Eddie Van Halen is undoubtedly one of the biggest musicians of all time, whose legacy continues to be remembered even now and fans and peers alike have never forgotten just how influential he has been in the music business as well as mainstream as a whole.
When it comes to the history of rock ‘n’ roll, there is no shortage of great guitarists to choose from. However, during a recent appearance on SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show, Jon Bon Jovi confidently declared his pick for the greatest of all time: Jeff Beck.
Without hesitation, Bon Jovi emphatically stated, “Beck, Jeff Beck.” While Stern offered up an alternative option, the rocker countered by saying, “Jimi Hendrix would of course be in the starting lineup, but you put me on the spot.”
Interestingly, Bon Jovi’s selection of Beck wasn’t just a random choice. In fact, he had personal experience working with the legendary guitarist.
“I was in the room with Jeff Beck when he took a guitar out of a cardboard box, had a rented amplifier and no pedals and created that sound when we did the Young Guns record. He was my guitar player. I sat there flabbergasted because Jeff Beck did things with his fingers and his thumb that would blow your mind,” revealed Bon Jovi to Stern.
The Young Guns record that Bon Jovi referred to was actually a soundtrack for the 1990 film Young Guns II, in which he contributed as a solo artist. This came after the massive successes of Slippery When Wet and New Jersey, with Bon Jovi taking a brief hiatus from the band to focus on his solo career. “Blaze of Glory” from the Young Guns II soundtrack went on to become a signature hit.
While Beck was clearly Bon Jovi’s top choice, he also had high praise for other guitarists. “Hendrix, [Jimmy] Page, of course Eddie [Van Halen], Mark Knopfler, I watched you get into an argument about Dire Straits. I love Mark Knopfler. He’s a completely different style of guitar player, but all of this goes back to their songwriting abilities too, because it’s integral to the whole thing,” shared the singer.
While there may be many great guitarists out there, Jon Bon Jovi is certain that Jeff Beck reigns supreme as the greatest of all time. And with personal experience working with the legendary guitarist, he certainly has the credentials to back up his claim. Interestingly enough, Eddie Van Halen made a rock icon quit guitar in the past. Not just that, he also revealed the truth to a hair metal guitarist.
What do you think of Eddie Van Halen? Do you think he deserves more credit in the industry or he has just about enough? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
