Music Eddie Van Halen deconstructs his collaboration on 'Beat It'

Deberg_1990 · 12-03-2012, 02:17 PM

Interesting....Classic song...classic album

http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/30/showbi...?iref=obinsite

Eddie Van Halen sits on a sofa in his home studio, smoking an electronic cigarette and reminiscing about the 30th anniversary of Michael Jackson's masterpiece album, "Thriller."

"It seems like yesterday, doesn't it," he says softly. "It would have been fun to work with him again."

Van Halen was a surprise guest on "Beat It," the album's third single. His blazing guitar solo lasted all of 20 seconds and took half an hour to record. He did it for free, as a favor to producer Quincy Jones, while the rest of his Van Halen bandmates were out of town.

"I said to myself, 'Who is going to know that I played on this kid's record, right? Nobody's going to find out.' Wrong!" he laughs. "Big-time wrong. It ended up being Record of the Year."

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer recently revealed to CNN what went on behind-the-scenes of his iconic collaboration with the King of Pop.

CNN: When Quincy rang you up, you thought it was a crank call.

Eddie Van Halen: I went off on him. I went, "What do you want, you f-ing so-and-so!" And he goes, "Is this Eddie?" I said, "Yeah, what the hell do you want?" "This is Quincy." I'm thinking to myself, "I don't know anyone named Quincy." He goes, "Quincy Jones, man." I went, "Ohhh, sorry!" (Laughs)

I asked, "What can I do for you?" And he said, "How would you like to come down and play on Michael Jackson's new record?" And I'm thinking to myself, "OK, 'ABC, 1, 2, 3' and me. How's that going to work?"

I still wasn't 100% sure it was him. I said, "I'll tell you what. I'll meet you at your studio tomorrow." And lo and behold, when I get there, there's Quincy, there's Michael Jackson and there's engineers. They're makin' records!

CNN: Did Quincy give you any direction about what he wanted you to do?

Van Halen: Michael left to go across the hall to do some children's speaking record. I think it was "E.T." or something. So I asked Quincy, "What do you want me to do?" And he goes, "Whatever you want to do." And I go, "Be careful when you say that. If you know anything about me, be careful when you say, "Do anything you want!"

I listened to the song, and I immediately go, "Can I change some parts?" I turned to the engineer and I go, "OK, from the breakdown, chop in this part, go to this piece, pre-chorus, to the chorus, out." Took him maybe 10 minutes to put it together. And I proceeded to improvise two solos over it.

I was just finishing the second solo when Michael walked in. And you know artists are kind of crazy people. We're all a little bit strange. I didn't know how he would react to what I was doing. So I warned him before he listened. I said, "Look, I changed the middle section of your song."

Now in my mind, he's either going to have his bodyguards kick me out for butchering his song, or he's going to like it. And so he gave it a listen, and he turned to me and went, "Wow, thank you so much for having the passion to not just come in and blaze a solo, but to actually care about the song, and make it better."

He was this musical genius with this childlike innocence. He was such a professional, and such a sweetheart.

CNN: That collaboration surprised a lot of people.

Van Halen: I'll never forget when Tower Records was still open over here in Sherman Oaks. I was buying something, and "Beat It" was playing over the store sound system. The solo comes on, and I hear these kids in front of me going, "Listen to this guy trying to sound like Eddie Van Halen." I tapped him on the shoulder and said, "That IS me!" That was hilarious.

CNN: How did you explain to the guys in Van Halen what had happened?

Van Halen: I just said, "You know. (Shrugs) Busted!" "Dave, you were out of the country!" "Al, you weren't around!" I couldn't call anyone and ask for permission.

Unfortunately, "Thriller" kept our album, "1984," from going to No. 1. Our album was just about ready to go No. 1 when he burned his hair in that Pepsi commercial, if you remember that. And boom, he went straight to No. 1 again!

CNN: Is there an album since then that has shaken things up in the same way?

Van Halen: Wow, I don't know.

CNN: Some people cite Nirvana's "Nevermind" has one that caused a musical shift.

Van Halen: But still not like that. Not that crossed over to such a mass audience. Nirvana was huge, but it didn't appeal to everyone.

I have a lot of respect for Michael. He's going to be sorely missed. I'd be curious as to what he'd be doing right now.

CNN: I believe Quincy has said he paid you in two six packs of beer.

