The Best Eddie Van Halen quotes

Rock stars come and go. Musicians play until they die. — Eddie Van Halen

I never dreamt of being a musician for my livelihood. I certainly never would have wanted to be in the business that I’m in, meaning the fame and the glory, the glitter, the rock star, the famous part. — Eddie Van Halen

When Van Halen started out, there was no path to fame. We just played what we liked. Even today it always comes down to the simplicity of rock and roll. — Eddie Van Halen

You know, most people, they want to go to Hollywood. They want to be a star. They want to be a rock star. That thought never entered any of our minds, the Van Halen family. — Eddie Van Halen

I’m just a guitarist in a kick–ass rock and roll band. What more could I ask for? — Eddie Van Halen

I’m the one in the band that said I’m not going on tour unless we do a record. — Eddie Van Halen

When I was growing up and listening to bands like the Dave Clark Five, the groove was what initially got me going. I really like that funky, heavy groove. — Eddie Van Halen

I was trying to take the band in a direction that I thought was appropriate, and Roth was trying to take the band in more of a Las Vegas direction. And there he is. — Eddie Van Halen

Everything I did is because I wanted to do it. If I weren’t playing this arena, if I were playing a club, I’d still be doing it because that’s what I want to do. I love playing the guitar. — Eddie Van Halen

The stainless–steel frets were a major breakthrough, because of the amount of playing and bending that I do. I have to get my guitars refretted every couple of months. — Eddie Van Halen

A guitar is a very personal extension of the person playing it. You have to be emotionally and spiritually connected to your instrument. I’m very brutal on my instruments, but not all the time. — Eddie Van Halen

Rock & Roll is feeling, and after you know most of the basics … chords, rhythm, scales and bends … getting that feeling is just about the most important aspect of playing guitar — Eddie Van Halen

Practice. I used to sit on the edge of my bed with a six–pack of Tuborg. My brother would go out to party and get laid, come home at 3am., and I would still be playing with myself. — Eddie Van Halen

I’m not a drunk anymore, but since they cut out my tongue, I sound drunk. — Eddie Van Halen

Every song is like a kid. How can you have that many kids and have a favorite? Which one do I like to hang most with? Probably the one that I haven’t hung most with recently. — Eddie Van Halen

There are really three parts to the creative process. First there is inspiration, then there is the execution, and finally there is the release. — Eddie Van Halen

To hell with the rules. If it sounds right, then it is. — Eddie Van Halen

On ‘Honeybabysweetiedoll’ I used a Whammy, a Boss OC–3 octave box, a Sustainer and a Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler. That’s only on the intro, where all those weird noises are happening. — Eddie Van Halen

We’re musicians. We make music for a living. It’s that simple. Nothing else matters. — Eddie Van Halen

Imagine if Beethoven had a tape recorder. Then you’d know exactly what he meant. Maybe he meant ‘Da da da da’ instead of ‘Boom boom boom boom!’ Who knows? — Eddie Van Halen

Music is for people. The word ‘pop’ is simply short for popular. It means that people like it. I’m just a normal jerk who happens to make music. As long as my brain and fingers work, I’m cool. — Eddie Van Halen

Music kept me off the streets and out of trouble and gave me something that was mine that no one could take away from me. — Eddie Van Halen

It’s always about the music, never about anything else. — Eddie Van Halen

If I can help a kid discover a liking, or even a passion for music in their life, then that’s a wonderful thing. — Eddie Van Halen

It’s all about sound. It’s that simple. — Eddie Van Halen

I’ll be making music ’til the day I die. I’ve done all kinds of stuff, and more is coming. — Eddie Van Halen

I wanted a Gibson type sound, but with a Strat vibrato … I bought a body from Charvel for $50.00 and a neck for $80.00–I slapped it together, put an old Gibson PAF in it and painted it up with the stripes — Eddie Van Halen