Eruption? What the hell?

[Jamezo]

Aaaaaugh, I just listened to eruption for the first time, and it absolutley blows. Is it just me? Holy crap, I think afro man was more musical than that. I mean, I admire being able to produce such a wide variety of sounds, but that was just whacked.

Am I alone on this one or do other people think it reeks?

[zKing]

Whoa, there rip master...gotta remember the context:

First of all, that was just Eddie "warming up". They were testing the equipment in the studio and said "hey, play a bit" so he just wailed away. His "warm up" floored the producer and sound engineer so they decided to put in on the record. You see, before that time no big name players were "tapping" so that was a unique thing back then. He was also playing at a speed that people really didn't hear back then.

So, yes, it isn't very musical. And as far as technical skill it is pretty darn good, but I think there are better examples today ... probably including Eddie himself as he got better.

But try to imagine a time when no one really could "shred" like that; it was a stunning new sound.

Ripping on it is almost like saying "man, all those old movies suck...they're not even in color."

Context.

[Andrew]

I think it's quite musical. The tapping bit especially. Maybe after you've heard it a few times, you'll hear the notes better. That happens to me sometimes.

[Andrew]

oops i voted yes cos i thought that that meant i liked it.

[Mr B]

I think it's an amazing statement of intent and when it came out, there was nothing to touch it. It's kinda like the unaccompanied solo in "Heartbreaker" by Led Zep, he just has the balls to let rip, and he doesn't care if it's a great melody, it's fast and shallow and inspired thousands from that point on. It's pretty damn good for a warm up, if you ask me.

[SwampDonkey]

Eruption was just Eddie warming up?? Wow, I never knew that! I think Eruption is some amazing playing from one of the best guitarists ever. Sure it might not be a musical masterpiece, but it certainly blew me away the first time I heard it :)

[cyberfret]

Originally posted by Andrew
oops i voted yes cos i thought that that meant i liked it.

Have no fear I switched your vote to no :)

--Shawn

[zKing]

For those interested I found this snippet of an interview with Eddie that talks about it:

<edit...here's a better one>

CORGAN: On your debut album, Van Halen [1978], your guitar solo, "Eruption," was the second track. Wasn't it kind of a bold move to place this crazy guitar instrumental so close to the beginning of the record?


VAN HALEN: "Eruption" wasn't even supposed to be on the album. I showed up at the recording studio early one day and started to warm up. I had a gig that weekend and I wanted to practice my solo guitar spot. Our producer, Ted Templeman, happened to walk by and he asked, "What's that? Let's put it on tape!" So I took one pass at it, and they put it on the record. I didn't even play it right. There's a mistake at the top end of it. To this day, whenever I hear it I always think, "Man, I could've played it better."

[Josh Redstone]

I read the same thing in Guitar Worlds 100 bet Guitar Solos issue.
Anyway, I like it, but I like the live versions of it better than the one on the album, and I think Eddie has done better solo's than that anyway.

[Andrew]

Have no fear I switched your vote to no

Thanks

What is a good live Van Halen CD?

[Zeppelinfan13]

It rules, try playing it, and you'll realize it's much harder than it sounds, and then you'll appreciate it more.

[wild_axeman]

Eruption rules ... Maybe you're just not listening to it LOUD enough ??????????

It goes into You really got me perfectly.Sounds musical to me (sure beats the heck out of all grunge and new metal and rap and disco !!!! )

[Perfect4th]

Eruption is great. But at the time it was released is was out of this world. It's like when they first added sound to movies, it blew people away. Nobody could even grasp what Eddie was doing, now everyone is influenced by him directly or indirectly.

Now, here's the question: How many of us here can play it note for note? :) Not me!

Peace!

[Perfect4th]

Originally posted by Andrew


Thanks

What is a good live Van Halen CD?

They only made one CD, "Live: Right Here, Right Now" and two videos.

"Live: Without a Net" is great, IMHO!

Peace!

