For decades, Van Halen was one of the most innovative and electrifying bands in rock history. But not everyone stayed on board for their evolution. Slayer’s Kerry King, one of the fiercest figures in metal, recently reflected on how Eddie Van Halen influenced him… but admitted that he checked out when Van Halen ‘sold out’ and became, in his words, a pop band.
When Van Halen burst onto the scene in 1978, they changed the game overnight. Eddie Van Halen’s revolutionary guitar tapping, combined with David Lee Roth’s wild stage presence, made them one of the most exciting bands in rock history. And during this era, a young Kerry King was sitting in the crowd, watching intently. In a recent interview, King revealed just how much of an impact Eddie had on him during those early years. King also admitted that he never got to meet Eddie in person, despite his connection to Dimebag Darrell.
Kerry King reflected on how his relationship with Van Halen’s music developed. During Lipps Service, he was asked whether Eddie was among his major influences while growing up, the Slayer icon said:
“In the beginning, for sure. I think I saw them six times on the first four records. I didn’t go to the first album [tour] because I was too young.”
“I would always sit in the first-row lodge with binoculars, so I could go there and not just have fun listening to the songs I like, but I could actually nerd out on what he’s playing, and try to get a grasp on what he’s throwing at us. I went a bunch, and then they became more of a pop band, and I stopped going. Eddie was still a great player, but I just didn’t care anymore.”
