I write this with an incredibly heavy heart. In 2020, the world lost one of the last true remaining guitar gods — Eddie Van Halen .
Throughout most of the 80s and the 90s, Van Halen ruled the airwaves. Eddie helped revolutionize the guitar through his signature finger-tapping style and incredible solo work.
As a small tribute to this legend, I’ve compiled these 10+ facts about Eddie Van Halen that fans didn’t know. He may be gone but Eddie will never be forgotten.
1. Eddie and his family endured horrible racism.
Eddie’s father was Dutch and his mother was from Indonesia . In the early 1950s, mixed-race couples were considered to be highly taboo.
The Van Halens were subject to the same discrimination when they immigrated to the United States in the early 1960s.
2. It was an incredibly difficult journey to the United States.
Eddie’s family came to the United States by boat. It was a harrowing nine-day expedition on the open sea. Things didn’t get any easier once they docked.
The Van Halens were forced to live in a shared household with two other families!
3. He wasn’t always a guitar player.
Many people don’t realize that Eddie is a classically trained pianist, like his father.
As a young child, Eddie developed an affinity for the drums and it was his brother Alex who first decided to pick up a guitar.
4. Eddie consistently ranks among the world’s greatest guitarists of all time.
Whether you read Rolling Stone or Guitar World — it doesn’t matter. You’re bound to find Eddie’s picture plastered on any credible list for Best Guitarist of All Time.
In case you were curious, Rolling Stone ranks him 8th. This puts Eddie firmly in the category of legends like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jimi Hendrix.
5. The band grew to hate one another.
Fame and money have a way of dividing even the best of friends.
Eddie and David Lee Roth had a falling out in 1985 and Roth were quickly replaced with vocalist Sammy Hagar.
6. Eddie had his own signature guitar.
Not only that but he made it himself! Eddie became famous for playing what was known as ” The Frankenstrat .”
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It’s a cross between a Fender Stratocaster, a Gibson ES-335, and a Floyd Rose.
7. He co-founded one of the greatest Rock n’ Roll bands of all time
Van Halen got their namesake from Eddie.
He was one of four founding members that included Mark Stone on Bass, Alex Van Halen on drums, and David Lee Roth on lead vocals.
8. Eddie’s first band was called Mammoth.
While Eddie and Alex were still in school, they began playing different clubs scattered throughout Pasadena.
It was on one such fateful night that they met David Lee Roth , who quickly became Mammoth’s lead singer.
9. His unique style often imitated animal calls.
Is that Eddie Van Halen or is a herd of wild elephants stampeding through his living room?!
Eddie’s unprecedented incorporation of electronic elements in Rock music helped pave the way for artists like Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine.
10. He perfected the art of two-hand tapping.
Many incorrectly attribute Van Halen as the inventor of two-hand tapping. While he may not have been the first to do it, Eddie undoubtedly perfected the technique.
Have a listen to his “Eruption” solo and you’ll see what I mean.
11. Eddie’s son Wolfgang played in the band.
One day after Eddie’s untimely death, his son Wolf took to Instagram and posted this heartwarming photo of he and his father jamming together.
Wolf was also made an official member of Van Halen
12. He helped to break down genre barriers and racial divides in pop music.
It seems hard to imagine but it wasn’t that long ago that White and Black artists were very seldom featured on the same track.
It was even rarer to pair a Pop singer with a Rock n’ Roll icon.
But in 1982, Eddie did just that and more!
Eddie was invited to play on Michael Jackson’s pinnacle album, Thriller . He mainly knew Michael as the little kid in the Jackson 5, so Eddie was understandably skeptical.
After listening to “Beat It,” a few times over, Eddie laid down one of the most legendary and iconic guitar solos of all time.
13. Van Halen was discovered by Gene Simmons.
That’s right, the KISS bassist and frontman was the one who coughed up the dough for Van Halen to be able to record their first EP.
Shortly after the demo was recorded, Van Halen was signed to Warner Bros.
14. Gone but never forgotten.
After the news of Eddie’s tragic passing broke, musicians around the world began to collectively mourn.
Slash, Ozzy Osbourne, and even Gene Simmons have all made public declarations of their love and admiration of the fallen rockstar.