Who can ever forget that cute, boyish smile he had all throughout the video for “Jump”. He was one of those people who made others smile with his smile. RIP
He seemed as equally unhappy according to Sammie. It seems he really went down a dark road that almost killed him before he got sober. Sammie said at the end of his VH run, he never saw Eddie except onstage and they weren't talking at all.
As a 16 year old guitarist who first heard Van Halen 1 in a friends basement in 1978, jaw agape, his death today marks the passing of the most influential guitar player in history. There were guitarists I liked more, but Eddie was a force of musical nature, like Mozart. You can’t know what it was like in 1978 unless you were there. The world was already full of hot shot guitar players as guitar solos were still popular and necessary in songs, if you can believe it. We were surrounded by solos. Out of an already elite atmosphere comes someone who reinvented the guitar, by borrowing, stealing and adding his own personality. This was no Berkeley grad snob with an ‘education’, but a natural innovator who could not even read music. We heard ‘eruption’ and could not even understand what we were hearing. Was it a guitar, a keyboard, voodoo magic? And this was right in the middle of disco! All the hot shots who came after: Steve Vai, satriani, malmsteen, would not have existed without VH. They added speed and technique but none could match the sheer personality and songwriting chops of Eddie. I stress songwriting, and the ability to make a song memorable by the masses, not just guitar players. How many people (non guitarists) do you know that can tell you the title of one song from any of these other guitar players? VH not only wrote the most iconic hard rock riffs in history, his sense of melody and feel and tone were unmatched, and still are to this day. He is a once in a generation comet we will likely not see again. Van Halen, the band, through sheer force of talent, drive, their outsized personalities, influenced every rock band in the 80’s, creating a copycat machine of terrible bands and players who tried to be VH, or David Lee Roth, and failed. This stink of hair bands and ever accelerating , million notes a minute guitar players could only be erased by the arrival of Nirvana and grunge in 1992. Suddenly, guitar solos were passé, and I was glad to see the clone wankers go the way of the dinosaur. Today, most under 30’s don’t even know who Van Halen is or was. His music, his instrument, the guitar, and guitar solos, no longer fits in with what is cool. Real musicians with actual talent, the abilty to perform live, put on a show without backing tracks or silicone inflated buttocks, no longer matter in the “music” world. It’s now George Orwell’s 1984, with covid banning live music everywhere. You can read the book, but I’m going to listen to the last album by the original Van Halen.
Exactly, well said. I miss the days of music with damn good solos, not hair bands tho lol. Music of late 70's (not disco) and 80's hard and heavy rock was sooo much better than today's boring talentless auto tunes. Im just thankful for amazing musicans as Eddie, who proved to be a great songwriter as well as enjoyable to watch. He was and will always be a legend.
Very astute observation of Eddie's impact and the "80's hair band phenomena that later followed! Agree 100%. I always felt the exact same way about all that crap. And yes, Thank God for bands like Nirvana and STP and Soundgarden for our rescue from those days. First heard Eddie when a buddy bought their debut LP the week it came out. I remember sitting in his parents' basement listening to the old RCA console stereo they had at the time and being SO BLOWN AWAY. It was just as you said; we didn't know or could not even comprehend what we were hearing or what he was playing! It really was such next level to everything before it that we were simply dumbfounded. True genius who will be sorely missed.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your comment. You hit the nail on the head with your words. I couldn't verbalize my thoughts but you did. Well said! Thank you for the excellent observation. And with the ultimate respect for Mr. Eddie Van Halen... May he rest in peace. 🙏 🇨🇦 Luv from Canada
My first concert was the 1984 tour, i was 15 and it was awesome ! As you said Eddie didn't regurgitate others licks and his melodic hooks were so good it's incredible. So many songs, his catalog runs overfilled compared to most. Later on the song Dreams had a great impact on my life as it reminds me of a terrible moment in time that was bittersweet but ultimately tragic and the song became a part of that journey. But it was there, it documented it and now when i hear it i think of my best friend in the world and his passing. That said, It's a sad day for us 80's kids. We'll get higher and higher and leave it all behind.... RIP Edward, fly high.
Thirty five years ago on June 27, 1985 I was watching this excited that Letterman had on Eddie Van Halen. My dad had been ill in the hospital and the phone rang, it was the doctor calling to tell us he had passed, the moment he said it Dave said “It is now twelve fourty eight, fourty”... I remember it was some gag they were doing that particular show but the whole experience was very vivid and surreal. I realize this is irrelevant to the passing of Eddie VH but I never did get to see the rest of his performance that night so thank you for sharing a totally poignant video for me. RIP Dad and EVH!
Herb man that is truly a serious memory my man. I truly am sorry for the passing of your dad even though it was so many years ago that shit never really goes away. God bless you and thanks for being another EVH fan. We all are feeling this one. This year has been a nasty one for sure. But hold on, Never give in or give up! Long live the music and memories!!!
