Hear Eddie Van Halen Cover Jimi Hendrix In Rare Demo
A recording of Eddie Van Halen performing Jimi Hendrix‘s If 6 Was 9 has been unearthed and is now available for fans to hear.
The version of If 6 Was 9, the song from The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s 1967 album, Axis: Bold As Love, was found and remastered by keyboardist and producer, David Garfield. Garfield, who has worked with a variety of musicians including George Benson and Smokey Robinson, first met Eddie in a local guitar store and told him he was working on a project called Tribute To Jeff Porcaro, the late Toto drummer. Garfield asked Halen if he’d like to be a part of it, and Halen said yes.
Speaking to Guitar World, Garfield said, “I went up to his house to work on the tracks with him, and he was so cool. We bonded as keyboard players, too. After that session, we played a live gig together at the Baked Potato, along with Steve Lukather and Michael Landau.
“We continued to stay in touch, and often he would call me out of the blue, asking for help with keyboard related stuff. I even found a guy to travel with him on tour and play additional parts offstage, as well as be his keyboard tech.”
Commenting on Van Halen’s death he also added, “I’m sure sorry we lost him way too soon; I was hoping to collaborate with him again. Rest in peace, my brother Ed.”
Van Halen, who died on 6th October after a three year battle with throat cancer, recorded the song in 1996 at Chick Corea’s Mad Hatter Studios in Los Angeles, while Van Halen did his own overdubs at his 5150 Studios. The song appears on Garfield’s new EP, Guitar Heroes OTB, Vol. 1 and also features guitarist/vocalist Michael Landau, bassist Will Lee and drummer Simon Phillips. The song can heard via Guitar World here