Eddie Van Halen, Grinning Guitar God for a Rock Generation, Dies at 65
Source: LA Times
Eddie Van Halen, the all-American guitar hero who, with his namesake hard-rock band Van Halen, redefined the sound and possibilities of the electric guitar in the 1970s and '80s, died on Tuesday at age 65. The cause was throat cancer.
His death was first reported by TMZ.
Van Halen was an immigrant kid who emerged from Pasadena with an ear for hard-rock hooks and wild guitar flash in the Jimi Hendrix tradition. His speed and innovations along the fretboard inspired a generation of imitators, as the band bearing his name rose to MTV stardom and multiplatinum sales over 10 consecutive albums.
In contrast to the shadowy gothic blues of Black Sabbath, or the pagan thunder of Led Zeppelin, the band Van Halen delivered muscular hard rock in Technicolor. The group's sound and image were vivid reflections of its Southern California home, with a lead guitarist in bright colors and a welcoming, good-time grin.
Read more: https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2020-10-06/eddie-van-halen-guitar-dies-65
https://www.youtube.com/watch?vL9r-NxuYszg
DISCLAIMER: Kids, don't smoke!
Link to tweet
FarPoint
(12,336 posts)Didn't see that coming.... Thought he was in a healthy remission....
SledDriver
(2,059 posts)EndlessWire
(6,509 posts)machI
(1,285 posts)underpants
(182,767 posts)NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)BumRushDaShow
(128,839 posts)R.I.P.
ETA - this song was his standard fare when I was in college. Wasn't a fan but went to UMASS where he and Springsteen were king at the time so needless to say, I heard it often... very very often -
BlueJac
(7,838 posts)Rock on!
Claire Oh Nette
(2,636 posts)Saw them at the MGM in Vegas. Loudest rock concert I've ever been to!!
Takes me all the way back to middle school---
[link:
BumRushDaShow
(128,839 posts)at like 3 fucking am in the morning when someone would put a speaker up at the window, crank the volume on a huge amp, and let loose..
Claire Oh Nette
(2,636 posts)All Van Halen should be played at 11....
BumRushDaShow
(128,839 posts)(and the UMASS campus that I attended was in Amherst, so the area was surrounded by farms and cows, and there was always a big echo in my large dorm complex that had 10,000 students in it), someone busted this out -
So it was the competing amps in the middle of the night.
Bayard
(22,057 posts)Dynamite guitarist and cutie pie.
jimfields33
(15,768 posts)Even though he and Valerie Bertinelli divorced, they seem to stay friendly. Im sure she along with their son and the brothers and former brother in laws are devastated. I know as a fan, I am.
PerceptionManagement
(462 posts)TexasBushwhacker
(20,172 posts)I had a roommate who said she got Hep-C from a pedicure, not from shooting up heroin.
Nevertheless, I hope he had a peaceful passing. He's been fighting cancer for a long time.
LisaM
(27,801 posts)Prior to the throat cancer, he had tongue cancer (I can't even imagine) and had part of his tongue removed. I'm sure the combination of doing that with smoking was not good (maybe there was lead paint on the picks?)
Upthevibe
(8,035 posts)I'm was a huge Van Halen fan and Eddie was an amazing guitarist-IMHO -one of the best.
And he was the father of Wolfie who he shared with ex-wife Valerie Bertinelli (who has been a wonderful activist for progressive causes - she's great and quite witty on Twitter)....R.I.P., Eddie...
BusyBeingBest
(8,052 posts)A talented guy. RIP.
TheDemsshouldhireme
(172 posts)VWolf
(3,944 posts)And I don't smoke!
SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)Last edited Wed Oct 7, 2020, 01:47 AM - Edit history (1)
DJ just said it's the funnest music ever made. Hard to disagree.
Party on, Eddie.
Yeehah
(4,585 posts)Hated David Lee Roth but always enjoyed Eddie. What a shame to lose him so young.
Evolve Dammit
(16,723 posts)Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,916 posts)catsudon
(839 posts)warmfeet
(3,321 posts)JohnnyRingo
(18,624 posts)Thanx for posting. Kick
paleotn
(17,911 posts)One of the greatest guitarists....ever!
world wide wally
(21,740 posts)RIP, bro