My deepest condolences on the passing of your father Herb , thank you though god sharing your experience and I’m glad to see this too now at this time ,💜God Bless ,RIP EVH
So many people keep commentating on his guitar abilities, but his song writing ability is unprecedented. Massive loss for the world in a time where we need him the most, I still can't believe he's gone. We'll never see anything like Eddie Van Halen again...
"The grinning guitarist" He seemed like such a happy, easy going all around nice guy. Always smiling and looking happy. RIP Eddie, your music and riffs will live on forever
Cigarettes are Satan's death sticks - coffin nails...the Virginia Slims cigarette ad tagline read: "Alive With Pleasure"...how deceiving!!! "Dead With Cancer" is more accurate!!! Guard your health folks! Life sure sucks without it! It is possible to quit. If I could do it, anyone can. The tropical flavor of Nicorette gum (& mints) actually tastes good.
Some people you never expect to die. Eddie seemed invincible and I was waiting for the band's next move into the future. We heard of possibilities like Sammy or Michael rejoining. Maybe... maybe not. But it all seemed like a great waiting game to see what would appear. Almost like when DLR reunited. But now, in all sense of the concept, that is the forever end of VH and any possibilities from this day forward. And it sucks. A small, but important piece of my childhood, my teen years all the way into my adult years are gone. Eddie will be sorely missed. As if 2020 couldn't suck any worse. But, with that said, there's tns of music and memories attached to Eddie's passing. TONS!
i saw them 3 times, the early years... eddie was the show, dlr was a great showman no doubt, but eddie was in a league by himself. i saw sammy as a solo artist and loved his solo work, but couldn't bring myself to see van halen with sammy... but we lost a great one, a phenom, changed the way guitar was played.
That's what was amazing about Late Night With David Letterman back in the day, you never knew what to expect! Dave would have authors, directors, poets, actors, musicians, obscure NYC personalities and the most random lineup of people. I would drag myself into high school classes having stayed up every night to watch Late Night.
@@DennisDaNo1Man i believe guitarists excel because they are happy playing guitar. This is also one of my happiest moments and also playing with my friends
My heart goes out to Wolfgang. He and his dad seemed like they were best buddies.... This makes me cry!! I'm praying for him daily. Hes way too young to have to deal with a tragedy like this. Lord bless you and comfort you Wolfgang van Halen!!! Love you man!!!
That's the thing that brought Eddie's passing home to me. Wolfgang's announcement was proof that Eddie wasn't your typical rock n roll star who has kids that hardly know them or with a rocky relationship. It was proof that Eddie was a great father, first and foremost, and when you put all the BS aside and be a good Dad to your kids, you're a real human being no matter how fast you can play the guitar.
Larry James If you’re inferring that because he’s inheriting Eddie’s millions and publishing rights to his music and all his stuff is gonna make everything alright for Wolfgang, you’re a fool. It’s very obvious from Wolfgang’s tweet that Eddie was a great father to him first and foremost. He wasn’t the guitar god millionaire super famous Eddie Van Halen, he was Dad. It was touching, heartbreaking, and just based on that one tweet you know the kind of person Eddie was, and he was a father to his son first. All the other crap out the window.
@@joe6096 ....He will be alright. You have no idea what people go through without a pot to piss in and they come out fine. He will too but yes money doesn’t bring loved ones back but moving on without worry is a super plus. Don’t kid yourself
What a sparkle Eddie had. Totally channeling music with every fiber of his being. His smiling eyes and vibrant playing were such a happy sight to see and hear. My guitar hero ❤️🙏✝️🌹
Growing up in the 80s, watching Late Nite with Dave was required viewing. Yeah. I had to go school the next morning, but I could not miss the crazy things Dave would do. Stupid pet tricks. Throwing stuff off seven story building. Viewer mail. But when they would have a VERY SPECIAL guest the show would go another level. Eddie would just get the audience going. I do remember these episodes. I am teenager trying to rock listening to Eddie Van Halen in my bed room, late at night (School Nite), trying not wake my parents up. I was a nerdy band geek, but Van Halen made me feel I was a rocker. THANKS EDDIE. You made my teenage years fun. R.I.P.
Been viewing various early EVH tributes, but this one put me in tears. The sheer joy and excitement on Letterman and Paul Schafer so clear and apparent in the earlier part of the vid.
I lost it when Ed looked up and smiled for the camera while playing piano. A little eyebrow action, too. We would all be lucky to love what we do as much as EVH loved making music.
What gets missed a lot with Eddie's groundbreaking guitar virtuosity was how good of a pianist he was. Of course he came up with and played the classic synth riff on Jump which may be the one time classic rockers permit a synthesizer riff to reign over a guitar lick, but he really could have been an accomplished pianist on that instrument alone. He also did that great piano intro to Right Now, which is almost classical like Beethoven.
