Eddie Van Halen has succumbed to throat cancer, which had been suffering with for some time. It’s a while since I played any Van Halen, but tonight’s the time to change that.
https://www.tmz.com/2020/10/06/eddie-van-halen-dead-dies-cancer-65/
Musings on the byways of popular culture
by Gatz 41 Comments
Eddie Van Halen has succumbed to throat cancer, which had been suffering with for some time. It’s a while since I played any Van Halen, but tonight’s the time to change that.
https://www.tmz.com/2020/10/06/eddie-van-halen-dead-dies-cancer-65/
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dai says
RIP. Don’t smoke, guys and gals.
Mrbellows says
No. If you do smoke, don’t stop suddenly, because if you do, your body will go, what the fuck? Enter Cancer.
Gatz says
Far be it from me to challenge your oncology credentials, Mr B, but that is utter bollocks.
Mrbellows says
Tee hee!
TrypF says
I knew it was coming, but it’s still a shock. Like Clapton, Hendrix and Page, he was responsible for a million terrible imitators, but it doesn’t mean his playing, especially on that first Van Halen album, didn’t turn the guitar world upside down. Sammy Hagar’s entertaining, if vainglorious and bitter, autobiography paints an depressing picture of Eddie in the 90s and it didn’t get much better since then apparently, but there was a massive sense of fun and experimentation in the music he created in the first ten years or so. The imitators who followed him didn’t have that spark.
Here’s a cracker from the gritty Fair Warning. RIP Ed.
Freddy Steady says
@trypf
What’s the Sammy Hagar book called, sounds a hoot!
TrypF says
It’s called “Red”, Freddy. Lots of dirt on past band mates and very eventful, but by the end, post-VH it gets quite tedious where Hagar lists his many achievements, successful businesses, car collection, his latest wife is the love of his life etc. The chapter about the reunion tour is not for those who want to remember Eddie as a saint.
Freddy Steady says
@trypf
Thanks. The sort of thing I might order after a couple of sherbets too many.
Uncle Wheaty says
Sad news.
Best debut metal album ever.
I loved Van Halen in the 1980s and the Dave Lee Roth years were the best but of their time.
NE1 says
I remember being passed a compilation vhs video of Van Halen appearances back in the 80’s when the idea of MTV’s playing rock music in sunny california seemed impossibly exotic to a mancunian teen.
Over the years I’ve tried to ignore the inter band squabbles and lack of updates because that early music was vibrant and fun and that’s what matters. Oh and the last album with Dave from a few years ago was also surprisingly good probably because they went back and dusted down a bunch of unused demos.
Anyway heres somthing from back when the world was young, RIP EVH.
Twang says
As said above, not a complete surprise but shocking and very sad nonetheless. He’s one of the few who really changed the game in guitar playing like Scotty Moore in the 50s, Hendrix in the 60s and Ritchie Blackmore in the 70s. He appeared at the end of the 70s but I always think of Van Halen as being an 80s band and Fast Eddie set the standard where you’d hear him for the first time and be utterly mystified at what he was doing. Tapping wasn’t his invention, nor were many of his other trademarks, but he combined them and revved them up into what sadly became the boring shred movement, but Eddie wasn’t a shredder, most of his solos are deeply melodic and ring with confidence and fun. He’ll be sadly missed. This still sounds amazing even though 14 year olds learn it at school now. RIP maestro.
Twang says
On a nerdy note he also redefined the electric guitar for the 1980s by sticking together an old Gibson humbucker pickup, an aftermarket neck and a Strat style body to create the Frankenstrat, which had holes in the pickguard (made from a vinyl album) to make it fit and a Tone knob on the volume control because he didn’t have one saying Volume (and he would point out, “volume is tone”. The SuperStrat was born and they still make them today. He was after a cross between a Gibson and a Fender but ended up with something different again, especially with the addition of the new fangled Floyd Rose bridge which enabled “dive bombs” which would leave a standard Strat a mile out of tune. His signature models with various companies were designed by him and they are still in production too sans the EVH name now.
Junior Wells says
Thanks Twang love the guitar talk though can’t play and don’t own one.
Similarly don’t own nor have I listened to a Van Halen record. I suppose I should at least pay my respects by listening to one.
The first one ???