[Mr B]

I've heard the live version of "Eruption" and it wipes the floor with the studio recording, Eddie really gives it some fingers live and it seems even more extravagant, revolutionary and difficult when you hear it in all it's 5 minute long, loud, live glory.

[george1098]

not very many people are tallented enouph to put themselves just screwing around with a guitar on an album. Honestly Van Halen was a little befor my time so im not the biggest fan, but i know guitar when i hear it and eruption is pretty incredable

[JCM]

It is a classic... like other people have said around here... remember: context in time!

Since then... who can name me an intro song with that impact? Not easy to find, huh?

[Mr B]

oh, I don't know about that, the intro to "Smells like Teen Spirit" is pretty incredible.



*waits 3 seconds*



hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah a!

[Josh Redstone]

:)

[JCM]

good point... but it belongs to the main riff of the song... but ok! This is classic stuff too!!! That was the begining of another revolution!

[Mr B]

sorry, I was joking.

[aseemp]

I am sure Eddie Van Halen can play the guitar really fast (as he proves in eruption), but is he artistic. Just because you can play fast doesn't mean you are the most artistic. I don't think i have ever heard Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan or anyway play so fast, but in my opinion they are far more artistic.

[Josh Redstone]

I dont think that was fair. Eddie is very artistic. Listen to some of the songs he wrote. He doesn' play that fast all the time, and when he does, at least it suits the song.
Eddie started shred, but never played as fast as the fastest shredder.

[Andrew]

Originally posted by aseemp
I am sure Eddie Van Halen can play the guitar really fast (as he proves in eruption), but is he artistic. Just because you can play fast doesn't mean you are the most artistic. I don't think i have ever heard Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan or anyway play so fast, but in my opinion they are far more artistic.

I think you should listen to some Van Halen. So many people think, "he plays fast, so he must think that that's all that matters" Wrong! Slower is not better, faster is not better, they are both good.
Also, SRV plays quite fast sometimes.

[suppaenitetere]

The problem with van halen is not the speed, its the reason for the speed. When SRV or john mclaughlin etc plays fast, it moves the song forward and reaches a climax-not to show off technical ability. As far as im concerned hes the man who ruined guitar. Melody no longer matters and eruption is the reason for it. *ducks* okay well i've got myself in enough trouble already...

[zKing]

Originally posted by suppaenitetere
The problem with van halen is not the speed, its the reason for the speed. When SRV or john mclaughlin etc plays fast, it moves the song forward and reaches a climax-not to show off technical ability. As far as im concerned hes the man who ruined guitar. Melody no longer matters and eruption is the reason for it. *ducks* okay well i've got myself in enough trouble already...

hehe, now tell us what you really think... ;)

[Andrew]

Interesting...

[Mr B]

...he may have a point so we'd better kill him now ;)

[Stargazer-SG1]

Originally posted by zKing

But try to imagine a time when no one really could "shred" like that;


Personally i think Fripp soloing leaves Hallen far behind as far as shredding goes, i think Eruption introduced a new era for amateurish guitar playing...

[Josh Redstone]

Amateurish!!!!!!!!!!!
If that was the case, why didn't everyone do it before? That doesn't make any sense. If it was amatuerish to play like that the whole shred boom wouldn't have happened, people would have just gone, "Ahh, he doesn't play very good, just very fast. Lets NOT imitate him."
Thats obviously not what happened.

[Stargazer-SG1]

Originally posted by Josh Redstone
Amateurish!!!!!!!!!!!
If that was the case, why didn't everyone do it before?
That doesn't make any sense.


Well, it's not like he was randomly warming up :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Josh Redstone

If it was amatuerish to play like that the whole shred boom wouldn't have happened,

What a better world that would have been, without anybody wanking off their guitars trying to show off how good they are every single song.

Originally posted by Josh Redstone

people would have just gone, "Ahh, he doesn't play very good, just very fast. Lets NOT imitate him."
Thats obviously not what happened.

I reckon the 'fast' part of his playing was what everybody raved about...

