Classic Rock
Dweezil Zappa says he showed Eddie Van Halen how to play a song
Born in Los Angeles, California back in 1969, Dweezil Zappa is the son of the late legendary Frank Zappa, who was a good friend of the guitarist Eddie Van Halen. They lived near each other and Eddie used to visit him from time to time. So Dweezil had the chance to hang out with the guitarist when he was just a kid.
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He recalled in an interview with 100 FM The Pike (Transcribed by Ultimate Guitar) that he once showed Eddie how to play one of his father’s songs. According to him, the Van Halen guitarist said that he could never play that song because it was difficult.
Dweezil Zappa says he showed Eddie Van Halen how to play a song
“Having worked with Edward Van Halen on the very first recording that I ever did when I was 12 years old, and then remaining friends with him over the years, until there was this really interesting, fun experience. Where he came to one of my shows back in 2010, and we were playing the song ‘St. Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast,’ which we actually are playing on this upcoming tour, as well.”
“But after the show, he came up. He said, ‘What’s that ‘pancake song’? What are you playing there?’ And I had to play this really difficult part and show it to him on the guitar. He goes, ‘I don’t even understand how you’re playing that. I could never play that.'”
“So in that moment, it was a total role reversal, because me as a 12-year-old, I was saying, ‘Play ‘Eruption,’ play ‘Mean Street.” You know, thinking I could never play that. So, I had this complete oddball experience in that moment. It was like the Jedi mind trick or something. It was very strange,” Dweezil Zappa said.
