When talk first began about honoring the legacy of the late Eddie Van Halen with a potential tribute tour, some of the biggest names connected to the guitarist were part of early discussions. But according to Joe Satriani, he initially encouraged the band to consider another virtuoso guitarist for the role — Nuno Bettencourt.
Satriani recently recalled conversations with former Van Halen members about a possible tribute project celebrating the groundbreaking guitarist’s music. During those early talks, he said he was upfront about his reservations when approached by both David Lee Roth and Alex Van Halen.
“I said, ‘Sam, I’m gonna tell you what I told Alex, which is, I don’t really play like Eddie,’” Satriani explained, referencing a conversation with Sammy Hagar. “When Dave and Alex called me, I told them the same thing.”
The guitar virtuoso said that while he deeply admired Eddie Van Halen’s revolutionary style, he felt that capturing the guitarist’s signature sound and spirit was an almost impossible task.
Instead, Satriani suggested that the band reach out to Bettencourt, the Extreme guitarist widely celebrated for his technical brilliance and stylistic similarities to Van Halen’s playing.
“I said, ‘You should call Nuno,’” Satriani recalled. “He’s amazing, and he’s got that thing — that fire — that really connects with Eddie’s approach.”
Bettencourt has long been regarded as one of the few guitarists capable of channeling Van Halen’s high-energy blend of virtuosity, rhythm playing, and flamboyant stage presence. His work with Extreme, especially on albums like Pornograffitti, showcased a dazzling style that drew frequent comparisons to Eddie’s pioneering techniques.
Despite his initial suggestion, Satriani ultimately became involved in tribute performances celebrating Van Halen’s catalog. In recent years he has shared the stage with Hagar and other musicians honoring the band’s legacy, carefully studying Eddie’s playing to bring the songs to life while still maintaining his own identity as a guitarist.
Satriani admitted that stepping into that role required humility.
“No one plays like Eddie,” he said. “You can learn the notes, but the personality, the swing, the feel, that was uniquely his.”
Since Eddie Van Halen’s death in 2020, conversations about how best to honor his musical legacy have continued among former bandmates and collaborators. While plans for a large-scale tribute tour have evolved over time, the discussions highlight the immense respect musicians still have for the guitarist who redefined rock guitar.
For Satriani, suggesting Bettencourt was simply an acknowledgment of that legacy, and of how rare Eddie Van Halen’s artistry truly was.
“Eddie changed the instrument,” he said. “Anyone who steps up to play those songs knows they’re stepping into something historic.”
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