[Josh Redstone]

Well, the way I see it, that's not the case.
When you hear people raving about Erutpion, its not ALL about the speed, its the tapping part. Thats what popularized it. Also, its just that Eruption has always been pinned as the reason for that technique being popularized. It was the whole album, not just the one song.
And wanking on the guitars? If you can play that fast and make it sound good, than do it!
Some people ust play that fast right off the bat cause they can, its like a default speed. They aren't trying to prove how good they are, all those guys never lasted, it just so happened that they were best at playing fast. I happen to be one of them, and when I do it, I'm not just screwing around, I'm playing at a speed that I'm comfortable at.
Its the same thing with your "Randomly warming up," thing.
Lots of guitarists have peices they use to warm up with. I do, I bet a lot of other people here do to. And some people like to show off a little, simply because they can and they are comfortable at that speed. So what if thats what Eddie did?
Like I said, if you can play that well, go ahead and do it, cause not many people can.

[Aginor]

The problem with van halen is not the speed, its the reason for the speed. When SRV or john mclaughlin etc plays fast, it moves the song forward and reaches a climax-not to show off technical ability. As far as im concerned hes the man who ruined guitar. Melody no longer matters and eruption is the reason for it. *ducks* okay well i've got myself in enough trouble already...

Ok I've only heard Van Halen's first album so maybe the rest of their stuff is totally different but their first album is definitely not just an excuse for Eddie to show off. Have you even listened to the rest of the album? You shouldn't just judge a band on 1 song. As someone else said it's about context in time. Eddie wasn't even going to put it on the album, it was just his warmup. If you listen to the rest of the album you'll see that the reason behind it isn't just to play fast. His rhythms are awesome and the solos definitely move the songs forward.

[Josh Redstone]

People who think Van Halen was just screwing around on the guitar should listen to the later stuff they did with Hagar. Its much more melodic and less speed oriented.

[Mr B]

it's more about the way the speed is delivered and the spontaneity of the sound than the actual bpm.

[GuitarGriff]

No musically talent you say? Just speed? Let me quote a clip from March's issue of Guitar World:

"Van Halen displays brilliance here as both a musician and composer, as he uses the two-hand tapping technique to effortlessly gallop through a complex progression of triad arpeggios, modulating through different keys in resourceful ways that would make Ludwig van Beethoven raise an eyebrow. Notice the way Van Halen signals the end of the progression by quickly moving back and forth between Em and B(the tonic and dominant chords in the key of E minor) in a way reminiscent of the conclusion of many classical pieces."


Eddie Van Halen was brilliant whether you think so or not.

[Mr B]

in the words of Mozart:

"Tonic and dominant! Tonic and dominant! Pom pom pom pom! That is the sound of a man who can't get it up!"

in the words of me: Vanh Halen rocks!

[joyride]

zakk wylde and dimebag are faster than eddie van halen

[GuitarGriff]

But he's so many times better.

[fizz]

Yngwies early stuff with 'Steeler' was pretty fast.

<----- Donut! :D

[Mr B]

ALL of Yngwie's stuff is pretty fast!

(where'd you find that donut, looks delicious dude!)

[satch]

If you say u dont like it thats fine.But to say it sucks
come on!! Just because something came out before you were born doesnt mean it sucks!There isnt a guitar player in the last decade with the talent hes got.I am biased tho,since i started playing guitar to the 1984 album
:D

[jimmy smith]

Originally posted by joyride
zakk wylde and dimebag are faster than eddie van halen





yes but dimebag and zack both looked up to eddie and learned alot from him as a matter of fact dimebag and zack are trying to get eddie to work on a project where all three are playing together

[satch]

Before you bash this peice of music milestone history.You should
play it more than once.If you cant here the musical integrity of it
you should try to advance from your mel bay open position chord books.
I hate it when people bash guitarist who can actually play something other than just a barre chord or open e.
Yes taken out of context it appears to be mindless.But only to non musicians.

Shredders rule!!!!!!!!!!:D

[Josh Redstone]

Originally posted by joyride
zakk wylde and dimebag are faster than eddie van halen


Speed is nothing. Anyone can do it with practise. Passion and feel are truly what are impotant.