The ShadowMusic Web Community

Hi,
Just noticed a newspaper headline stating that Eddie van Halen died yesterday at the age of 65 in California. Sad loss of a very talented guitarist, whether or not he was in the style of our website.

Tony.

His music never did anything for me, I live in the 'Less is more' camp,but he was a talented guitarist and I believe a talented classical pianist. 65's no age now and it's another sad loss to music.

R.I.P.

Hi Len,
I quite agree. I know of his reputation rather than his music. It was far away from my era of growing up & teenage nostalgia. I guess he was a guitar god for young folks way after I was even listening to music; being too busy bringing up a family & paying a mortgage. I'm glad I experienced the '60s when I did.

Tony.

Eddie, shacked up the music scene and got the focus back to the guitar instead of the disco etc.
He was responsible to create a other/new type of guitar fittings...a strat with a humbucker and not that long after that a proto- floydrose trem.
I can remember how eruption let peoples jaw drop on the ground, kinda like Hank did with Apache in 1960...although miles apart in style and sound or tone.
RIP 020 Dutchy!

Rob&Anja

His influence on guitarists and rock music in general was enormous. Certainly the most influential rock guitarist since Hendrix. After 1978, and with the release of Van Halen's first album, everything changed. I saw Van Halen at the NEC in Birmingham in 1993, on what was (I believe) the first night of their UK tour. Amazing band and, yes, everyone was shouting "Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!" before the band came on! It's unlikely and unfeasible that there will ever be another guitarist as significant and influential within the realms of rock and pop.

Interesting stuff here...

EVH home studio tour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpzyxHnN7HM

I had never heard of this guitarist until I saw a short report of his career and death in a Finnish newspaper. A complete unknown to me.