Eddie Van Halen is almost universally celebrated as the guitarist who changed everything. His revolutionary technique, boundless creativity, and joyful approach to music reshaped rock guitar forever. Yet for all the innovation he brought to the instrument, Eddie never hid the fact that his deepest inspiration came from the bands that laid the foundation before him. Among them all, one band stood above the rest, Black Sabbath.
In interviews over the years, Eddie spoke with particular reverence about Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath, once describing them as “closest to my heart.” Coming from a player whose influence rivals anyone in rock history, it was a powerful and telling admission.
The Power Of Simplicity And Weight
What Eddie admired most about Black Sabbath wasn’t flash or technical excess, it was weight, feel, and atmosphere. Tony Iommi’s riffs didn’t rely on speed or complexity. They were slow, heavy, ominous, and unforgettable. For Eddie, those qualities mattered just as much as virtuosity.
He often pointed out that Iommi’s playing proved a crucial lesson: it’s not how many notes you play, but which ones you choose. That philosophy would later surface in Van Halen’s own work, where explosive solos were always anchored by massive, groove-driven riffs.
Tony Iommi’s Influence On Eddie’s Mindset
Eddie never tried to sound like Tony Iommi, but he deeply respected the mindset behind the music. Sabbath’s sound was dark, unapologetic, and completely original. They weren’t chasing trends; they were inventing them.
That sense of fearless individuality resonated strongly with Eddie. Van Halen, like Sabbath, didn’t fit neatly into existing categories when they emerged. Both bands trusted their instincts, ignored conventional rules, and ended up defining entire genres as a result.
From Birmingham To Pasadena
While Black Sabbath came from the industrial grit of Birmingham and Van Halen from the sun-soaked streets of California, Eddie felt a spiritual connection between the two worlds. Sabbath showed him that heavy music could be emotional, powerful, and expressive without being overly complicated.
Eddie often spoke about how Sabbath records made him feel something, a quality he valued above all else. That emotional impact, rather than technical showmanship alone, was what he considered the true mark of greatness.
Respect From One Giant To Another
Eddie Van Halen was famously generous in praising his heroes, but his words about Black Sabbath carried special weight. Calling them “closest to my heart” wasn’t casual admiration, it was a recognition of their foundational role in shaping how he understood rock music.
In turn, Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath have consistently acknowledged Eddie as one of the greatest guitarists to ever pick up the instrument, creating a rare, mutual respect between pioneers of different eras.
A Lasting Legacy
Eddie Van Halen’s legacy is built on innovation, joy, and fearless creativity. Black Sabbath’s legacy is built on darkness, power, and reinvention. At first glance, they may seem worlds apart, but at their core, both represent the same truth Eddie lived by:
Play from the heart. Trust your instincts. And never be afraid to sound like yourself.
For Eddie Van Halen, no band embodied that spirit more profoundly than Black Sabbath, the music that stayed with him, inspired him, and remained closest to his heart until the very end.
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