STATIONS
  • All Music Stations
  • All News & Talk Stations
  • All Sports Stations
 
  • Stations by City
  • All Stations
Partners
  • Fox News
  • CBS News
  • NBC News
Music
  • All Music Stations
  • Music News
  • Pop
  • Alternative
  • Latino
 
  • Country
  • Rock
  • Classic Rock
  • Hip-Hop and R&B
EVENTS
  • LIVE Performances
NEWS
  • All News Stations
  • Latino News
 
  • NBC News
  • Fox News
  • CBS News
Sports
  • All Sports Stations
  • Sports News
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NBA
  • NHL
 
  • NCAA Football
  • Sports Betting
Originals
  • Baseball Isn’t Boring
  • Reception Perception
  • Kickoff with Boomer
BetQL Network
  • Listen Live
  • Watch Live
  • BetMGM The Daily Tip
  • BetQL Daily
  • BetMGM Tonight
All Podcasts
  • The Sunshine Place
  • Gone South
  • Fly on the Wall
  • We Can Do Hard Things
  • Impolitic with John Heile
 
  • Otherworld
  • The Moth
  • Office Ladies
  • Gets Interesting
  • History That Doesn’t Suck
 
  • High Strange
  • Search Engine
  • Start Here
  • Jill on Money
  • Baseball Isn’t Boring
 
  • Tony Kornheiser Show
  • Fantasy Football Today
  • Fantasy Baseball Today
  • Cash The Ticket
  • You Better You Bet
 
  • Go Birds
  • Battleground America
  • On Deadline
Where to Listen
  • About Audacy
  • Get the Audacy App
  • More Ways to Listen
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
  • FAQ
  • Find Us on X
  • Contact Customer Support
STAY IN TOUCH
  • Follow Us on Social
  • Advertise With Us
More from Audacy
  • #ImListening
  • 1Thing
  • Contests
  • Contest Rules
  • All Music Stations
  • All News & Talk Stations
  • All Sports Stations
  • Stations by City
  • All Stations
  • Fox News
  • CBS News
  • NBC News
  • All Music Stations
  • Music News
  • Pop
  • Alternative
  • Latino
  • Country
  • Rock
  • Classic Rock
  • Hip-Hop and R&B
  • LIVE Performances
  • All News Stations
  • Latino News
  • NBC News
  • Fox News
  • CBS News
  • All Sports Stations
  • Sports News
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • NCAA Football
  • Sports Betting
  • Baseball Isn’t Boring
  • Reception Perception
  • Kickoff with Boomer
  • Listen Live
  • Watch Live
  • BetMGM The Daily Tip
  • BetQL Daily
  • BetMGM Tonight
  • The Sunshine Place
  • Gone South
  • Fly on the Wall
  • We Can Do Hard Things
  • Impolitic with John Heile
  • Otherworld
  • The Moth
  • Office Ladies
  • Gets Interesting
  • History That Doesn’t Suck
  • High Strange
  • Search Engine
  • Start Here
  • Jill on Money
  • Baseball Isn’t Boring
  • Tony Kornheiser Show
  • Fantasy Football Today
  • Fantasy Baseball Today
  • Cash The Ticket
  • You Better You Bet
  • Go Birds
  • Battleground America
  • On Deadline
  • About Audacy
  • Get the Audacy App
  • More Ways to Listen
  • FAQ
  • Find Us on X
  • Contact Customer Support
  • Follow Us on Social
  • Advertise With Us
  • #ImListening
  • 1Thing
  • Contests
  • Contest Rules
WAAF logo
    • Contests
    • Contest Rules
    • Facebook
    • Youtube
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • WAAF Newsletter
    • Contact Us
    • I'm Listening
    • 1Thing
  • now playing

    Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)

    Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)

    Green Day
  • audio from WAAF

    • Live
  • Ask your smart speaker to play

    W A A F

Home
WAAF Top 5 Eddie Van Halen live guitar god moments

Top 5 Eddie Van Halen live guitar god moments

Shining light on a musical genius' greatest performances
Eddie Van Halen
Photo credit Getty Images
By Will Darkins, Audacy

From the moment you first heard his virtuosic display of talent on the guitar, Eddie Van Halen had you hooked.

Listen to Van Halen Radio, now on Audacy

October 6, 2020 was the day the late Van Halen guitarist passed following a lengthy battle with cancer -- and in celebration of the icon, we’re revisiting a few examples of his masterful guitar work.

Eddie may have been best known for popularizing the tapping style of guitar playing (see “Eruption”), but his wide range of abilities were best on display in the live setting.

In celebration of his life and timeless contributions to Rock, we're counting down the top five live Eddie Van Halen solo moments. Classic rock purists may disagree on placement, but we can all agree there will never be another guitarist like Eddie.

As you take in some of Eddie Van Halen’s finest guitar work, be sure to check out Van Halen Radio, Audacy’s station dedicated to the band’s biggest hits, deep cuts, and similar artists.

5 2015 - Jimmy Kimmel Live! - Hot For Teacher

The sexually charged 1984 classic is a gem of the glam rock era. The fact Eddie was still able to rip this track for a new generation tells you a little something about this fearless Guitar God.

4 1983 - US Festival - Runnin With The Devil

This festival was famous for David Lee Roth's helicopter entrance, but most intense VH fans will marvel at Eddie's epic guitar work on "Runnin With The Devil."

3 1988 - Les Paul Television Special - Cathedral and Hot For Teacher

What makes this performance so memorable is Eddie's ability to seamlessly jump between two songs with diverging tempos.

2 1984 - Victory Tour - Beat It

The King of Pop's epic hit wouldn't have a leg to stand on if Eddie Van Halen didn't contribute with a remarkable guitar solo. This performance in Dallas, TX exemplifies that best.

1 1982 - Live without a net - Eruption

Who in their right mind would drag a burner while completing one of the most difficult guitar solos known to man? Eddie Van Halen, that's who...

Browse and follow more of Audacy's all-new Rock stations like 80s Guitar, Rock N’ Road, Freedom Rock, The Canyon, Arena Rock, Wake Up and Rock, and The Roots of Rock for those who crave the early days.

LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

  • Eddie Van Halen
  • Van Halen
  • Classic Rock
  • Rock
  • Classic Hits

LATEST in news

  • Audacy's 'I'm Listening' special returns for 2025: Get all the details on this year's show
  • Deftones take us inside the making of 'private music'
  • The Pretty Reckless' Taylor Momsen on 'For I Am Death,' touring with AC/DC, and more
  • Don't miss our Sound Space performance with Shinedown
  • The Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan shares memories of Ozzy Osbourne
×
WAAF  |  
Boston’s Rock Station
  1. Listen to WAAF
  2. Contact Us
  3. EEO
  4. Public Inspection File
  5. Contest Rules
  6. FCC Applications
  7. Advertise with Us
© 2025 Audacy, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PART OF AUDACY MUSIC.

listen

  • Listen Live
  • Mobile App

connect

  • FAQ
  • 1Thing
  • Get My PERKS
  • #ImListening
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertise with Us
  • Audacy Corporate Site

legal

  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Copyright Notice
  • Music Submission Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Info
  • Public File Help
© 2025 Audacy, Inc. All rights reserved. Part of Audacy.
!