Eddie Van Halen Dies: Guitar Legend Who Influenced A Hard-Rock Generation Was 65
Eddie Van Halen, the self-taught guitarist for Van Halen who influenced a generation of players with his legendary licks, died today of cancer. He was 65 and had been having health problems for a number of years.. His son and bandmate, Wolfgang Van Halen, announced the news on social media:
I can’t believe I’m having to write this, 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. My heart is broken and I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from this loss. I love you so much, Pop.
A post shared by Wolf Van Halen (@wolfvanhalen) on
Van Halen was a founding member of the band that bore his name, along with his older brother Alex Van Halen. After moving from Holland to Southern California in the early 1960s, the Dutch brothers teamed with singer David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony to create one of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest groups. By 1977, the quartet was signed to Warner Bros Records, and their 1978 eponymous debut album became a breakout smash. Despite barely cracking the national top 20, the LP would spend more than three years on the Billboard 200 and has been certified 10 times platinum.
The album featured a cover of the Kinks classic “You Really Got Me” that dented the top 40, but its intro has been fodder for hard-rock guitarists ever since. “Eruption” featured the two-handed “tapping” technique that Van Halen perfected and popularized. The track remains a must-learn for rock ax players.
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