Van Halen - Poundcake | Makita 6012HD Cordless Drill [COVER]

The band was tied-up, so I played EVERYTHING myself this time... Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals and even a Makita Cordless Power Drill.

The first guitarist to widely popularize the technique of playing guitar with a drill was Paul Gilbert. He used the drill as a pick during his time with the band Racer X in the 1980s. Eddie Van Halen did not use a cordless drill in his actual playing, but rather for its sound amplified by the pickups. He never credited the source, and has a different story of its origin:

"Poundcake" features Eddie Van Halen using the sound of a Makita 6012HD power drill in the introduction and during the guitar solo. According to Eddie, a guitar technician was operating one of these drills at 5150 Studios while he was playing, and the sound captured was akin to "kick starting your engine". Subsequently, Eddie painted a drill with the Frankenstrat stripes to use during concerts.

Poundcake is the opening track on the 1991 album "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge", affectionately known as the "F.U.C.K." album. It was the first song to be released as a single from the album, reaching number one on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and number 74 on the UK Singles Chart.

Eddie said that "The solo goes four bars, another four bars, then two bars. Al kept insisting that it wasn’t finished. He likes to count, and I never do. I’m strictly feel. I’m always screwing around with time, because I never count.” Another cool factoid is that although the song is in the key of E major, the guitar solo in the key of F♯ minor.

"Poundcake" is a real exercise to play all the way through... even the BASS! If you think it sounds easy, try playing Michael Anthony's 1/16 notes with your fingers, at speed and in time, for 5 F'in minutes! As for the guitar, say no more... I mean, C'mon! It's the King himself, Edward Van Halen for crying out loud!

In closing, like Sammy said, "I so love my baby's poundcake"!

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