Eddie van Halen’s Surprising Take on Dickie Betts Resurfaces

Eddie Van Halen wasn’t shy about sharing his opinions on other musicians. A fresh look at his first-ever interview reveals some unexpected views about one of rock’s most respected bands.

Van Halen’s band became hugely popular very quickly. They went from playing in bars to performing for 3,000 people before they even had a record deal. The only major star who supported them early on was Kiss’ Gene Simmons, who paid for their demo recordings.

Strong feelings
When asked about working with other guitarists, Van Halen had strong feelings, writes Far Out Magazine. “I’ve never played with another guitarist because I make enough sound on my own,” he said. But his most surprising comment was about The Allman Brothers Band: “Duane was an excellent slide guitarist, but I never cared for Dickie Betts. I found their music too cluttered for my taste.”

This comment shows how rock music was changing in the 1980s. Van Halen’s flashy, technical style was becoming more popular than the smooth, graceful sound of bands like The Allman Brothers. Even though he was a big fan of older stars like Eric Clapton and could play their solos perfectly, Van Halen was creating something new and different.

Abilities
At just 24 years old when he gave the interview to Guitar World magazine in January 1981, Van Halen was confident in his abilities. He named his band after himself, and his incredible guitar playing helped change how people thought about rock music.

Today, both Van Halen and The Allman Brothers are remembered as some of the best guitarists of their time, each with their own unique style and contribution to rock music.