Van Halen: Yeah, something like that. Actually, I brought my own, if I remember right.

I don't even think I'm credited on the record. It just says, "Guitar solo: Question Mark" or "Guitar solo: Frankenstein" (the name of his guitar).

CNN: Did you ever hear from Quincy again?

Van Halen: At the very end, Quincy wrote me a letter thanking me. It was signed, "The F-ing Blah Blah Blah," which I still have. It's very funny.

Demonpenz · 12-03-2012, 02:21 PM

Saw Eddie in line at Ikea. He is actually 3 Feet tall / dane

durtyrute · 12-03-2012, 02:23 PM

Nice read, thanks.

notorious · 12-03-2012, 02:24 PM

I had no idea.

Munson · 12-03-2012, 02:24 PM

Cool story, bro.

**keg in kc** · 12-03-2012, 02:25 PM

Van Halen: Michael left to go across the hall to do some children's speaking record.

Joke and punchline all in one...

Deberg_1990 · 12-03-2012, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

Saw Eddie in line at Ikea. He is actually 3 Feet tall / dane

Posted via Mobile Device

**DoucheMcCloud** · 12-03-2012, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

Saw Eddie in line at Ikea. He is actually 3 Feet tall / dane

Nah, he's 5'6

Chief_For_Life58 · 12-03-2012, 02:34 PM

I saw eddie van halen at the marriott. that is all

Sweet Daddy Hate · 12-03-2012, 02:42 PM

Eddie was shopping for houses in Leawood.

Mile High Mania · 12-03-2012, 02:45 PM

Razorbacks just made Eddie an offer to be the next HC.

**Saul Good** · 12-03-2012, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Razorbacks just made Eddie an offer to be the next HC.

The deal is done

Sweet Daddy Hate · 12-03-2012, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saul Good

The deal is done

Okay gang,

Demonpenz · 12-03-2012, 02:55 PM

I am worried Eddie will cost us geno

stevieray · 12-03-2012, 03:28 PM

Chicks used to tell me I looked like EVH.

