Greg Leon was my favorite local guitar player during a time of MANY So Cal guitar monsters in the late 70's: Van Halen, Rhoads, Cavazo, Kilgore, James, et al. Really good voice as well. Suite 19 was a great band!
I read somewhere that Greg helped Randy with come up with the main lick in Crazy Train when Randy was still in QR. If true, he's very humble not to mention it during this interview. If I could go back and live in the 80's forever I would. Today's world sucks.
yeah man we grew up in a great time... and such a great time for music in general.., we got to see the invention of heavy metal :) and soooo many now legendary bands
really??...well aint that something. Cause i heard a story that George Lynch showed Randy the lead to Mr Crowley before he even joined Ozzy. Funny, how these stories come out after Rhoads is gone. Here a little hint...dont believe these bullsht stories.
Saw Randy Rhoads with Ozzy in Harrisburg PA 4/23/81 four years later Motorhead Opened .Saw Van Halen open for Black Sabbath in 1978 at the Philly Spectrum and saw Van Halen headline 1 year later at the Spactrum
24:56 It's cool that he mentioned Shawn Lane, who was an absolute monster of a player. As fast (and accurate) as any guitarist to ever pick up that instrument.
This was very interesting-being in Southern California in the late seventies was the best ( Agree about Alan Holdsworth great guitar but only for guitarists) Greg is cool as a moose
ive been liswtening to women & children first , again. ....... heard it proly 50 times since the early 80s.........been playing guitar 37ish years, .........and still i listen to it and theres moments on there i cant figure out how hes doing it. it just adds to the fact that can u imagine what guitar player thought 40+ years ago.
Wow.. hearing my old friend Greg talk about those days literally brought me back for a moment…I was a bit younger than Greg, Randy, and Eddie.. but played a lot of the same venues (Starwood Troubadour etc..) with my band Jail Bait, and later on, Antix ( who Don Dokken actually produced ) Those 3 cats.. along with maybe Lynch and Dave Meniketti were the ones that definitely set the tone on the LA scene back then.. of all of them, I got to know Greg the most.. Such a great guy, and I always loved his playing and tone
I am such a deep fanatic van halen 78-84 there not minute I think about the band I have been a fan since 5 years old their music make free and powerful. It like I was born into blood of van halen it best experience in my life
I agree with his Yngwie opinion, he’s brilliant and was one of the best technically, ever. But I could only stand it for about two songs. Eddie was a brilliant song writer and that combined with his amazing guitar playing was the difference between him and everybody else. R.I.P. Eddie Forever the GOAT. 🙏🎸
Absolutely right , Eddie van Halen is the greatest guitarist ever , innovation, technical perfection, and who else has a solo that has endured like Eruption!
@@humanactivated1017 Rhythm playing, yes. But his song writing skills and musical phrasing were superior as well. Malmsteen's technical wizardry is stellar. But he's not in Eddie's league as a complete musician. EVH was truly genius.
Greg I remember the party in big Tujunga...listening to you brings back memories...you played on Sonora vince lanzas right below 5 fwy....and provadencia in burbank...and randy was there watching you....what a trip...fm station...all those good times...now we are all old dudes...but good times we had...take care...tony s...you know me..brother drummed with Eric and Jeff and dino
Never will that time ever repeat itself again! I am so very grateful that I was permitted to exist in this timeline! I feel genuinely sad for kids these days, ok yeah they have tech..but that is nothing compared to the power of emotions, and the Love we experienced is something these kids nowadays will never experience Ever! It was truly Magic the industry is no longer alive as it was, the kids these days are very technically advanced, problem is. There is no soul.,
Great interview with Greg. I swear as you guys were talking it triggered 3 old memories with me and Shawn Lane, Michael Schenker and EVH. Also I just loved seeing my photos and I really think you are on to something by flashing a photo of whoever you are talking about. It totally adds more to your story. You have inspired me to scan more photos
Ed's version of doing the Beat It solo was Quincy called Ed at HOME and he hung up on him thinking it was a prank caller and when he realized it really was Quincy he went directly to the studio. He has also said the band was on break and everyone was out of town so that was part of the reason he did it 'cuz he couldn't contact any of the other guys in the band or management. The band and manager gave him a hard time about doing it for free so the story that Ed was on tour and had to fly in to do it and then fly right back out doesn't jive. And from Wikipedia, there's this. Van Halen used a Hartley-Thompson amplifier borrowed from guitarist Allan Holdsworth[25]
Andy Brauer confirmed and detailed this story on the Marshall Fourms himself. He sat with Edward while he cut the solo according to him. We have to always remember, Edward protected everything thing he did by twisting the facts back then. I looked at the tour dates, it does seem impossible that he would drop off tour to do this and as he said he was on a tour break, but the gear could have still be unavailable and he still could have used Brauer Rentals
@@FinalResonanceTV i worked for andy, 1996-1998, is he still in business ? We recorded a tune with him in my band, BIG JOHNSON band, at his place. When we recorded a video at the Roxy, we went and "borrowed" huge amounts of equipment for the video from his place over thanksgiving weekend 1998. He was always cool to me. Darren
Thats was a great interview! I first seen vanhalen at their first o.c performance with euolgy at movie world cars of the stars. I was also at the goldenwest ballroom a place rarely mentioned when vanhalen opened for u.f.o. i watched the ambulance take eddie away he overdosed. I happened to be a kid in the right place. I met karl sandoval at guitars of fire in long beach. Mike eldred lived by me funny some of the stories groover tells. I grew up with shawna his secretary r i.p. and im friends with Ryan who worked for wayne and grover yet never gets mentioned. He worked on Randy's guitars. Hell i took lessons from George lynch at best tecords. How randy chose him to teach has always been a mystery to me. He was great at what he did but couldnt play a cover or explain things. I was friends with tom Mitchell who wrote the book how to service your tube amplifier. I met randy and helped him locate a mxr distortion plus when he forgot his at the g.w ballroom. That was my first encounter with Kevin he wasnt a favorite. Anyway great to hear stories from people that lived them
28:30 I agree with him on Yngwie. I saw Yngwie open for Ac/ Dc in 84, I think, and only thing I remember about him is him twirling his guitar around his neck. It all was just so fast and all sounded the same to me.. But I love his work on 1st Alcatrazz album. Love this interview; very interesting TY!
