Terry Kilgore on Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth and His Incredible Rock ’n’ Roll Comeback
- Eric Senich
- 6 hours ago
- 1 min read
Updated: 27 minutes ago
Guitarist Terry Kilgore has a remarkable story that stretches from the Southern California rock scene of the 1970s to working alongside David Lee Roth and sharing a close friendship and friendly rivalry with Eddie Van Halen. In this episode of Booked On Rock, Kilgore recalls those early Pasadena days, explains his connection to the finger-tapping technique Eddie would ultimately take to extraordinary heights, and shares stories from his years playing and writing with Roth. He also talks about developing his own guitar style while surrounded by some of the most influential players of his generation.
The story of Terry Kilgore is also one of survival and starting over. After narrowly escaping the devastating 2025 Eaton Fire, which destroyed his Altadena home, studio, guitars, and irreplaceable personal belongings, Kilgore is rebuilding his life and making music again. Joined by singer-songwriter Korpus Kristy, he discusses their new music, upcoming album The Devil’s in the Details, and what it means to return to creating after losing so much. Watch the full video interview or listen to the audio episode below for an unforgettable conversation about Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, rock guitar history, friendship and resilience.
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