Beat It — Eddie Van Halen

Eddie Van Halen's guest solo on Michael Jackson's 'Beat It' is a landmark moment that brought shredding guitar to the mainstream, reportedly recorded in a single take as a favor. At no cost to Jackson, Van Halen delivered a performance proving technical prowess could coexist with commercial success; its unexpected entry with a volume swell and dive-bomb broke genre barriers, inspiring countless players to push their limits.