I was at that starwood concert, black oak arkansas with Shawn Lane , I remember he was just a kid and was an incredible guitar player even than in 1978 or 79 .....(i forget the year)
THANK YOU !! This is a great narration from you and greg leon ,what a life Greg had to be in the presence of EDDIE,RANDY ,DOKKEN , HOLMES ,SHENKER ,could have listen to him for hours ,stories of ED had me tear up ,stories of DAVE made me laugh ,long live MIGHTY V.H.
It's so great to see this interview with Greg Leon. I knew about Greg years ago, because I'm a Randy Rhoads fanatic. Greg seems to be a great guy, and he was influenced by Hendrix and Marino. Two of the best!! Greg stopped by my buddy Chis's guitar shop in Vancouver a few years ago. Basone guitars. Anyway, Chris said he was cool, and I wish I had met Greg, Thanks for the interview.....
You are a spinal column of the music scene Brotha@ and because we are so pretty these days, ya know we could make it on image alone am I right Pretty boy! Lmao. Yeah we're all getting older, no escaping that, I remember a quote from a movie, "Time is the fire in which we all burn," ..but music is the fire we bath in!
If this was the only show that Van Halen paired with Quiet Riot I was there- was alerted to by a notice in the LA Times by Robert Hilburn. I remember Eddie always turning his back to the audience while tapping. Were there any of Van Halen/Quiet Riot combo shows around LA? I was thinking it was later in 1977.
Alan Holdsworth stayed with Ed for a while Alan was down and out , hadn't made it anywhere yet , his wife was still in the UK cause he had no money , Ed loved the dude but I agree , I tried to sit through a Holdsworth DVD and couldn't do it , the guy could rip but it was like a bunch of noise in the wrong key and out of time .... thanks guys enjoy your chanel...
Hey Man, I just found your RUclips and watched it. Great stuff Bro. Very cool info from Greg, who I'm ashamed to say I have not heard of before. I'm surprised cuz I'm an ol school Metal head. I have a feeling you're probably one of the biggest Edward fans. Your place looks like a shrine to the Man! I subscribed to your channel, so I look forward to your next video. Keep On Rockin! 🤟
Yeah the Holdsworth question..I dont mind His solo albums but My favorite stuff He ever did was On Tony Williams album 'Lifetime' Brufords 'Feels Good too Me' & UKs debut,Tempest was great too.
34:39 😮 I love these information man 🫡🙇🏻♂️🤘🏻 so that’s why he never use that guitar more 🤔 I thought he himself colored that awesome/beautiful guitar We should guess, right? Now the puzzle solved it’s easy to say though: Eddie was about striped, not circles 🙂 🤘🏻 always good details make me happy 🫡 awesome Mr. Jeff
Van Halen II album Eddie does his Best Guitar Wizardry all the way through, along the lines of John Coltrane's Wildest Reckless Youthful Sax playing to me. The solo Leon mentions is also my favorite as I am a Guitarist who is amazed by Virtuosic invention. But I also think Randy's solo on SATO is as Soulfully,Melodically and Structurally advanced as any I've Ever Heard. Yngwie is pure Technical Flash. Warren Demartini in my opinion is the best thing to come after Eddie and Randy, brilliant a Guitarist.
*Bullseye. You speak the truth with golden perspective and acute musical awareness: S.A.T.O. is one of my favorite songs & I've been a fan of Ratt since the E.P. Warren DiMartini is an outstanding guitarist. Highly underrated. However, I am here to say that while I agree with you about VH-II, Women and Children First REALLY accentuates how heavy he could be. "Fools." "Romeo Delight." "Tora, Tora." "Loss of Control." Horror sounds with raw heavy metal riffs. ***Listen to W.A.C.F. again.
@@k.c.3567 the songs on the WACF demos are the heaviest Ed ever played. I'm surprised that what ended up on the official WACF release is so tame in comparison to what he was working on in the studio
@@BillDerBergIs there a pre-released W.A.C.F. album lurking around the internet or RUclips that I am unaware of? IF so, is there a link to it that you may be privy to? Van Halen is my absolute, favorite band and has been, since I 1st heard them on my cousin's record player as a child. No one, until this day, has done or will ever do on guitar what Edward Ludwig Van Halen did.
