Watch Billy Idol, Steve Stevens and Derek Sherinian Perform Van Halen's "Jump"
If you woke up with a hankerin' to watch an Eighties rock god cover someone else's massive Eighties hit, you're in luck. Below, watch Billy Idol—with his longtime guitarist, the brilliant Steve Stevens—perform Van Halen's December 1983 single, "Jump," at the 2005 Rock am Ring festival in Germany.
The song's signature keyboard part is being played by Derek Sherinian—he of Dream Theater, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Yngwie Malmsteen, Black Country Communion, Joe Bonamassa and Sons of Apollo fame. And yes, that's New Jersey native Brian Tichy on drums. Stevens' guitar solo—played on an Ernie Ball Music Man Axis—starts at 2:12.
Idol is no stranger to covering Van Halen tunes—and we've thrown in a live 2009 performance of "Ain't Talking About Love" to prove it. Enjoy!
By the way, this year's Rock am Ring festival is scheduled for June 1 to 3. For more information, head here.
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Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.
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