Rhino Factoids: Eddie Van Halen and the Jacksons

32 years ago today, Eddie Van Halen joined Michael Jackson onstage in Dallas, Texas to play his guitar solo on “Beat It,” which was – as you might imagine – the sort of musical moment that everyone in attendance has been telling their friends and family about for years.

You may or may not remember the Victory tour, a grand affair which found The Jacksons – yes, including Michael – hitting the road and playing some shows together. Given how high Michael’s star was at the time, it’s rather amazing that it happened at all (the amount of family guilt must have been staggering), but for longtime fans of the group, it was a dream come true. But only July 14, that dream turned briefly into a miracle, when Van Halen’s tour behind their 1984 album just happened to take them into Dallas at the same time that the Jacksons were there. As such, when the time came to play “Beat It,” Eddie was up for hopping onstage and kicking a little ass.

Did we say a little? Make that a lot.

It was a historical moment, to say the least, and it’s an anniversary that’s well worth remembering.