@@joe6096 Saw this on Esquire site today. ESQ: You just watched your instructors' fingers? EVH: Yes, fingers. And thank God I had good ears, you know? And for years, my mom and dad put us in these piano contests, where you would rehearse one piece of music all year long, and they drive you down to Long Beach City College, and out of like 3,000 kids, they put you in a little room, and depending on how many years you played, they put you in a category, and then after you play, they post the top 100, or the first 1,000 that won on a billboard outside. "Hey, you're on there." "Ah, Dad, what's going on?" I didn't give a shit. And then an hour later, top 100, Alex and I both were. And we wait longer, and we're in top 20, and then we're in the top 10. And then we're in the top four, I'm goin', and I won. ESQ: And you won. EEVH: Three years in a row!
Whether it was Roth or Hagar fronting the band, VH made damn good tunes...Eddie was the golden boy for real guitar fans everywhere. 65 still feels young to leave this world...😥
Uh, that “born with it”. Do you mean born with a drive to stay on point and master something with hours of practicing? I guess many do not understand what it takes to be great at something. So they assume a person “is a natural” or “born with it”. Is that an “out” for why a person is not good at something? Just wasn’t born with it.
@@AllenFreemanMediaGuru ~ could have meant born with the drive to excel. Pull your head out man. You're obviously not as smart as you think you are. P.S. ~ and born with talent is certainly part of the equation. Some people are physically born with the fast twitch muscles to be able to do what Ed did. So slink back into your hole. Please.
35 years later, when Paul says "Eddie Van Halen," you can still feel the massive electric charge. Eddie Van Halen, those studio guests realized. EDDIE VAN HALEN!
Pretty cool hearing Eddie playing along with different styles of music on the show. A guitarist who really cut through the music with that tone and aggressive playing. A true guitar genius and an inspiration to many. There really is no comparison.
RIP King Edward. You will always be the best in my book. Thank you for giving being the reason to give me the love and desire to play the guitar. You are loved and deeply missed by millions.
EVH was the embodiment of loving what you do. His genius will be missed. Don, thanks for posting this! My Mom was cool enough to let me watch Letterman every night before bed. I was in the 8th grade in '85. This takes me back. ❤️ #RIPEddie
You're already deeply missed Ed. These videos bring a tear, the passion & joy of your playing brought great joy to everyone. Spent countless hours listening to you play. Gone through all the records again since your passing. This one really hurts. RIP EVH
You can see that Ed had crazy respect for Paul, who is a first rate musician as well as a Letterman sidekick. The rest of the band were equally talented. Good times.
I remember that I stayed up until 1 am to watch this on a school night because Eddie was on the show. It was worth the grounding. Thanks for being the innovator and bringer of good times to so many. Rock in Peace Eddie.
Eddie was just so ingeniously talented! He could create killer licks and grooves on the spot without even trying. It was just effortlessly natural for him. Great video, thanks for sharing. RIP Eddie you were the best!!
They had been in each others lives for 40 years, spent over 20 years married, & raised a wonderful child together...she didn't leave him because she no longer loved him, she left because she could no longer be present while she now "knew" he was potentially killing himself (after he refused to make needed changes after his original cancer diagnoses). In fact, ultimately, her leaving him may have indeed added years to his life? His substance abuse really intensified after she left, maybe he never thought she would? When their divorce was final 6 yrs later, he finally gave in, allowed others to help him & got sober...and remained so for the rest of his life. I don't think for a minute she ever stopped loving him. The fact that they both celebrated each others 2nd marriages, together, shows just how deeply they really did love & respect each other.
THE best version of Panama I ever saw. Eddie was a class act through and through- waiving credit to the band after his epic performance. I also never saw Paul smile and dance as much as he did. Cleary playing with Eddie brought out the best of all musicians- and he put on a great show. R.I.P.
Thank you for posting! Such joy, talent, magic, memories....and the music lives on! RIP Eddie. Love to Valerie, Wolfie, and all those loving them tonight.
@sabbracadabra If people think you're a fruitcake because you think there is something more, than my friend, there are a lot of fruitcakes in this world including me. LOL. It's not about religion really (although I have faith), but it is about energy also. #RIPEDDIE
@Gertg Derften ABSOLUTELY and my son is grown, but can't believe the difference between himself and others in his generation....I raised him old school, with DRIVE AND WORK ETHIC....he works hard and is proud of a job done complete and correctly!
This is impressive! Thank you! I’m in a state of mourning. I had to finally cry today. What an amazing man and guitar genius. Saw VH in the 1990s with Sammy Hagar. It was EPIC!!!!!! God bless you EVH!!!
You can really hear how great a player EVH is here, in a normal rock & roll setting with other great musicians from the World's Most Dangerous Band. Thanks for putting up so quickly--you are a national treasure!
