RIP, Eddie Van Halen! (October 6, 2020)
Hi WA Friends,
Today marks the two-year anniversary that Eddie Van Halen passed away from throat cancer. Unfortunately, he was a big drinker and smoker. The world lost a phenomenal guitar player that day!
Please allow me this little indulgence, while I take a trip down "memory lane."
The first time I heard Eddie play, I was floored by his two-handed tapping technique, which he is credited for popularizing in a Rock format.
Did you know that Les Paul actually did some fingerboard tapping way back in the ‘60s?
Eddie invented what he called the “brown sound,” which was essentially playing through a guitar amplifier that was purposely underpowered.
It was actually a happy accident. He bought a used Marshall amp and plugged it into a 110-Volt electrical outlet. He did not realize the amp was on the 220-Volt setting. When the tubes finally warmed up, they started making a very soft but wonderfully distorted sound.
He realized that he could plug the amplifier (correctly set to operate on 110-Volts) into a “Variac” variable transformer to lower the voltage and duplicate the brown sound.
Variac:
I remember hearing the song “eruption” on the first Van Halen album. I couldn’t really believe my ears! If you’ve never listened to this song, stream it and the entire first album on YouTube or whatever!
How about the guitar that Eddie made from pieces of other guitars, the "FrankenStrat!" As they say in the Frankenstein movie, "Evil Stitched To Evil!" It was the other part of the sound he needed!
Eddie's FrankenStrat:
Remember the scene in the movie “Back To The Future I,” where Marty puts the headphones on George McFly (his father) to make him think he is an alien from the future? That’s Eddie playing on the cassette tape in the Walkman (remember those?)!
RIP Eddie! 🤘
Frank 🎸
Recent Comments
90
That’s so interesting Frank, thanks for sharing. I loved their music, such a unique and powerful sound. My favourites were ‘Jump’ and ‘Why Can’t This Be Love’ The latter was a song special to me and a biker called Mick who I dated in 1986. It was our song!
That’s excellent, Karen! 👍
Two great songs with two different different singers.
Van Halen wrote music for everyone.
Frank 🎸
Jeez Frank! I can't believe that it has been two years since Eddie left us....
He was a true hero of the rock n roll world and one I don't need to look up on YouTube!!
Thanks for the reminder my friend!!
Hey, Nick
I’m sure you don’t need to look Eddie up on YouTube! 😎
I’m also surprised how fast the time has passed.
Sammy Hagar was trying to get the other band members back together for a reunion concert but it doesn’t look promising, Joe Satriani was being considered for Eddie’s crazy guitar parts.
Keep On Rockin’ 🤘
Frank 🎸
I definitely did not Frank!
That's a shame about the reunion concert though, but maybe it could still happen my friend!
Walkmans...now there's a blast from the past. Those were "the" thing once upon a time and I still have mine. Thanks for another great post, Frank. Van Halen was such a talent and will be missed by many. Two years already, wow.
Susan 🎸😎
Hi, Susan
I still have my Walkmans, too! 😎
My wife says I'm a hoarder, but I'll have to check on eBay to see what they're worth these days.
Some of the old out-of-print rock concerts I have on VHS tape are going for hundreds of dollars each because they were never put on DVD or Blu-ray.
Yes, I agree; Eddie was a phenomenal talent! His son, Wolfgang, was playing bass guitar in the last iteration of Van Halen. Now, he plays his father's guitars at various exhibitions, but there will never be another Eddie!
Keep On Rockin' 🤘
Frank 🎸
Hi Frank...glad to hear you kept your Walkmans too! That's awesome. Like you, I'm not a hoarder, just a "fine collector of precious mementos." You never know what early tech might be worth...and I've heard Walkmans can fetch a nice price.
Those VHS tapes sound like a wise collectible also! Good move. I have kept things from years ago because I liked them, but now people have a serious yearning for nostalgia. No surprise. These are the hidden treasures :-)
Wolfgang is talented too and I've enjoyed seeing him on his mom's cooking shows. But Eddie was one of a kind!
Keep On Rockin' 🎸👍
Wow! Am I behind! I honestly didn't know he had passed. I was never a huge Van Halen fan but I would think I would have at least heard about this!
Hi, Siobhan
It was well publicized, but there's so much in the news to be deeply concerned about these days that I can easily see how you could have missed it.
Frank 🎸
In the late 90's I worked on the Peavey booth at NAMM Show. Eddie was one of the celebrities that endorsed the Peavey brand. Never saw him although I believe he was in the booth at times during the show.
Hi, Dave
That's a great story! I've been to NAMM a few times and met some really cool guitar players (my friend owns a music store.)
Now, there's a NAMM day for anyone that wants to go.
