Wolfgang Van Halen on Eddie's Legacy: 'Dad Changed the '80s Music Scene
Wolfgang Van Halen remarked that his father, Eddie Van Halen, "kind of ruined" the music scene of the 1980s by inspiring an influx of guitarists focused on flashy techniques.
Eddie's groundbreaking solo "Eruption" from Van Halen's iconic 1978 debut album revolutionized rock guitar playing. Alongside Randy Rhoads, another '80s guitar legend, Eddie is credited with sparking a competitive "shredding" trend among guitarists—a development some view as a double-edged sword.
Like Toto’s Steve Lukather, Wolfgang Van Halen acknowledges his father’s influence but questions its impact on the decade's music. In a recent interview on the WTF with Marc Maron Podcast, Wolfgang explained, "In a way, Dad kind of ruined the musical landscape because, instead of everyone finding their own voice, they wanted to be him."
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