Eddie Van Halen’s Admiration for Cream‘s “Crossroads“
Eddie Van Halen, the celebrated guitarist of Van Halen, consistently sought inspiration from his musical heroes, even as he forged his own groundbreaking style. While known for his innovative techniques and original licks,he openly acknowledged influences like Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page. However, one performance stood out to him as a pinnacle of live musicianship: Cream’s rendition of “Crossroads.”
Van Halen often found himself in creative tension with David Lee Roth, the band’s original frontman. Roth envisioned elaborate stage shows, sometimes pushing boundaries with ideas like mock-parachuting into concerts. This led to disagreements with Van Halen, who prioritized the musical experience for the audience. The arrival of Sammy Hagar as a vocalist offered a shift, providing a singer who focused on vocal performance and allowed for more musical exploration.
Despite Van Halen’s evolution towards keyboard-driven tunes with Hagar, Eddie remained captivated by the raw energy of bands like Cream. He considered “Crossroads” to be “[one of] the best live recorded songs ever.” He noted a common reaction to his praise of Eric Clapton, stating, “When I do interviews and tell people Clapton was my main influence, they go ‘Who?’ Becuase they’re thinking about Clapton doing ‘Lay Down Sally,’ not the Bluesbreakers or cream.”
Van halen admired Cream’s ability to create a powerful sound with just three musicians, where “everybody had to put out…and you could hear each person.” He saw a parallel to the early Van Halen dynamic, where despite Roth’s showmanship, the individual contributions of each member – Eddie, Alex Van Halen on drums, and Michael Anthony on bass – were clearly audible.
While Van Halen’s music differed significantly from Cream’s blues-rock foundation, Eddie’s appreciation for “Crossroads” highlighted his respect for remarkable musicianship and the power of a compelling groove. he believed that while studio experimentation was valuable, it rarely surpassed the energy and interplay of truly great players performing live, as exemplified by Cream’s iconic performance.