You ever have one of those special amps that's got the majic sound and every noise that comes out is beyond majical.so majical hat one day you look at where it usually sits....and it's gone.somebody understood the majic and broke into your house and the only thing stolen was it.left guitars,money,jewelry,guns....well that happened to me.andvthe amp wasn't some giant expensive marshall stack or head.it was in the early to mid 80s, and it was just a small Marshall practice amp...I think I paid 125$ at my local pawn shop.but it had that Eddie sound.with no extra pedals or anything.it was perfect plugged straight into the amp from guitar.i would love to buy that same vintage Marshall practice amp.it was around 21in tall maybe 16 wide .thereabouts.it was probly their most sold model.ive searched a few times on the internet but not really the same year range
Great content! Absolutely love hearing about the parties everyone did back in the 70’s. Unfortunately in today’s culture there would probably be a shooting. So ****ed upped now.
Yep, that’s the story. It was a solid state amp of some sort. Allen was staying at his house at the time. Also, Ed and Donn Landee had the master tape of Beat it and chopped it up to rearrange the solo section without telling anyone they were doing it. Lukather said it took them 6 months to fix the alignment of the original to the other tape reel they were using. The solo sounds nothing like a Marshall. Another fact, Ed was home when Quincy called him. Nothing this guy says is believable.
I was at work one day and as usual a song was stuck in my head over n over: Intruder by VH.. Got home later that day n my brother told me EVH had passed away :( So weird.. He's my all- time fav, King Edward
I’m just about 10 minutes into the interview. I gotta head into work. These interviews are always awesome. And Greg is a true local (and beyond) legend. I actually just met him for the first time earlier in the year. That’s when I learned about how connected he was and is, and how he was right in there in the middle of everything with Eddie and Randy, and others. Anyway, I’ll finish this interview, and I see there’s a part two. If he didn’t answer the question about the Dean, I can probably find out. I’m sure Jeff will know, if he sees your comment here. I grew up just a couple miles from Greg it turns out, and just about a mile from where Chris Holmes and Lita Ford lived for a long time in the 80s. 🤘🏻🎸🇺🇸
Back when Yngwie's 1st solo album came out, everyone was amazed. Nobody was playing that fast. I liked some of the songs. Then the 2nd album came out and I was thinking "This sounds just like the first one." I liked his slower playing better. Anyway, I bought the 3rd album (Trilogy?) for the hell of it and it just sounded like the same 2 albums before it. I haven't cared to listen to his stuff since. And when he was on that G3 tour with Satch and Vai.......he just ruined the jam session by playing super fast. It just didn't fit in with the songs they were jamming to.
What studio is he talking about Lukather said Edward did that solo at 5150 which I believe to be true over what this guy is saying and if that is the case why would Edward rent a amp from this dude.???
DLR was great in the late 70s early 80s. But Best frontman ever? because of kicks & jumps Paul stanley in the mid 70s was getting the same amount of air as Dave, but with huge platform boots on & imo Nobody was a better frontman than Paul in the 70s ,l but what Dave was he was basically the next generations great frontman. KISS were THE biggest band on earth when VH released their first & 2nd album. VH were the new headliners beginning the early 80s
I played one Eddie orginal stolen from Ed 77ish my friend paid $5000 now it $25000 Hugh Flat Neck ill never forget that neck because my friend Had a Warren Di Guitar both necks for small hands was intimidating exspecilly around GIT students and teachers i liked the Les Paul but i have a chaRvel and a old ibanez Gibson FAT nECKSG2012 59Eric Johnson in the bridge all hot
Obviously Yngwie didn’t want to show anyone how to play his licks or riffs. He says he will now play it slow yet won’t play it any slower. He is a lousy teacher. He is so full of himself.
I love that Yngwie story , I have similar story he was in Reno doing Star spangled banner at king of cage and was signing autographs , Anyway i ran into him in the casino and asked who was in his band , His reply flat out was , Who Cares i;m in the Band !!!!, LOL
@@slowride9994 he did. Never said he didn't. Just go back and look at some interviews with Kevin earlier days in there hype. The guy full of himself just like David period.
@@scottmcclure4153 - could care less about Dubrow. A one or two-hit wonder. Roth on the other hand is half of Van Halen and half the reason the first 6 Van Halen albums are what they are - i.e. awesome. If anyone has good reason to be "full of themself" as you obnoxiously put it, Roth does, while Dubrow does not. Personally I think you may be projecting your own personality on both. It's always the egoists lamely calling other people egoists. In fact Eddie Van Halen himself was as "egotistical" as Roth and you can check interviews to verify that as well. Whatever. Lame conversation.
This guy is so off on some of his info it is laughable! First off All the old charvels do NOT have flat wide necks! they originally were built to order and you could get any neck shape you wanted. even when they went into serialized production in 1982 no two necks really were the same because they were all finished by hand. also eddie never got that circles guitar which is a boogie bodies not a charvel until late 1980 long after the VH II tour!
