R.I.P to Rock Royalty Eddie Van Halen

It is never easy to lose a loved one. It is this unwinding of emotions that clamp onto your heart in a thick fog. This feeling can transcend for artists that we love. As music brings people together, the musical artist finds a stern way of entering our hearts and finding a comfortable position. My reaction to when my musical inspirations pass into heavenly paradise is to reminisce about their creations through a binging of their music. Through this notion, music listeners are able to appreciate and truly captivate their musical essence. Eddie Van Halen is a talent that is out of this world! Through various rock music implications, the rock legend moved musical mountains with this sensational approach to all thing’s music.

All Hail Van Halen

Born into a strong musical family, gracing the land of Amsterdam, Netherlands, Alex and Eddie Van Halen were brothers of the song. Son of Dutch jazz pianist Jan Van Halen, the brothers along with the family moved to Pasadena, California in 1962. The youngest brother, Eddie, began his rigorous training in classical piano. With Alex in guitar and Eddie dabbling into the drum world, the brother created their first band “The Broken Combs” in 1964 later changing their names to “The Trojan Rubber Co.” From various additional band name changes such as “Genesis” and “Mammoth” the force of musical nature landed with the running name “Van Halen”.

Through countless self-promotion and the passing out of band flyers at various high schools, the band managed to perform for heavy rock legend Gene Simmons of “KISS” in 1977. It was then, that Simmons would take them under his royal musical wings, prompting them into the lane they needed for ultimate stardom. That following year, band members Eddie Van Halen (guitarist), Alex Van Halen(drummer), David Lee Roth (vocalist) and bassist Michael Anthony release their self-titled debut studio album “Van Halen”. The rock sounds graced the airwaves along with many young eardrums reaching number 19 on the Billboards pop music charts. With one of rock’s most commercially successful debut, songs such as “Running With the Devil” created the band’s authentic yet promising sound, listeners still appreciate today.

Listen to “Running with the Devil” by “Van Halen” Now!

The infamous guitar solo “Eruption” showcased Eddie’s legendary instrumentation through finger tapping motion. Tap style or tapping is a guitar playing technique where a string is fretted into vibration as a single motion tapped upon the fretboard.

Listen to “Eruption” by “Van Halen” Now!

With Guinness Book of World Records fame as being the highest-paid single appearance of a band, ($1.5 million for a 90-minute set at the 1983 US Festival) to touring with English Rock Band, “Black Sabbath” the musical world was an endless mecca of music perfection. According to Wikipedia, the legendary “1984” album became five-times platinum only a year after its release.

Eddie Van Halen along with the band received the 1992 Grammy Award for “Best Rock Performance with Vocals” for the album “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge” later being inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just to name a few band accolades. Eddie dabbled into other musical collaborations with artist such as “Micheal Jackson”, “LL Cool J” and “Roger Waters”.

Oh Eddie!

There are a few distinct songs by the epic guitarist, that stand out more than others. My favorite song from Eddie and the sounds of “Van Halen”, is such a commercially appreciated track one can’t help but jump! Released as a single from their album “1984”, the track “Jump” is the most successful single for the band reaching no 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1983. The songs fuel my energetic energy for all things exercise, youthfulness, and musical genius. The video also captures the high intensity of happiness as the band flaunts their musical freedom through the raging sounds.

Watch “Jump” by “Van Halen”

I can remember fondly of my interaction between my eardrums and the sounds of Eddie Van Halen. I encountered the musical genius and his sounds quite later on in my tumultuous life. My rock phase was strong, as the sounds simmered with the essence of modern pop. From “Paramore” to “Sleeping with Sirens” I did not cling onto the vintage sounds. From their 1981 album “Fair Warning” a track stuck upon my skin, unable to loosen its rock grip. The song “Unchained” basked in the essence of my adolescent years through grainy hard rock sounds.
Listen to “Unchained” by “Van Halen” Now!

There is a plaque on our wall that says we’ve sold over 65 million albums and I don’t feel I’ve accomplished anything. I feel like I’m just getting started

Eddie Van Halen

Living a profound life, Eddie Van Halen died of his long battle of cancer this recent year (October 6, 2020). The family and friends remember his lovely spirit and his ambitious urgency to create. Although not known personally, Eddie Van Halen is a staple of bravery, courage, and overall passion for artistic expression. His legacy will live on through his astounding family, friends, and band members. The moving part of this situation is that Mr. Van Halen is not truly dead. Through our love and listening to his great creations, Eddie will and continue to have immortality. It is through memories and appreciation, that such legendary artists remain alive forever.
Rest in Paradise Eddie Van Halen.

Photos: Shutterstock / Photomontage: Martina Advaney

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