John Mayer was heavily influenced by Eddie Van Halen’s guitar playing and considered him a guitar superhero and virtuoso.
Mayer admired Van Halen’s ability to sound like himself regardless of the gear he used, which inspired Mayer to develop his own unique sound.
Mayer covered Van Halen’s song “Panama” live during his shows and even performed it using Eddie’s iconic red Frankenstein guitar.
Mayer and Sammy Hagar performed Van Halen’s song “Finish What Ya Started” together on Hagar’s TV show “Rock & Roll Road Trip,” showcasing their mutual admiration for Van Halen’s music.
Mayer first met Hagar in 2015 during a Dead & Company rehearsal, where they bonded over playing Van Halen’s “Dreams” together on the piano, leading to a lasting friendship.
