Former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony has spent decades as part of one of rock’s most influential bands, but when he looks back on the musicians who shaped his own journey, he speaks not with ego but with gratitude. From the thunderous riffs of Led Zeppelin to the groundbreaking guitar work of Eddie Van Halen, Anthony says the artists around him, and those who inspired him from afar, played a huge role in defining his musical identity.
In a recent reflection on his career and influences, Anthony opened up about the bands that first ignited his passion for music during his teenage years. Like many aspiring rock musicians growing up in the late 1960s and early ’70s, he was captivated by the sound of Led Zeppelin, whose heavy grooves and powerful stage presence left a lasting impression.
“The whole band just had this energy,” Anthony recalled. “You’d listen to them and think, ‘That’s what rock and roll is supposed to sound like.’”
For Anthony, the era was filled with legendary players who helped set the blueprint for modern rock bass. Yet it wasn’t just bassists he studied. He absorbed the chemistry of entire bands, paying attention to how musicians locked together to create something bigger than the sum of their parts.
That mindset would later serve him well when he joined Van Halen, a band that would soon redefine rock guitar thanks to Eddie Van Halen’s revolutionary playing.
While Eddie quickly became the focal point of the group’s musical attention, Anthony insists he never felt overshadowed. In fact, he says witnessing Eddie’s talent up close was inspiring rather than intimidating.
“When Eddie was singled out, I can tell you right now, I never felt any jealousy,” Anthony said. “It was more like, ‘Wow, look at what this guy can do.’ We all knew we were part of something special.”
Eddie Van Halen’s lightning-fast tapping technique and inventive approach to the guitar would go on to influence generations of players. But behind that guitar hero image was a tightly knit band dynamic, something Anthony believes was key to Van Halen’s success.
He explained that every member of the band had a role in shaping the sound, from the rhythm section he shared with drummer Alex Van Halen to the charismatic frontmen who defined different eras of the group, including David Lee Roth and later Sammy Hagar.
Anthony’s steady bass playing and unmistakable high harmonies became a cornerstone of the band’s identity, even as Eddie’s guitar innovations grabbed headlines.
Looking back, Anthony says the key lesson he learned from the great musicians around him was the importance of collaboration. While individual brilliance might draw attention, it’s the chemistry between players that ultimately creates lasting music.
“You can have the greatest musicians in the world,” he said. “But if they don’t connect as a band, it doesn’t mean anything.”
Decades after Van Halen’s rise to fame, Anthony continues to reflect on the influences that guided him, and the extraordinary talent he was lucky enough to share a stage with.
For him, admiration rather than rivalry was always the driving force.
“Being around Eddie was like getting a front-row seat to history,” he said. “Why would you be jealous of that? You just feel lucky to be part of it.”
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