I checked with Ernie from Charvel Jackson on the Circles Guitar, because that story went against everything I knew about it also. You saw that I brought mine out and made him verify this was what he saw and played. Maybe it was at a later date? I’m not sure... still trying to nail down that Eddie painted the Unchained Guitar. Ernie who painted for Grover said a few days ago, when I contacted him. That Grover painted the Bumblebee and he didn’t recall the Circles ever being there. Not only did I check with Ernie, I checked with many experts on this story. I need to check with Grover directly, which I intend to do. There is quite a bit of info in part 2 coming about Greg’s relationship Jackson/Charvel
@@FinalResonanceTV Eddie had disassociated with the Charvel name in late 1979 early 1980 after the Bee was made because they were selling them without his consent. He was very pissed off and almost sued them over it. He did get a cease and desist order which is why they stopped making them. at that time he was getting all his bodies and necks from LYNN ELLSWORTH of Boogie bodies at that time.(1979--1981) the circles guitar and the rude are both Boogie body parts by lynn.
Karl Sandoval said Wayne painted the bumblebee and Karl assembled and set it up. He didn’t remember Grover having anything to do with it. In fact, Grover has said he built it and delivered it to Ed for the VHII album shoot, but Ed already had that guitar for months and was touring with it in 78.
Malmsteen's career arc for me is kind of a letdown. At the release of the 1st Alcatrazz it looked like he was gonna rule the world for a long time. The 1st Rising Force album seemed like a logical and really cool next step. Hanging his fantastic chops and dexterity on those classical structures was brilliant. Unfortunately his playing, impressive as it still is got stagnant and he flatlined into becoming the Liberace of the Stratocaster. A real Spinal Tap cliché in the flesh.
Greg Leon was my favorite local guitar player during a time of MANY So Cal guitar monsters in the late 70's: Van Halen, Rhoads, Cavazo, Kilgore, James, et al. Really good voice as well. Suite 19 was a great band!
I read somewhere that Greg helped Randy with come up with the main lick in Crazy Train when Randy was still in QR. If true, he's very humble not to mention it during this interview. If I could go back and live in the 80's forever I would. Today's world sucks.
yeah man we grew up in a great time... and such a great time for music in general.., we got to see the invention of heavy metal :) and soooo many now legendary bands
really??...well aint that something. Cause i heard a story that George Lynch showed Randy the lead to Mr Crowley before he even joined Ozzy. Funny, how these stories come out after Rhoads is gone. Here a little hint...dont believe these bullsht stories.
Yngwie"s songs were vehicles for his solos. Ed's songs were great songs with great solos.
Saw Randy Rhoads with Ozzy in Harrisburg PA
4/23/81 four years later Motorhead Opened .Saw Van Halen open for Black Sabbath in 1978 at the Philly Spectrum and saw Van Halen headline 1 year later at the Spactrum
24:56 It's cool that he mentioned Shawn Lane, who was an absolute monster of a player. As fast (and accurate) as any guitarist to ever pick up that instrument.
I'd never heard of Greg Leon before this so I checked him out.. he's a MONSTER !
Still never heard of him.......Yawwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnn
This must be Greg Leon incognito
@@steveludwig4200nothing to write home about 😂
Greg is really a great player and human being.. I could listen to his stories for hours. Superb musician.
Excellent stories. Could listen to these all day.
This was very interesting-being in Southern California in the late seventies was the best ( Agree about Alan Holdsworth great guitar but only for guitarists) Greg is cool as a moose
I was lucky 🍀 and got to Meet Richie Blackmore at the Rockers For Soccer ⚽️ the Year he met his future wife. Brian Howe and Brian Johnson was there !
ive been liswtening to women & children first , again. ....... heard it proly 50 times since the early 80s.........been playing guitar 37ish years, .........and still i listen to it and theres moments on there i cant figure out how hes doing it. it just adds to the fact that can u imagine what guitar player thought 40+ years ago.
Man, this was a GREAT interview Jeff! Greg is freaking awesome! Loved all of the stories! Thanks! xo
Thanks
From not knowing this channel yesterday to my favorite today!
Wow.. hearing my old friend Greg talk about those days literally brought me back for a moment…I was a bit younger than Greg, Randy, and Eddie.. but played a lot of the same venues (Starwood Troubadour etc..) with my band Jail Bait, and later on, Antix ( who Don Dokken actually produced )
Those 3 cats.. along with maybe Lynch and Dave Meniketti were the ones that definitely set the tone on the LA scene back then.. of all of them, I got to know Greg the most..
Such a great guy, and I always loved his playing and tone
Your a nobody
That's awesome. Thanks for posting. Did you ever jam with the guys in Stormer?
@@chrisb8655 No I didn’t… but I did do a gig with them on the same bill at the Starwood if my memory serves me correct
@@chrisb8655you mean Stryper version 1
I am such a deep fanatic van halen 78-84 there not minute I think about the band I have been a fan since 5 years old their music make free and powerful. It like I was born into blood of van halen it best experience in my life
I agree with his Yngwie opinion, he’s brilliant and was one of the best technically, ever. But I could only stand it for about two songs. Eddie was a brilliant song writer and that combined with his amazing guitar playing was the difference between him and everybody else. R.I.P. Eddie Forever the GOAT. 🙏🎸
I said the same about Yngwie before reading ur post lol.. And totally agree with u also on EVH
Absolutely right , Eddie van Halen is the greatest guitarist ever , innovation, technical perfection, and who else has a solo that has endured like Eruption!
