Eddie Van Halen, known as the happiest guitar hero in rock history, dazzled millions with his electrifying riffs, infectious humor, and warm personality.

But behind the smile and the legendary tapping solos was a man harboring deep wounds and grudges.

At 62, Eddie finally revealed a secret blacklist — six guitarists he once admired but came to hate.

These were idols, peers, and inspirations who betrayed or dismissed him in ways that sent shock waves through the rock world.

Here’s the inside story of the six guitarists who left scars deeper than any riff could heal.

The first name on Eddie’s list shocked fans worldwide — Eric Clapton.

Once Eddie’s ultimate idol, he worshiped Clapton so intensely that he wore out his Cream records, playing “Crossroads” on loop until the speakers smoked.

Eddie didn’t just study Clapton’s playing; he tried to become him.

But in 1980, Clapton’s public dismissal shattered Eddie’s illusions.

In an interview, Clapton said, “He’s very good technically, but I don’t hear much soul.” For Eddie, it was like a boot to the chest.

The real heartbreak came backstage when Eddie met Clapton in Los Angeles.

Instead of a warm welcome, Clapton barely looked up, checked his watch, and muttered, “I think he just wanted it to be over.” Eddie later admitted, “I love the myth more than the man.” This cold rejection left the deepest cut Eddie ever carried.

Richie Blackmore didn’t even need to say a word to land on Eddie’s hate list.

Their first meeting was icy silence.

Eddie, full of excitement, was met with a blank stare from Blackmore that screamed, “You’re not welcome here.” No greeting, no handshake — just a professional slap in the face.

At a festival, when a tech suggested Blackmore talk tone with Eddie, Blackmore snapped, “Not now. I don’t have time for that, kid.”

Later, he publicly dismissed Eddie’s style as “too many notes,” a thinly veiled attempt to put him back in his place.

The worship Eddie once had evaporated, replaced by bitter resentment.

“Some people give you the shaft with their eyes,” Eddie said. Blackmore perfected it.

Joe Perry of Aerosmith treated Eddie like he was invisible.

On the 1978 tour, Eddie expected camaraderie with a fellow guitar hero.

Instead, Perry ignored him completely, refusing even a nod or hello.

One night, Eddie approached Perry after soundcheck to ask about his Gibson guitar.

Perry raised a hand without turning, signaling, “Don’t talk,” and continued chatting with someone else.

Eddie never needed applause, just acknowledgment.

Perry’s silence was deafening, leaving Eddie feeling like he didn’t exist.

Though Perry later admitted Eddie was a genius, the apology came too late.

The early damage was already etched in Eddie’s memory.

The tension between Eddie and Randy Rhoads exploded when Randy was hailed as the next big thing.

Eddie admitted, “He learned everything from me,” but the constant comparisons forced a rivalry.

Their styles couldn’t have been more different — Eddie’s instinct and chaos versus Randy’s discipline and precision.

On tour with Ozzy Osbourne, Randy’s tech taped a photo of Eddie under Randy’s pedal, so Randy literally stomped on Eddie’s image.

Randy laughed it off, and later made disparaging remarks about Eddie, deepening the divide.

Eddie felt underestimated; Randy felt compared to death.

Their rivalry became a haunting shadow Eddie could never escape.

Tom Schultz’s feud with Eddie began abruptly on stage.

After Eddie’s signature solo, Schultz launched into a nearly identical solo — same phrasing, runs, and attitude.

Eddie confronted him, but Schultz shrugged it off like it was no big deal and walked away.

What infuriated Eddie wasn’t just the copying, but Schultz’s dismissive attitude.

Later, Schultz ignored Eddie’s polite nod and deliberately avoided eye contact.

Eddie could forgive competition, but not disrespect.

Schultz’s coldness cemented his place on Eddie’s hate list.

Rick Daringer was the only guitarist Eddie ever removed from a tour.

Initially admired by Eddie for his swagger and style, Daringer’s repeated copying of Eddie’s solos crossed a line.

After Daringer played Eddie’s melody note-for-note twice in front of the same crowd, Eddie confronted him.

Daringer brushed off the complaint and continued the behavior.

There was no debate — Eddie banned him from opening for Van Halen again.

This blatant theft ended their relationship for good.

These six names reveal a side of Eddie Van Halen rarely seen — a man deeply hurt by rejection, betrayal, and disrespect from those he once admired.

Behind the legendary guitar licks and joyful persona was a sensitive artist carrying these wounds quietly for decades.

Eddie’s revelations remind us that even the greatest legends are human, shaped not just by their talent but also by the emotional battles behind the scenes.