RIP Eddie Van Halen (1 Viewer)

joesgis

joesgis

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I'll never forget listening to my 8 track tape of Van Halen I in my bedroom, and the way the sound jumped from the speakers like nothing else. Eddie had a game changing tone, complete command and innovative flash like no other. I'm so thankful I got to see him live. Like all the great ones he made it look so easy. The best two times I saw Van Halen live were 1980 in support of Women and Children First at the LA Sports Arena....as amazing as that was the second time was even better in 1981 on the Fair Warning tour at the LA Forum. These were two of the best shows I've EVER seen, and I've been countless concerts over the years. Eddie's sound was mind blowing live, and the performances were unbelievable. The crowd reaction was over the top just like the band was. No cell phones, just all attention on the magic coming from the stage. The energy was unreal. Thanks you to Eddie for the great music and memories and condolences to all family, friends and fans of EVH everywhere.

Joe
 
One of those names that you can associate with a particular time in your life. It makes me feel older every time someone like this passes. The 80s are now like the 50s were when I was growing up.
 
I started listening to Van Halen in high school, one of the first concerts I ever attended was Van Halen at the old Orpheum Theatre in downtown Boston........no opening act, just them, a 5K or so person venue, it was a life changing experience, his guitar playing was incredible, saw them live several other times, but that first concert was incredible.

He was only 6 years older than me; very sobering.........RIP Eddie..................all of that nonsensical feuding now between the brothers, Dave and Sammy; for what?

There's a lesson to be learned there............

As an edit;
His guitar work on Ain't talkin' bout love and you really got me are incredible, but Dreams was, is and always will be the top of the top for me.

And Alex is no hack on the drum kit either...............
 
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Warrior said:
I started listening to Van Halen in high school, one of the first concerts I ever attended was Van Halen at the old Orpheum Theatre in downtown Boston........no opening act, just them, a 5K or so person venue, it was a life changing experience, his guitar playing was incredible, saw them live several other times, but that first concert was incredible.

He was only 6 years older than me; very sobering.........RIP Eddie..................all of that nonsensical feuding now between the brothers, Dave and Sammy; for what?

There's a lesson to be learned there............

As an edit;
His guitar work on Ain't talkin' bout love and you really got me are incredible, but Dreams was, is and always will be the top of the top for me.

And Alex is no hack on the drum kit either...............
Click to expand...

George,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. That show at the Boston Orpheum must have been a barn burner! From the size of the venue it must have been 78 or 79, the absolute best time to see the band live and when they were really on fire.

You're right about a lesson to be learned from the band's nonsensical feuding.

Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love is one if his most memorable riffs / tracks. It has quite the swagger! Probably my favorite VH song from their best album.

Agree, Dreams is a fantastic song, one of VH's best along with Summer Nights from the same album.

Like Eddie, Alex had a signature sound as well. Great timing and snap to his playing. He sounds like no other drummer. He and Ed developed quite a chemistry. I have some great live recordings of them playing all kinds of cover songs in the clubs before getting signed. It's fascinating to track the development of the band through the early days. They always had an affinity for playing covers, and I believe it's something that kept them rooted over the years.

RIP EVH & prayers to the family,
Joe
 
joesgis said:
George,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. That show at the Boston Orpheum must have been a barn burner! From the size of the venue it must have been 78 or 79, the absolute best time to see the band live and when they were really on fire.

You're right about a lesson to be learned from the band's nonsensical feuding.

Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love is one if his most memorable riffs / tracks. It has quite the swagger! Probably my favorite VH song from their best album.

Agree, Dreams is a fantastic song, one of VH's best along with Summer Nights from the same album.

Like Eddie, Alex had a signature sound as well. Great timing and snap to his playing. He sounds like no other drummer. He and Ed developed quite a chemistry. I have some great live recordings of them playing all kinds of cover songs in the clubs before getting signed. It's fascinating to track the development of the band through the early days. They always had an affinity for playing covers, and I believe it's something that kept them rooted over the years.

