The Story Behind Eddie Van Halen Inspiration For A 1980s Movie
Image via Van Halen News Desk
Eddie Van Halen, one of rock’s greatest guitarists, left a powerful mark on pop culture, including the Bill & Ted franchise. His music and energy didn’t just inspire fans but also shaped the fictional world of Bill and Ted themselves.
A Van Halen Obsession
From the very beginning of the first Bill & Ted film, Eddie Van Halen’s influence is undeniable. The rock-obsessed main characters, Bill and Ted, dream of becoming a legendary band. Early in the movie, they even record a video plea to convince Eddie to teach them guitar. Van Halen’s presence looms large, embodying the ultimate rock idol for these two time-traveling slackers.
Alex Winter on Eddie’s Genius
Alex Winter, who plays Bill, spoke fondly of Eddie Van Halen in an interview with Rolling Stone, especially after the guitarist’s passing in 2020. Winter said:
“There was a really beautiful quality to what he would play that I think really impacted people profoundly. I hate to keep it to this California thing, but, to me, it’s connected a lot to the Beach Boys and what made Brian Wilson so great. There was depth and intelligence and craft within these accessible pop songs.”
For Winter, Eddie’s style wasn’t only technically brilliant but it had heart and depth that obviously connected with listeners.
Eddie and the Air Guitar Connection
Winter also credited Eddie Van Halen’s incredible physicality for inspiring Bill & Ted’s famous air guitar moments. “The air guitar came completely from Eddie’s playing,” he explained. Comparing Eddie to Pete Townshend of The Who, Winter noted, “There’s a kind of street punk violence to Townshend that is not to be found anywhere in Bill & Ted. And I always thought of Eddie’s incredible physicality with the air guitar stuff, and just the way these guys would have seen him and how that would have impacted them.”
Eddie Van Halen’s legacy goes beyond music, reaching into movies and inspiring new generations of fans. For Bill & Ted, and for countless others, Eddie was nothing short of iconic.