I grew up with Van Halen with David Lee Roth and they made some awesome and memorable music together and my opinion when Sammy Hagar join the band they made some of the most beautiful music and I enjoy listening to it today thank you Van Halen and thank you Eddie rest in peace
Great composition of music. I worked on a couple of the VH videos, back when MTV did videos in the late 80’s... I was also lucky enough to be one of the truck drivers on the VH tour in ‘95. Great times and great memories. RIP Eddie, Thanks for the great memories.
@@dakotastarchild4424 I believed that too, until I saw his 2012 interview in Esquire where a sober Eddie disses Valerie and basically refers to her as a battle ax.
You guys in America were so lucky to have this show on tv! What a great vibe ! The laid back atmosphere must have been a great relief to the people appearing on the show! Eddie clearly is having a ball! Nice to see him enjoying playing for fun and playing some hot licks! Legend!
Thanks, Don. My first ever concert experience was to see Van Halen at the Sydney Entertainment Centre (Australia) in 1998. No phones in sight. Still the best concert I have ever been to.
Man.. shudder to think. But I I feel fortunate . All of us who came of age Anywhere between 1967 and (thanks to Eddie ..all the way to 1989-.. We lived our lives to the sounds of the BEST Music soundtrack you could ever hope for. Or imagine. Thank you Eddie Van Halen. You gave great Rock N Roll a longer shelf life. a
And throw in Valerie and Sarah, and I believe we have one of the most disparate group of guests, ever assembled. I mean Lee Marvin AND Eddie and Valerie, alone, blows my mind. In a good way.
I already Miss Eddie like he's been gone forever. Dude had so much talent!!! He was just like Hendrix, you couldn't say his name without onow exactly who he was and it's just still unbelievable that he is gone! Rest in Paradise brother.
Since the SuperBowl of Rock and Roll in 1979, New Orleans, LA. Stood against his tower of amps more than once with the felt on my cheek absorbing the magnificence of Eddie playing faster than the speed of light above us overlooking his fans with that shy boy grin. May God Bless Eddie a million times over for the joy he gave all us Van Halen fans!
He behaves so modestly. He seems just glad to play guitar. RIP Eddie
When you're a kid you don't believe your heroes will ever die
RIP Ed
Yeah...he was SuperMan....I was devastated....
I miss him horribly
I agree 💯 and amen!
Personally speaking, I'm still in shock and haven't properly grieved for my favorite and most beloved musician of my entire life.
It sucks! In the immortal voice of Tony Soprano "What are ya gonna do? " 🤷♂️
That tone. No other guitarist will ever come close to THAT tone. It's from another universe.
every time he touched the strings it opened a rupture in subspace
Ain't this the truth
amen
In the hands he had that special touch lol
I know..right. One lick and you know it's EVH.
Eddie was so natural sitting in with the band. His playing always seemed so effortless.
Chris Ricci ...I can of feel it’s more like the band sitting in with Eddie ..:)
@@skyy256 That's kind of what I was thinking.
He just like "yeah I'm going to be a genius here and then go drunk a beer."
Not a fake smiler. Eddie was one of the happiest people to ever grace this planet. Godspeed brother.
Who can ever forget that cute, boyish smile he had all throughout the video for “Jump”. He was one of those people who made others smile with his smile. RIP
He really enjoyed showing people his talent in a very humble way , as if it wasn't a really big deal.
Damn, I miss Late Night
He seemed as equally unhappy according to Sammie. It seems he really went down a dark road that almost killed him before he got sober. Sammie said at the end of his VH run, he never saw Eddie except onstage and they weren't talking at all.
Even though 2020 truly sucks on so many levels, we should all try to feel joy & smile more, like EVH did...& be kind to ourselves & one another.
As a 16 year old guitarist who first heard Van Halen 1 in a friends basement in 1978, jaw agape, his death today marks the passing of the most influential guitar player in history. There were guitarists I liked more, but Eddie was a force of musical nature, like Mozart. You can’t know what it was like in 1978 unless you were there. The world was already full of hot shot guitar players as guitar solos were still popular and necessary in songs, if you can believe it. We were surrounded by solos. Out of an already elite atmosphere comes someone who reinvented the guitar, by borrowing, stealing and adding his own personality. This was no Berkeley grad snob with an ‘education’, but a natural innovator who could not even read music. We heard ‘eruption’ and could not even understand what we were hearing. Was it a guitar, a keyboard, voodoo magic? And this was right in the middle of disco!
All the hot shots who came after: Steve Vai, satriani, malmsteen, would not have existed without VH. They added speed and technique but none could match the sheer personality and songwriting chops of Eddie. I stress songwriting, and the ability to make a song memorable by the masses, not just guitar players. How many people (non guitarists) do you know that can tell you the title of one song from any of these other guitar players? VH not only wrote the most iconic hard rock riffs in history, his sense of melody and feel and tone were unmatched, and still are to this day. He is a once in a generation comet we will likely not see again.
