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!
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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 
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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.. 
(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.
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...
Last edited Wed Oct 7, 2020, 12:47 AM - Edit history (1)
DJ just said it's the funnest music ever made. Hard to disagree.
Party on, Eddie.
