The legendary bassist Eddie Van Halen was too intimidated to play alongside: “Competition”
Eddie Van Halen said he would have felt outmatched playing alongside bassist Jack Bruce, whose approach made the bass function like a lead instrument. He valued the space created by Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and drummer Alex Van Halen, which let him improvise freely.
Van Halen praised Anthony as a strong bassist who supported the band without competing for the same musical space. Bruce, known for his work with Cream, played more assertively; Van Halen said that would have put them in competition. The article also notes Van Halen’s debt to Eric Clapton and the blues, and describes Anthony’s more adventurous playing on some Van Halen tracks.
- Eddie Van Halen said Jack Bruce’s bass playing would have made him feel in competition.
- Michael Anthony’s playing gave Van Halen room to improvise.
- Van Halen traced some of his guitar roots to Cream and the blues.