To receive the Van Halen seal of approval, something pretty significant was going to be required. It’s difficult to approach Eddie Van Halen with pentatonic licks and have him genuinely want to take some moves from you. He possessed more skill in his right pinky than most people have in their entire body. It required more, and Eddie acknowledged that. He had impressed himself while writing the song “Unchained” when he went to write Fair Warning.
To be sure, part of what makes Fair Warning so effective is its peculiarity. Women and Children First witnessed the band mature into metalheads. At this point, they began to sound more like art rock. This is evident in some of the most bonkers chord progressions Eddie has ever made.
There are still songs like “Hear About It Later” that seem too good to have come from the mind of just one guitarist. However, the party-style Van Halen charm remains. It’s the same charm that people missed all those years ago. “Unchained” stands out as the best example due to the multitude of hooks packed into one song. It demonstrates how well both styles work together.
Well, maybe not the huge riff in Drop C#, but this is as close as you’ll get to hearing Van Halen in their element. While studio tricks are present, Ted Templeman telling David Lee Roth to take a break is unique. It showcases a band that understands their craft.
A Van Halen song wouldn’t be complete without a solo. Eddie told Guitar World that he loved the song and that the solo was better than anything he had ever attempted to play. That’s one of the rare occasions when I can listen to my own playing and get chills.
This is peculiar because Eddie didn’t seem to be playing the most technically complex solo he had ever played. Even Eddie had more audacity when he tore through “Mean Street” on the same album. There are still songs like “I’m the One” that seem insurmountable for mere mortals to play.
It all depends on the context in which a solo fits, and Eddie Van Halen created a fast yet lyrical solo. He should still be held in such high regard, though. Hearing him throw caution to the wind and play something that subtly incorporates tapping is impressive. His signature style of two-hand tapping on the guitar was beginning to become a bit of a party trick by now.
But more than anything else, Eddie’s rhythm sets him apart from other virtuoso players in the world. The real power lies in playing that fast, stopping on a dime, and immediately getting back in the pocket with the drummer. Playing those mind-numbing solos that every guitarist tries these days is one thing. “Unchained” isn’t the best song in Van Halen’s repertoire. However, it’s unquestionably one of the first songs you should play for someone who wants to learn why the band is still regarded as classic.
