Released in February 1983 as the third single from the Thriller album, the song was designed by Jackson and producer Quincy Jones to be a "rock-oriented" crossover hit that could appeal to mainstream audiences and gain airplay on MTV. The Main "Feature": Eddie Van Halen
The song's most famous guest contribution is Eddie Van Halen's explosive guitar solo. Beat It
The solo is widely considered one of the greatest in rock history and helped "Beat It" become a massive crossover success, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Additional Key Contributors Released in February 1983 as the third single