The real difference with Eddie was his rythym playing , he was levels ahead of Randy and two levels above yngwie
I like Yngwie's instrumentals but the rest of his stuff gets a bit corny.
@@humanactivated1017 Rhythm playing, yes. But his song writing skills and musical phrasing were superior as well. Malmsteen's technical wizardry is stellar. But he's not in Eddie's league as a complete musician. EVH was truly genius.
Great amazing interview very insightful I never knew Greg Leon has such great stories do tell.
This was one of those video's that blindsided me with its brilliance. I could have listened all day long.
Eddie and Randy. Just superb
Greg I remember the party in big Tujunga...listening to you brings back memories...you played on Sonora vince lanzas right below 5 fwy....and provadencia in burbank...and randy was there watching you....what a trip...fm station...all those good times...now we are all old dudes...but good times we had...take care...tony s...you know me..brother drummed with Eric and Jeff and dino
This guy rewrites history every interview he does., Soon he will have invented the guitar and taught everyone how to play.
Love it!! Real history where he was so close to all of them. Top Notch! 👍👍
Great stories and interview. I really enjoyed it.
True gems of stories. Thanks a million for sharing! More, more!
great interview!
Tommy Bolin, had one of the first Charvels that was in 1976's !
This is Very True There was a poster of Tommy Bolin behind The front Door of Charvel in San Demas i Used To Go Out To His Shop in 1978
Never seen that, gotta check that out. Tommy was amazing.
Love your show! Pure Van Halen!!
Thanks
Never will that time ever repeat itself again! I am so very grateful that I was permitted to exist in this timeline! I feel genuinely sad for kids these days, ok yeah they have tech..but that is nothing compared to the power of emotions, and the Love we experienced is something these kids nowadays will never experience Ever! It was truly Magic the industry is no longer alive as it was, the kids these days are very technically advanced, problem is. There is no soul.,
Great interview with Greg. I swear as you guys were talking it triggered 3 old memories with me and Shawn Lane, Michael Schenker and EVH. Also I just loved seeing my photos and I really think you are on to something by flashing a photo of whoever you are talking about. It totally adds more to your story. You have inspired me to scan more photos
Ed's version of doing the Beat It solo was Quincy called Ed at HOME and he hung up on him thinking it was a prank caller and when he realized it really was Quincy he went directly to the studio. He has also said the band was on break and everyone was out of town so that was part of the reason he did it 'cuz he couldn't contact any of the other guys in the band or management. The band and manager gave him a hard time about doing it for free so the story that Ed was on tour and had to fly in to do it and then fly right back out doesn't jive. And from Wikipedia, there's this. Van Halen used a Hartley-Thompson amplifier borrowed from guitarist Allan Holdsworth[25]
Andy Brauer confirmed and detailed this story on the Marshall Fourms himself. He sat with Edward while he cut the solo according to him. We have to always remember, Edward protected everything thing he did by twisting the facts back then. I looked at the tour dates, it does seem impossible that he would drop off tour to do this and as he said he was on a tour break, but the gear could have still be unavailable and he still could have used Brauer Rentals
@@FinalResonanceTV i worked for andy, 1996-1998, is he still in business ? We recorded a tune with him in my band, BIG JOHNSON band, at his place. When we recorded a video at the Roxy, we went and "borrowed" huge amounts of equipment for the video from his place over thanksgiving weekend 1998. He was always cool to me. Darren
dude, u cannot trust wikipedia.. It may be true, but u cant trust it at all
This guys is amazing 😮 he’s like a ghost writer or behind the scenes connector
Thats was a great interview! I first seen vanhalen at their first o.c performance with euolgy at movie world cars of the stars. I was also at the goldenwest ballroom a place rarely mentioned when vanhalen opened for u.f.o. i watched the ambulance take eddie away he overdosed. I happened to be a kid in the right place. I met karl sandoval at guitars of fire in long beach. Mike eldred lived by me funny some of the stories groover tells. I grew up with shawna his secretary r i.p. and im friends with Ryan who worked for wayne and grover yet never gets mentioned. He worked on Randy's guitars. Hell i took lessons from George lynch at best tecords. How randy chose him to teach has always been a mystery to me. He was great at what he did but couldnt play a cover or explain things. I was friends with tom Mitchell who wrote the book how to service your tube amplifier. I met randy and helped him locate a mxr distortion plus when he forgot his at the g.w ballroom. That was my first encounter with Kevin he wasnt a favorite. Anyway great to hear stories from people that lived them
This guy is cool. Great interview.
He's also full of himself. I've never heard of this cat but by the way he talks about himself you'd think he is a legend like Ed and Randy are.
Interesting as hell to listen to these stories. Greatly appreciate!
Thanks
Great interview! Great story telling from Greg!
Great interview with great stories.
Great interview
Thanks!!
Right on about "Outta Love Again"! Killer album, that!!!
28:30 I agree with him on Yngwie. I saw Yngwie open for Ac/ Dc in 84, I think, and only thing I remember about him is him twirling his guitar around his neck. It all was just so fast and all sounded the same to me.. But I love his work on 1st Alcatrazz album.
