Eddie Van Halen was known for his individualistic guitar playing and approach to music, even playing on Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’ anonymously.
Van Halen believed in focusing on the music and not conforming to mainstream or alternative trends, stating, “It’s always about the music, never about anything else.”
He praised Toto’s 1992 album, ‘Kingdom of Desire,’ acknowledging their musical prowess and originality, contrasting it with the image-driven pop music of the time.
Toto faced challenges in gaining airtime due to the stigma associated with their name as “studio guys,” but Van Halen recognized their authenticity, stating, “If people only knew you guys were the real sh*t. Everyone else is faking it.”
Academia supported Toto’s musical sophistication, with ‘Africa’ being hailed as the greatest song of all time according to science, and Van Halen admired them as heroes in their craft, noting their uniqueness and originality.
