RIP Eddie Van Halen

Dominic

definitive guitar hero........changed the style of Rock Guitar singlehandedly

Bod1

I was never a huge fan of the band but the man transformed guitar playing. Legend and RIP.

ICBM

Genius player.

Terrible guitar and amp tech .

What really shows his genius is that when he got an idea for something, he just did it regardless of whether it was a technically sensible thing to do, and made it work for him. I remember reading somewhere that he toured his lashed-up guitar, pedalboard and amps with no backups at all in the early days, and it somehow all worked - anyone else would have had it all break down at the first gig. How he did it I have no idea... but that’s what makes me just a guitar repairer and him a hugely influential musical innovator.

RIP .

Roland

Late to the party, but here for completeness  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-54443394

roberty

This year sucks

Adi

RIP Eddie, 2020 can get to fuck 

exocet

Definitely one of the greats. First heard Eruption in 1980, really didn't know what was going on...that brown sound thing. As someone else said above, it was his rhythm work that really stood out for me. Not sure anyone else since  has used the volume pot to such great effect either.

Went searching earlier on Spotify, hadn't realised that the Pasadena live set was available - to make a Marshall sound like this in 1977 was quite something.

https://open.spotify.com/track/6Nm64EI7YCCbhIqaUaFmDb?si=D2i-MnfTRXi6mDkLVtlR5A&utm_source=copy-link

clarkefan

I've been trying to play his music, with his sound, and his class, literally every day for years. Both the most exciting and the most inspiring musician I've ever heard. Can't believe this.

IvanMC

Dejected here. Nothing to do but play "unchained" at full volume and tear my neighbours' heads off.

tone1

Eruption......RIP EVH

darius

^^^ this.
Volume based crankage so far tonight :
Eruption, Cathedral, Panama, Unchained, Mean Street, I'm the One, Ice cream man, Drop Dead Legs, Hot for teacher, 5150, Spanish fly.

Goddamn it 2020.

spirit7

Devastating.  The greatest of all time for me, and a huge inspiration.  Raising a glass of Jack’s finest to him over here, and just turned the Marshall up loud and played “Eruption”.  Because frankly, fuck the neighbours tonight.  

RIP the King.

Aidanspaghetti

sunshinewelly said:

Just came on my news feed

Sad if true 

Did it excite you that much? Wow.

On a serious note, a bona fide legend. RIP Eddie

Fretwired

Great guitar player .. very sad .. RIP EVH.

thomasross20

GENUINELY shocked and saddened (I really mean it). VH was one of my absolute top guitar heroes. Shocked.

Yamaha77

Heartbroken, blasting VH II now R.I.P Eddie, thank you and the band for the wonderful music.

Kebabkid

I've listened to a few VH tunes tonight and things like the into to 'Mean Street' still floor me. However, my favorite off-the-wall solo is Eddie's one on 'One foot out the door' also from the Fair Warning album - it kicks in at 0.55' but boy, did the guy have killer rhythm work and some of the best out there. Still can't believe this

Aornic

Michael Jackson's Beat It had the first guitar solo I ever heard. I found it so cool, even at the age of four, and later on in life I was shocked that EVH improvised it in that one take and didn't ask for anything in return. It's on the BIGGEST selling album of all time, by a wide margin. My own exposure to Van Halen is very minimal compared, I've only listened to their first album really besides some singles like Jump and Hot For Teacher. Truth be told, their party rock thing wasn't really my thing...but the guy influenced all my influences. He single-handedly made the virtuosity of the 80s take centre-stage in heavy music both thrashy (what I like) and glam-my. It's impossible to overstate his importance, and I feel that today seeing the tributes pour in from all corners of the guitar community.

RIP to a legend's legend.

DCS222

Jeez, he was one who could do it all, rhythm, lead, keys, sing (his backing harmonies were amazing) sad loss of an inventive boundary skipper!!! RIP and bless your friends and family.

digitalkettle

Kebabkid said:

I've listened to a few VH tunes tonight and things like the into to 'Mean Street' still floor me. However, my favorite off-the-wall solo is Eddie's one on 'One foot out the door' also from the Fair Warning album - it kicks in at 0.55' but boy, did the guy have killer rhythm work and some of the best out there. Still can't believe this

Best album...full stop!