Eddie Van Halen and Michael Jackson Perform "Beat It" Live in 1984 —Video
Yes, we've all heard Michael Jackson's 1983 mega-hit, "Beat It," which features Eddie Van Halen on guitar. But have you seen Eddie perform the song live with Jackson and his band?
We hadn't—until we stumbled upon this pro-shot (but 50th-generation, apparently) video.
According to the information provided with the clip, this performance took place July 14, 1984, in Dallas, Texas. Eddie (and his guitar) happened to be in town that night, so he joined Jackson on stage.
We apologize for the poor sound and audio quality, but take note that Eddie's guitar is front and center in the mix during the solo.
Jackson screams, "You got it, Eddie, Eddie, Eddie!" just as the solo kicks off. Enjoy!
And don't forget to check out Yngwie Malmsteen's 2009 studio version of "Beat It."
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Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.
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