RIP Eddie VH

Fuck 2020.

I'd argue that this make a contention for the most influential person death this year
 
I didnt listen to a lot of Van Halen. I still love the intro to Hot for Teacher,

I listen to a lot of John Prine, RIP. His style of music had a lot more influence on my listening taste.
the thing is, regardless of whether you listened to VH yourself, Eddie influenced thousands of guitarists, the guitar-making world, sound engineering... all kinds of things that impact everyone else now.
 
Very unfortunate, sad day and a great loss. So many drugs and so much alchohol consumed to his great music.

*grabs scotch
 
Fuck 2020.

I'd argue that this make a contention for the most influential person death this year
2020 has been as close to apocalyptic as I hope to experience for the remainder of my days. I Agree there 1 billion percent.
 
My first memory of MTV was being ats friends house who lived in the city and had cable...i’d never even heard of it prior to then...and we were early elementary school maybe 3rd grade range...he had an older brother who was ...high school and old enough to drive and had a trans am (that he slapped me in the back of the head for calling a camaro another time) he was the definition of cool to us kids.

He and a couple of his friends came running in the house racing to turn the Tv because they were showing a VH concert.

We sat there sort of mesmerized and watched the whole thing and then the midnight replay.

RIP
 
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LEGENDS NEVER DIE!!!
 
Wow.... first Neil Peart (beginning of the year) and now Eddie Van Halen. Gonna be one heck of a jam session wherever they end up..... :)
At dinner tonight I mentioned Eddie's death. My son, 15, likes VH but has no real appreciation for what a major force they were.
I was like, you need to understand that Eddie is widely recognized as one of the greatest guitarists, who changed and influenced the whole rock guitar world to follow him.
He looked at me and said, "you mean like Neil Peart for drums?" (son is a percussionist)
"Yes, Jo... very much the same."
That's when it hit me that the world lost both of these greats this year.

Fuck 2020.
 
Wow, that sucks. VH 1 was one of the first albums I owned.
 
the thing is, regardless of whether you listened to VH yourself, Eddie influenced thousands of guitarists, the guitar-making world, sound engineering... all kinds of things that impact everyone else now.
Most influential guitarist ever, IMO.

The only guitarist whose equipment is used by more people is probably Les Paul, and that's only a guitar.

LOADS of players in all genres use EVH amps and guitars. Hardly a studio out there without EVH amps in it.

Jimmy freakin' Page even used and EVH amp on a record once.

I can't think of another guitarist that had such an influence, to where people first heard him and said "How the hell is he doing THAT?" Changed the entire world of rock guitar and influenced every generation since.

And everyone thinks he's known for his fast solos....and he is, but what he's really known for and folks don't even realize it is his rhythm playing. It's unlike anyone else. He's written some of the most iconic rock songs, ever. VH is the #2 most played on Classic Rock radio behind only Zeppelin for a reason.

Many could play like him, but nobody could sound like him...the list of players who have had Eddie hand them his guitar and let them try his rig is legendary, and none of them sounded like he did. Nuno Betancourt, Ted Nugent, Dimebag Darrell, Brian May, and more.

65 is too young. F cancer.
 
At dinner tonight I mentioned Eddie's death. My son, 15, likes VH but has no real appreciation for what a major force they were.
I was like, you need to understand that Eddie is widely recognized as one of the greatest guitarists, who changed and influenced the whole rock guitar world to follow him.
He looked at me and said, "you mean like Neil Peart for drums?" (son is a percussionist)
"Yes, Jo... very much the same."
That's when it hit me that the world lost both of these greats this year.

Fuck 2020.
From Mike Portnoy's Twitter:

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I can't think of another guitarist that had such an influence, to where people first heard him and said "How the hell is he doing THAT?" Changed the entire world of rock guitar and influenced every generation since.
I specifically remember riding the bus back in grade school. Brian Bitting brought his "boom box" for us all to hear Thriller for the first time. It was a special event because he was the first kid to get the TAPE. I remember when Beat it started to play and jumping up saying That's Eddie Van Halen and my friends looking at me like I had 3 heads. I was SO excited. I mean...I had every album they had made (this was before 1984) and knew that was him. But no one else on the bus appreciated that little tidbit of knowledge :lol:
 
Losing Legends. So glad I was able to see Van Halen play in their prime, such a great time to be young in the 70's and 80's when such legendary music was being made and performed.
 
I specifically remember riding the bus back in grade school. Brian Bitting brought his "boom box" for us all to hear Thriller for the first time. It was a special event because he was the first kid to get the TAPE. I remember when Beat it started to play and jumping up saying That's Eddie Van Halen and my friends looking at me like I had 3 heads. I was SO excited. I mean...I had every album they had made (this was before 1984) and knew that was him. But no one else on the bus appreciated that little tidbit of knowledge :lol:

The Amazing Story of How Eddie Van Halen Totally Rearranged Michael Jackson's "Beat It," In Addition To Those Sweet Solos
 
This one has been tough for me. I don't really "do" celebs much, at least as far as considering them "heroes" goes. And I don't think I considered EVH as such, but the fact is, Van Halen was "my band". That was the top of the heap, far as I am concerned, since middle school. Been my favorite, seen them 13 times, all versions.
I think it's more of a realization that even those larger than life folks you looked up to (musically), even they eventually succumb to time. EVH sooner than most, unfortunately. It's just a reality check, I guess.

I think Waylon might have said it best:

There ain't nothing quite as sad as watching your heroes die
One by one as they fall soon there'll be no heroes at all
 
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