eddie van halen
He Really Got Me: How Eddie Van Halen Turned ‘80s Kids Into Rock Believers
Growing up in a house with musically obsessed parents ended up being a gift, but when I was 7, it was a nuisance. Car rides packed with blaring rock music (what’s now classic rock) were annoying, especially for a kid who was only interested in baseball. Dylan, Springsteen, the Dead, the Allmans and even U2 would cut away from Mets score updates. Then summer 1988 happened. Riding back from Atlantic Beach on a mundane summer late afternoon, I heard something on the radio. ”WHAT IS THIS?!” I exclaimed. My parents, sporting bemused grins, turned to each other, then to me. “It’s Van Halen,” my mother said. “Who is Ben Heaven?!” I asked. “NO, Van Halen!” “What’s this song and what is this sound?” “It’s ‘Jump’ and those are synthesizers.” That innocuous encounter ended up introducing me to the fi...
Legendary Musician Eddie Van Halen Dead at 65
Eddie Van Halen, the prolific guitarist and co-founder of legendary rock band Van Halen, has died at the age of 65 after a long battle with throat cancer. “I can’t believe I’m having to write this, but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning,” wrote his son, Wolfgang Van Halen. “He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage was a gift. My heart is broken and I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from this loss.” Van Halen’s fight against throat cancer was a long and difficult one. In 2015, he told Billboard that he had one-third of his tongue removed after the cancer had spread to his esophagus. Known for his iconic, raucous solos, Eddie Van...
EDM Reacts to the Death of Legendary Guitarist Eddie Van Halen
Following the sudden and tragic news of Eddie Van Halen‘s death at the age of 65 due to a long battle with throat cancer, tributes have been pouring in via social media. A true rock virtuoso known for his iconic, raucous solos, Van Halen is ubiquitously considered to be one of the greatest guitarists of all time. His influence transcended the confines of rock music and pervaded all other genres, helping to inspire generations of musicians that succeeded him. Many electronic music artists have taken to social media to pay tribute to the legendary Van Halen.
David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Gene Simmons and More Pay Tribute to Eddie Van Halen
Van Halen songs like “Runnin’ With The Devil,” “Panama” and “Hot For Teacher” were the soundtrack to the lives of so many generations of rock fans, and there’s barely a musician in the world — guitarists especially — who didn’t idolize the fast-fingered, innovative playing of Eddie Van Halen. His death leaves a guitar-shaped hole in the universe. Eddie Van Halen’s longtime bandmate, Michael Anthony shared a photo with only the words “heartbroken” as he sent condolences to Van Halen’s family. David Lee Roth later put out a statement of his own. Former Van Halen singers Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone shared their shock in their own posts. Whether you were blessed to have known him or not, He was a kind and gentle soul… His impact on ALL our lives was immeasurable! His music, eternal! My deepes...
Eddie Van Halen, Legendary Van Halen Guitarist, Dies at 65
Eddie Van Halen, the iconic guitarist of Van Halen, has died at the age of 65. His son Wolfgang confirmed the news in an Instagram post. Van Halen had been battling cancer for several decades. Born on Jan. 26, 1955 in the Netherlands before moving to Pasadena with his family, Van Halen formed Mammoth in 1972 with his brother Alex on drums, Mark Stone on bass and David Lee Roth on vocals. They’d replace Stone with Michael Anthony to form the band simply known as Van Halen. After playing around the greater Los Angeles area, the group’s first demo was produced by KISS’ Gene Simmons and they were signed to Warner Bros. not long after. In 1978, the band released their now legendary self-titled debut, which featured songs like “Runnin’ With the Devil,” “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love,” a cover of the K...
David Lee Roth Doubts Van Halen Will Tour Again
The last time we heard Eddie Van Halen’s name it was because a nugget about him pulling a gun on Fred Durst leaked from a new book on the increasingly reclusive guitarist. David Lee Roth had some news about his bandmate and it will be to the chagrin of Van Halen fans. In an interview with the New York Times where he mostly talks about his art during the pandemic, Roth said that Van Halen the group is unlikely to tour again due to Eddie Van Halen’s ongoing condition. The guitarist has been battling throat cancer, and Roth said if the band hasn’t returned to the road by now, the future doesn’t look promising for the hard rock legends. “I don’t know that Eddie [Van Halen] is ever really going to rally for the rigors of the road again,” Roth said. “I don’t even want to say I’ve waited — I’ve&n...