Love this interview; very interesting TY!
Greg Leon is a legend IN HIS OWN MIND!!! Yeah he taught all the greats!!! What a hack!!
Here's another six shooter coming to steal my throne -😂😂😂😂😂😂
Awesome perspective!!!
I was at that starwood concert, black oak arkansas with Shawn Lane , I remember he was just a kid and was an incredible guitar player even than in 1978 or 79 .....(i forget the year)
That Schenker story, wow.
Cool right?
Both EVH & RR were great guitarists - EVH was a great songwriter. RR with ozzy was all written by Bob Daisley - music & lyrics
Nope Randy co wrote every song on Blizzard and Diary, Daisley wrote most of the lyrics but Kerslake contributed some on Diary.
There both excellent guitarists
yes, they were signed in February of 1977!
THANK YOU !! This is a great narration from you and greg leon ,what a life Greg had to be in the presence of EDDIE,RANDY ,DOKKEN ,
HOLMES ,SHENKER ,could have listen to him for hours ,stories of ED had me tear up ,stories of DAVE made me laugh ,long live MIGHTY V.H.
An older Boss Heavy Metal pedal; I remember EVH used this for Beat It.
Hey buddy I just stumbled across your channel ,I'm really enjoying the stories keep up the good work
Thanks!!
It's so great to see this interview with Greg Leon. I knew about Greg years ago, because I'm a Randy Rhoads fanatic. Greg seems to be a great guy, and he was influenced by Hendrix and Marino. Two of the best!! Greg stopped by my buddy Chis's guitar shop in Vancouver a few years ago. Basone guitars. Anyway, Chris said he was cool, and I wish I had met Greg, Thanks for the interview.....
Greg Leon states he taught Michael Sheinker, RR,EVH, & Waren Demartini! WTF!!!!
You are a spinal column of the music scene Brotha@ and because we are so pretty these days, ya know we could make it on image alone am I right Pretty boy! Lmao. Yeah we're all getting older, no escaping that, I remember a quote from a movie, "Time is the fire in which we all burn," ..but music is the fire we bath in!
If this was the only show that Van Halen paired with Quiet Riot I was there- was alerted to by a notice in the LA Times by Robert Hilburn. I remember Eddie always turning his back to the audience while tapping. Were there any of Van Halen/Quiet Riot combo shows around LA? I was thinking it was later in 1977.
Possible, but this is the one I see documented. It might have been the only 1 they duel billed like this.
Very true man this was cool.
Thanks!
Alan Holdsworth stayed with Ed for a while Alan was down and out , hadn't made it anywhere yet , his wife was still in the UK cause he had no money , Ed loved the dude but I agree , I tried to sit through a Holdsworth DVD and couldn't do it , the guy could rip but it was like a bunch of noise in the wrong key and out of time .... thanks guys enjoy your chanel...
Hey Man, I just found your RUclips and watched it. Great stuff Bro. Very cool info from Greg, who I'm ashamed to say I have not heard of before. I'm surprised cuz I'm an ol school Metal head. I have a feeling you're probably one of the biggest Edward fans. Your place looks like a shrine to the Man! I subscribed to your channel, so I look forward to your next video. Keep On Rockin! 🤟
Yeah the Holdsworth question..I dont mind His solo albums but My favorite stuff He ever did was On Tony Williams album 'Lifetime' Brufords 'Feels Good too Me' & UKs debut,Tempest was great too.
Larry Carlton said that once. A guy came up to him and said his 335 sounded great. Larry set it down and asked how does it sound now?
Chris Holmes says their was absolutely a rivalry between Van Halen and Quiet Riot.
I.miss the VH AND Rivalry myth!!! Lmao!
34:39 😮 I love these information man 🫡🙇🏻♂️🤘🏻 so that’s why he never use that guitar more 🤔 I thought he himself colored that awesome/beautiful guitar
We should guess, right? Now the puzzle solved it’s easy to say though: Eddie was about striped, not circles 🙂 🤘🏻 always good details make me happy 🫡 awesome Mr. Jeff
Van Halen II album Eddie does his Best Guitar Wizardry all the way through, along the lines of John Coltrane's Wildest Reckless Youthful Sax playing to me. The solo Leon mentions is also my favorite as I am a Guitarist who is amazed by Virtuosic invention. But I also think Randy's solo on SATO is as Soulfully,Melodically and Structurally advanced as any I've Ever Heard. Yngwie is pure Technical Flash. Warren Demartini in my opinion is the best thing to come after Eddie and Randy, brilliant a Guitarist.
*Bullseye. You speak the truth with golden perspective and acute musical awareness: S.A.T.O. is one of my favorite songs & I've been a fan of Ratt since the E.P. Warren DiMartini is an outstanding guitarist. Highly underrated.
However, I am here to say that while I agree with you about VH-II, Women and Children First REALLY accentuates how heavy he could be. "Fools." "Romeo Delight." "Tora, Tora." "Loss of Control."
Horror sounds with raw heavy metal riffs.
