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

[5Stars]

And he had a ton of those licks that were hard if not extremely difficult especially during those early years. Most players at the time were "box" or pentatonic players. Edward came along and broke all the rules.

He said it all started when Les Paul came out with that electric guitar.

 

[5Stars]

And the hits just keep on coming.........

Shady time, brother man...

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

He said it all started when Les Paul came out with that electric guitar.

And he got Les Paul sound out of a strat style guitar which was pretty much unheard of at the time. People who weren't around during early years don't know how truly one of a kind he was.

 

[5Stars]

And he had a ton of those licks that were hard if not extremely difficult especially during those early years. Most players at the time were "box" or pentatonic players. Edward came along and broke all the rules.

He knew how modes worked...like we all should, but he took one and took it somewhere else in his music, mixed it with the scales that he learned, then he just started writing from his heart...rock and roll.

 

[5Stars]

And he got Les Paul sound out of a strat style guitar which was pretty much unheard of at the time. People who weren't around during early years don't know how truly one of a kind he was.

A lot of his sound came from his gear that he used. That's another thing he did...used different gear to find his sound.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

He knew how modes worked...like we all should, but he took one and took it somewhere else in his music, mixed it with the scales that he learned, then he just started writing from his heart...rock and roll.

I believe he said in an interview he learned all the music theory he could but then forgot it so he would come up with something totally unique.

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

A lot of his sound came from his gear that he used. That's another thing he did...used different gear to find his sound.

Sorry to be argumentative but this is not entirely true. Asides from the guitar and variac he was using in the early years he didn't go overboard with pedals. I remember Ted Nugent got to play thru his rig once in the early years. And Ted ended up sounding like Ted.

 

[maxdogg]

R.I.P. Eddie

 

[JohnnyTheFox]

When i get home tonight i will probably shed a tear and bust out the guitar and realize for the millionth time i will never be as good.

 

[5Stars]

I believe he said in an interview he learned all the music theory he could but then forgot it so he would come up with something totally unique.

He did...he grew up in a Classical Music family...his day or mom, something like that. Took Classical piano lessons as a kid growing up.

 

[5Stars]

When i get home tonight i will probably shed a tear and bust out the guitar and realize for the millionth time i will never be as good.

Hey...just play that guitar, it's waiting for you...don't try to play like him or anybody else, just play your style...and smile how that guitar will make you feel.

 

[5Stars]

Sorry to be argumentative but this is not entirely true. Asides from the guitar and variac he was using in the early years he didn't go overboard with pedals. I remember Ted Nugent got to play thru his rig once in the early years. And Ted ended up sounding like Ted.

No, your right...he did not have a pedal board at times, that's what I mean...he had some unique gear that his ears wanted to hear, and it was awesome.

 

[rags]

He did...he grew up in a Classical Music family...his day or mom, something like that. Took Classical piano lessons as a kid growing up.

His dad.

 

[Runwildboys]

I'm fighting back tears as I write this. I've never seen anyone who looked so incredibly overjoyed to play a guitar.

I saw VH in concert back when I was married. My sister-in-law was dating a DJ who got us all tickets, along with 2 backstage passes for him and her. She said she was standing about 10 feet from him while he sat on the stairs warming up backstage, but she didn't have the guts to talk to him. It's a strange feeling to be jealous and disappointed for someone both at the same time.

R.I.P. Eddie, you were a one of a kind original great.

 

[Runwildboys]

No, your right...he did not have a pedal board at times, that's what I mean...he had some unique gear that his ears wanted to hear, and it was awesome.

Using things like power drills to create unique sounds was inspired.

 

[Hardline]

The 1 minute 43 seconds that changed rock guitar forever...






Eddie RIP...

The only reason I liked this is because I couldn't love it.

 

[ShortRound]

Had to look up some VH videos, this one cuts deeper than most. RIP.

 

[Big_D]

This is devastating!! He came from an era where there was no shortage of amazing guitarists and he just completely flipped the rock world upside down and put all guitar players on notice!! One of the most innovative and probably the most influential guitar player of all time. I was fortunate to see him live. I remember drawing that VH logo like a thousand times a day. And I was just practicing my extremely crappy version of Mean Street this morning. lol His music will live on forever. RIP Eddie!

 

[SlammedZero]

Too bad to hear!!! One of my favorite guitar solos ever is in Beat It. Hopefully MJ and him are rocking out together tonight. R.I.P. to a legend.

 

[Jammer]

I don't generally get too wound up when a "star" dies, but with him, I am truly saddened by this. I loved listening to him play and watch him do it so effortlessly. Van Halen was always my favorite rock band and it was because of him.