Sunday October 11, 2020 “Somebody Get Me a Doctor” Van Halen
So Eddie Van Halen passed last week and Jamie’s crying along with so many other fans of this legendary guitarist.
Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands and emigrating as children to the US, Eddie and his brother Alex, both classically trained pianists, formed the band originally as Mammoth after they switched instruments. Each brother has a slightly different story, with Alex saying when he heard Eddie playing guitar he knew he should quit guitar and should be a drummer and Eddie saying when he heard Alex playing the drum solo from “Wipeout” he knew it was time to learn to play guitar.
Eddie redefined the sound and possibilities of the electric guitar in the 1970s and '80s and was always an innovator who credited Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page as original influences. He said that he learned every solo both of those guitarists ever played and that provided the foundation for growing into the Van Halen sound.
The band has sold more than 56 million albums/CDs, have an American Music Award, a Grammy, and are members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Eddie has guested on a number of outside projects most notably perhaps the signature guitar on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”.
Stay safe and well...yeah there are extended guitar solos but this is Eddie Van Halen, after all.
