RIP Eddie Van Halen....

[Dru Edwards]

I listened to Van Halen I on the week-end and the past two days I've been listening to the David Lee Roth albums, one by one. Back in those days albums were only 30-35 minutes long so it doesn't take long.

I think Hot for Teacher is one of the most rocking songs of all time. That tapping intro is amazing.

[Gitfiddlemann]

Just the other day I was watching "Back To The Future", the original. I had forgotten how many Van Halen references there are in that movie. The one scene where Marty blares the VH cassette tape into his father's ear in bed (Crispin Glover) is priceless.

Originally Posted by seannx

Incredible talent! IMO he shares a lot with Hendrix, not the playing style, but for creativity, inspiration, and incredible technique.

I agree with that. I was never as much a fan of the EVH style as I am of Hendrix and SRV type playing, but anyone with two ears can hear the talent and innovative approach he infused into his playing. His phrasing in some of those explosive solos like Beat It are striking examples of his virtuosity.
Sadly though, imo, he inspired a legion of "not nearly as talented as he was" "tappers and shredders" who just flayed away and took a lot of shine away from the style. In that sense, Eddie was in his own house, and no one else lived there. For every Mozart, there are thousands of Salieris...
RIP, EVH.

[Mr. Jelly]

Cigarette smokers take note.

[archerscreek]

A great talent. No doubt. Panama. Runnin’ with the Devil. Hot for Teacher. Jamie’s Cryin’. And so many others.

There were some other guitar players that I gravitated towards more, like SRV, Clapton, and Hendrix, but I honestly think EVH created the most memorable and easily recalled guitar riffs of all time. The music world was a much better place for having Eddie Van Halen in it. RIP.

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by archerscreek

A great talent. No doubt. Panama. Runnin’ with the Devil. Hot for Teacher. Jamie’s Cryin’. And so many others.

There were some other guitar players that I gravitated towards more, like SRV, Clapton, and Hendrix, but I honestly think EVH created the most memorable and easily recalled guitar riffs of all time. The music world was a much better place for having Eddie Van Halen in it. RIP.

Well said, archerscreek. Eddie will still be on the cover of Guitar World for years to come, just like Hendrix.

[AX17609]

This is an insightful article of the significance of Eddie's playing and the breadth of his mastery:

https://www.npr.org/2020/10/10/92225...n-a-guitar-god

[1neeto]

Originally Posted by AndreF

Just the other day I was watching "Back To The Future", the original. I had forgotten how many Van Halen references there are in that movie. The one scene where Marty blares the VH cassette tape into his father's ear in bed (Crispin Glover) is priceless.

I agree with that. I was never as much a fan of the EVH style as I am of Hendrix and SRV type playing, but anyone with two ears can hear the talent and innovative approach he infused into his playing. His phrasing in some of those explosive solos like Beat It are striking examples of his virtuosity.
Sadly though, imo, he inspired a legion of "not nearly as talented as he was" "tappers and shredders" who just flayed away and took a lot of shine away from the style. In that sense, Eddie was in his own house, and no one else lived there. For every Mozart, there are thousands of Salieris...
RIP, EVH.

Love that part of the movie. “My name is Darth Vader, I’m an extraterrestrial from the planet Vulcan”. And during his performance of JBG, he was channeling VH too.

[Everton FC]

Van Halen I & II, "Women and Children First", "Diver Down", "Fair Warning" - all "classic Halen (though lesser so, when it came to "Dover Down" - the album that hinted at a direction certainly polar to the first three albums, though "Secrets" and "Little Guitars" are great songs) . Van Halen II is incredible - "D.O.A." probably my favourite Van Halen song. All five of the albums I mentioned were great - lots of play in my turntable!

I began to detach from the band when "1984" came out. Did not like that album. Van Hagar had it's moments, but I was long gone from buying their albums. But cranking "Unchained" in my RA's room at university, blowing his brand new speakers... That's rock and roll!

Eddie was a genius. No doubt. An era ends. Forever.

[Tyeetime]

Originally Posted by Everton FC

Van Halen I & II, "Women and Children First", "Diver Down", "Fair Warning" - all "classic Halen (though lesser so, when it came to "Dover Down" - the album that hinted at a direction certainly polar to the first three albums, though "Secrets" and "Little Guitars" are great songs) . Van Halen II is incredible - "D.O.A." probably my favourite Van Halen song. All five of the albums I mentioned were great - lots of play in my turntable!

I began to detach from the band when "1984" came out. Did not like that album. Van Hagar had it's moments, but I was long gone from buying their albums. But cranking "Unchained" in my RA's room at university, blowing his brand new speakers... That's rock and roll!

Eddie was a genius. No doubt. An era ends. Forever.

I agree with all of this.
Van Halen II is my favourite.