Steve Stevens Discusses What Forced Eddie Van Halen And Randy Rhoads To Create Something New

Guitarist Steve Stevens recently gave an interview to Ultimate Classic Rock in which he talked about what influenced Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads when they decided to create something new.

Steve Stevens is mainly known for his work with Billy Idol as their guitarist and songwriting collaborator, but he has also worked with many other artists on several projects. At that time he kicked off his music career, the two iconic guitarists, Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads, were also active in the music scene. Apart from being active at the same period, they were also around the same age.

So, Stevens, Van Halen, and Rhoads all grew up listening to the same artists, and for that reason, they were inspired more or less by the same names. At that time, those influential music acts were Ritchie Blackmore, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Gary Moore, Steve Hackett, and several others. In an interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, Steve Stevens stated that he, Van Halen, and Rhoads grew up listening to the music of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Scorpions’ Ulrich Roth, and Michael Schenker.

Then the guitarist claimed that those artists inspired guitarists to digest that music and create something new. Following that, Stevens claimed the band Van Halen was the next step for Eddie Van Halen after being influenced by those music acts. The guitarist then highlighted that their reason for taking that music to the next level was growing up listening to the same music, and he praised Van Halen and Rhoads’ compositions.

Speaking to Ultimate Classic Rock, Steve Stevens said the following about Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads:

“We’re all kind of around the same age. I’m 62, and Ed was a little bit older, but we all kind of grew up listening to the same stuff, the Jimi Hendrix and the Led Zeppelin. And then Scorpions’ Ulrich Roth, I think, was an influence, and Michael Schenker, as far as early ’70s stuff. It took a little while for guitarists to digest that and kind of create a new thing.

And then obviously, you know, ’78, Van Halen was then the next logical step. But I believe that all of us were probably listening to the same stuff, grew up on the same stuff. And some of us took it to the next level. But obviously, it comes down to the songs, and Randy had the composition. Same like Ed: great, great compositions.“

Apparently, Steve Stevens thinks Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads decided that there is a need to create something new after listening to the same music of the era. Then, when they achieved their own unique sound, both Van Halen and Rhoads became an inspiration for others.