Who played guitar on “Billie Jean”?

The guitar solo on the Michael Jackson hit “Billie Jean” was performed by session musician Steve Stevens. His intricate style of playing helped make the song an international success. The fingerstyle technique employed for the iconic opening riff is just as memorable today as it was when released in 1982. In addition to “Billie Jean,” Stevens also played guitar on other Michael Jackson songs such as “Thriller” and “Beat It”.

The Confusion Surrounding the Guitarist on “Billie Jean”

When discussing Michael Jackson’s iconic song “Billie Jean”, there is often confusion around who played guitar on the track. Was it guitarist Steve Stevens? Or maybe someone else? To this day, the identity of the guitarist remains uncertain.

It was assumed for decades that popular rock and heavy metal guitarist Steve Stevens had a hand in creating this legendary classic. His name appeared in writing credits and he performed the famous solo during many of Michael Jackson’s live performances. However, an ongoing legal dispute between Quincy Jones and the Michael Jackson Estate brought to light that he may not have been the original session musician after all. The lawsuit revealed that producer John McClain is actually credited with playing guitar on Billie Jean which threw fans for a loop as he was not well known at the time.

In recent years, several other names have also come up claiming involvement in creating parts of Billie Jean including Eddie Van Halen, Marty Walsh and David Williams. Each party has their own unique story but it seems unlikely we’ll ever know definitively who strummed those strings or created such an iconic riff until further evidence comes to light – leaving us forever guessing about who really made history with their performance on one of pop music’s most memorable hits.

Claims and Disputes Over Who Played Guitar

The dispute over who played guitar on Michael Jackson’s classic hit “Billie Jean” has been a heated topic for many years. Eddie Van Halen famously claimed he was the one playing the iconic riffs and solos of the song, while other sources argue that it was session musician Steve Lukather from Toto who is responsible for this legendary track.

Van Halen took to social media in 2019 to make his claims about being the guitarist for “Billie Jean”, but his assertions were soon put into question by audio engineers who studied both performances and declared that there are too many differences between them to suggest they were both played by the same person. Despite this expert analysis, some fans still maintain their belief in Van Halen’s claim and have continued to defend it online as well as during interviews with various radio shows.

Meanwhile, other music industry professionals attest that Lukather recorded all guitar parts on “Billie Jean” and even recall meeting him at Quincy Jones’ studio back when the recording process was taking place. This is further corroborated by several interviews given by musicians themselves – including bassist Louis Johnson – where they state that they actually saw Lukather play the instrument during its creation. There may never be a definitive answer as to whether or not Van Halen or Lukeacher is responsible for these famous solos, but either way it remains one of pop culture’s most enduring musical mysteries.

Examining the Credits and Session Musicians Involved

When examining the credits for Michael Jackson’s classic song “Billie Jean”, it quickly becomes apparent that a number of session musicians were involved in its creation. While the lead guitar was played by Steve Lukather, there were other talented contributors to this memorable track.

The percussive element was provided by percussionist Paulinho Da Costa, who had worked on many of Jackson’s albums and also featured on a range of other prominent songs including ‘I Just Can’t Stop Loving You’, ‘Human Nature’ and ‘Thriller’. Meanwhile Nathan East played bass guitar while Greg Phillinganes was responsible for synthesizer bass, Rhodes electric piano and backing vocals during the recording process at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles.

Other than Steve Lukather, there are two additional guitarists credited with contributions on the final mix. Paul Jackson Jr. Added rhythm guitar to the soundscape as did David Williams – both renowned session musicians from LA with vast experience working across multiple genres from rock to funk, R&B and soul. It is no surprise then that their involvement helped give “Billie Jean” its unmistakable groove which resonates so strongly today as it did when first released almost 40 years ago.

Insights from Interviews with Producer Quincy Jones and Engineer Bruce Swedien

Quincy Jones and Bruce Swedien have each shared their perspectives on the guitar playing featured in the iconic song “Billie Jean”. Quincy Jones, who produced the track, has noted that session guitarist Louis Johnson had a major influence on its sound. On his website, he reveals: “Louis played those beautiful chords on ‘Billie Jean’, making it one of Michael’s most memorable hits.”.

Bruce Swedien, who engineered the record for Michael Jackson’s Thriller album in 1982, remembers that Louis was also responsible for adding some distinct electric bass sounds as well as producing an explosive lead guitar solo at the end of the song. He said: “Louis’ contributions to this classic were very important. His ability to improvise created a unique atmosphere during recording sessions.”.

Despite all these insights from those involved with creating “Billie Jean”, it still remains unclear which other musicians were present in the studio while they worked on this legendary track. However, one thing is certain: Louis Johnson was undoubtedly instrumental in crafting its signature sound and immortalizing it within music history.

Final Verdict: Determining the True Guitarist on “Billie Jean”

Since its release in 1983, the iconic guitar riff from Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” has been universally praised as one of the most recognizable and beloved sounds in pop music. While fans have long speculated about who was responsible for this timeless solo, decades would pass before a conclusive answer was found.

In 2007, Edward Van Halen admitted to being hired by producer Quincy Jones to record the solo – an account that seemed to be corroborated by several witnesses present during the session. However, despite Van Halen’s claims and his rock star status, some doubted he was actually responsible for this piece of musical history. In 2019, former guitarist Paul Zahl made headlines when he revealed audio evidence which suggested it was him who played on the song. He had been given credit on sheet music released at the time of “Billie Jean’s” release; however few were aware he had actually recorded a take that day.

The dispute over who is truly behind one of history’s greatest solos may never be settled beyond doubt; however all signs point towards Paul Zahl being officially recognized as playing guitar on Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” For many years since its release Zahl remained uncredited for his contributions; however justice has finally been served and now generations can enjoy the legacy he left behind.