Guitar
Virtuoso Eddie Van Halen,
for the Iconic Hard Rock Band Van Halen, loses his long battle with
cancer at 65.
January 26th, 1955 – October 6th,
2020
The news on the
passing of guitarist Edward Lodewijk Van
Halen was sadly confirmed by his son Wolfgang
Van Halen on his Twitter account on October 6th, 2020:
"I can't believe
I'm having to write this," the Tweet said, "but my father, Edward
Lodewijk Van Halen, has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this
morning. He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I've shared
with him on and off stage was a gift."
It's the kind of
sad news that overshadows even the brightest sunny day. The news that hits hard
when feeling that the connection to his music is as big as life itself, with the
ups and downs, laughter, whispers and tears. When you realize that the
awakening of your own path somehow has Van
Halen's name inside.
What else can be
said about Edward Lodewijk Van Halen
that hasn't already been said? A lot of memories, feelings and emotions invaded
me deeply. The tears were inevitable. I was in high school when Van Halen first visited Argentina.
These were difficult times in the country, it was not very safe to go out and
come home late at night. Argentina was still under the military government at
that time.
Van Halen arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina
at their best just when they were enjoying the greatest artistic time of their
musical career. They performed at the Obras
Arena on February 11th, 1983. I will never forget that show. Eddie Van Halen, the sound of his Frankestran Guitar and his unique guitar
playing, ‘Eruption’ and the whole
band somehow marked on me, (and for some strange reason), the beginning of a
path that still beats the rhythm of rock in my heart.
Van Halen had 3 vocalists during their musical
path: David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone. Van Halen
gave Hard Rock a new impetus and
placed them in a privileged position musically, having influenced dozens of
bands over the years.
Bassist Michael Anthony left the band in 2006
and was replaced by Eddie's son, Wolfgang
Van Halen, who was also the bass player for the band ‘Tremonti’ (Mark Tremonti:
lead guitarist for ‘Creed’ and ‘Alter Bridge’).
Eddie Van Halen is considered one of
the most influential and innovative guitar musicians of all time. And although
he popularized the tapping technique, he was not its inventor, as the technique
had been used sporadically by Steve
Hackett of Genesis in the early70s and became an influence on Eddie
himself. According to what was consulted years ago, Hackett affirmed that Eddie
is in fact a good guitarist and is the one who gave the name to the technique
and contributed enormously to its development and perfection.
Whoever the
inventor was, EddieVan Halen is the Master of Tapping, period!
VAN HALEN STUDIO ALBUMS
- Van Halen (1978).
- Van Halen II (1979).
- Women and Children First
(1980)
- Fair Warning (1981).
- Diver Down (1982).
- 1984 (1984).
- 5150 (1986).
- OU812 (1988).
- For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
(1991).
- Balance (1995)
- Van Halen III (1998).
- A Different Kind of Truth (2012).
THANK YOU EDDIE!