RIP EVH & prayers to the family,
Joe
Click to expand...

Joe,
The Orpheum is a great venue; perfect for concerts, this was before the stadium tours became a thing. Its capacity is actually about 2700, even smaller than I remember.

And not to take this off the rails, but Van Halen's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was really sad.................only Michael and Sammy, the other band members did not attend.

It's just sad to think that's pretty much it now for the band Van Halen.................
 
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I heard about this last night but was a funeral till this am. Never really sunk in till the drive home and the radio was playing a song from Diver Down.
Neil dying in January should have been a warning this year was going to suck. Darn fine guitarist from a true Rock and Roll band. Like you guys I've seen them live and they were amazing. My favorite VH story is the way they had the seats broken up into grids by colors and letters so they could have roadies go ask girls they spotted from the stage to come back stage after the show.

I dropped the needle on Van Halen before I turned on the computer. I have a feeling it wont be the last VH album tonight.
RIP Eddie and thank you for the music of my youth. Now would someone please go wrap Ozzy in bubble wrap for safety.
 
Saw this and very sad, he ranks up there with Randy Rhoads in my book, and beyond for the sole fact he was around longer. Innovator and just an incredible guitarist. Will miss him and his music. What is nuts, there was a story out the other day where Eddie was working on some lost tapes, literally lost in his archive that he was trying to "re find" to release. Apparently, he starting working on them a few years ago after finding them, put them aside and now they are missing again. Odd to say the least. Anyhow, RIP Eddie, an incredible talent gone.

TD
 
tdubel said:
Saw this and very sad, he ranks up there with Randy Rhoads in my book, and beyond for the sole fact he was around longer. Innovator and just an incredible guitarist. Will miss him and his music. What is nuts, there was a story out the other day where Eddie was working on some lost tapes, literally lost in his archive that he was trying to "re find" to release. Apparently, he starting working on them a few years ago after finding them, put them aside and now they are missing again. Odd to say the least. Anyhow, RIP Eddie, an incredible talent gone.

TD
Click to expand...

Hi Tom,
I wonder what lost tapes Eddie was working on and if it was more current stuff he recorded in his home studio, or perhaps he was talking about the early demo tapes from the days before VH was signed? I have a slew of their early recordings pre-VHI including the Warner Bros demos, the Gene Simmons demos, and several demo tracks that are even earlier in their career. You can hear song parts throughout that they used for other songs that came out years later. Some of the songs from the early recordings that would later be reworked and recorded fro albums stayed relatively intact structurally like House of Pain, Hang 'em High (Last Night), I'm the One, Running With the Devil, Feel Your Love Tonight, Fools, In a Simple Rhyme, Take Your Whisky Home, Mean Street (Voodoo Queen), etc. For each new album up to 1984 they always went back to the old well for a song or two from their early days. They were a club band for so many years that they wrote and recorded a lot of material before being signed. I can burn some of the old stuff for you and send it to you if you like. The sound quality is quite listenable, but not nearly as clear, punchy and well produced as their Warner Bros. catalog.

I agree about Randy Rhoads. Man, I was crushed by his unexpected passing. He was my spectacular and like Eddie had a tone and sounds all his own. Two of the best ever.
Joe
 
ccdc11 said:
I heard about this last night but was a funeral till this am. Never really sunk in till the drive home and the radio was playing a song from Diver Down.
Neil dying in January should have been a warning this year was going to suck. Darn fine guitarist from a true Rock and Roll band. Like you guys I've seen them live and they were amazing. My favorite VH story is the way they had the seats broken up into grids by colors and letters so they could have roadies go ask girls they spotted from the stage to come back stage after the show.

I dropped the needle on Van Halen before I turned on the computer. I have a feeling it wont be the last VH album tonight.
RIP Eddie and thank you for the music of my youth. Now would someone please go wrap Ozzy in bubble wrap for safety.
Click to expand...

Losing Neil and Eddie in the same year, **** shame.

Joe
 
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