***Listen to W.A.C.F. again.
@@k.c.3567 the songs on the WACF demos are the heaviest Ed ever played. I'm surprised that what ended up on the official WACF release is so tame in comparison to what he was working on in the studio
S.A.T.O. is one of my all-time favorite songs. So powerfully majestic. Not many see or know this.
You just CAN'T kill rock and roll.
Stay awesome.
@@BillDerBergIs there a pre-released W.A.C.F. album lurking around the internet or RUclips that I am unaware of?
IF so, is there a link to it that you may be privy to?
Van Halen is my absolute, favorite band and has been, since I 1st heard them on my cousin's record player as a child.
No one, until this day, has done or will ever do on guitar what Edward Ludwig Van Halen did.
@@k.c.3567 m.ruclips.net/video/2w776JFBtvQ/видео.html
I wish someone would talk to Alex
Interesting what Greg said about Yngwie. Amazing playing for sure, but 8 bars of it is enough.
Linda Blair I hear ya...wild girl
Close your eyes. Imagine Professor Frink. 😂
You ever have one of those special amps that's got the majic sound and every noise that comes out is beyond majical.so majical hat one day you look at where it usually sits....and it's gone.somebody understood the majic and broke into your house and the only thing stolen was it.left guitars,money,jewelry,guns....well that happened to me.andvthe amp wasn't some giant expensive marshall stack or head.it was in the early to mid 80s, and it was just a small Marshall practice amp...I think I paid 125$ at my local pawn shop.but it had that Eddie sound.with no extra pedals or anything.it was perfect plugged straight into the amp from guitar.i would love to buy that same vintage Marshall practice amp.it was around 21in tall maybe 16 wide .thereabouts.it was probly their most sold model.ive searched a few times on the internet but not really the same year range
Great content! Absolutely love hearing about the parties everyone did back in the 70’s. Unfortunately in today’s culture there would probably be a shooting. So ****ed upped now.
Try Metal Fatigue from Allan Holdsworth.
@@anthonywhiteman4488 unmerry-go-round is amazing
Ed borrowed Alan Holdsworth's amp for the beat it solo.
Not according to Andy Brauer himself.
Yep, that’s the story. It was a solid state amp of some sort. Allen was staying at his house at the time. Also, Ed and Donn Landee had the master tape of Beat it and chopped it up to rearrange the solo section without telling anyone they were doing it. Lukather said it took them 6 months to fix the alignment of the original to the other tape reel they were using. The solo sounds nothing like a Marshall. Another fact, Ed was home when Quincy called him. Nothing this guy says is believable.
@@stevemineer2857 Hartley Thompson
Is this guy really trying to take credit for EVH dive bombs? No wonder this guy never made it!! VERY disgraceful!
I was at work one day and as usual a song was stuck in my head over n over: Intruder by VH.. Got home later that day n my brother told me EVH had passed away :( So weird.. He's my all- time fav, King Edward
Ok, so, was it Greg's Dean that Randy played, when off tour, that night with DuBrow?
I’m just about 10 minutes into the interview. I gotta head into work. These interviews are always awesome. And Greg is a true local (and beyond) legend.
I actually just met him for the first time earlier in the year. That’s when I learned about how connected he was and is, and how he was right in there in the middle of everything with Eddie and Randy, and others.
Anyway, I’ll finish this interview, and I see there’s a part two. If he didn’t answer the question about the Dean, I can probably find out. I’m sure Jeff will know, if he sees your comment here.
I grew up just a couple miles from Greg it turns out, and just about a mile from where Chris Holmes and Lita Ford lived for a long time in the 80s. 🤘🏻🎸🇺🇸
Iommi Rhoads Halen thats the Shake Down
Don’t forget Lynch
Back when Yngwie's 1st solo album came out, everyone was amazed. Nobody was playing that fast. I liked some of the songs. Then the 2nd album came out and I was thinking "This sounds just like the first one." I liked his slower playing better. Anyway, I bought the 3rd album (Trilogy?) for the hell of it and it just sounded like the same 2 albums before it. I haven't cared to listen to his stuff since. And when he was on that G3 tour with Satch and Vai.......he just ruined the jam session by playing super fast. It just didn't fit in with the songs they were jamming to.
He is exactly correct about Yngwie. I would rather hear Angus any day over him…
Cool interview.. Inside metal doc ? Any links to this or is the name wrong?
Yes it’s out there.. try RUclips
Oh, he instructed Jackson on guitar ideas? This guy Greg Leon is frickin delusional!!!
what a cool life....nothing cool like this happens now
What studio is he talking about Lukather said Edward did that solo at 5150 which I believe to be true over what this guy is saying and if that is the case why would Edward rent a amp from this dude.???
DLR was great in the late 70s early 80s. But Best frontman ever? because of kicks & jumps Paul stanley in the mid 70s was getting the same amount of air as Dave, but with huge platform boots on & imo Nobody was a better frontman than Paul in the 70s ,l but what Dave was he was basically the next generations great frontman. KISS were THE biggest band on earth when VH released their first & 2nd album. VH were the new headliners beginning the early 80s
this dude is the real deal cool guy in the neighborhood that everybody likes!
Dude I dont know where U come from but you Rule HowardWho
What band has Greg been in?
