RIP Eddie Van Halen – Van Halen – tiny curations
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- The Seventh Seal
- Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do)
- Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love
- Panama (Live)
- Right Now
Eddie Van Halen is no longer with us. Yesterday it was announced that he had left this planet to from whence he came. The rock Gods have ca\lled him home where he will live eternal through his music, songs, guitar and synth.
As if 2020 has not taken enough from us. This was not Covid related, but his long battle with throat cancer. I had seen a couple photos of him in the past year or so and you could see him withering away. But the news came as a total shock to the world.
He is one of the best guitarists of all time, up there with the other greats! He was so influential in his style and innovations. His iconic guitars and red striped themes, from Frankenstein to Bumblebee (which he laid to rest with Dimebag Darrel).
Van Halen was formed in Pasadena, California in 1972. They went through name changes, from Genesis to Mammoth. But per the advice of new singer David Lee Roth, changed their name to the family name of Van Halen for the brothers Eddie and Alex on drums. Along with Michael Anthony on bass and harmonies. I note that their original bass player, Mark Stone, died of cancer too, just 10 days prior to the passing of Eddie.
They also went through many lineup changes. But they got their second wind with former Montrose singer Sammy Hagar. The music was different, but it brought in a new era of the band and fans. These years are known as Van Hagar.
They even did a short stint with Gary Cherone of Extreme.
Then they did their last rounds of touring. First reuniting with Sammy, then going full circle to end with a David Lee Roth reunion. The boys were back together again albeit without the harmonies of Michael Anthony. Instead in favor of Eddie’s offspring Wolfgang Van Halen joining the family band.
Let’s jump right in and hear the tail end of that Van Hagar era.
That was “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love” with David L. Roth or El Roth as he has recently renamed himself this Summer.
Before that was “Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do)”, then starting us off was “The Seventh Seal”, both off of the final Van Hagar album, “Balance”. It was released in 95 in the midst of the grunge movement. It stands up very well today.
The albums prior to “Balance” were monster hits in sales and this was the last one of them that clocked in, even despite the sea change in rock at the time.
I saw them once more with the reunited DLR 5 years ago. I’m so glad to have caught both eras of this legendary band.
And finally, let’s go out with an EVH solo from Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” off of the 1982 “Thriller” album, the best selling album of all time.
Eddie reportedly did this solo on the first take and did it for free.
The only thing he wanted in exchange for executing this brilliantly flawless solo was a case of beer and a dancing lesson from the King of Pop himself.
Rest in Peace King Edward The Great.
Thanks for listening.