366 | Eddie Van Halen

Today is Eddie Van Halen’s birthday — guitar virtuoso and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen. The edit above and the musical reference works / birthday calendars below are made by me, Frieke.

Edward Lodewijk Van Halen was born on January 26, 1955, in Amsterdam. His father was a saxophonist and clarinetist in the Royal Netherlands Air Force band. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Nijmegen, where the Air Force Instruction and Military Training School (LIMOS) was located. In 1962, the Van Halen family emigrated to the United States due to the aftermath of World War II and the unstable political situation in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia). Eddie and Alex’s father had served in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) during the war. After the war, political conditions changed significantly. To escape this unrest and seek a better future for the family, the Van Halens decided to move to the United States.

Their mother, Eugenia Van Halen, was a professional pianist. Eddie began taking piano lessons at a young age and won several talent competitions. His older brother Alex also studied piano. However, both brothers became fascinated by rock music — Eddie took up the electric guitar, while Alex began playing the drums.

In 1972, Eddie and Alex founded the band Van Halen. The lineup was completed by singer David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony. The band achieved international fame and became one of the most influential rock bands of the 1980s, known for their energetic live performances, their distinctive blend of hard rock, heavy metal, and glam rock, and Eddie Van Halen’s innovative guitar playing.

Eddie was not only a musical innovator but also a technical pioneer in guitar design, amplification, and effects. He is widely credited with popularizing the two-hand tapping technique.

Van Halen’s self-titled debut album, Van Halen, was released in 1978. It featured hits such as unnin' with the Devil and Eruption, in which Eddie showcased his groundbreaking guitar techniques.

Eddie Van Halen also played a notable role on Michael Jackson’s song Beat It. The track, written by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones, was released in 1983 on the album Thriller, with Eddie contributing an iconic guitar solo. This collaboration between a rock guitarist and a pop superstar is considered one of the most memorable moments in pop music history. In 2012, Guitar World named Eddie Van Halen the greatest guitarist of all time.

An extended and final guitar solo performance by Eddie Van Halen took place during the North American Live On Tour at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in 2015. Eruption is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitar solos ever recorded.

Eddie Van Halen passed away on October 6, 2020, in Santa Monica, California. He died from complications related to throat cancer. His death was announced by his son, Wolfgang Van Halen. Eddie’s passing was met with worldwide sadness, and the music world lost one of the most influential and respected guitarists of all time.