Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell has fondly mirrored on his friendship with Eddie Van Halen, sharing a narrative that completely captures the late guitar legend’s generosity — and humorousness.
The 2 guitar icons turned shut whereas touring collectively throughout Van Halen‘s For Illegal Carnal Data tour within the early Nineties. Whereas Cantrell initially felt intimidated opening for one among his heroes, the nerves rapidly gave solution to friendship, backstage jam classes, and a legendary gear giveaway.
In a brand new interview with Gibson TV, Cantrell recalled their first assembly simply moments earlier than taking the stage: “The primary time I met Ed Van Halen I used to be on the point of go onstage [to open] for his band. He was standing in my pit with Valerie [Bertinelli] proper subsequent to him and Wolfie in her arms. He is obtained his guitar on, and he is operating scales like, Hey, dude, what’s up?’ And I am like, Are you fucking kidding me?'”
The expertise rattled him greater than he anticipated: “I feel it was most likely the worst present I ever performed in my life, as a result of I couldn’t cease considering, He is proper there!’ I could not focus.”
Throughout the tour, Van Halen was utilizing Peavey 5150 heads and the Ernie Ball Music Man EVH guitars he helped design. Cantrell admitted he admired the gear and casually requested if he might purchase one at a very good worth: “He was like, Fuck that dude, I will simply offer you a guitar!’ Everyone offers me every part without spending a dime now, once I can completely afford it. Once I could not afford it, no one would give me something. So let me do this for you.””
After returning dwelling from the tour, Cantrell found simply how far Eddie had gone. On the time, Cantrell was residing with Alice In Chains supervisor Kelly Curtis and his spouse. Curtis greeted him with an surprising request: “He is like, Hey man, welcome dwelling. You had a very good tour? Now you possibly can loosen up.’ Hey, by the best way, do you assume you may clear your shit out of my storage? I have to put my automobile in there.'”
Confused, Cantrell requested what he meant: “He says, Eddie Van Halen crammed the storage with gear for you. I have never been capable of park my automobile in my storage for months.'”
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