Eddie Van Halen
There may have been such a thing as air guitar before Eddie Van Halen shredded his way into the public ear in 1978, but, armed with a hand-built axe he called his “Frankenstrat,” Van Halen’s were the chops that launched a million imitators. Among other innovations, Eddie is credited with pioneering string tapping, a two-handed technique that delivers breathtaking speed and precision. But his virtuosity never overshadowed his musicianship, and the epic songs he co-wrote with his bandmates will be blowing speakers and shattering windows for generations to come.