Just about every guitarist on the planet has been influenced or impacted by the work of Edward Van Halen in some way. That goes for some of his most notable peers in the music industry as well.
Slayer guitarist Kerry King is among those who was always mesmerized by EVH, and he told the “Lipps Service” podcast about seeing the band multiple times in their early years. “In the beginning, for sure (I was influenced by EVH),” King said. “I think I saw them six times on the first four records. I didn’t go to the first album tour because I was too young.”
“I would always sit in the first-row lodge with binoculars, so I could go there and not just have fun listening to the songs I like, but I could actually nerd out on what he’s playing, and try to get a grasp on what he’s throwing at us.”
King then revealed that he stopped following the band when their sound became much more pop in nature. “I went a bunch, and then they became more of a pop band, and I stopped going,” King said. “Eddie was still a great player, but I just didn’t care anymore.”
Surprisingly, King also never met EVH in person. “That’s somebody I never met. There’s not too many people like that, but Eddie’s the one. It’s just a different circle kind of thing. (Dimebag Darrell) was tight with him. I was tight with Dime, but I never met Ed.”
King’s full interview can be seen below.
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