View Full Version : Guitar god Eddie Van Halen Dead at 65
El Vaquero
10-06-20, 15:16
Love him or hate him he was one of those most influential guitarists in music. Surprised he lived this long. He seriously abused his body. Saw Van Halen twice in concert. First time they were great second Eddie played like shit because he was sober for half the show.
Grand58742
10-06-20, 15:19
Can this year suck any worse?
ETA: Did the guitar solo in Michael Jackson's "Beat It" for no royalties and just a case of beer.
Epic legend
Wow, Van Halen was so much a part of high school and the 80’s. When 1984 came out it was like the invention of television- the awesomeness at the time could not be overstated.
El Vaquero
10-06-20, 15:44
Read it was cancer related. Gonna play some Hot for Teacher on the way in to work tonight.
I miss guitar solos in general. Today’s music is very processed without any drum or guitar solos.
Grand58742
10-06-20, 16:12
Can we please have David Gilmour hide until 2021? We don't need two of the greatest guitarists gone in one year.
Dude, motherFVCK 2020. Dead serious.
ETA his finest work IMO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP6nKTu6TGY
I'm 60, and for many of us in my age group, Van Halen was the anthem of our youth. RIP Eddie. One at a time, we're starting to lose those old rockers. Neal Peart's passing was bad enough.
Run hard , put away wet !
https://i.imgur.com/jMgnyoj.jpg
Life goals...
65 here. Eddie had a huge impact on me in the 70s as an inspiration. Eddie was an unstopable force. RIP Eddie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9r-NxuYszg
Can this year suck any worse?
ETA: Did the guitar solo in Michael Jackson's "Beat It" for no royalties and just a case of beer.
Epic legend
Lots of talent. Not sure if his drug use led to his cancer or not, but that's a horrible way to go. Contributed to the soundtrack of my life so thank you Mr. Van Halen.
Some of Eddie's best work right here.
https://dodoodad.com/uploads/2018/09/09/-valerie-bertinelli-and-eddie-van-halen-on-their-wedding-1536475254.jpg
That signature sound was easily recognizable.
RIP
titsonritz
10-06-20, 18:50
Well that sucks. Van Halen may have been the greatest debut album of all time. R.I.P. Eddie.
This just ruined my night!
I learned to play drums as a kid to all things Van Halen.
Interesting fact, Alex bought a guitar and Eddie bought a drum kit. The both realized they sucked and they switched. Soon after, BOOM! VH
RIP Eddie
RIP Eddie...MTV in 1984 was nothing without watching some VH videos....
Had the "1984" album on cassette tape when I deployed to Honduras in February 1984. Wore that tape out.
Class A bummer that.
RIP Hotdog.
Had the "1984" album on cassette tape when I deployed to Honduras in February 1984. Wore that tape out.
I think any of us in that 10 year age group ALL wore that tape out.
Grand58742
10-06-20, 20:39
I think any of us in that 10 year age group ALL wore that tape out.
I think I still have my 5150 cassette in the basement somewhere.
Can we please have David Gilmour hide until 2021? We don't need two of the greatest guitarists gone in one year.
Amen brother, and put Mark Knopfler in hiding with him.
hotrodder636
10-06-20, 20:55
Was never a huge VH fan but Eddie sure did know how to shred and handle a guitar. RIP.
PS- 2020 sucks
Averageman
10-07-20, 01:12
A big part of my youth passed with Eddie today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy-LfsVysU8
I'm sitting at a computer in my "Music Room", LOL !
I got a TBI diagnosis eighteen months ago which really kind of sucked, but I have to say learning the Guitar has really helped turn that around for me.
Getting my Life in order now for all of the fun possibilities.
The first time I heard Van Halen i was riding in a seventy two Nova going about 110 mph on an Indiana back road. Cold Old Style between my knees and passing a warm fifth of Jim Beam back and forth.
I was impressed with how well they were produced at the time.
Never saw Van Halen perform in person, and I saw quite a number of groups over the years. Speaking of guitar artists, how is Jimmy Page looking these days? Was on leave from the Army and made a special trip back to New Mexico to see Page and Plant perform in Albuquerque 29 Sep 1995 as part of the No Quarter Tour. I was in the audience for this very performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zf3HU4XTQs
I guess 40 years of drugs and booze can't be healthy, although I don't know if it had anything to do with his cancer.
MikhailBarracuda91
10-07-20, 08:50
That signature sound was easily recognizable.
RIPThe squawk
Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
Averageman
10-07-20, 09:45
Never saw Van Halen perform in person, and I saw quite a number of groups over the years. Speaking of guitar artists, how is Jimmy Page looking these days? Was on leave from the Army and made a special trip back to New Mexico to see Page and Plant perform in Albuquerque 29 Sep 1995 as part of the No Quarter Tour. I was in the audience for this very performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zf3HU4XTQs
Jimmy Page has been rather quiet lately. He's still working, if you'll look you'll see he re mastered and rereleased the entire LZ songbook releasing never heard before studio tapes. So, he's staying busy, just apparently not playing publicly.
I'm sitting next to a Black Les Paul PRS copy as I type this..
