Eddie Van Halen has died. I knew he was sick, but didn't know how sick until I heard an interview with Sammy and Mike the other day. The interviewer asked them about a reunion and they both just looked at each other very awkwardly, clearly not wanting to be the first ones to announce that Eddie was on his death bed, and literally had nothing to say. They kind of said it all without saying anything at all.
Van Halen was my first real concert. It was 1978 and they opened for KISS. They got booed off the stage and none of us knew who they were. To be honest, I was probably one of the ones who booed. I just wanted to hear Detroit Rock City and not these guys.
Although I did become a fan, with Diver Down being my favorite album, more for sentimental reasons than artistic ones, and ironically, the album the band liked the least of all their albums, I never cared for his playing.
He was often called the "world's greatest guitarist", but I really don't think that's true. There's no way of knowing how good he really was, because he covered it all up with effects and gimmicks. That's unfortunate and, I think, takes away from his legacy.
Van Halen was my first real concert. It was 1978 and they opened for KISS. They got booed off the stage and none of us knew who they were. To be honest, I was probably one of the ones who booed. I just wanted to hear Detroit Rock City and not these guys.
Although I did become a fan, with Diver Down being my favorite album, more for sentimental reasons than artistic ones, and ironically, the album the band liked the least of all their albums, I never cared for his playing.
He was often called the "world's greatest guitarist", but I really don't think that's true. There's no way of knowing how good he really was, because he covered it all up with effects and gimmicks. That's unfortunate and, I think, takes away from his legacy.
