Eddie Van Halen, rock guitar god, dead of throat cancer at 65

triplets_93

triplets_93

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I was 22 on that cold winter night in February of 1978, when I was "introduced" to Van Halen at a friend's apartment, sitting on a friend's thick carpet in that smoke-filled room. And the needle dropped on this album, that I was told "I had to hear."

I was not a stranger to great Hard Rock... I was a teen in the 70's, and had already experienced most of the great 70's bands on record and in concert.

But, by the time "ATBL" played, after Eruption, I knew that this was earth shattering and groundbreaking.

"Atomic Punk" let me know what the future of Hard Rock was, and "Little Dreamer" was the cherry on top!

I bought the album the next day, and went to see the band for the very first time that summer at the 1978 Texxas Jam, where they were slotted in for the 11am spot... which is, I am sure, why the Cotton Bowl was 80% full before that hour. (80% of 80,000 is 64,000 in the stands and on the floor).

I saw every VH tour, from their 1978 double bill with Black Sabbath, through to 1984's show at Reunion Arena. I only wish my Jacksons tickets had been the night before, when Eddie Joined them for "Beat It."
 
SultanOfSix

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RIP. He was my first guitar inspiration who made me pick up the instrument. He was not only a great soloist and innovator, he was a great song writer and rhythm player. Van Halen is my favorite band of all time. The first rock concert I attended was the band's Right Here, Right Now tour way back in 1993 when I was still a teenager.

There were rumors that started a little less than a couple years ago (that seemed legit) that he was once again suffering again from cancer. I figured it was only a matter of time.
 
lane

lane

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JohnnyTheFox said:
A friend brought their debut album to school in the winter of 78 and played it for me. To say that my mind was blown was an understatement. Ending up seeing VH about a dozen times from 1979-2012. They were amazing live especially during those early years{78-79-80-81} I knew he had been sick the last few years but wasn't expecting this. RIP.
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I had a friend bring the album to JR. High back in 1978 ..first song he let me hear was Runnin' with the Devil ... i knew this band had something.
I was 11....Never got to see them live. RIP to a true legend.
 
lukin2006

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JohnnyTheFox

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Always loved seeing him live and looking forward to what he would add in his solo spot for that particular year. His solo from 1980 is right up there among my favorites mainly because of the little taping section that starts around 2:56 in, he played something similar in the studio version solo of "your no good".

 
Runwildboys

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lane said:
I had a friend bring the album to JR. High back in 1978 ..first song he let me hear was Runnin' with the Devil ... i knew this band had something.
I was 11....Never got to see them live. RIP to a true legend.
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I distinctly remember the first time I heard Eddie. It was in High School, between classes, when my friend Tom was walking the halls with his boom box, and that opening sustained note of Running With the Devil came on, blasting through the hallways, announcing a new era in rock.
 
JohnnyTheFox

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Runwildboys said:
I distinctly remember the first time I heard Eddie. It was in High School, between classes, when my friend Tom was walking the halls with his boom box, and that opening sustained note of Running With the Devil came on, blasting through the hallways, announcing a new era in rock.
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That seems to be same modus operandi for a lot of people who heard them for the first time in 78-79. What is this, it sounds nothing like Led Zeppelin or Deep Purple. My mind was blown.
 
Runwildboys

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JohnnyTheFox said:
That seems to be same modus operandi for a lot of people who heard them for the first time in 78-79. What is this, it sounds nothing like Led Zeppelin or Deep Purple. My mind was blown.
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Sirius/XM has converted the Deep Tracks Channel #27 to a VH tribute channel. Not sure how long it will be this way, but when Pert died, I think they made it a Rush channel for a few days.
 
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