I see where he's coming from with that statement (About U2 and VH being reliant on their guitar players). The Edge's shimmering, echo-y guitar parts are a giant part of what gives them their sound. Van Halen was one of the earlier users of guitar tapping and techniques not really in the mainstream at that time. Jump for sure took them in a snyth-heavy direction but his style of playing is what makes that band what it is.

If you took either of those two out of the equation, they'd sound completely different. It's like hearing The Edge play without any of his effects, it's very....underwhelming.