For Eddie Van Halen, Allan Holdsworth wasn’t just another guitarist — he was the guitarist. The British jazz-fusion innovator, known for his lightning-fast legato runs and unorthodox chord voicings, represented everything Eddie admired yet couldn’t emulate. “He’s the best, in my book,” Eddie once said. “He’s so damned good I can’t cope with it. He’s the only guitarist I couldn’t cop anything from.”
That deep admiration eventually led to a rare and legendary moment: Eddie Van Halen jamming with his hero.
A Meeting of Two Worlds
By the early ’80s, Van Halen was one of the biggest rock bands in the world, selling out arenas on the back of Eddie’s groundbreaking guitar work. At the same time, Allan Holdsworth was quietly reshaping the vocabulary of jazz-fusion with albums like I.O.U. and Road Games. Despite their wildly different audiences, the two guitarists connected through mutual respect.
Eddie, starstruck by Holdsworth’s genius, often spoke of him in interviews and even used his own fame to shine a light on Holdsworth’s career. Eventually, their paths crossed in Los Angeles, where Eddie invited Holdsworth to jam privately.
The Jam That Shook Eddie
Those who witnessed their session describe it as surreal: Eddie, the arena-rock king, standing shoulder to shoulder with the man he considered untouchable. Holdsworth reportedly unleashed the same mind-bending fluidity that made him a cult legend, while Eddie responded with fiery runs and his trademark tapping.
But for Eddie, the jam only reinforced Holdsworth’s otherworldly aura. He admitted later that he felt out of his depth, humbled by Holdsworth’s harmonic sophistication and improvisational mastery. It wasn’t a competition — it was Eddie paying tribute in the best way he knew how: by playing alongside his idol.
Beyond the Music
While the jam didn’t lead to a formal collaboration, it solidified a unique bond between the two. Eddie would go on to support Holdsworth behind the scenes, even offering financial help during periods when Holdsworth struggled to sustain his career. In return, Holdsworth always spoke warmly of Eddie, touched by his generosity and humility despite his superstar status.
A “What If” of Guitar History
The story of Eddie Van Halen jamming with Allan Holdsworth has become one of those mythic tales in guitar lore — a fleeting meeting between two masters from different galaxies of music. Fans often speculate what a full album or project might have sounded like: the raw, visceral energy of Van Halen fused with Holdsworth’s cosmic, jazz-infused architecture.
Though it never came to pass, that one jam remains a window into Eddie Van Halen’s soul. For all his revolutionary impact, even Eddie had a hero who left him in awe. And when he picked up a guitar next to Allan Holdsworth, it wasn’t about being the best in the room — it was about honoring the player who made him feel like a wide-eyed kid again.
