# Angus Young: Malcolm was better than Eddie Van Halen

> In 1986, Angus Young declared his brother Malcolm a superior guitarist to Eddie Van Halen, dismissing technical shredding as mere finger exercises.
- Title: Angus Young: Malcolm was better than Eddie Van Halen
- Summary: In 1986, Angus Young declared his brother Malcolm a superior guitarist to Eddie Van Halen, dismissing technical shredding as mere finger exercises. Malcolm…
- Keywords: angus young, malcolm young, ac/dc, eddie van halen, van halen, guitar world, rhythm guitar, 1986 interview, fly on the wall, 5150, guitar technique, Angus
- Source: Guitar World — https://guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/what-angus-young-thought-of-eddie-van-halen
- Published: 2026-09-16T14:27:28+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: angus young, malcolm young, ac/dc, eddie van halen, van halen, guitar world, rhythm guitar, 1986 interview, fly on the wall, 5150, guitar technique
## Malcolm was the real glue
While Angus Young gets the spotlight in AC/DC, guitarists know Malcolm Young was the glue holding the band together.
## Better than Eddie Van Halen
In 1986, Angus told Guitar World that Malcolm was a better guitarist than Eddie Van Halen, despite letting Angus take all the lead breaks.

> Although he lets me take all the lead breaks, Malcolm's still a better guitarist than Eddie Van Halen.
## Just finger exercises
Angus dismissed Van Halen's technical playing as cramming notes into songs. He called it finger exercises that should be practiced at home.

> Van Halen can do what he does very well, but he's really just doing finger exercises.
## Not in front of me
Angus said there's a place for technical playing, but it's not in front of him. He doesn't enjoy guitarists who cram all their notes into one song.

> There's definitely a place for that type of playing, but it's not in front of me.
## Feel over technique
Angus praised Chuck Berry and B.B. King for their feel. They hit notes in the right spot and knew when not to play.

> Chuck Berry didn't care whether he was playing his tune, out of tune, or someone else's tune.
## No name too big
Angus also fired shots at Eric Clapton in the same interview, saying he wasn't sure what the hype was about.
## Rock's most underrated player
Many agree with Angus's assessment. Justin Hawkins calls Malcolm rock's most underrated player, and Steel Panther's Satchel says he influenced more guitarists.
## Key takeaway

Malcolm Young's rhythm playing was the foundation of AC/DC's sound, valued by Angus over Eddie Van Halen's technical virtuosity.