If NAMM is what heaven is like then just kill me know!😎
Yes, Eddie had an endorsement deal with Peavy for the 5150 amp. They make great equipment!
Now his amps are made by the EVH division of Fender.
Keep On Rockin' 🤘
Frank 🎸
I worked the show from 1996-2002. In Anaheim except for 3 year when it moved to LA while the Anaheim Center was being remodeled.
Thanks for all the awesome times spent with Eddie Van Halen. A special part of my growing up and all of my adulthood. I am listening to him on Alexa now! Off the charts!
RIP Eddie!
Hi, Barbara
You totally Rock, I can tell! 🤘
You're obviously a big Eddie fan, just like me! 😎
If I can get anyone to put on their favorite music then my job is done! 😃
Frank 🎸
Another great, great guitar player and musician taken way too soon in life!
May he rest in peace!
-Mike
Thanks for reading, Mike!
Yes, that was a huge blow to me as well as many many others in the musical world!
You certainly like all the best music! 👍 😎
Keep On Rockin' 🤘
Frank 🎸
Yes, we do, Mike! 👍
There are quite a few rockers on WA. My musical blogs are bringing many of them forward to be acknowledged and counted.
Such a great community we have here! 😎
Frank 🎸
I cannot believe that it has already been two years since Eddie has been gone, Frank! I grew up with Van Halen! That was an incredible loss!
Thanks for the trip dpwn memory lane, my friend!
Jeff😎🤘🎸
Hi, Jeff
I knew you would enjoy that since we are both musicians! 😎
I grew up with Van Halen, too, as well as with the reincarnation of the band, "Van Hagar," with Sammy Hagar as the singer.
Do you remember a 60's band called "Montrose," with Ronny Montrose as the lead guitar player? Sammy Hagar was their singer! That was another great group.
Keep On Rockin' 🤘
Frank 🎸
I remember Montrose too, Frank!
I don't know near as much about them though, my friend!
Keep rocking!
Jeff😎🎸🤘
Another band for you to check out, Jeff!
You can stream all this stuff for free on YouTube while doing all your writing and other computer work.
I like the album with the Godzilla-type monster with wings on the cover and the "best of" record with the giant fly playing the guitar (see below).
There's also the "Gamma One" album!
Get Busy Listening! 😎
Frank 🎸
I think I will fit that into the schedule, Frank! I must admit that I LOVE the cover art!
Jeff😎👍🎸
Hey, Jeff
Isn't it great! When I first saw that album cover with the monster I flipped out and bought two copies, one to give to my guitar-playing friend.
The giant fly playing the guitar is wicked cool, too! I'm streaming that album through headphones as I'm typing this! 😎
You what else has tremendous art work? ALL the Iron Maiden album covers!
Frank 🎸
Oh. I LOVE all the Iron Maiden Covers! I have posters of Number of the Beast and The Trooper on my walls! That is some awesome artwork! The vidoe of theirs that I love is Wasted Years which shows all the incarnations of Eddie! An awesome video, indeed!
Jeff😎🎸🤘
Yes, Jeff, I know just the video you're talking about - so awesome! 👍
Check out this "Piece Od Mind" album cover in my music studio, signed by the entire band (sorry for the reflections). Being the "House Doc" backstage at RI Civic Center had its privileges! 😎
Frank 🎸
The Maiden guys were a very approachable bunch.
All their amps and effects were behind the stage props going directly into the mixing board, which surprised me a little.
It’s part of how they get such a tight sound.
I probably looked like an idiot looking all that stuff with a white coat on. 🤪
I have a whole box full of backstage passes. Someday I’ll dig them out and show you. 😎
I'll bet those are awesome too!
Yes, you probably looked strange too, but it was still very cool!
Jeff😎🎸
I'm a very curious person and tend to stick my nose where it doesn't belong, especially with regard to music!
Their road manager was more than happy to explain it all to me. 😎
They were using Marshall 100 Watt ValveState (tube pre-amp with solid-state amp) heads because they are dependable.
I have a 25 Watt ValveState and it rocks!
The three guitar players don’t touch anything during the performance. Their crew kicks in all the effects and extra distortion during solos, etc.
In contrast, if you’ve ever seen David Gilmour’s onstage effects, he looks like a flamingo dancer stomping on all those pedals!
Frank 🎸
Very interesting stuff, Frank! Did you see the mechanics of Eddie backstage too?
When I saw them with Megdeth the first time in 2013, that was awesome enough, but, for me, all the Hype of the Book of Souls Tour in 2017 was the best!
If I can find the video I took of Eddie's head slowly rising from the background. I forget the song but it was a phenomenal video. Never mind, I found the same thing below from the same leg of the tour that I was on!
Jeff😎🎸🤘
Hey, Jeff
Ahhh - The Ed mechanics!
