Most legendary musicians don’t need to constantly remind people of their skills. The best players know their abilities speak for themselves, and true mastery comes from serving the song rather than indulging in technical showboating. Eddie Van Halen, despite revolutionizing the guitar with his iconic tapping technique, was always more interested in making great music than just shredding for the sake of it.
That might sound surprising coming from the man who turned two-handed tapping into his signature move, but Eddie’s brilliance wasn’t just in his solos—it was in his entire approach to the instrument. His rhythm playing on tracks like ‘Atomic Punk’ and ‘Mean Street’ showcased a raw, percussive energy that few could match. For Eddie, the guitar was more than just a tool for flashy solos; it was a way to craft something fresh and exciting.
But when rock music wasn’t giving him the inspiration he craved, Eddie turned to jazz and fusion, where he discovered a guitarist who left him in awe—Allan Holdsworth.
Despite having countless guitar legends in his circle, like Toto’s Steve Lukather, Eddie was always searching for something groundbreaking. And in Holdsworth, he found a musician who sounded like he had arrived from another planet.
Watching Holdsworth play was baffling. His hands seemed almost inhuman, stretching across the fretboard to form impossibly complex chord voicings that defied traditional technique. His fluid legato runs and unconventional phrasing made it seem as though he had unlocked an entirely new dimension of guitar playing.
Holdsworth never became a household name, and that frustrated Eddie. He saw a man whose talent deserved to be celebrated, not overlooked.
Recalling a jam session at the Roxy, Eddie said, “Allan is such a fucking nice guy. He came over [to California] for his last chance to try to make some money playing.
Man, I started crying! I couldn’t fucking believe it! So after I jammed with him at the Roxy, I’m saying, ‘My God, man, you’re too fucking good just to be pissed away like this.’ He was selling records at the door.”
Holdsworth’s technical prowess was unmatched, and in many ways, he pushed the guitar further than Eddie ever did. His work with UK on tracks like ‘In the Dead of Night’ showcased an alien level of musicality, blending rock and jazz in ways that still baffle musicians today.
Eddie Van Halen will always be remembered as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, but he knew better than anyone that Allan Holdsworth was on another level. While the world may not have given Holdsworth the recognition he deserved, any serious guitarist looking to push their limits owes it to themselves to explore his work.
