A Far Out Magazine feature revisits Eddie Van Halen's admiration for jazz-fusion guitarist Allan Holdsworth, whom he regarded as the finest guitarist of his generation despite his own iconic status in rock. The piece highlights how Van Halen, though celebrated for his technical innovations like tapping, looked beyond conventional rock guitar towards more experimental and fusion-influenced playing, drawing inspiration from musicians who pushed the instrument's boundaries in unconventional directions.

Van Halen singled out Holdsworth, known for his work with the band U.K. and his unique chordal vocabulary, as his personal favourite, once saying "To me Allan Holdsworth is Number One" while acknowledging that such rankings are subjective. The article notes other influences, including Eric Clapton and fusion pioneers such as John McLaughlin, and suggests that Holdsworth's boundary-defying approach shaped elements of Van Halen's own compositions, such as "Mean Street" and "Hot For Teacher".