Michael Jackson‘s “Beat It” proved that the King of Pop could be the King of Rock when he wanted to be. While “Beat It” has an iconic music video, it isn’t Jackson’s best rock tune. It might not even ...

Michael Jackson was looking to broaden his audience base when he invited Eddie Van Halen to play on a track for the follow-up to his best-selling 1979 LP Off the Wall. This unlikely pairing worked ...

The Who guitarist chose not to accept the invitation, but recommended Eddie Van Halen instead, which led to the late guitar legend’s classic contribution to the 1983 hit “Beat It” – one of the most ...

In 1982, when Michael Jackson recorded his generation-defining Thriller, nearly every song on that album was a hit. “Beat It” was no exception. Van Halen lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen, who died this ...

This might be the greatest pop-meets-metal mashup we’ve ever heard. In this Best of YouTube clip, we revisit an incredible mix between Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper” and Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” ...

While the lovebirds were celebrating Valentine’s day, we can’t forget Feb. 14 also marked another significant piece of history: the 42 year anniversary of “Beat It” by Michael Jackson. The song is ...

Michael Jackson's "Beat It" hit No. 1 on the charts 43 years ago today! On April 30, 1983, the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying at the top spot for three consecutive weeks and ...

Pop music was never the same once Thriller was released. Though the word “beat” can connote an act of violence, the meaning behind the song, written entirely by Michael Jackson and co-produced with ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts. This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more. This voice ...

In a recent American Songwriter article, we compared the similarities of Jason Aldean’s controversial single “Try That In A Small Town” to one of pop music’s most celebrated songs in history—Michael ...

See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Van Halen's contributions to music goes far beyond the guitar-shredding ...