Goodbye to Eddie Van Halen, the guitar hero who inspired the rock sound of the '80s

Eddie Van Halen, guitarist and co-founder of the band "Van Halen together" with his brother Alex.

 

The mythical and legendary musician died at the age of 65 in a California hospital, due to an illness that kept him away from artistic activity since 2015.

With the incorporation of different tricks, such as the pinch when executing the strings, which creates a “whistle” effect; or tapping, that own invention that allows notes to be linked more quickly, Eddie Van Halen, the artist who died today at age 65 in California, influenced a whole generation of guitarists and marked the traditional sound of this instrument in hard rock and the heavy metal of the '80s.

But, in addition, the musician popularized the use of synthesizers in bands with a clear rock sound, which earned him not a few criticisms and even the departure of his star singer, David Lee Roth, who, entangled in a struggle of egos with his guitarist, did not accept the update.

However, both his exploratory spirit in the world of the six strings, as well as the rhythmic sense of his famous solos or the use of keyboards were nothing more than the result of the musical training of the artist who, together with his brother, drummer Alex , founded the band that would take his last name as a name –in the best Santana style- and that would synthesize the glam and rock of the '70s with the hard rock and pop of the' 80s.

Born in Amsterdam, Holland, on January 26, 1955, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen moved with the rest of his family to California in 1967, a decisive step for the brothers who were already studying music, encouraged by their father Jan, a renowned jazz artist.

Although both Eddie and Alex studied classical piano throughout their childhood, as they entered adolescence, both became fascinated with rock and roll and opted for the guitar and drums.

At first Eddie played drums and Alex played guitar, but a fortuitous exchange of instruments showed that the first option had been the wrong one.

The exciting music scene that surrounded California in full hippie fury and the emergence of the first big stadium bands had a decisive impact on the brothers, especially Eddie, who began to copy the solos of figures like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix, among others.

Precisely, it was while carefully studying the style of these guitarists that it occurred to him to create tapping, an effect in the performance that adds a brief touch on the fretboard with a finger of the right hand, while the fingers of the left hand link notes, allowing to double the speed.

This "yeite" would become common currency for any rock guitarist after Van Halen's emergence on the world music scene. But also, Eddie paved the way to combine this effect with others that were already used in the genre.

In the early '70s, the Van Halen brothers joined eccentric singer David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony to form the group that would lead them to fame a few years later, following a first boost from star Gene Simmons of Kiss, who financed their first recording.

With a mixture of hard rock and a great scenic display, product of the struggle of egos between the charismatic singer and the guitarist, the band managed to establish itself among the most important of a genre that, by the beginning of the '80s, demanded a renewal.

With their own creations like “Running with the devil” and “Eruption”, and acclaimed covers like “You really got me”, by The Kinks, and “Pretty woman”, by Roy Orbison, the group became the great hope for the rock in times when synthesizers and pop music were gaining ground.

But although Van Halen had already given new tools from the guitar to the bands that, later in the decade, would create glam metal, the great popular impact would come with the album "1984", released that same year, a work with classics like "Jump" and "Panama" in which, curiously, the indiscriminate use of synthesizers stands out.

The use of synthesizers by Eddie Van Halen, rock guitar hero, and his collaboration with a memorable solo on the song "Beat it", one of the hits of "Thriller", the most famous album by pop star Michael Jackson, were regarded as a kind of "betrayal" by faithful rock spirits.

Nor did David Lee Roth feel comfortable with the new musical direction, which added to the struggle to stand out on stage, marked the departure of the singer, who was replaced by Sammy Haggar, with better vocal skills but less scenic display.
 

Eddie Van Halen

Van Halen's journey continued with considerable success, although without reaching the peak of "1984", which once again brought him closer to his most genuine fans. However, by the mid-90s, Eddie's alcohol problems once again marked irreconcilable differences with the singer.

Then came an attempt to add vocalist Gary Cherone, from Extreme, and although the musical experience was good, the success was not accompanied and determined the end of that failed experience.

Towards the end of the last century, Van Halen announced the return of David Lee Roth but a new clash of egos, this time in the middle of a press conference, ruined the project.

Since 2000, Eddie Van Halen has faced tongue cancer that caused him to lose much of it and a fatal throat cancer that took him away from music in 2015.

"I can't believe I have to write this but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, lost his long and arduous fight with cancer this morning," 

Wolfgang Van Halen, son of the musician and bassist who replaced the original Michael, announced today on Twitter.

Eddie died surrounded by his wife, children, and brother Alex. The Van Halens.

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