timz blog

Secrets of the Guitar Heroes
(Eddie Van Halen Interview in Rolling Stone)

Did people think that you were a guitar
player from Mars or something?

I remember a long time ago we were playing and someone
told us "A&M Records is here to see you guys."
And it was Herb Alpert. I met him years ago later and he came
up to me. He goes, "One of the biggest mistakes
I ever made was passing on you guys." I'm going,
"I remember exactly what you said, too. You said the
guitarist is too psychedelic and too much uncontrolled
energy." I asked him why? He goes, "I didn't
understand what the hell you were doing 'cause
it was so unorthodox." It didn't make any sense to him.