Black leather jacket inspired by the 1983 music video “BEAT IT” and worn by Michael Jackson.
Beat It, the unexpected collaboration between Eddie Van Halen and Michael Jackson
On February 14, 1983, the King of Pop Michael Jackson released one of his most successful singles, “Beat It.” A key track from his masterpiece album “Thriller,” released the previous year, “Beat It” also contained a healthy dose of rock provided by one of the greatest guitarists around: Eddie Van Halen.
The guitar solo on “Beat It” is undoubtedly one of the most famous in pop history, a testament to how one of the most popular artists on the planet, someone who had been in the charts since childhood, could profitably collide with the edgier sound of hard rock.
Quincy Jones was, quite predictably, the catalyst for the meeting between Michael Jackson and Eddie Van Halen. The legendary producer and Jacko’s right-hand man, thought that on an album like “Thriller” it would be appropriate to have something with an edgy sound, a distorted guitar riff that was fast but at the same time palatable to everyone.
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