Eddie Van Halen, grinning guitar god for a rock generation, dies at 65

https://www.latimes.com/obituaries/story/2020-10-06/eddie-van-halen-guitar-dies-65 ^ | 10/06/2020 | STEVE APPLEFORD

[AnotherUnixGeek]

RIP. I'll always remember being a kid in the '70s, listening to FM radio (KJSO 92.3) and hearing the opening chords of "Running With The Devil" for the first time.

What a sucky year. 2020 is the Gary Cherone of years.

[Hatteras]

Haha, I had my poor mother believing that in order to get a good quality recording on my cassette, I had to play the record at peak volume. She asked my Dad and he put an end to that noise... :-)

Mom (sticking her head in my room): "WHY DO THEY HAVE TO SCREAM LIKE THAT???">i>

Rest in peace EVH. Damn, I'm getting too freakin' old...

[plain talk]

Eddie was a one of kind. He was known for his tapping technique. he didn’t invent it but might as well have invented it because no one have ever done anything with it like he did.

Impeccable rhythm guitar player with great timing.

My favorite lead stuff was the stuff he did when he wasn’t tapping which is sometimes overlooked.

[mass55th]

My youngest son who will be 50 in February was a big Van Halen fan. I even got to like their music.

[chiller]

Jump is forever implanted in my consciousness from Wrigley Field and the Cubs 1st great team in Chicagoans lifetime as a long awaited playoff contender.

God... was that town electric for a few weeks ! Adrenaline still rushes just thinking of it and hearing it.

[ConservativeStatement]

I am listening to “Don’t Tell Me What Love Can Do” right now. It isn’t VH’s most known song but the guitar playing is beyond exceptional. Sammy’s scratchy voice was perfect for the tune. EVH lives forever as legends often do.

[utax]

1980 Invasion, Four Seasons Arena, Great Falls, Montana. Went there with the boys from the Delta Sigma Pi frat. Big jug of beer in the back seat. Still got the T shirt.

[Sirius Lee]

Steve Hackett.

[Dead Corpse]

VH was a great band before it became Van Haggar...

Always admired Eddie’s guitar work.

RIP...

[StormEye]

Oh hell, why not just do it?

[IronJack]

“There will be no encores.”

[laplata]

Yep, Damned Kids.

“Saw VH at the Armadillo World Headquarters in 78”.

We must be in about the same age group. (70)

[exnavy]

I have fond memories of cruising Virginia Beach in my Trans Am, t-tops off van halen very loud.

[mountn man]

Go to a KISS concert.

Almost like being at a strip club.

(not that I know what a strip club is like...just sayin:)

[Falconspeed]

“...used to often see those guys around Pasadena when I was a kid in the 70’s.”

For sure. VH played at my older brother’s high school dance in 1975. The VH music was much better than Roth, Hagar and other pretenders. VH cured the diseases of disco, prog rock and muzak.

[Yardstick]

I agree, like his solo on I’ll Wait. Not much tapping but super creative and so tasteful in the way it fits the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VegvworoMX4

[wardaddy]

Indeed

[AnxiouslyWaiting]

Not gonna be another like him.

[ReluctantDragon]

Agree with that. I always thought his opening on “Dance the Night Away” was incredible. Great solo on “Running with the Devil.” Alex Van Halen one of the best drummers out there. Great group.

Another icon of my youth gone. RIP EVH.

[CrouchingTiger620]

EVH was simply one of the best. May never see his kind again.