How a free guitar solo and a street gang feud created a pop masterpiece
In short: Michael Jackson wanted a rock song that would appeal to everyone from school children to college students. He recruited Eddie Van Halen, who recorded his iconic solo for free as a favor. The resulting track, Beat It, became a global phenomenon that redefined the boundaries of pop and rock music.
Released on February 21, 1983, as the third single from the album Thriller, Beat It was a calculated effort by Michael Jackson and producer Quincy Jones to bridge the gap between pop and rock. Jones specifically requested a track similar to My Sharona, leading Jackson to craft a song that served as an anti-violence anthem. The recording process was technically complex, involving a hybrid of electric bass and a Bell Labs Digital Synthesizer Synergy keyboard. The intro famously utilized seven notes from a 1981 demo LP titled The Incredible Sounds of Synclavier II.
The song's legendary guitar solo was the result of an unexpected collaboration. Eddie Van Halen, initially skeptical of the call from Jones, recorded two takes for free. He famously suggested moving the solo over the verse rather than the chorus, a change that forced musicians Steve Lukather and Jeff Porcaro to re-cut the basic tracks to accommodate the new structure. While urban legends once claimed the guitar work caused studio speakers to catch fire, the reality was a meticulous production process that required careful editing to synchronize the multitrack reels.
Beyond the studio, the music video was instrumental in establishing Jackson as an international icon. Directed by Bob Giraldi and filmed on Los Angeles' Skid Row, it featured real members of the Crips and Bloods gangs to add authenticity and promote peace. The video, which cost $150,000 to produce, was not based on West Side Story as often rumored, but rather on Giraldi's own upbringing in New Jersey. The song's success was immense, winning two Grammy Awards in 1984 and eventually reaching over 10 million in worldwide sales, cementing its status as one of the most celebrated songs in popular music history.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Beat It
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