The Last Dinner Party have quickly risen from underground sensation to one of the most talked-about new rock bands in the UK. Their theatrical arrangements, baroque-pop flair, and razor-sharp musicianship have set them apart in a crowded scene, but according to guitarist Emily Roberts, one of the band’s biggest musical breakthroughs came from an unlikely source: the king of American hard-rock guitar himself, Eddie Van Halen.
In a new interview, Roberts opened up about the band’s most popular track and the surprising technique that shaped its identity.
“It’s got one bit where I’m tapping on the frets,” she said. “I got that idea from Eddie Van Halen.”
A Van Halen Technique In A Modern Art-Rock Setting
Roberts explained that she had long admired Eddie Van Halen’s inventiveness, particularly his revolutionary approach to finger-tapping, a style most famously showcased on “Eruption” and countless other Van Halen classics.
While The Last Dinner Party’s sound draws more from art rock, glam, and cinematic pop than from ’80s guitar heroics, Roberts saw an opportunity to weave one of Eddie’s most iconic techniques into her own playing in a way that felt subtle, textural, and unique.
“I didn’t want it to be a shred moment,” she clarified.
“It’s more like using tapping to add this glittery, cascading tone, almost like a synth arpeggio, but played on guitar.”
That inventive twist became a defining hook in the track, instantly recognizable to fans and central to its soaring, dramatic energy.
Bridging Generations Through Creativity
Roberts noted that her appreciation for Eddie Van Halen isn’t about copying riffs, but about embracing his spirit of innovation.
“Eddie wasn’t just a fast player,” she said. “He was always finding new ways to make the guitar sound exciting. That’s what inspired me, not the genre, not the era, but the creativity.”
Incorporating tapping into a modern art-rock arrangement gave the song a sense of unexpected flair. It signaled that The Last Dinner Party aren’t just students of Bowie, Kate Bush, or Queen, they’re drawing inspiration from across rock’s entire history.
A Track That Became A Breakout Moment
The band’s fans quickly latched onto the track as a highlight of their live shows and streaming catalog. The tapping section, though brief, became one of the song’s signature moments, a flourish that set it apart from anything else in their setlist.
Critics praised the combination of:
- intricate musicianship
- theatrical songwriting
- and a fearless willingness to borrow from unlikely influences
For Roberts, the reaction was deeply rewarding.
“It’s funny,” she said, “because it’s such a tiny part. But people always ask about it. That’s the power of Eddie’s influence, even the smallest nod stands out.”
A New Generation Carrying The Torch
The Last Dinner Party represent a new wave of musicians who celebrate technical experimentation without falling into nostalgia or pastiche. Roberts’ Van Halen-inspired moment is a perfect example: a fresh, elegant reimagining of a classic technique placed in a completely new musical context.
In doing so, she honors Eddie Van Halen not by imitating him, but by embodying the creativity and adventurousness that defined his playing.
And if the band’s rising popularity is any indication, this small spark of inspiration has helped fuel one of the brightest new careers in modern rock.
A legendary guitarist inspires a rising star, and a new chapter of musical innovation begins.
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