12-03-2012, 02:17 PM
Deberg_1990 MVP Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $138464	Eddie Van Halen deconstructs his collaboration on 'Beat It' Interesting....Classic song...classic album http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/30/showbi...?iref=obinsite Eddie Van Halen sits on a sofa in his home studio, smoking an electronic cigarette and reminiscing about the 30th anniversary of Michael Jackson's masterpiece album, "Thriller." "It seems like yesterday, doesn't it," he says softly. "It would have been fun to work with him again." Van Halen was a surprise guest on "Beat It," the album's third single. His blazing guitar solo lasted all of 20 seconds and took half an hour to record. He did it for free, as a favor to producer Quincy Jones, while the rest of his Van Halen bandmates were out of town. "I said to myself, 'Who is going to know that I played on this kid's record, right? Nobody's going to find out.' Wrong!" he laughs. "Big-time wrong. It ended up being Record of the Year." The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer recently revealed to CNN what went on behind-the-scenes of his iconic collaboration with the King of Pop. CNN: When Quincy rang you up, you thought it was a crank call. Eddie Van Halen: I went off on him. I went, "What do you want, you f-ing so-and-so!" And he goes, "Is this Eddie?" I said, "Yeah, what the hell do you want?" "This is Quincy." I'm thinking to myself, "I don't know anyone named Quincy." He goes, "Quincy Jones, man." I went, "Ohhh, sorry!" (Laughs) I asked, "What can I do for you?" And he said, "How would you like to come down and play on Michael Jackson's new record?" And I'm thinking to myself, "OK, 'ABC, 1, 2, 3' and me. How's that going to work?" I still wasn't 100% sure it was him. I said, "I'll tell you what. I'll meet you at your studio tomorrow." And lo and behold, when I get there, there's Quincy, there's Michael Jackson and there's engineers. They're makin' records! CNN: Did Quincy give you any direction about what he wanted you to do? Van Halen: Michael left to go across the hall to do some children's speaking record. I think it was "E.T." or something. So I asked Quincy, "What do you want me to do?" And he goes, "Whatever you want to do." And I go, "Be careful when you say that. If you know anything about me, be careful when you say, "Do anything you want!" I listened to the song, and I immediately go, "Can I change some parts?" I turned to the engineer and I go, "OK, from the breakdown, chop in this part, go to this piece, pre-chorus, to the chorus, out." Took him maybe 10 minutes to put it together. And I proceeded to improvise two solos over it. I was just finishing the second solo when Michael walked in. And you know artists are kind of crazy people. We're all a little bit strange. I didn't know how he would react to what I was doing. So I warned him before he listened. I said, "Look, I changed the middle section of your song." Now in my mind, he's either going to have his bodyguards kick me out for butchering his song, or he's going to like it. And so he gave it a listen, and he turned to me and went, "Wow, thank you so much for having the passion to not just come in and blaze a solo, but to actually care about the song, and make it better." He was this musical genius with this childlike innocence. He was such a professional, and such a sweetheart. CNN: That collaboration surprised a lot of people. Van Halen: I'll never forget when Tower Records was still open over here in Sherman Oaks. I was buying something, and "Beat It" was playing over the store sound system. The solo comes on, and I hear these kids in front of me going, "Listen to this guy trying to sound like Eddie Van Halen." I tapped him on the shoulder and said, "That IS me!" That was hilarious. CNN: How did you explain to the guys in Van Halen what had happened? Van Halen: I just said, "You know. (Shrugs) Busted!" "Dave, you were out of the country!" "Al, you weren't around!" I couldn't call anyone and ask for permission. Unfortunately, "Thriller" kept our album, "1984," from going to No. 1. Our album was just about ready to go No. 1 when he burned his hair in that Pepsi commercial, if you remember that. And boom, he went straight to No. 1 again! CNN: Is there an album since then that has shaken things up in the same way? Van Halen: Wow, I don't know. CNN: Some people cite Nirvana's "Nevermind" has one that caused a musical shift. Van Halen: But still not like that. Not that crossed over to such a mass audience. Nirvana was huge, but it didn't appeal to everyone. I have a lot of respect for Michael. He's going to be sorely missed. I'd be curious as to what he'd be doing right now. CNN: I believe Quincy has said he paid you in two six packs of beer. Van Halen: Yeah, something like that. Actually, I brought my own, if I remember right. I don't even think I'm credited on the record. It just says, "Guitar solo: Question Mark" or "Guitar solo: Frankenstein" (the name of his guitar). CNN: Did you ever hear from Quincy again? Van Halen: At the very end, Quincy wrote me a letter thanking me. It was signed, "The F-ing Blah Blah Blah," which I still have. It's very funny.
Posts: 43,468

12-03-2012, 02:21 PM	#2
Demonpenz MWSU Royals SKC Chiefs GoPens! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $122359	Saw Eddie in line at Ikea. He is actually 3 Feet tall / dane
Posts: 42,205

12-03-2012, 02:23 PM	#3
durtyrute Sho nuff Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Chieftown USA Casino cash: $990910	Nice read, thanks. __________________ Do you ever get down on your knees and thank God you know me and have access to my dementia?
Posts: 5,242

12-03-2012, 02:24 PM	#4
notorious I Lay Wood for a Living Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $92839	I had no idea.
Posts: 22,202

12-03-2012, 02:24 PM	#5
Munson Roy E. Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Olathe, KS Casino cash: $12466	Cool story, bro. __________________ "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
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12-03-2012, 02:25 PM	#6
keg in kc oxymoron Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: OP/KC/Whatever Casino cash: $325788	Van Halen: Michael left to go across the hall to do some children's speaking record. Joke and punchline all in one...
Posts: 46,220

12-03-2012, 02:34 PM	#9
Chief_For_Life58 God Damnit Go Chiefs Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: fishin or golfin Casino cash: $20447	I saw eddie van halen at the marriott. that is all
Posts: 1,869

12-03-2012, 02:42 PM	#10
Sweet Daddy Hate Let's Hate! Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: ABQNM Casino cash: $1058361	Eddie was shopping for houses in Leawood.
Posts: 16,465

12-03-2012, 02:45 PM	#11
Mile High Mania Barrel Man - RIP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Tejas Casino cash: $67663	Razorbacks just made Eddie an offer to be the next HC. __________________
Posts: 18,381

12-03-2012, 02:55 PM	#14
Demonpenz MWSU Royals SKC Chiefs GoPens! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $122359	I am worried Eddie will cost us geno
Posts: 42,205

12-03-2012, 03:28 PM	#15
stevieray IN THE BLACK Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $85019473	Chicks used to tell me I looked like EVH.
Posts: 34,068

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