5. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
A rising star in the late 1970s, Van Halen was the guitar king of the ‘80s MTV generation. However, it was his performances on Van Halen’s earlier stuff like “Eruption” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” that introduced hard-rock fans to this innovator. His fingers should be dipped in gold and preserved for guitarists to praise. Many have tried to follow in Eddie’s footsteps, but have any really come close?
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