Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell has fondly reflected on his friendship with Eddie Van Halen, sharing a story that perfectly captures the late guitar legend’s generosity — and sense of humor.
The two guitar icons became close while touring together during Van Halen‘s For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge tour in the early 1990s. While Cantrell initially felt intimidated opening for one of his heroes, the nerves quickly gave way to friendship, backstage jam sessions, and a legendary gear giveaway.
In a new interview with Gibson TV, Cantrell recalled their first meeting just moments before taking the stage: “The first time I met Ed Van Halen I was getting ready to go onstage [to open] for his band. He was standing in my pit with Valerie [Bertinelli] right next to him and Wolfie in her arms. He’s got his guitar on, and he’s running scales like, Hey, dude, what’s up?’ And I’m like, Are you fucking kidding me?'”
The experience rattled him more than he expected: “I think it was probably the worst show I ever played in my life, because I could not stop thinking, He’s right there!’ I couldn’t focus.”
During the tour, Van Halen was using Peavey 5150 heads and the Ernie Ball Music Man EVH guitars he helped design. Cantrell admitted he admired the gear and casually asked if he could buy one at a good price: “He was like, Fuck that dude, I’ll just give you a guitar!’ Everybody gives me everything for free now, when I can totally afford it. When I couldn’t afford it, nobody would give me anything. So let me do that for you.””
After returning home from the tour, Cantrell discovered just how far Eddie had gone. At the time, Cantrell was living with Alice In Chains manager Kelly Curtis and his wife. Curtis greeted him with an unexpected request: “He’s like, Hey man, welcome home. You had a good tour? Now you can relax.’ Hey, by the way, do you think you could clear your shit out of my garage? I need to put my car in there.'”
Confused, Cantrell asked what he meant: “He says, Eddie Van Halen filled the garage with gear for you. I haven’t been able to park my car in my garage for months.'”
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