12 Hard Rock Band Members Who Switched Instruments
4. Eddie Van Halen - Van Halen
Whenever you think of Eddie Van Halen, you typically think of the guitar as an extension of his body. Throughout the years, Eddie's work with Van Halen has given rock some of the best moments for the six-string, with songs like "Eruption" changing the guitar landscape overnight. On the other hand, if it weren't for sibling rivalry, history could have looked a lot different.
When the Van Halens first came to America from the Netherlands, Eddie and Alex were already learning music...just on the wrong instrument. In a weird turn of events, Alex actually started out on the guitar, with Eddie left to keep the tempo on the drums. However, things started to change once Alex stepped behind the kit one day. After watching his brother play the drum solo to the surf rock classic "Wipe Out" note-perfect, Eddie knew that he would not be able to match his brother's sense of rhythm.
Picking up his guitar, Eddie started a journey that would take him into the upper echelons of rock gods. With an already firm sense of rhythm, Eddie started to practice lead playing and proceeded to innovate the instrument as we know it, from different effects to his two-handed tapping technique. It's practically a miracle that Eddie found his instrumental groove, but with Alex becoming one of the best drummers in rock and roll, the Van Halen family had two musical protogees in the making.