Van Halen, the band, through sheer force of talent, drive, their outsized personalities, influenced every rock band in the 80’s, creating a copycat machine of terrible bands and players who tried to be VH, or David Lee Roth, and failed. This stink of hair bands and ever accelerating , million notes a minute guitar players could only be erased by the arrival of Nirvana and grunge in 1992. Suddenly, guitar solos were passé, and I was glad to see the clone wankers go the way of the dinosaur.
Today, most under 30’s don’t even know who Van Halen is or was. His music, his instrument, the guitar, and guitar solos, no longer fits in with what is cool. Real musicians with actual talent, the abilty to perform live, put on a show without backing tracks or silicone inflated buttocks, no longer matter in the “music” world. It’s now George Orwell’s 1984, with covid banning live music everywhere. You can read the book, but I’m going to listen to the last album by the original Van Halen.
Exactly, well said. I miss the days of music with damn good solos, not hair bands tho lol.
Music of late 70's (not disco) and 80's hard and heavy rock was sooo much better than today's boring talentless auto tunes.
Im just thankful for amazing musicans as Eddie, who proved to be a great songwriter as well as enjoyable to watch.
He was and will always be a legend.
Very astute observation of Eddie's impact and the "80's hair band phenomena that later followed! Agree 100%. I always felt the exact same way about all that crap. And yes, Thank God for bands like Nirvana and STP and Soundgarden for our rescue from those days. First heard Eddie when a buddy bought their debut LP the week it came out. I remember sitting in his parents' basement listening to the old RCA console stereo they had at the time and being SO BLOWN AWAY. It was just as you said; we didn't know or could not even comprehend what we were hearing or what he was playing!
It really was such next level to everything before it that we were simply dumbfounded. True genius who will be sorely missed.
I was there in 78 too . You got it all right .
RIP Eddie , never forgotten .
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your comment. You hit the nail on the head with your words. I couldn't verbalize my thoughts but you did. Well said! Thank you for the excellent observation. And with the ultimate respect for Mr. Eddie Van Halen... May he rest in peace. 🙏
🇨🇦 Luv from Canada
My first concert was the 1984 tour, i was 15 and it was awesome ! As you said Eddie didn't regurgitate others licks and his melodic hooks were so good it's incredible. So many songs, his catalog runs overfilled compared to most. Later on the song Dreams had a great impact on my life as it reminds me of a terrible moment in time that was bittersweet but ultimately tragic and the song became a part of that journey. But it was there, it documented it and now when i hear it i think of my best friend in the world and his passing. That said, It's a sad day for us 80's kids.
We'll get higher and higher and leave it all behind.... RIP Edward, fly high.
Thirty five years ago on June 27, 1985 I was watching this excited that Letterman had on Eddie Van Halen. My dad had been ill in the hospital and the phone rang, it was the doctor calling to tell us he had passed, the moment he said it Dave said “It is now twelve fourty eight, fourty”... I remember it was some gag they were doing that particular show but the whole experience was very vivid and surreal.
I realize this is irrelevant to the passing of Eddie VH but I never did get to see the rest of his performance that night so thank you for sharing a totally poignant video for me.
RIP Dad and EVH!
wow, June 27, 1985, that was my birthday, I was 19 years old. Time flies. God Bless you.
Herb man that is truly a serious memory my man. I truly am sorry for the passing of your dad even though it was so many years ago that shit never really goes away. God bless you and thanks for being another EVH fan. We all are feeling this one. This year has been a nasty one for sure. But hold on, Never give in or give up! Long live the music and memories!!!
My deepest condolences on the passing of your father Herb , thank you though god sharing your experience and I’m glad to see this too now at this time ,💜God Bless ,RIP EVH
Well Herb, now it's relevant to all who read your post.
I hope this video made you relive the best memories too.
Bless you.
thanks for sharing.... it’s posts like this that make every moment I have with my dad so very special ...
So many people keep commentating on his guitar abilities, but his song writing ability is unprecedented. Massive loss for the world in a time where we need him the most, I still can't believe he's gone. We'll never see anything like Eddie Van Halen again...
"The grinning guitarist" He seemed like such a happy, easy going all around nice guy. Always smiling and looking happy. RIP Eddie, your music and riffs will live on forever
he became a total asshole in 1994
He was definitely a showman. ☺️
David Lee Roth wasn't there. That's why he was happy LOL
Great musician but apparently an extremely difficult person to get along with unless you were named Alex
EVH had been battling cancer for several years now. This day was inevitable. Still took me by surprise. RIP Eddie..GOAT.
Yep. still brought tears to my old eyes....
Still doesnt seem real..
