenstrat! What a gig that was!!

I’m stunned. What a brilliant break-down of a brilliant tune!

Eddie Van Halen brought a great, unique sound and talent to guitar playing. Those first 4 albums are amazing!!!!!

Eddie was known for all that finger tapping stuff but the earlier songs he did not utilize it much and really his rhythm playing was every bit as impressive as his leads. Yes he had "gimmicks" he used but he used them so tastefully that they really were not gimmicks but technique. He was really an inspiration to young players no different then Hendrix or Page.

We may not get new music from Eddie since he's passed on, but we have albums, videos,, interviews, guest appearances, etc. that we can go back to. Eddie was here for a reason. He inspired, made music we all love, he took the guitar to a whole new level and left a legacy. Like other great musicians before him, he will be greatly missed.

@8:42 That rhythm section is a woman's strut. A runway walk. It's the musical embodiment of swaying hips. Poetry. This is the hidden genius that is overlooked by almost all casual listening (and that includes me, till now). But this hidden aspect is always understood unconsciously, however-we just know a 'good band' or a 'good song' when we hear it.

Dude...INCREDIBLE breakdown of songs...very thorough...thanks for your time and effort!

I loved Eddie's playing while in Van Halen. He's my favorite guitarist but I don't try to play like him or play any of their songs. They are a BAND and their stuff works as an ensemble. This breakdown is a classic example of musicians playing together and creating magic.

I'm not a musician but I love Rock n roll and heavy metal. You've helped take my love a step further as now I'm fascinated by the breakdowns and mechanics of the songs. I'm a new big fan over your channel and share every video with my heavy metal guitar playing son. He grew up in a household of 80's metal.

Oh that was fun! Van Halen came along and just DESTROYED all of us high school musicians. We were stunned to hear this record starting of course with this song. I remember marveling at how in tune eddie played this song.

Michael Anthony, one of the greatest rock bass players of all time!!

Rick, I love ya man. “Running With The Devil is completely modal from start to finish. An E chord- but really it’s an E Flat, but I’m just saying for the sake of E’s (ease). A Maijor 3rd to a perfect 4th and on THIS chord when that’s happening, the vocals are saying this so we are getting THIS chord. It’s C-lydian or B-lydian over E to D sus 2” I don’t know what I’m more amused by: your brilliant phrasing or the look on your face while breaking it down. The irony of it all is that EVH would have no idea what you’re talking about!

Interestingly enough, my oldest sister, who is a classically trained cellist, loves Ricks videos and she is oftentimes sharing his videos with me and we enjoy listening to Rick break down these great songs and share his insights and knowledge.

Damn. You've turned Nostalgia up to 11 on this one. Love it.

I was in grade 10, sitting in math class, and thinking about how the sounds on the first album were created. After 41 years, I have the answers. Thanks. The fact that we’re still talking about this music is what makes this song so, so great.

Seeing a live performance of michael anthony pick his bass with his teeth on the lead in of Running with the devil was epic! LEGENDARY.

Rick, thanks for keeping the rock flame stoked. Videos like this is what the younger generation need. Long live Rock-n-roll!

Damn Rick, this was F'ng phenomenal.... Felt like I was sitting across from an ol' buddy (albeit WAY more talented than any of my knucklehead friends) dissecting one of the all time greatest songs. This was just awesome - thank you Rick!!

I love watching you deconstruct these amazing songs.. it gives me a feeling of the very first time I heard the song.

It’s always so cool how you can play the vocals on the guitar

Will always remember hearing Running with the Devil for the first time on a friend's turntable in 1978. That wall of sound shook the room! Loved the whole first album.

Best series on KZfaq! Stop the blockers!

These early VH albums were essentially recorded live together in the studio.

God bless Eddie. It appears he influenced a lot more people than I ever imagined.

Do Ain’t Talkin Bout Love. Great loud and soft playing from EVH on that one.

Van Halen's music is so good, in part to Alex Van Halen's sorely underrated drumming, and his chemistry with Eddie. Alex just knew where to put rad fills. Man, I do love the backup vocals in early VH as well! Also Rick, I love how pumped you get about the music; makes me smile man!