“He was born 10 years too late, because he’d be competing with Eddie Van Halen”: Justin Hawkins names the guitar virtuoso who could have been EVH’s equal in the 1980s

Justin Hawkins.

The Darkness’ Justin Hawkins has sung the praises of a contemporary electric guitar virtuoso who he feels, had he been born 10 years earlier, could have had the potential to be an equal to Eddie Van Halen.

Speaking to Rick Beato, Hawkins singled out Nuno Bettencourt for praise, saying the guitar hero was born a decade too late and missed out on competing with prime Van Halen in the 1980s.