Post by tbolin5150 on Mar 16, 2007 13:45:43 GMT -6
Hey all, I was on flamboyant guitar dealer/builder Ed Roman's site, and linked to one of his other sites and found an interview in "The Inside" with Cris Holmes of W.A.S.P. Apparently, Cris loaned his Ibanez Destroyer to Eddie for use on "Women and Children First". Here is an excerpt with link to the page to follow:
We recently caught up with Chris during W.A.S.P.'s tour stop in West Warwick, RI, March 8, and asked him about his involvement with our favorite guitarist.
The Inside: So how did Eddie Van Halen come about borrowing your guitar for the Women and Children First album?
Chris Holmes: I got into a motorcycle accident in 1980. I had broken my back and I was in the hospital. I couldn't play. I was in traction and he just came into the hospital. He just got off the road. He asked if he could borrow the guitar and I said yes.
The Inside: What kind of guitar was it?
CH: It was an Ibanez Destroyer, a certain kind that I had bought. Honestly, I got one because he got one. He was just somebody I really envied when I grew up playing and he was cool. I always wanted to play like him, but you've got to do your own thing. I bought one because he got one that had a cool shape. It was made out of a certain kind of wood that they didn't make very many out of -- crayna, I think. He cut his out and changed the sound, but he couldn't fix it back. So he said, 'Hey, can I use your guitar?' I said 'Sure, man.' And he used it on the album.
Correction From Ed Roman
Chris is actually talking about Korina Wood, which in fact everyone thought the Ibanez Destroyer Explorer copy was made from, In reality it was made from ash and stained to look a little like Korina. Very few companies build guitars with Korina, Hamer did for a short period but I don't think Ibanez ever made anything from Korina (Korina is also known as Limba) Ed Roman Guitars has built well over 1000 guitars utilizing Korina Wood or Limba Wood
The Inside: Did he return it to you in one piece?
CH: It was funny; when I got it back, the bridge was turned around backwards and all that intonation... it was just backwards to the way I would have had it. I just don't see how he played it that way, but he did. It's funny, I've been to a few Van halen shows and I put on Ed's guitar and it's just the complete opposite of the way I set up mine.
The Inside: Different strokes for different folks.
CH: Yeah, he'd have the strings about a mile off the fret board. He likes his whammy bar so loose that he super glues the nut on the back so it spins around. I don't use a whammy bar, but everybody has their own way of playing.
The Inside: How long have you known Eddie?
CH: I've known him since I was 13 (1974).
The Inside: Did you grow up in the same neighborhood?
CH: Yeah, Pasadena. We didn't go to the same High School. He had Mammoth when I started playing guitar. He was somebody I looked up to and watched play backyard parties. I'd have a really crappy band, he'd have a good backyard garage band. Things got better, they'd play clubs and he'd use some of my equipment. Here is the link to the excerpt: www.celebrityrockstarsguitars.com/rock/holmes.htm Thought you guys might enjoy this info. keep rock'n, Brian
We recently caught up with Chris during W.A.S.P.'s tour stop in West Warwick, RI, March 8, and asked him about his involvement with our favorite guitarist.
The Inside: So how did Eddie Van Halen come about borrowing your guitar for the Women and Children First album?
Chris Holmes: I got into a motorcycle accident in 1980. I had broken my back and I was in the hospital. I couldn't play. I was in traction and he just came into the hospital. He just got off the road. He asked if he could borrow the guitar and I said yes.
The Inside: What kind of guitar was it?
CH: It was an Ibanez Destroyer, a certain kind that I had bought. Honestly, I got one because he got one. He was just somebody I really envied when I grew up playing and he was cool. I always wanted to play like him, but you've got to do your own thing. I bought one because he got one that had a cool shape. It was made out of a certain kind of wood that they didn't make very many out of -- crayna, I think. He cut his out and changed the sound, but he couldn't fix it back. So he said, 'Hey, can I use your guitar?' I said 'Sure, man.' And he used it on the album.
Correction From Ed Roman
Chris is actually talking about Korina Wood, which in fact everyone thought the Ibanez Destroyer Explorer copy was made from, In reality it was made from ash and stained to look a little like Korina. Very few companies build guitars with Korina, Hamer did for a short period but I don't think Ibanez ever made anything from Korina (Korina is also known as Limba) Ed Roman Guitars has built well over 1000 guitars utilizing Korina Wood or Limba Wood
The Inside: Did he return it to you in one piece?
CH: It was funny; when I got it back, the bridge was turned around backwards and all that intonation... it was just backwards to the way I would have had it. I just don't see how he played it that way, but he did. It's funny, I've been to a few Van halen shows and I put on Ed's guitar and it's just the complete opposite of the way I set up mine.
The Inside: Different strokes for different folks.
CH: Yeah, he'd have the strings about a mile off the fret board. He likes his whammy bar so loose that he super glues the nut on the back so it spins around. I don't use a whammy bar, but everybody has their own way of playing.
The Inside: How long have you known Eddie?
CH: I've known him since I was 13 (1974).
The Inside: Did you grow up in the same neighborhood?
CH: Yeah, Pasadena. We didn't go to the same High School. He had Mammoth when I started playing guitar. He was somebody I looked up to and watched play backyard parties. I'd have a really crappy band, he'd have a good backyard garage band. Things got better, they'd play clubs and he'd use some of my equipment. Here is the link to the excerpt: www.celebrityrockstarsguitars.com/rock/holmes.htm Thought you guys might enjoy this info. keep rock'n, Brian
