06/10/2023
October 6th, 2020… a day I will never forget. As though the year couldn’t have gotten any worse, with covid lockdowns and the whole pandemic thing… That moment I heard the news… I was siting on the floor in my living room, playing a game with my daughter. At one point, I impulsively picked up my phone and perused through social media. Just a quick “check” which we all do, just out of habit. Suddenly, I paused when I saw a post from Wolf Van Halen, which hit me like a sucker punch from Mike Tyson. I hoped it was a mistake or some sort of celebrity death hoax, but when I realized it was not a hoax and Edward Van Halen had died, I felt my entire life as a guitar player flash before my eyes and I screamed “oh no! oh no!!!” and tears welled up, uncontrollably. My daughter asked what was wrong and my wife called out from the other room “what happened?” The grief I felt when I uttered my reply “Eddie Van Halen died…” is one of those feelings that stays with you, like losing a close friend or loved one.
I had always felt a deep connection with Edward, as he was what I and just about every guitar player I knew, considered to be the greatest rock guitar player of all time. EVH was the benchmark of what guitar playing was all about to me. I couldn’t imagine that he was no longer with us. I mean, superheroes don’t die, right? They live forever. Perhaps, but Edward Van Halen was also a human being and a father, brother, husband, uncle, neighbor, etc. He was mortal. And he was gone. I was gutted and spent the entire day (and almost the next two weeks) crying my eyes out, as though guitar playing itself, had died.
I have many musical influences - and although Jimi Hendrix was my first “guitar guru”, EVH became the mentor I followed and emulated for over 40 years, as did most guitar players of my generation. He was the epitome of what made me want to play guitar in the first place. Not to be a “rock star” or celebrity, but to actually make music with the guitar and have the ability to move mountains, as he did, with six strings, some wires and ten fingers. To inspire others to pursue the artistic path of a musician and above all, to make people happy with music I’d created. Ed did it all - and through all his ups & downs, obstacles & struggles, that infectious smile never left his face and he NEVER talked down to any other guitar player or boasted about being the greatest. He just remained humble and grateful throughout his life. If you were to ask anyone who knew him, they’d all tell you how gracious and sincere he was and how he never let his status get to his head. That’s why I loved him so much and that’s why I was so broken when he died. I couldn’t even imagine how his family must’ve felt, but his fans all shared my grief. Edward Van Halen was one of a kind. There wasn’t ever, isn’t now, nor will there EVER be another like him. He was an icon and not only did he move the needle, he sharpened it and carved a whole new set of grooves in the world of guitar players and musicians.
I still miss him and I still wish it wasn’t true, but I know all I need to do is “press play” and EVH is right here in front of me, blowing my mind and exciting every emotion in me, with every note he left behind for us. He will always “be” - he IS what guitar playing is supposed to be. And he’ll always be “alive” in my heart. Forever.
Every year, on this day, I will honor him and keep his memory alive. I’ll also be joining a couple dozen others tonight, at the 4th candlelight vigil, outside his childhood home in Pasadena, to share our stories, shed some tears and pay tribute to the GOAT, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen…
Rest in Peace, Edward. You’re still loved and still missed! 🙏🏻
Ever since Shakyamuni, the original buddha, sat in meditation under a bodhi tree and became awakened to the truth of existence, nearly 2500 years ago, the principles of his practice have been passed along, century after century, in the same manner. From teacher to student. Through the years, the