No, I cannot tell a lie. They didn't have the giant head back then. I'm trying to remember. I think it was their 1988 "Seventh Tour of a Seventh Tour" show.
Maybe not; I'll have to dig out those backstage passes. I have boxes of them. I wanted to get them all professionally mounted for my music studio, but I never got around to it.
Anyway, they had some guy come out onstage in an Ed suit and then strapped a guitar on him to pretend like it was playing with the band. Still pretty cool, right?
That's a wicked photo of the Book of Souls Tour. I'll have to check into that further.
One of my favorite Maiden concerts that I watch all the time on Blu-ray is "Iron Maiden - En Vivo!" (see image below)
It has a crazy giant head that comes up during the show. Maybe you can stream it on YouTube.
Did you know (maybe I should start a music trivia site) that when Maiden first formed the band and played the small clubs in England, they had this small image of a creature's head behind them on stage?
That's how it got to be named "Ed The Head," and they kept it as their mascot throughout their career.
Keep On Rockin' 🤘
Frank 🎸
I'll check that out! The Giant head I think was the refurbished Eddie Mummy on Powerslave if I am not mistaken!
In the video I took which is likely on a dead phone, you would slightly see the rim of that head start to appear in the smoke, and then when it was fully up there, and looking around, it was insane!
I was also totally ecstatic with the video about Ed Force One Flight 666 Documentary for the book of Souls tour, where, of course, your Captain was none other than Bruce Dickinson, and not the "More Cowbell Christopher Walken" one!🤣🤣
Good Stuff!
Jeff😎🤘🎸
Hi, Jeff
Yes, the En Vivo tour had the latest giant head. In fact, it was the first time they used it onstage, and they weren't sure it would work properly, which is why you also see the older being used before that.
It IS monstrously huge and awesome looking!
I know Bruce is a commercial pilot and flies Ed Force One. They gutted the entire backend of that plane to fit all their stage and sound equipment, which was the most cost-effective way to do a world tour!
Rock On! 🤘
Frankk 🎸
I absolutely love the sountrack and commentary by Bruce on that documentary! Now I want the Revell Model of that plain, but I'll bet it is a "pretty penny".
Jeff😎🎸
I had to watch it again of course! If I would have been Bruce, I would have bought that plane! That would have been an excellent centerpiece in an Iron Maiden Museum!
Jeff🤘🎸
See more comments
Hi Frank,
I am in full agreement with you on what Eddie was capable of when he touched any guitar! I am immediately and happily brought back in time whenever I hear those classics. "Eruption", "Hot for Teacher", "Panama", "Ice Cream Man", etc. You name it, and Eddie never mailed it in, he was always full throttle.
Good times back then, I miss him.
Thanks for sharing and bringing back great memories!
Kevin
Hey, Kevin
That's great!
We're both diehard Eddie fans!
Some of my very best memories are musical.
Keep On Rockin' 🤘
Frank 🎸
Thanks Frank,
Mine too! Thanks for the follow, I gotcha back now.
Kevin
Are you a musician, Kevin?
I wish I was!
But I definitely have an ear for appreciation. It's funny I'm often disappointed when I hear tributes and not all the notes are being hit. I can hear it and my wife thinks I'm crazy. But as a youngster my father used to drill me on picking out instruments in classical music and the notes being played.
I did play bass guitar for a couple years but never could keep up with my own high standard, oddly enough, so I gave it up. Hearing those notes played exactly like they were played 40 and 50 years ago give me a lot of pleasure.
I assume you're a musician? I admire anyone who can play effortlessly!
Kevin
Hi, Kevin
I have been playing, teaching, and building guitars for about 50 years.
By reading what you wrote, I can tell that you have way more musical talent than it takes to play any instrument!
Unfortunately, the better your musical ear, the higher your performance standards will be.
That means you have to practice more to hit your goal, but you'll end up being an awesome player!
I highly recommend that you try again on the bass guitar or the instrument of your choice.
If you want to try the six-string guitar, check out my guitar site (on my WA profile). It has a 54-page ebook (email lead magnet) for beginning, intermediate, and advanced players.
I'm serious; give it another go! 😎
Frank 🎸
Thanks for the encouragement!
I must have passed something down to my sons, because both are musical. My youngest, however, has a phenomenal ear, maybe better than mine. He can play any instrument you put in front of him, and well (he's no Eddie, but really who is...).
Anyway, he had broken his foot years ago and was laid up and was extremely bored. So he took one of his crutches and ran strings lengthwise at different tensions and started playing his crutch just to quell the boredom.
Kind of sad to me, but he's happy, he's now a street performer busking for his income.
Anyway, I might just take a look!
Thanks,
Kevin
That’s how Tash Sultana started,
playing as a street busker!
There is always hope!