R.I.P Eddie

As a kid who’s life was forever altered when the needle dropped on the fade in of Running With The Devil.
I dreamed that one day I could earn my own stripes.
But those stripes are only and forever Edward’s.
Today, 40 years later, I can only mourn those Stripes.
Once upon a time in Hollywood, recently, while recording the latest Extreme album in my home studio I got a call to come down to the front of my house, that someone is asking for me.
I was like, damn that’s annoying as I was in the zone cutting a guitar solo to a new song called RISE.
I dropped my guitar and headed down.
I walk out and... I was being summoned by the one and only... Edward.
As usual I got a warm hug and kiss from Eddie.
Even as a God, he always made you feel important.
He was in great spirits.
A proud dad, bragging about how Wolfie’s new solo album is gonna blow minds, etc...
What’s cool though, was the last thing Eddie talked about.
He said he was super excited about reaching out to Michael Anthony to finally put the original VH lineup back together. Saying that he wanted to do one final tour and have Van Halen go out the way they came in . Together... Guns Blazing!
Finally as Eddie said his goodbye, he asked about the new Extreme album that we were recording up in the house.
As we hugged, he says: “I’ll be back to listen to it when you’re done, and with a sinister raspy laugh , adds “it better be good “.
Finished it. Then. PANDEMIC.
Man, I was like a kid, counting the Covid Days down to when I could blare the new Extreme album in the studio, sitting side by side with My Hero, the GOAT, selfishly wanting to play him all the new guitar work that shamelessly, but with pride has his DNA all over my playing.
I guess that moment wasn’t meant to be...
It’s incredible how as a young player, your guitar chord, is the umbilical chord that initmately connects you to someone you may never meet, moreso than even someone in your own family.
At the drop of a needle or the touch of a space bar. They are there for you 24/7.
As Eddie was... and forever will be.
Thank you for shaping who I am today.
Love you, Edward.
You are the ONE.

Cette frénésie d'hommages va commencer à me saouler mais ça fait quand même un petit truc dans la gorge quand on voit Michael Anthony chialer malgré tout ce que les frangins VH lui ont fait subir.

Au-delà de l'apport de EVH au monde de la guitare, que (presque) personne ne semble nier, il y a aussi ce sourire sincère qui ne le quitte jamais. Tout le temps la banane, toujours "content d'être là", c'est une qualité humaine riche à mes yeux. Cette forme de simplicité qui est un peu trop rare dans notre monde.
S'il en fallait un, voilà encore un témoignage de la propension d'EVH à ne pas trop se prendre au sérieux. Et si c'est ça qui caractérisait les vraies rock star?

Heureusement qu'il y a une frénésie d'hommage, c'est le moment on est dans l'artistique et l'homme Eddie a marqué son époque.
Ceux que ça dérange peuvent éviter l'info et les hommages, c'est possible.

Oui, le seul truc qui me fatigue, c'est ce besoin de constamment comparer les guitaristes disparus, faire un podium de celui qui est plus bla bla que l'autre, génération celle ci contre celle là,
J'm'en tape royal et ça tue le rock, celui qui a le plus gros manche, l'énergie que les mecs balancent se transforme en salon de thé

Ce qui est réellement important, c'est si il nous a marqué personnellement ou pas.
J'ai été marqué par des musiciens plus anonymes; dans mon histoire, ils sont important alors que chez d'autre non.
Au final, est ce si important que evh soit présent dans les médias mainstream?
C'est aux proches qu'il faudrait poser la question; peut être qu'ils ne voudraient pas qu'on leur rappelle régulièrement qu'ils l'ont perdu?

Enfin de manière générale je crois ce qui tue le rock, c'est plutôt de ne regarder que le passé.
Des groupes comme polyphia ont bien compris le truc; il y a d'ailleurs du evh dans leur jeu mais dans une approche très differente.

It comes with great sadness to hear about Eddie Van Halen’s passing on. I always regarded Eddie as someone who completely revolutionized a way of playing in a whole new style that inspired a generation of guitar players. With what he offered to the world in music terms thus he became a legend! I was fortunate to have met with him on several occasions. A friend just reminded me that Eddie came to see the Guitar Trio of myself, Paco de Lucia and John Mc Lauglin at the Hollywood Bowl in 1981. He and I met backstage. So long ago I almost forgot! I always admired him from a far and could never figure out even if I tried how he did what he did so brilliantly! Rest In Peace Dear Eddie!

Our styles were vastly different but a mutual respect was there non the less! Although on 2 occasions on the phone sometime back in the early 80’s we spoke of doing a kind of “electric concept” as a side act to our own groups that never materialized but when we met in person once at a Namm show and another place I don’t remember we can see in each other’s eyes a kind of harboured unspoken feeling of let’s not bring up playing together as we each had our own extremely different comfort zones and stepping out of that is always a risk. However, it’s always heavy and ultra sad when we lose a pioneer ! The heart hurts as I’m sure many feel the same! RIP Ed!

Ca c'est facile, il suffit de regarder les médias français