George Lynch in a Tribute to Eddie Van Halen - Dallas International Guitar Festival 2021

Right in the middle of a cool spontaneous jam, George starts playing an improvised intro a Van Halen classic. Watch the looks exchanged by the rhythm section as they realize, and adjust.
This was just one of several really cool moments during a killer and unique set by George at the Dallas Guitar Festival.
Much more to come...stay tuned!

***This is only a quick(very rough) edit for the purpose of getting levels. I am releasing this rough edit due to so many requests.***

[SingularVisionProductions]

Subscribers to my channel tend to like guitarists who are confident enough take risks. They usually prefer an element of danger to the live performances that they watch. To watch or listen to a performance that sounds "just like the record", is to be VERY bored, from what I know about most of my subscribers.
clarify....This was a one-off gig with a local rhythm section, used just for this single performance. There was NO rehearsal, no set list, and I am fairly certain that George had not played live in over a year. Any practicing they had hoped to do never took
From my experiences in similar situations, I believe that most other guitarists of this stature would have simply cancelled the gig. But, a pro like George is confident enough to improvise his way through, and not get stressed out if thing aren't "perfect".
Think about it. If this had been a Malmsteen gig, Yngwie would have stopped in the middle of the first song, thrown the guitar at the drummer(again), and then blamed the guitar tech!!

[HiHello-kufl]

When you hear George Lynch you know who it is. That says a lot in the world of guitar. He's a legend along with Randy Rhoads, EVH, Jake E. Lee, Warren D Martini. That's a great class to be in right there and George is in it. He's great... love his style and songs.

[RockDawg]

There is absolutely, NO, WAY, Eddie is not smiling right there on stage with George. George captured what made him, Ed, and every other metal meister the legends they are. Great playing, not being afraid to improvise, beholden to no one, respect for one another, always giving us fans, at least us true fans, something we never saw coming that kept us wanting more. And just when we thought we had it all, they came back at us with something new we wondered how we lived without. If there's one thing that can be said about legends like George and Ed, who were buds starting out, is they were never afraid to revinvent themselves, add a little here, a little there, take us on a little journey, always in a way that they minute they started playing, whether it was the sound, the style, or just something deep in your soul.... you knew it was them. Man, are we lucky to have grown up with such great musicians. Sure, generations before us had Richie Blackmore, Robin Trower, Hendrix, Cheap Trick and his unlimited bag of tricks, so many greats. But we metal heads sure have one heck of a portfolio of great guitarists for the years. Would be interesting to lay em out side by side. On one side. Beck, Iommi, Frampton, West... on the other Rhoads, Zakk, the Def Lep guys pick your era doesn't matter they stand solid, Malmsteen, etc. etc. etc. And that doesn't even get into the bands. Yes and Queensryche. Blue Oyster Cult and White Lion. Queen and Extreme. Creedence and The Cult. Bands that spanned the decades like AC DC, Judas Priest. It just doesn't get any better than that.

[ragadeemann]

Don't ever underestimate Lynch, he has proven his self for decades. Just as if, Eddie tried to mimic Lynch you'd had the same result. Both monsters on the guitar. Thumbs up to Lynch for the Tribute.

[leecast]

Ed is one of my heroes, and so is George. George has recorded some of the greatest guitar work I have ever heard and he is also a great guy. This clip out of context left me cringing a bit like a number of the others commented. Long live the memory of Eddie and long live George!

[arccityangels]

Honoring EVH by doing it his own way. Great job George Lynch as always!

[SCrepresent]

I used to take lessons from George back in 1981 in the back of our family owned record store in Cerritos, CA.
This is before the 1st Dokken album came out and he showed me how to play Breakin The Chains & Paris Is Burnin 🤘

[xXIntoleranceXx]

George Lynch very much still has it, he’s one of the only guitar players alive that at his age can still play as good or better than any of the new guys. He’s like a black sheep among guitar players he has a very unique style and sound you’ll always know it’s him. Eddie couldn’t do what George does and George couldn’t do what Eddie does. Plain and simple, but they respected eachother and came up in the same crowd.

