“Why would you lend your talents to Michael Jackson?”: Alex Van Halen told Eddie not to play on Beat It

Eddie Van Halen and Michael Jackson.

Eddie Van Halen’s performance on the Michael Jackson classic Beat It is widely recognised as one of the greatest guitar solos of all time. But his brother Alex, the drummer for Van Halen, wishes it had never happened - and describes it as “a mistake”.

In an interview with Rolling Stone to promote his forthcoming memoir Brothers, Alex talks about the time in 1982 when Eddie agreed to play on Beat It.