Eddie Van Halen's guitar solos are as much a part of the band's identity as anything else, and yes that includes Diamond Dave's often karate-related stage antics. The fact that "Eruption"--a nary two minute guitar solo--is one of the band's most enduring songs shouldn't be a surprise. Because it kicks ass. And that's all Van Halen really wanted to do in its earliest days. And sure, instrumentals like "Eruption" and its acoustic variation, "Spanish Fly" (off Van Halen II), are pure showboating. But that's literally what every song from those first two albums are. And isn't that part of the reason we still love them?