Cigarettes are Satan's death sticks - coffin nails...the Virginia Slims cigarette ad tagline read: "Alive With Pleasure"...how deceiving!!! "Dead With Cancer" is more accurate!!! Guard your health folks! Life sure sucks without it! It is possible to quit. If I could do it, anyone can. The tropical flavor of Nicorette gum (& mints) actually tastes good.
Dyan Vandino Yep, you’re working without a net whenever you use tobacco.
Also took me by surprise. Eddie was one of the very best. A league of their own,just a few. Very sad news . love to his family at this time.
Such a painful loss, a legend, and master. He helped define a generation of great rock n' roll.
More like he changed rock guitar forever not just a generation.
Eddie van Halen, Lee Marvin, Jonny Carson.
The 80s were much better than this future.
Amen
so true...
I’d go back in a second...
The technology is better, such as computers and internet. But the people are worse today.
Got that right.I would give up all modern day technology to relive those times!!
Love that after being introduced, Valerie went straight to Eddie. They truly loved each other. RIP EVH
Hard to believe he’s gone. We’ll miss you Eddie.
Some people you never expect to die. Eddie seemed invincible and I was waiting for the band's next move into the future. We heard of possibilities like Sammy or Michael rejoining. Maybe... maybe not. But it all seemed like a great waiting game to see what would appear. Almost like when DLR reunited. But now, in all sense of the concept, that is the forever end of VH and any possibilities from this day forward. And it sucks. A small, but important piece of my childhood, my teen years all the way into my adult years are gone. Eddie will be sorely missed. As if 2020 couldn't suck any worse. But, with that said, there's tns of music and memories attached to Eddie's passing. TONS!
i saw them 3 times, the early years... eddie was the show, dlr was a great showman no doubt, but eddie was in a league by himself. i saw sammy as a solo artist and loved his solo work, but couldn't bring myself to see van halen with sammy... but we lost a great one, a phenom, changed the way guitar was played.
It does suck but EVH will live on forever.
Right there with you. I had hoped for a reunion as well. Sucks that it's over now. There will never be another EVH. 😭😭
Well said. Same here, part of my childhood and Eddie will always be a legend. He was amazing!
alex, wolf, sammy, dave, and micheal should unite for a tribute tour.
That's what was amazing about Late Night With David Letterman back in the day, you never knew what to expect!
Dave would have authors, directors, poets, actors, musicians, obscure NYC personalities and the most random lineup of people. I would drag myself into high school classes having stayed up every night to watch Late Night.
This is when TV used to be great and something to look forward to and to stay up late.
Man, that's the truth. These shows are such crap compared to what we had back then.
Eddie always seemed so happy when he was playing music.
Because he was a true musician!
Think about it. If you could play like him, wouldn't you be smiling all the time, too?
Mozart said, 'Love, love love! That is the soul of genius.' Eddie loved playing his guitar and it showed!
@Nature and Physics Such an excellent group of musicians!
@@DennisDaNo1Man i believe guitarists excel because they are happy playing guitar. This is also one of my happiest moments and also playing with my friends
I miss Eddie, I miss Johnny and I miss old school Letterman. It's like what Howard Stern said; will we ever see talent like that again?
Stern turned out to being a total jabroni. Pretty damn sure The Iron Sheik would have humbled him…
RIP Eddie. Love you. You were the soundtrack to my youth. One word to describe Eddie. Innovator. He changed Rock N Roll forever.
My heart goes out to Wolfgang.
He and his dad seemed like they were best buddies....
This makes me cry!!
I'm praying for him daily.
Hes way too young to have to deal with a tragedy like this.
Lord bless you and comfort you Wolfgang van Halen!!!
Love you man!!!
That's the thing that brought Eddie's passing home to me. Wolfgang's announcement was proof that Eddie wasn't your typical rock n roll star who has kids that hardly know them or with a rocky relationship. It was proof that Eddie was a great father, first and foremost, and when you put all the BS aside and be a good Dad to your kids, you're a real human being no matter how fast you can play the guitar.
He’ll be alright trust me
Larry James If you’re inferring that because he’s inheriting Eddie’s millions and publishing rights to his music and all his stuff is gonna make everything alright for Wolfgang, you’re a fool. It’s very obvious from Wolfgang’s tweet that Eddie was a great father to him first and foremost. He wasn’t the guitar god millionaire super famous Eddie Van Halen, he was Dad. It was touching, heartbreaking, and just based on that one tweet you know the kind of person Eddie was, and he was a father to his son first. All the other crap out the window.
@@joe6096 ....He will be alright. You have no idea what people go through without a pot to piss in and they come out fine. He will too but yes money doesn’t bring loved ones back but moving on without worry is a super plus. Don’t kid yourself
These are awesome. Man I miss the days of my youth. RIP EVH.
