Beat It

Michael Jackson, 1982. Solo by Eddie Van Halen.

A 20-second guest spot that put tapping on pop radio. EVH did it for free and rearranged the section in the studio.

Eddie Van Halen cut this solo at his house with engineer Donn Landee, playing two takes in about twenty minutes. Hearing that the original section sat over a static passage, he had Landee restructure it so there were chord changes underneath, then played over the new arrangement. The short, explosive result mixes whammy-bar theatrics, fast legato runs and his trademark two-handed tapping, delivered to a pop audience that had never heard anything like it. It is a rare case of a guest spot changing how guitar sounded on pop radio. Listen for the tapped flurry in the middle, where the notes blur into a shimmering stream right in the heart of a dance record.

Beat It by Michael Jackson is ranked #15 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Eddie Van Halen and the song was released in 1982. It appears on 30 lists, placing as high as #1 (Coach Guitar).

The story of Beat It

While making Thriller, producer Quincy Jones urged Michael Jackson to write a rock song in the vein of the Knack's "My Sharona" to broaden the album's reach. Jackson set out to write the kind of rock song he would buy himself, something that would connect with schoolkids and college students alike. The result, "Beat It", uses a streetwise lyric about walking away from violence rather than proving toughness, and Jackson is its sole credited writer.

The backing track was built largely by members of Toto. Steve Lukather played the main riff, rhythm guitars and bass, Jeff Porcaro played drums, and Steve Porcaro handled synthesisers, while Tom Bahler performed the opening Synclavier notes. Songfacts reports Jackson insisted on keeping a stock Synclavier patch for the intro. The mysterious knock heard just before the solo has been variously explained; Songfacts cites Jackson himself beating on a drum case, and he is credited as 'drum case beater' on the album.

To give the track real rock credentials, Jones called Eddie Van Halen, who at first thought it was a prank. Van Halen's band had a rule against outside sessions, but with his bandmates away he reasoned nobody would know. He recorded the solo at his home studio with engineer Donn Landee, took no payment, and even rearranged the section to suit it, forcing Lukather and Porcaro to rework their parts.

Released as Thriller's third single in February 1983, "Beat It" spent three weeks at No. 1 in America. Its Bob Giraldi-directed video, shot on Los Angeles' Skid Row with members of rival gangs among the cast, was in heavy MTV rotation. The song won Grammys for Record of the Year and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. The track also became part of a US government anti-drunk-driving campaign, for which President Ronald Reagan honoured Jackson at the White House.

The solo

Eddie Van Halen plays the solo on his home-built Frankenstrat, which Wikipedia says was run through a rented Marshall and an Echoplex; he cut two takes in about twenty minutes at his house with engineer Donn Landee. Hearing that the original solo section sat over a static passage, he asked Landee to restructure it so there were chord changes underneath, then played over the new arrangement. The short, explosive solo mixes whammy-bar theatrics and fast legato runs with his trademark two-handed tapping, a technique the track brought to a huge pop audience. Songfacts relays a Rod Temperton story that a monitor caught fire during the session, but Wikipedia notes this was debunked as an urban legend in 2016. Van Halen was paid nothing beyond, by some accounts, a couple of six-packs.

Legacy

"Beat It" helped make Thriller the best-selling album of all time and is widely credited with breaking down barriers between rock and Black pop on radio and MTV. Robert Christgau praised Van Halen for using his might in an anti-macho cause. Rolling Stone ranked the song No. 185 in its 2021 list of the 500 greatest songs and included it among its greatest guitar songs, and it is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock. It is certified eight times platinum in the US.

Top 10 facts about Beat It

Quincy Jones asked Jackson for a rock song along the lines of the Knack's 'My Sharona'.
Wikipedia
Eddie Van Halen initially thought Quincy Jones's call was a prank.
Wikipedia
Van Halen broke his band's no-outside-sessions rule because his bandmates were out of town and he figured no one would find out.
Guitar Player
Van Halen took no fee, describing the session as roughly 20 minutes out of his life.
Guitar Player
Van Halen rearranged the solo section so it had chord changes beneath it, which forced Steve Lukather and Jeff Porcaro to re-cut the basic track.
Wikipedia
Van Halen used his Frankenstrat, a rented Marshall amplifier and an Echoplex for the solo.
Wikipedia
The oft-repeated tale that a monitor speaker caught fire during Van Halen's solo was confirmed to be an urban legend in 2016.
Wikipedia
Jackson is credited on Thriller as 'drum case beater' for the knocking sound that precedes the guitar solo.
Songfacts
The video, which cost about $150,000 and was paid for by Jackson himself, featured around 80 real members of the Crips and Bloods.
Wikipedia
During the Jacksons' Victory Tour on 13 July 1984, Eddie Van Halen joined the band on stage to play his solo live.
Wikipedia

Live versions

Victory Tour (with Eddie Van Halen) (1984) Van Halen joined the Jacksons on stage on 13 July 1984 to play his solo.
Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour (1992) Officially released concert performance from 1 October 1992.
Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special, Madison Square Garden (2001) Slash guested on guitar for the solo.
Bad and HIStory World Tours (1987–97) A fixture of Jackson's solo tour setlists.

Notable covers

"Weird Al" Yankovic (1984) 'Eat It' parody, made with Jackson's approval and a near shot-for-shot video spoof.
Fall Out Boy feat. John Mayer (2008) Mayer played the guitar solo; reached No. 19 on the Hot 100.
will.i.am feat. Fergie (2008) 'Beat It 2008' remake for the Thriller 25 reissue.

In our lists

Sources

What guitar was used on the Beat It solo?

A frankenstrat through a Marshall amp, according to widely reported accounts.

Where does Beat It rank among the greatest guitar solos?

#15 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 30 of them.

Who played the guitar solo on Beat It?

Eddie Van Halen, who recorded it for free as a favour to Quincy Jones.

Who played the main riff on Beat It?

Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, who also played bass and rhythm guitars.

What guitar did Eddie Van Halen use on Beat It?

His home-made Frankenstrat, reportedly through a rented Marshall and an Echoplex.

Was Eddie Van Halen paid for Beat It?

No. He did the roughly 20-minute session without payment.

What album is Beat It on?

Michael Jackson's 1982 album Thriller.