When we think of rock legends, it’s easy to imagine them as larger-than-life heroes who were simply born with unbelievable talent. Eddie Van Halen is one of those names that people often put on a pedestal. His guitar solos, his speed, and his creativity changed rock music forever. But like every great musician, Eddie also had heroes of his own. One of the biggest influences on his playing was a jazz fusion guitarist named Allan Holdsworth.
Most people know Eddie Van Halen as the explosive guitarist for the band Van Halen. He brought new ideas to rock music, including techniques that no one had used the same way before. His most famous invention was the two-handed tapping technique, where both hands play notes on the fretboard. This allowed him to play very fast, smooth, and complex melodies. Other guitarists had experimented with tapping before, but Eddie made it a signature sound in hard rock and metal.
Even though Eddie often said he was inspired by blues players like Eric Clapton, he also admired musicians who were far outside the rock world. This is where Allan Holdsworth comes in. Holdsworth was a jazz fusion guitarist known for long, fluid solos and extremely difficult chords. His style wasn’t flashy in the rock-and-roll way, but it was incredibly technical and emotional in its own unique way.
The moment that changed everything for Eddie was when he heard Holdsworth’s solo on the song “In the Dead of Night” by the band UK. Eddie was blown away. He later said in an interview that Holdsworth was “the best” and a true artist. Eddie could imitate some parts of Holdsworth’s style, but he felt it didn’t quite fit with Van Halen’s sound. Still, the influence was undeniable.
At one point, Eddie even asked Holdsworth’s band to open for Van Halen on tour. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out. Many fans didn’t understand the jazz fusion sound and were mainly waiting for Eddie and Van Halen to come onstage. Still, Eddie remained a huge supporter of Holdsworth and hoped to collaborate with him someday.
Holdsworth’s influence didn’t just inspire Eddie’s solos—it pushed him to think differently about the guitar overall. In the early 1980s, Eddie began experimenting even more, adding keyboards to the band’s sound and trying new musical ideas. When you see someone who is operating on a completely different level, you have two choices: give up or grow. Eddie chose to grow.
This story shows something important about creativity. Even the biggest stars learn from others. Eddie Van Halen didn’t become great by staying in his comfort zone. He listened widely, practiced constantly, and wasn’t afraid to explore sounds outside his own genre. Holdsworth’s music challenged him, inspired him, and helped shape the future of rock guitar.
In the end, Eddie didn’t try to become the next Allan Holdsworth. He took what inspired him and transformed it into something completely new. That’s what made him a legend. And it’s a reminder that influence isn’t copying—it’s learning, growing, and finding your own voice.