Slash respects Ed.... pretty cool...

**VanEdge** · 09.07.01, 07:02 AM

there's an article on mtv.com about michael jackson's upcoming show in ny.
there's a lot of stink about who's showing up, who's pulling out, etc. yadda yadda yadda...

anyway, slash is going to be joining him to do some live guitar work, and interestingly enough, slash is going to do the solo for beat it.

here's what he had to say:

During the shindig, the audience can expect to hear some changes to "Beat It." Slash vows that his guitar riffs won't sound anything like the riffs made famous by Eddie Van Halen on the original recording of the song.

"I just did it my own way," Slash said. "I told [Michael] going into it, 'I'm not gonna learn the Eddie Van Halen solo, because that's Eddie's and I'll leave it alone.' I went in and just improvised yesterday and I'm gonna be playing later on today, and I'll just make up my own solos as I go. It's all about improv with me."

Slash KNOWS who the master is!
[img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

**Van Gully** · 09.07.01, 08:02 AM

Yes, he does. Smart for a man who worked with Axl Rose. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

**Eddymon** · 09.07.01, 08:25 AM

If I'm not mistaken, aren't they pretty good friends?

[img]smilies/devil.gif[/img]

**DannyTheKid** · 09.07.01, 10:02 AM

I read that piece too, and the first thing that came to my mind was, "Why isn't Eddie doing it himself?".

I haven't been a rock star for 25 years, so I can't put myself in Ed's frame of mind. But if someone gave me a call and said, "Hey, man. Could we fly you out to NYC, put you up in the Waldorf Astoria for a few nights, pay for some 3lb lobster dinners, have you perform for 15 minutes or so in front of two sold out crowds at Madison Square Garden, and then fly you back to LA? Oh, and could we give you $20,000 on top of that?"

I don't know. I might consider the offer.

I guess he could've been busy.

DTK

**Glenn** · 09.07.01, 10:40 AM

I'm a fan of Slash's style and playing, but how much of changing the Beat It solo just comes down to necessity? It's entirely possible that he simply can't play that EVH style of guitar soloing.

**Glenn** · 09.07.01, 10:41 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DannyTheKid:
I haven't been a rock star for 25 years<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Really, who were you 25 years ago? [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

**Brett** · 09.07.01, 10:49 AM

I like Slash a lot, but he couldn't do Ed's solo anyway.

**Raldo** · 09.07.01, 10:53 AM

Thumbs up to Slash for that statement. I'm glad that he recognizes the solo as Eddie's. Plus, sound-wise it would be really different. Not to mention their style of playing. I'm sure Slash will do a great job doing it his way.

**VanEdge** · 09.07.01, 11:02 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DannyTheKid:
I read that piece too, and the first thing that came to my mind was, "Why isn't Eddie doing it himself?".

I haven't been a rock star for 25 years, so I can't put myself in Ed's frame of mind.
.....
I don't know. I might consider the offer.

I guess he could've been busy.

DTK<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

you have a good point there. however, i get the feeling that the last thing ed should do is take the stage at such a high profile event when he's trying to keep things private now. also, if he did do the gig, people would be really pissed cause they'd consider it a tease that VH was ready to do something (a la 1986 VMAs)

look at how many fans got pissed that he did an interview for maximum golf and not for Rolling Stone or Guitar World.

[ September 07, 2001 at 11:04 AM: Message edited by: VanEdge ]

**Georgie** · 09.07.01, 11:22 AM

I think it was a nice way of Slash telling Michael, "I can't play the Eddie Van Halen version." I like Slash too! I am sure it will be a cool solo.

**laner** · 09.07.01, 12:21 PM

i agree. this definitely shows class.

**homeunit** · 09.07.01, 03:33 PM

What was that tune a few years back that Slash played on?

It was a real moody tune.

**Zadian** · 09.07.01, 04:36 PM

Black or White

**paradiddle** · 09.07.01, 04:53 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Glenn:
I'm a fan of Slash's style and playing, but how much of changing the Beat It solo just comes down to necessity? It's entirely possible that he simply can't play that EVH style of guitar soloing.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This was my first thought. I would have really liked to hear Slash do an interpretation of the original, Eddie solo. That would've been a real tribute!

**SToRM** · 09.07.01, 06:13 PM

the only thing MJ will ever be remembered for is that he had EVH playin' the solo on Beat it !

and for those of u who think that DLR doesn't know shit about EVH's unbelievable skills ... just listen to this radio-interview at the DLRarmy ... from 1983 ... http://www.dlrarmy.com/file/real/DLRInside83.ra

he compares EVH to Beethoven and Bach ... really a lot of respect for EVH there

cheers,
SToRM