Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony recently shared insights about how David Lee Roth’s strategic advice helped protect Eddie Van Halen’s revolutionary guitar techniques during the band’s early years. He spoke in an interview with Get on the Bus.
Anthony recalled the band’s rehearsal days and how other guitarists would try to spy on Eddie’s developing tapping technique. He also revealed Roth’s clever strategy to keep Eddie’s innovative playing style secret from audiences.
“We used to rehearse in this little garage when I first joined the band, and we used to rehearse there every day for a while,” Anthony said. “That’s when Eddie was also developing his ‘hammers’ — his tapping style.”
Anthony described how word of Eddie’s unique playing had spread among local musicians.
“And it’s funny, because there were, like, two or three guitar players in the area that Ed was friends with, and they knew that we rehearsed there,” he continued. “And I remember one time we went to take a break, and we walk outside, and there were a couple of guys there like this, listening at the door, and they wanted to hear what Ed played.”
The bassist then shared details about one of their biggest early performances and Roth’s protective strategy.
“We played a place called the Golden West Ballroom in Norwalk, California, and that was one place where we could play original stuff,” Anthony explained. “And we opened up for UFO there. I think that was one of the biggest shows we ever did. It held about 1,500 to 2,000 people.”
“But when Ed would play a solo, Dave would tell him, ‘Turn your back to the audience, dude, because you got this thing, and you don’t want everybody to see it,'” he revealed. “So Eddie would, literally, play solos, and he would turn his back to the audience when he would be tapping. Which was really, really interesting.”
This strategic move helped preserve the mystery around Eddie’s groundbreaking technique until Van Halen was ready to reveal it to the world.
Roth’s protective instincts and business acumen proved instrumental in shaping Van Halen’s early trajectory and eventual breakthrough in the music industry.
Van Halen News Desk reported that Roth’s influence on the band’s early success was significant. He convinced the Van Halen brothers to take risks and perform original material at venues like the Starwood, where they could play alongside prominent bands like ZZ Top. This entrepreneurial spirit was crucial in securing their deal with Warner Brothers and setting the stage for their future success.
The relationship between Roth and Eddie Van Halen was marked by both creative brilliance and personal tensions throughout their career. YouTube interviews revealed that despite these tensions, they were able to set aside their differences during reunions, such as in 2007. This showcased their ability to work together professionally when needed.
Their collaborative efforts extended beyond the band’s classic era, with notable reunions producing successful material. Wikipedia documented one example of their continued partnership in the 1996 reunion. They recorded hits like “Me Wise Magic,” which became a No. 1 Billboard Mainstream Rock hit.
The protective strategy that Roth employed during Van Halen’s formative years ultimately helped establish Eddie Van Halen as one of rock’s most innovative guitarists. By keeping the tapping technique hidden until the right moment, Roth ensured that when it was finally revealed to the world, it would have maximum impact. This helped define Van Halen’s unique sound in the competitive rock landscape of the late 1970s.
