Eddie Van Halen

Mary Carr Edward Lodewijk Van Halen was born on 26 January 1955 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. His parents were Jan Van Halen, a musician, and Eugenia Van Halen of Indonesian and Dutch heritage.

Mary Carr The Van Halen family moved to Pasadena, California. Eddie and his brother Alex would regularly commute from Pasadena to San Pedro to learn to play the piano from Lithuanian pianist, Stasys Kalvaitis. Despite winning piano competitions, he eventually went on to learn the electric guitar.

Mary Carr Eddie and Alex Van Halen formed their first band in 1964 called The Broken Combs. They would often perform at parties. They later changed the name to Trojan Rubber Co.

Mary Carr They formed another band in 1972 called Genesis. It comprised of Eddie Van Halen as the lead guitarist/vocalist, his brother Alex on drums, Mark Stone on bass, and David Lee Roth as lead vocalist. They eventually changed the name to Mammoth when they found out that the Genesis was already being used by another group.

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Mary Carr The band officially changed its name to Van Halen in 1974 and replaced Mark Stone with Micahel Anthony as bass and backing vocals.

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Mary Carr Van Halen released his debut album, “Van Halen” in 1978. It reached No. 19 in the Billboard music charts. It included the track “Eruption,” which showcased Eddie Van Halen’s finger-tapping technique on the guitar. Following the release of the album, they went on tour as the opening act for the band Black Sabbath.

Mary Carr Eddie Van Halen married Valerie Bertinelli, whom he met at a Van Halen concert in Louisiana. They had one son together, Wolfgang, who would later join the band in 2006. They eventually divorced in 2005.

Mary Carr With their son, Wolfgang.

Mary Carr Source: https://youtu.be/fVzZELu1YoI

Mary Carr Eddie Van Halen built a studio where he could have more control over the recording process. All of Van Halen albums from “1984” onwards were recorded there. It was named '5150,' after the California police code that “allows a qualified officer or clinician to involuntarily confine a person deemed to have a mental disorder that makes them a danger to his or her self, and/or others, and/or gravely disabled.”

Mary Carr At the recording studio.

Mary Carr "Jump" was released in December 1983 as the lead single from their album 1984. It is Van Halen's most successful single to date, reaching number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Source: https://youtu.be/SwYN7mTi6HM

Mary Carr Eddie Van Halen produced the music for the movie “The Wild Life.”

Mary Carr Eddie Van Halen’s application for a musical instrument support patent was granted in 1987. He was listed as the inventor of the folding prop that supports a guitar in the flat position. He also holds the patent for a tension-adjusting tailpiece and an ornamental design for a headstock.

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Mary Carr Van Halen won the Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocals at the 1992 Grammy Awards for their album "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge".

Mary Carr Eddie and Alex Van Halen produced “Respect the Wind,” which was included in the motion picture soundtrack of the film “Twister.”

Mary Carr His son Wolfgang Van Halen joins the band.

Mary Carr Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Mary Carr Van Halen accepting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, in 2007. Source: https://youtu.be/Zf9eTL9NH0Q

Mary Carr Two years after his divorce with his first wife was finalized, Eddie Van Halen married his publicist, Janie Liszewski.

Mary Carr Van Halen embarked on a 39 date tour across North America with David Lee Roth on lead vocals.

Mary Carr Eddie Van Halen died from throat cancer, which he was battling since 2013.

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Mary Carr The Grammy's "In Memoriam" segment featured a brief segment paying tribute to Eddie Van Halen.