Van Halen 'Sobriety Makes It Tougher to Master the Guitar'

5 months ago 22nd Jun 06:30

Van Halen star Eddie Van Halen has confessed he has to work hard to maintain his guitar-great reputation - because sobriety has robbed him of his skills.

Van Halen tells Spinner.com he's "re-learning" how to play the guitar because he isn't as "loose" as he was when he was boozed up.

The rocker, who completed a spell in rehab in 2007, explains, "It takesme a good hour to loosen up my fingers... after two and a half, three hours, you kind of get into a zone that I'm kind of relearning because I'm not drinking anymore. When I used to drink, it would get me there quicker. It's kind of the zone where you're not thinking.

So, after a couple, three hours, God says, 'OK, he's readyEddie Van Halen

"God's not gonna give you nothing if you don't practice or play. So, after a couple, three hours, God says, 'OK, he's ready.

I'll throw him a bone.' And God's got a sense of humour, too - sometimes he gives me s**t, 'cause not everything I do I like".