What a sparkle Eddie had. Totally channeling music with every fiber of his being. His smiling eyes and vibrant playing were such a happy sight to see and hear. My guitar hero ❤️🙏✝️🌹
Growing up in the 80s, watching Late Nite with Dave was required viewing. Yeah. I had to go school the next morning, but I could not miss the crazy things Dave would do. Stupid pet tricks. Throwing stuff off seven story building. Viewer mail. But when they would have a VERY SPECIAL guest the show would go another level. Eddie would just get the audience going. I do remember these episodes. I am teenager trying to rock listening to Eddie Van Halen in my bed room, late at night (School Nite), trying not wake my parents up. I was a nerdy band geek, but Van Halen made me feel I was a rocker. THANKS EDDIE. You made my teenage years fun. R.I.P.
"He's just a nutty kind of a guy"- Paul Shaffer. RIP Eddie 🎸
Yes,FREE FROM THE HORRIBLE PAIN,Walter B.Memphis!!
Been viewing various early EVH tributes, but this one put me in tears. The sheer joy and excitement on Letterman and Paul Schafer so clear and apparent in the earlier part of the vid.
I lost it when Ed looked up and smiled for the camera while playing piano. A little eyebrow action, too. We would all be lucky to love what we do as much as EVH loved making music.
He did that because the bass player hit the wrong notes. Lol
What gets missed a lot with Eddie's groundbreaking guitar virtuosity was how good of a pianist he was. Of course he came up with and played the classic synth riff on Jump which may be the one time classic rockers permit a synthesizer riff to reign over a guitar lick, but he really could have been an accomplished pianist on that instrument alone. He also did that great piano intro to Right Now, which is almost classical like Beethoven.
@@joe6096 Saw this on Esquire site today.
ESQ: You just watched your instructors' fingers?
EVH: Yes, fingers. And thank God I had good ears, you know? And for years, my mom and dad put us in these piano contests, where you would rehearse one piece of music all year long, and they drive you down to Long Beach City College, and out of like 3,000 kids, they put you in a little room, and depending on how many years you played, they put you in a category, and then after you play, they post the top 100, or the first 1,000 that won on a billboard outside. "Hey, you're on there." "Ah, Dad, what's going on?" I didn't give a shit. And then an hour later, top 100, Alex and I both were. And we wait longer, and we're in top 20, and then we're in the top 10. And then we're in the top four, I'm goin', and I won.
ESQ: And you won.
EEVH: Three years in a row!
It’s the same happy look he has in the Jump video.
Eddie always seemed to be having fun playing & entertaining. He wasn't trying to be baddass or hardcore. He was having fun.
The bass player just got his eyes on eddie playing during jump, just goes to show how everyone was mesmerized by Ed..R.I.P
My heart is heavy today, but I’m so thrilled that he left all the wonderful music behind to keep his legacy alive. We love you, Eddie ♥️
At 3:48. "Does David get on your nerves?" Vintage Letterman question Eddie couldn't help but laugh at because it was true. lol. Long live Eddie.
True
Yes and no .
Ed provided the soundtrack to our teenage years
Well put.
Yes he did. All my neighbors learned to love him too.
Exactly!
Ain't that the truth literally! Movie soundtracks. Ed was with us all growing up!
Very nice tribute to an incredible artist and truly gifted and innovative guitarist
Awesome!!! Had no idea Eddie sat in with the band as much as he did.
Whether it was Roth or Hagar fronting the band, VH made damn good tunes...Eddie was the golden boy for real guitar fans everywhere. 65 still feels young to leave this world...😥
Those were the days...how I wish we could relive them today. Everything was a lot simpler...David Letterman was actually funny...miss them.
Yeah, before reality shows took over the asylum.
These days just suck in general they really do.
The White House has become an asylum!!!
@@dyanvandino5416 The White House is the best, ever!!
Everyone's entitled to their opinion...
Valerie once said that Eddie literally played guitar in his sleep. Some guys are just born with it. Legend.
Uh, that “born with it”. Do you mean born with a drive to stay on point and master something with hours of practicing? I guess many do not understand what it takes to be great at something. So they assume a person “is a natural” or “born with it”. Is that an “out” for why a person is not good at something? Just wasn’t born with it.
@@AllenFreemanMediaGuru Think you sound smart, eh? Newsflash, you don't.
@@AllenFreemanMediaGuru ~ could have meant born with the drive to excel. Pull your head out man. You're obviously not as smart as you think you are. P.S. ~ and born with talent is certainly part of the equation. Some people are physically born with the fast twitch muscles to be able to do what Ed did. So slink back into your hole. Please.
@@epictetusofhierapolis4461 LOL
@@epictetusofhierapolis4461 You seem to have some emotional problem. When I read Allen's comment, there was nothing of the sort.
I love how Eddie sits like he’s a band member 😂 truly amazing!
