Speaking to Jonathan Montenegro in a new interview, virtuoso guitarist and former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman shared some of his thoughts on another famous virtuosso: Eddie Van Halen.
Friedman called EVH a "fantastic guitar player with a really, really good, juicy soulful way of playing… [It's] rhythmic and flashy and melodic, and he always plays in tune. I really, really like Eddie Van Halen's playing a lot…. I would definitely ask him to show me a thing or two [if I could]."
Friedman admits that he'd have loved to have been able to take lessons from Eddie, something that is actually not uncommon in rock and metal; For example, Kirk Hammett received lessons from Joe Satriani throughout most of the 80s. And it makes a lot of sense, if you're in the position to do so. If you want to be the best, who better to learn from than the best there is around? It's an idea Friedman also seems to agree with.
"I get guitar lessons from everybody. I'm very, very fortunate that I've been able to play with so many great musicians [and] I always am that annoying guy who says, 'Dude, show me that. Show me that thing you just played. What was that first phrase in that solo that you just played? How did you end it? Why did you do this?'
"I've done that ever since I was a kid… It's just a habit. You pick up so many things along the way — whenever you see something interesting, you just pick it up."
Friedman—who relocated to Japan in the early 2000s—will be States-side again in 2023, heading out on the road with Queensrÿche and Trauma beginning in early March, and you can check all confirmed dates out below.
3/3 – Orlando, FL @ The Plaza Live [Tickets]
3/4 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room [Tickets]
3/5 – Jacksonville, FL @ Florida Theatre [Tickets]
3/7 – Destin, FL @ Club LA [Tickets]
3/9 – San Antonio, TX @ The Vibes Event Center [Tickets]
3/10 – Houston, TX @ Scout Bar [Tickets]
3/11 – Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues [Tickets]
3/12 – Midland, TX @ La Hacienda Event Center [Tickets]
3/14 – Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theatre [Tickets]
3/16 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades [Tickets]
3/17 – El Cajon, CA @ House Of Blues [Tickets]
3/21 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom [Tickets]
3/22 – Seattle, WA @ The Neptune Theatre [Tickets]
3/24 – Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre [Tickets]
3/25 – Kansas City, KS @ Knuckleheads Saloon [Tickets]
3/26 – St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall [Tickets]
3/28 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave [Tickets]
3/29 – Ft. Wayne, IN @ The Clyde Theatre [Tickets]
3/31 – Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall [Tickets]
4/1 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection [Tickets]
4/2 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall [Tickets]
4/4 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall [Tickets]
4/5 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Roxian Theater [Tickets]
4/7 – Boston, MA @ The Palladium [Tickets]
4/8 – Huntington, NY @ The Paramount [Tickets]
4/10 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza [Tickets]
4/11 – Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage [Tickets]
4/12 – Charlotte, NC @ The Underground [Tickets]
4/14 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl [Tickets]
4/15 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Heaven) [Tickets]
4/16 – St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live [Tickets]