1990 I was out of the Army and back in college at UNC-Wilmington. After work one night I went out to a local bar on the beach for a few beers. It was a week night so the place was very quiet. Maybe 10 or so people there. I sit down at the bar and a couple of stools down is this guy that looked really familiar. I'm looking and looking and it finally hits me. It was Eddie Van Halen. I had heard that he and Bertanelli had a house there but you know how rumors are. Well he caught me starring and figured out I knew who he was. He asked me to keep it quiet so he could have a few drinks and not have to worry about being bugged. Sure thing. About 5-10 minutes later he buys me a beer and we start talking. Really cool guy. Hard not to talk about his music and the band and all. I left about 1am and he was still at the bar drinking.
Jimmy Page has been rather quiet lately. He's still working, if you'll look you'll see he re mastered and rereleased the entire LZ songbook releasing never heard before studio tapes. So, he's staying busy, just apparently not playing publicly.
I'm sitting next to a Black Les Paul PRS copy as I type this..
My son at West Point plays the guitar - he has a Paul Reed Smith Angelus Acoustic and a Fender Tom Morello electric. They only thing I play are CD's.
The Dumb Gun Collector
10-07-20, 14:39
Man, I was probably 11 when I first heard "Hot For Teacher." I remember thinking "OH MY GOD." The intro solo sounded impossible, magical. Years later I learned how to play a little and I could do a passable facsimile of it, but it still sounds so amazing. I spend so many hours listening to Roth era Van Halen. I never liked Van Hagar, but oddly, I always like Sammy by himself. THESE WERE IMPORTANT ISSUES!
titsonritz
10-07-20, 17:52
I spend so many hours listening to Roth era Van Halen. I never liked Van Hagar, but oddly, I always like Sammy by himself. THESE WERE IMPORTANT ISSUES!
I enjoyed 5150 but the rest were "meh" and yeah the Red Rocker > Van Hagar. I like(d) him with Montrose and Chickfoot better than Van Halen.
Grand58742
10-07-20, 18:03
I enjoyed 5150 but the rest were "meh"
Humans Being is probably one of the best rock songs to come out of the mid 90s.
titsonritz
10-07-20, 18:57
Johnny Nash died the same day as Eddie...R.I.P.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FscIgtDJFXg&feature=emb_title
https://www.npr.org/2020/10/07/920967175/i-can-see-clearly-now-singer-johnny-nash-has-died-age-80
I enjoyed 5150 but the rest were "meh" and yeah the Red Rocker > Van Hagar. I like(d) him with Montrose and Chickfoot better than Van Halen.
Space Station #5 hammers.
titsonritz
10-07-20, 19:19
Space Station #5 hammers.
That whole album is great.
That whole album is great.
I have it on CD and vinyl. It is great. The first time my son heard SS #5 his word was "epic".
I'm sitting next to a Black Les Paul PRS copy as I type this..
I wonder how many other guitarists are on this board, there were a few years ago. As far as PRS goes, I have a 87 CE24 and a modified SE One. Mostly a Gibson guy here but have a pretty good selection in the stable. Pics?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2nb7dhefg481lbd/firebird02.jpg?raw=1
I'm not a guitarist, but how old is that Firebird?
I'm not a guitarist, but how old is that Firebird?
Not that old, got it on a deal. 2016 Firebird T. Really sounds great thru the super lead. Steinberger locking gearless tuners are unique and stable.
http://legacy.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2016/USA/Firebird.aspx
Not that old, got it on a deal. 2016 Firebird T. Really sounds great thru the super lead.
http://legacy.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2016/USA/Firebird.aspx
I took note of it because it was Johnny Winter's favourite guitar for playing slide. I really enjoy Johnny's blues.
I took note of it because it was Johnny Winter's favourite guitar for playing slide. I really enjoy Johnny's blues.
Oh yeah, setup for slide it's amazing. I've got the action on that one to play with or without slide. Mini humbuckers are awesome. The wine red LP was a 76 deluxe modified to a standard. The mini humbucker pups in that were not potted and squealed consistently. They had to go.
I'm not a huge EVH fan but it sucks that he passed, and I did appreciate his skill if not necessarily always their style. I saw them live in the early eighties.
We're in a time that we are losing legends and will lose some more.
Keith Emerson
Chris Squire
Eddie Van Halen
Many others
I will be especially sad when Dave Gilmore, Rick Wakeman, Phil Collins, Steve Howe, and even Peter Gabriel go.
I don't wish any ill will to Jimmy page, but Plant and the led zep lawyers have really been dicks of late. Same for the main eagles guys.
Same for the remaining Beatles and stones. I know the above may be fighting words.
A very sad day for music. I had just about every VH album.....some even on vinyl. 1984 on cassette tape.....blasted the speakers out of my boom box in the 80’s. He will definitely be missed.
I'm not a huge EVH fan but it sucks that he passed, and I did appreciate his skill if not necessarily always their style. I saw them live in the early eighties.
We're in a time that we are losing legends and will lose some more.
Keith Emerson
Chris Squire
Eddie Van Halen
Many others
I will be especially sad when Dave Gilmore, Rick Wakeman, Phil Collins, Steve Howe, and even Peter Gabriel go.
I don't wish any ill will to Jimmy page, but Plant and the led zep lawyers have really been dicks of late. Same for the main eagles guys.
Same for the remaining Beatles and stones. I know the above may be fighting words.
As George Harrison said...all things must pass.
Thanks for all of the wonderful memories, Eddie. I will miss you ... :sad:
Kenny Rogers still holds the title for knowing when to fold them in 2020...
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