Super Early Dokken before Lynch, Dubrow/Quiet Riot as Rhoads first replacement
@@FinalResonanceTV Greg Leon Invasion
I played one Eddie orginal stolen from Ed 77ish my friend paid $5000 now it $25000 Hugh Flat Neck ill never forget that neck because my friend Had a Warren Di Guitar both necks for small hands was intimidating exspecilly around GIT students and teachers i liked the Les Paul but i have a chaRvel and a old ibanez Gibson FAT nECKSG2012 59Eric Johnson in the bridge all hot
when dave went on his babble, i would be wishing hed get to the point & say it cuz i wanna hear the music not bragging,just my preference
WHAT G00D HIST0RY 0F THE REAL G00D 0LD DAYS!!! GREG WAS THERE! S0 JEAL0US!
😂😂😂
So is the story that Quincy Jones called Ed at home, and Ed jumping into his car and going down to the studio to do the Beat It thing a lie?
Obviously Yngwie didn’t want to show anyone how to play his licks or riffs. He says he will now play it slow yet won’t play it any slower. He is a lousy teacher. He is so full of himself.
Unfortunately it didn't end well with Grover and Ed. ;(
Halen goes on Tour Sabbbath78 Randy Joins Ozzy79 you cant make this shit up its that Good LOL Hugh Talents the Real Masters
I love that Yngwie story , I have similar story he was in Reno doing Star spangled banner at king of cage and was signing autographs , Anyway i ran into him in the casino and asked who was in his band , His reply flat out was , Who Cares i;m in the Band !!!!, LOL
First in line!
Yep!
Roth and Dubrow similar? lol ...not even close.
Sorry so late. But the both were kinda full of themselves in that department. I could see that back in the day. Off stage. You can see in interviews.
@@scottmcclure4153 - Roth had personality. Dubrow not. No comparison.
@@slowride9994 he did. Never said he didn't. Just go back and look at some interviews with Kevin earlier days in there hype. The guy full of himself just like David period.
@@scottmcclure4153 - could care less about Dubrow. A one or two-hit wonder. Roth on the other hand is half of Van Halen and half the reason the first 6 Van Halen albums are what they are - i.e. awesome. If anyone has good reason to be "full of themself" as you obnoxiously put it, Roth does, while Dubrow does not. Personally I think you may be projecting your own personality on both. It's always the egoists lamely calling other people egoists. In fact Eddie Van Halen himself was as "egotistical" as Roth and you can check interviews to verify that as well. Whatever. Lame conversation.
@@slowride9994 yeah that lsd. Lead singer disease. Not me . Both of them yes . God get a grip . Dude you don't know personally.
This guy is so off on some of his info it is laughable! First off All the old charvels do NOT have flat wide necks! they originally were built to order and you could get any neck shape you wanted.
even when they went into serialized production in 1982 no two necks really were the same because they were all finished by hand. also eddie never got that circles guitar which is a boogie bodies not a charvel until late 1980 long after the VH II tour!
I checked with Ernie from Charvel Jackson on the Circles Guitar, because that story went against everything I knew about it also. You saw that I brought mine out and made him verify this was what he saw and played. Maybe it was at a later date? I’m not sure... still trying to nail down that Eddie painted the Unchained Guitar.
Ernie who painted for Grover said a few days ago, when I contacted him. That Grover painted the Bumblebee and he didn’t recall the Circles ever being there. Not only did I check with Ernie, I checked with many experts on this story. I need to check with Grover directly, which I intend to do. There is quite a bit of info in part 2 coming about Greg’s relationship Jackson/Charvel
@@FinalResonanceTV I thought the B&W circles and stripes turned into the Rasta, according to Dweezil.
@@FinalResonanceTV Eddie had disassociated with the Charvel name in late 1979 early 1980 after the Bee was made because they were selling them without his consent. He was very pissed off and almost sued them over it. He did get a cease and desist order which is why they stopped making them. at that time he was getting all his bodies and necks from LYNN ELLSWORTH of Boogie bodies at that time.(1979--1981)
the circles guitar and the rude are both Boogie body parts by lynn.
Greg did say he "assumed" since it was at Charvel
Karl Sandoval said Wayne painted the bumblebee and Karl assembled and set it up. He didn’t remember Grover having anything to do with it. In fact, Grover has said he built it and delivered it to Ed for the VHII album shoot, but Ed already had that guitar for months and was touring with it in 78.
well that was awkward
Trash Holdsworth, then gush over Ice Cream Man stretch arpeggios (also Holdsworth). (30:35)
Holdsworth is the best
Allan was playing like that in the early 1970's.
Greg is so full of himself. I've never heard of this cat but by the way he talks about himself you'd think he is a legend like Ed and Randy are.
My god he looks like Michael Moore! :D
Malmsteen's career arc for me is kind of a letdown. At the release of the 1st Alcatrazz it looked like he was gonna rule the world for a long time. The 1st Rising Force album seemed like a logical and really cool next step. Hanging his fantastic chops and dexterity on those classical structures was brilliant. Unfortunately his playing, impressive as it still is got stagnant and he flatlined into becoming the Liberace of the Stratocaster. A real Spinal Tap cliché in the flesh.
I agree on Holdworth. Massive respect for the guy but I can't listen to it.