"Tonechaser" : The Lost Interview With Eddie Van Halen's Tech Zeke Clark (5/10/86) - Part Two
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 พ.ย. 2023
- "Tonechaser" author Steve Rosen interviews Eddie Van Halen's guitar tech Zeke Clark on May 10th, 1986-Clark recently replacing long-time tech Rudy Lieren and opening up at the 5150 studio to talk about Edward's tone, style and guitars.
For more, check out Steve's book "Tonechaser"
TonechaserBook.com - เพลง
Great interview....I remember Ed going stereo in 1986 on the 5150 album ....Up until then during the DLR album era his guitar was always panned to one side of the stereo. I remember Jose worked on Eddie's prize plexiglass Marshall going right back to the late 1970s ....I remember Ed kept recording with that Amp until the 1980s & then there was some article in Guitar World magazine saying the old Marshall was in 'a state of ill health' & that it had lost a little sustain. I think that was when Ed briefly switched to a SOLDANO head & then of course working with Peavey to perfect the 5150 Amp Head.
Drink a shot every time Zeke says:
"Edward Van Halen"
...good luck and Godspeed.
These interviews are such gold Steve!! Every single one of them!! ❤ 👏
What an honor it was to have heard Zeke Clark's voice in my headphones for four days while transcribing this historical conversation digitized off of a 1986 cassette tape from Mr. Steve Rosen. I am humbled to have had the opportunity. Zeke's incredible behind-the-scenes work with Edward Van Halen is astounding. Adam, you did a spectacular job editing this all together. I know it was quite the undertaking considering Zeke had a cold that day. Mr. Steve, thank you so much for the pleasure of helping you both with this project and for the acknowledgement. That was very kind. The video from Zeke at his home and photo at the end with him holding "Tonechaser" is priceless! Full circle. ❤🤍🖤🎸👑
I read the interview that Steve did with Rudy Leiren, that was just fantastic. If you could put that interview up on youtube it would just blow peoples minds, so many good stories. I wish Zeke could have gone into more detail into how Jose modded Ed's amps. If Zeke is still available to do interviews it would be great to know more about the Jose mods.
wow.....just amaizing
Edward was such a genius that we will be amazed by the stories about him for years to come!! Thank you Steve. I hope you are well.
Great interview Steve. I also just got the book!!!
Thank you Mr. Rosen for sharing this amazing interview.
Absolutely incredible. Thank you, Steve.
Blown away but this!
So awesome Steve!!!
Just amazing man...
I love Steve Rosen's interview before VH II. Because I learned that lick at the end of you really got me now because Steve asked him. If I learned it right, that is tough to play perfectly.
5,600 WATTS??? For the 5150 tour alone? My God, Edward was a genius.
These are the kind of interviews I so love. Being a techy nerd myself, hearing these " behind the scenes " style stories really show how much Edward was LIGHT YEARS ahead of the rest of us mortal guitarists. Just amazing. Thank you so much Steven!
Great videos!! Do you have more Mick Mars interviews?
would have loved to hear Ed talk about all of his tone secrets honestly... so many still tip toe around this stuff like it's a military secret when in reality it's all very much in ed's fingers... in his touch, and in he choice of notes... you don't need to be so secretive.
Signal kept blowing up heads. Right. Okay. Theres so much 'woo' going on here. Almost Spinal Tap.
still makes me sad,
Can I please get an autographed copy?
Basswood lol
"SECRET WOOD"...ahem. This Zeke guy seems adequately full of himself. When asked about Ed's effects board, he goes of on a grandiose tale of merging a TransTrem into a Kramer...a guitar that never came to light, either. No wonder Ed was so tired of all these self-serving hangers on.
A few other previous guitar techs who used to work for Ed do the same thing today, and I can see why Ed got rid of them.
They all seem to share the same "I wish I was the star!!" affliction, talking themselves up so much when in fact, the only reason Ed ever hired a designated tech was because he didn't have the TIME to do the work personally himself, once he got prolific enough. Ed could have done all that stuff himself and often did.
Be humble, know your role, and do your job.
They're in such contrast to Steve Vai's long time tech, Thomas. Now there is a perfect example of someone who does those three things: and that's a big part of why Steve keeps him employed and trusts him explicitly with his guitars.
I don't know what you're on about. Zeke was only his second tech after Rudy, who had been with him from the start, but left with Roth. Zeke was with him through the 5150 and Ou812 tours. Then Matt Bruck stepped into the job in 1991 until he became Ed's manager and business partner. And, when Matt came aboard, I believe Zeke was still with Van Halen, but as Sammy's tech. Then Mike Keagan took over, and then Tom Webber was with him for all three Roth Reunion tours. There may be one other guy I'm not naming in the later years, but Ed had few techs in his decades long career. They were usually with the organization for years. And, Zeke isn't saying anything Ed or Matt haven't said in interviews about experimenting with different builds with the EVH guitars over the years. Not EVERY idea that Ed worked with over the years originated from him. Case in point...D-Tuna. He bought the rights to it, but someone else had invented it. Zeke was part of the inner circle, and coming up with ideas is something that would be part of his gig with Ed, especially with the rig. Ed destroyed tons of gear because he wasn't formally educated in anything tech-wise. Zeke was. He was paid for that expertise.