Eddie Van Halen, whose innovative and explosive guitar playing kept the hard rock band that bore his family name cemented to the top of the album charts for two decades, died on Tuesday morning after a long battle with cancer. He was 65.
In 2012, he was voted number one in a Guitar World magazine reader’s poll for “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.
Born in the Netherlands and raised in Pasadena, Calif., he founded Van Halen with his older brother, drummer Alex; the siblings were joined by vocalist David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony in the first recording lineup of the group, which exploded after star-making gigs at such West Hollywood clubs as Gazzarri’s and the Starwood.
Eddie Van Halen went on to record the jaw-dropping guitar solo on Michael Jackson’s 1983 single “Beat It”.
Eddie Van Halen is survived by his second wife, the band’s former publicist Janie Liszewski, whom he married in 2009, and his son Wolf van Halen.
Totally struck me in the heart, instantly welled up eyes, I keeled over nearly lost my footing. And, Van Halen shattered. Eddie and Van Halen was a big part of my growing up along with so many other artists and bands. Yes, I love music so much that I went from KISS to Journey to Duran Duran to Van Halen to Christopher Cross without blinking. I regret not seeing Van Halen live, like I do INXS and David Bowie. Van Halen were tremendous. It would be a worthwhile effort to pursue all the 12-inch singles as VH did release extended… Read more »
I remember Van Halen’s first few LPs and Eddie’s impish, infectious grin. Anybody looking could see that the kid loved what he was doing. After 1984 was released, I lost track of the band. That’s a nice photo of Eddie Van Halen you’ve uploaded. I’ll always remember him, and the original band lineup, as forever young, uber-talented and making music was their passion. It seems so sudden, that the new ‘kid’ is now 65 and then, gone. Time catches up with us all. But I’ll always remember the young Eddie Van Halen, just like in your photo. Thank you Paul,… Read more »
RIP Guitar Hero! EVH
The first 3 Van Halen albums have a sound and feel that nobody has recreated. Once they got to Fair Warning and further their sound evolved to bring in more musical elements. DJ Paul, thanks for the post as when I first heard the news via a friends text I was gutted. Truly someone that I musically admired.
Eddie
Van Halen takes me back to college where a guy in my dormitory used to play his records a lot. He was a guitarist too and he really showed me the talent Eddie had. It was so cool that “Beat It” brought the rockers and the dance music lovers together. “Jump” was awesome because it had the synths I love. Fred is right about the Moby remix of “Beat It.” Extremely radical and crazy.
I can see so many musicians and air-guitarists very sad about Eddie’s passing. Talent like his only comes around once in a lifetime.
Jeff
You usually highlight dance oriented new wave music. Thank you for honoring one of the artists who’s music who truly energized my youth and continues to rock my world when the world seems crazier than ever.
Jump was the first VH song I heard back in 1983 and it rocked. As the years went by and I bought newer VH 80s albums, I ultimately stumbled onto VH of the 70s. Their 1st album was amazing!
Moby remixed Beat It back in 1992 and although it’s a pretty radical remix, Moby really played with Eddie’s guitar solo. Check it out on Youtube or your favorite place to listen to music.
It’s sad and shocking to see a legend go so soon.
without a doubt one of the best guitars in history. R.I.P. Eddie
So Sad!!!!!!!!
Only 65. But he lived a very full life and made the most of it. I always find inspiration in that. Not usually my sort of music — but literally the best at what he did. A true ‘musician’ in the a sea of rock noise and posers.