[andrewconant]

I was at this show as well. GL mentioned that there was no plan, and I don't even believe that he knew the bassist and drummer. It was basically a garage band practice. But George was way cool backstage, and signed anything!

[shanealan]

Lynch has such a nasty vibrato! One of a kind player.

[kinkinmyslinky]

Crazy to think that Lynch, Rhodes and Eddie all came up together on the Sunset strip back in the 70’s. I remember reading how George used to go watch Van Halen in the clubs and would be so frustrated by Eds skill he’d want to destroy his guitar and take up a new profession. Im glad he stuck with it. He has a sound all his own.

[thomasgoode]

George Lynch is one of the best. I hope he keeps doing it up and showing the whole world just how good he is.

[kjspitfire]

Totally raw, spontaneous, unrehearsed and straight from the heart from one musician to a fallen brother.
Nice one George. Rock on buddy x

[kennopalus]

Never cared much for his playing but, finding out he was EVH roadie and tech in the club days makes this performance heartfelt and genuine .... Props to Mr Lynch !

[KingEd]

I don't think people realize with all of these comments, while this is a tribute to Eddie, George is clearly putting his own spin on it ...Wake up people!! really??

[Plowguitarist]

Mr George “all soul” Lynch!!
Thank you for acknowledging Eddie as a great inspiration to you. He was to us all. R.I.P. Edward Van Halen. 😢

[deklee]

Like.all GREAT guitarists they take "" risks""....hes playing EVH via inspiration NOT trying to clone few bum notes etc etc bt it smacks of character and has his style ALL over KILLER to see note for note versions theres plenty.of 14 year olds out there doing it....lacking want to see guitar players stretching GL@✌✌✌

[macgruff]

I think this is awesome. It’s great Lynch did an impromptu tribute. He plays with such emotion and when he plays you just know it’s Lynch. He even is facing away from the crowd like Eddie sometimes did. It’s crazy to me that people are crucifying him for being out of tune or not playing up to his level greatness over the years. Eddie Van Halen never played out of tune right? It’s never happened right? It’s happened to several of the greats. I’d listen to Lynch any day and would be grateful I got to hear anything the man played. Judge him by his body of work. I don’t hear him saying “I’m great, that was my best playing ever” he’s playing a tribute. He’s one of the most humble players despite being an absolute legend. He’s inspired countless people to pickup a guitar. There are 14 year old kids that can play EVH note for note yet they can’t create anything on their own. I’m pretty sure George is capable of playing VanHalen note for note. If he isn’t able at this point it may be due to some physical limitation (arthritis or something) I would never expect him to play VanHalen note for note because that’s not what George does. He does his own thing. That’s why you know it’s Lynch after a few notes. I’m pretty sure George can still play better than most of the guitar playing population. He’s a legend and should be shown some respect. I personally enjoyed it. If you didn’t, that’s certainly your right. But to come on here and blast away or give criticism, what’s the point? I’m sure if he didn’t play up to his usual level I’m sure he’s aware of it. Do you think George needs to hear it so he can improve? Again please name someone that has played perfectly every-time they have ever performed in front of a live audience. I’d love to meet them. Like I said, even the man the tribute was for didn’t play perfectly every time. I have heard the same comments about some of his performances over the years. Does that make him less great? Nope. Should he have stopped playing? I think not. Does it benefit anyone by leaving negative comments? This man is one of the last of the big time guitar players of that era. I hope he keeps playing until it become physically impossible for him to do so. I shall listen and enjoy until that day comes.

[ritchfan]

Killer stuff....this is what live playing and risk taking is all about....very exciting to see this! Great camerawork and audio too!

[MrBinnskinny]

What a tribute! And to think him, Eddie and Randy all came up together. You still got it George 😎🤘