Released March 23, 1979 Length 1:00 Writer(s) Eddie Van Halen | Recorded January 1979 Label Warner Bros. | |
Genre Instrumental rock, flamenco |
"Spanish Fly" is an instrumental solo played on a nylon string acoustic guitar by Eddie Van Halen. It was featured on his band Van Halen's 1979 album Van Halen II. The track was viewed by critics and fans alike as a follow up to the electric guitar instrumental "Eruption" from the band's first album Van Halen released in 1978.
The track is played in one take with a pick, rather than fingerstyle. It expands on many of the techniques used in "Eruption" such as tremolo picking and finger tapping. Many guitar players have stated this to be a more difficult and technical piece than "Eruption". Guitarist Steve Vai has been known to say "Spanish Fly" is his favorite Van Halen song.
References
Spanish Fly (instrumental) Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA