The John Wick franchise is known for its eccentric soundtrack that elevates the movies’ action sequences, and one rock legend almost contributed to it before they pᴀssed away. The late guitarist Eddie Van Halen had plenty of incredible credits to his name and, at one point, looked set to work with music composer Tyler Bates on the score.

In a recent conversation with ScreenRant, Bates pulled back the curtain on the what-ifs of the John Wick soundtrack, of which he’s composed every movie’s score. While Van Halen’s contribution would have been exciting, the iconic guitarist dealt with health issues since the 1990s and died at age 65 in 2020. Read Bates’ full comments below.

Tyler Bates:

So, at one point we almost had Eddie Van Halen play on the John Wick theme, toward the end of his life. [It was on John Wick 2 or 3.] He came over to my place. It was really sweet of him to come over, and he hung out for a while, but I got the sense he was not in the mindset that he really wanted to do anything. He said he hadn’t played for quite a while. We spoke on the phone a couple of times after he split. I wanted him to touch my guitar, but I didn’t want to say, “Will you touch my guitar?”

Anyway, he called me a number of times and I just said, “Look, Ed, you live 10 minutes from me. If you want to do this, I’ll set up a guitar for you, and if you don’t like what we do, I’ll just destroy it in front of you.” And he really, really appreciated that. And from that point on, the only times we were talking were about his health battles and stuff. I’m imagining he sensed that I’d been through a few things myself, so it was relatable.

What Eddie Van Halen Would Have Brought To The John Wick Soundtrack

Van Halen’s Legendary Guitar Work Would Have Fit In Well On The OST

As one of the greatest guitarists in rock music history, Eddie Van Halen helped shape hard rock and heavy metal as we know it. With Van Halen’s music appearing in everything from Back to the Future to Minions, his effect on mainstream popular culture extended far beyond the realms of rock ‘n’ roll.

The various John Wick soundtracks have been an essential part of the franchise’s success, as Bates underscored the exceptional fight choreography of the series with music that heightens the films’ mystic and playful nature. Through a mix of rock and dance music choices, the John Wick soundtracks feel modern and timeless all at once.

While Van Halen nearly appeared on the soundtrack for a John Wick sequel, he was not the only music legend ᴀssociated with the series. Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell performed the closing credits track “A Job to Do” for Chapter 2. This means it wouldn’t have been unprecedented for a legend like Van Halen to appear on the OST.

Our Take On Tyler Bates’s Comment

Bates Clearly Thought Very Highly Of Van Halen

Tyler Bates’s clear reverence for Van Halen’s status as a rock music icon showcases how much he valued his potential contribution to the John Wick franchise. While the pair of musicians could have made excellent work together, it’s also understandable that Van Halen’s musical output was limited in the final years of his life.

Van Halen released their final album in 2012, but worsening health issues meant that many shows from their last tour had to be canceled. Having dealt with health struggles for years, it’s great that Van Halen was well enough to forge a personal relationship with Bates, but understandable that he was not able to play on the John Wick soundtrack.