<P> Eddie Van Halen , lead guitarist of hard rock band Van Halen , was asked to add a guitar solo . When initially contacted by Jones , Van Halen thought he was receiving a prank call . Having established that the call was genuine , Van Halen borrowed an amp from Allan Holdsworth and recorded his guitar solo free of any charge . `` I did it as a favor '' , the musician later said . `` I was a complete fool , according to the rest of the band , our manager and everyone else . I was not used . I knew what I was doing -- I do n't do something unless I want to do it . '' Van Halen recorded his contribution following Jones and Jackson arriving at the guitarist 's house with a `` skeleton version '' of the song . Fellow guitarist Steve Lukather recalled , `` Initially , we rocked it out as Eddie had played a good solo -- but Quincy thought it was too tough . So I had to reduce the distorted guitar sound and that is what was released . '' The song was among the last four completed for Thriller ; the others were `` Human Nature '' , `` P.Y.T. ( Pretty Young Thing ) '' and `` The Lady in My Life '' . </P>
<P> Eddie Van Halen , lead guitarist of hard rock band Van Halen , was asked to add a guitar solo . When initially contacted by Jones , Van Halen thought he was receiving a prank call . Having established that the call was genuine , Van Halen borrowed an amp from Allan Holdsworth and recorded his guitar solo free of any charge . `` I did it as a favor '' , the musician later said . `` I was a complete fool , according to the rest of the band , our manager and everyone else . I was not used . I knew what I was doing -- I do n't do something unless I want to do it . '' Van Halen recorded his contribution following Jones and Jackson arriving at the guitarist 's house with a `` skeleton version '' of the song . Fellow guitarist Steve Lukather recalled , `` Initially , we rocked it out as Eddie had played a good solo -- but Quincy thought it was too tough . So I had to reduce the distorted guitar sound and that is what was released . '' The song was among the last four completed for Thriller ; the others were `` Human Nature '' , `` P.Y.T. ( Pretty Young Thing ) '' and `` The Lady in My Life '' . </P>
who wrote the guitar riff to beat it
who wrote the guitar riff to beat it
Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen