Angus Young says Eddie Van Halen “reinvented” guitar, and his death “leaves a big hole”

Angus Young has spoken about his thoughts on the late guitar legend Eddie Van Halen, noting that his passing “leaves a big hole” and discussing his innovative approach to the guitar.

Speaking to Radio.com, the AC/DC guitarist said “Eddie was, I would say, besides his guitar playing to the world, he definitely was innovative with his guitar style. And to the world, he reinvented the way guitar had to be, and he influenced a lot of people that you would know out there.”

His innovative approach to playing and to gear turned the industry on its head. The tones he got from his modified guitars and amplifiers soon became standard, as we looked over in our retrospective on his influence.

Young continued, repeating what many others had said about Eddie Van Halen – he was incredibly approachable, especially given he was in one of the biggest bands on the planet. “I think, really, the first time I met him was in the ’90s, I think, when we did some touring through Europe; we were doing shows together,” Angus said. “And he was just such a warm person. The first thing you noticed about him was, as soon as you saw him, he had a big smile, a big laugh, and he gave me a big hug. He was excited to see you.

“To the music world, it’s a big loss. But again, for those of us lucky to have met him, it’s an even probably bigger tragedy. And also for his family and everyone close to him.”

Hear Young’s interview below.

Eddie Van Halen died on 6 October this year. His passing was followed by an outpouring of tributes from around the music world, remembering his profound impact on the world of rock.