Twang says
Yep the first one. Superb.
fortuneight says
The first is probably the best. Diver Down and Fair Warning are almost as good.
Arch Stanton says
First album is genius, 1984 for the hits but Diver downs a bit of a turkey.
Mike_H says
A shame he’s gone, especially to that bastard cancer, but I would say he also has a lot to answer for as regards the tendency, after he showed the way, for hordes of “rock” guitarists to place nimbleness of fingers over melody.
fortuneight says
Not sure how you can hold someone to account for those that followed who were less good. Hardly his fault for being better / hard to copy.
Twang says
Like most copyists they got one bit but missed the essential. Yes he played fast, but was creative, funny and melodic. They just played fast cos that’s the easy bit.
fortuneight says
Well, that’s sad news. I remember hearing Van Halen’s debut for the first time in a damp student bed sit and buying a copy from Virgin Records in Cardiff the next day. Along with Ronnie Montrose one of the most influential rock guitarists ever.
Bargepole says
The first album was a game changer but let’s not forget his solo on Beat It – totally unexpected and a real cross over moment.
Arch Stanton says
The solo done for free to get Jackson onto MTV. Reckon it worked out well.
dai says
This is a slight re-writing of history Billie-Jean was absolutely massive and preceded Beat It as a single release..
Arch Stanton says
Has the ever been such a great band where every copycat band ( and there was 1000s) was complete shite.
Mrbellows says
My North American friends are in mourning. Fair do’s.
SteveT says
Never a fan of the band or his guitar style and looking back on these videos they havent stood the test of time at all
Timbar says
Showing how rock music is increasingly becoming a minority interest, The Sun’s app (yes I know) tells us “Valerie Bertinelli, who was married to the Jump singer from 1981 to 2007”
And another report on the site describes him as “ The beloved singer”
fortuneight says
Looking at the coverage this morning I’d say that’s all about the The Sun’s usual grasp of fact checking and absolutely now’t to do with “minority interest”. EVH and Bertinelli were a big deal celeb couple in the 80’s.
attackdog says
Amongst the first of the Poodle Tops, Poodles with Axes, Axe Poodles, etc. But that lead burst in Beat It was just perfect.
Beezer says
This is a Riff.
fortuneight says
Dweezil Zappa on his guitar hero, Eddie Van Halen
Smiles Diles says
I just listened to the first VH album, for the first time, never bothered before. Stone me; this is excellent!
Twang says
Great on headphones. There’s very few guitar overdubs – he played rhythm then went straight into the solos – so the reverb is panned to the other side to fill the sound out. No one would do that today.
dai says
Put me down as someone who can admire his technical/melodic ability, but would probably buy a Brotherhood of Man album before a Van Halen one.
Jump is a great tune though.
GCU Grey Area says
He plays on two tracks on Thomas Dolby’s Astronauts and Heretics record; Close but no Cigar, and Eastern Bloc (which is sort of Europa and the Pirate Twins Part 2). The Eastern Bloc solo is great.
Sadly, my favourite VH track doesn’t feature him on guitar.
deramdaze says
Nicki Campbell did a tribute this morning … he LOVED Van Halen … not sure if his co-host (a woman) was impressed … no, I am sure, she wasn’t … then he went onto Johnny Nash … he LOVED Johnny Nash … is there any pop music he doesn’t LOVE?
I think when he was on TOTP in the dire 1980s he wasn’t actually faking his enthusiasm … for everything! I’m all for glass-half-full, but really? Everything is great? Rather defeats the object when a Dylan pops his clogs. Funny thing is, I don’t think you’d want him in your pub quiz team when the pop music round comes up. I don’t think he’d have a clue.
dai says
He loves The Beatles too
retropath2 says
Well it’s a tell tale sign when your spell checker converts Nicky to Nicki, eh, DD. Not so 60s after all………
Moose the Mooche says
You’re all for glass half-full deram? Kept that quiet…
Uncle Wheaty says
The ‘woman’ you refer to is Rachel Burden a respected journalist and co-host of the 5Live breakfast show for the last 7 years.
The best show on the radio any day of the week and I would consider to to be a friend.
Vulpes Vulpes says
This is well worth watching if you’ve ever enjoyed Eddie’s music. It’s a lovely interview.