Ed treated other musicians like family .
Thanks so much for putting this together and a big middle finger to the 77 thumbs down. Must not be musicians.
What joy this video has brought me. I loved Van Halen. It's still hard for me to believe Eddie is gone.❤
Me too!! I'm still heartbroken 💔💔😭😭. Missing Eddie very much!!
For those of us who lived through these years back then that was the times of our lives for sure!!
35 years later, when Paul says "Eddie Van Halen," you can still feel the massive electric charge. Eddie Van Halen, those studio guests realized. EDDIE VAN HALEN!
Pretty cool hearing Eddie playing along with different styles of music on the show. A guitarist who really cut through the music with that tone and aggressive playing. A true guitar genius and an inspiration to many. There really is no comparison.
I'd love to go back to 1985 or 1995. Great times!
RIP King Edward. You will always be the best in my
book. Thank you for giving being the reason to give me the love and desire to play the guitar. You are loved and deeply missed by millions.
There will never be another like EVH. A part of mine, as well as many other people's childhood, is gone. RIP EVH.
I remember watching Eddie on Letterman in 85, I was 17 years old. These were great! Thanks!
I was 16. I remember it also..
Kimmy Hawk maybe we’re kindred spirits. 😉❤️ 🎸 🎶🎶
EVH was the embodiment of loving what you do. His genius will be missed. Don, thanks for posting this! My Mom was cool enough to let me watch Letterman every night before bed. I was in the 8th grade in '85. This takes me back. ❤️ #RIPEddie
AMEN!!!! No one will ever be EVH! A true legend. 😞😰
I used to sneak out of bed and watch Johnny Carson with my Dad. Here we heeeeeee!!!!!!
I graduated in 1984! One of my guy best friends and I would always sing Van Halen. Great times!!!
My favorite show in the eighties...nothing compares.
🤟
Miss those days so much! Can we just go back ??
People across the entire planet are weeping over this legend of music and rock and roll.
Thank you for uploading this video...
😢😢😢😢😢
I am sending a warm hug to all the people who have given this a thumbs down.
They need it 🤗
Your a sweetheart!
@ You are most welcome .Greetings from Quebec,Canada.
Eddie was always smiling and having a blast. Gonna miss him
"Two Thumbs Up" for EVH & for the movie "Summer School"!!! Cool picture...
You never know what you've got till it's gone. He always seemed like such a nice guy.
Love seeing Eddie just having fun on the guitar - so loose & carefree.
Yep , it really shows what a cool guy he was . At the end of Panama he acknowledged Paul and the band and backs out of the lighting.
Eddie was so cute, and nice guy, About a guitar man? just wow!!!!
The best of ever :)
You're already deeply missed Ed.
These videos bring a tear, the passion & joy of your playing brought great joy to everyone.
Spent countless hours listening to you play.
Gone through all the records again since your passing.
This one really hurts.
RIP EVH
That performance of Panama was epic.
It was!
You can see that Ed had crazy respect for Paul, who is a first rate musician as well as a Letterman sidekick. The rest of the band were equally talented. Good times.
Ya Paul is crazy talented and played keyboards for them on another appearance
I remember that I stayed up until 1 am to watch this on a school night because Eddie was on the show. It was worth the grounding. Thanks for being the innovator and bringer of good times to so many. Rock in Peace Eddie.
Eddie was just so ingeniously talented! He could create killer licks and grooves on the spot without even trying. It was just effortlessly natural for him. Great video, thanks for sharing. RIP Eddie you were the best!!
Very natural if you don’t count 20,000 hours of practicing and playing and studying the instrument. Dedication
Ed was always smiling.
Thanks, Don. These are amazing. It's quite impressive how quickly you were able to put these together and post them. Cheers!
Thx D
He posted a video like this about 3 or 4 years ago.. but then again it matters not.
Well done 👍🏻
@1banana2kiwis yeah
DVincentW I’ve never posted any EVH before this. Perhaps you’re confusing me with another uploader who did.
Amazing work, as always, Don. I can’t believe how quickly you were able to assemble this. Thank you, sir.
She was at his bedside....even after all they went through...R.I.P Eddie.
Valerie is a classy lady, and she really did love Edward.....
That was wonderful that his current wife and Valerie were both there with him. Very classy of Janie and Valerie.
A true blue she was ,Valerie ! R.I.P. E.V.H.
Beautiful! Love never dies ❤
They had been in each others lives for 40 years, spent over 20 years married, & raised a wonderful child together...she didn't leave him because she no longer loved him, she left because she could no longer be present while she now "knew" he was potentially killing himself (after he refused to make needed changes after his original cancer diagnoses).
In fact, ultimately, her leaving him may have indeed added years to his life? His substance abuse really intensified after she left, maybe he never thought she would? When their divorce was final 6 yrs later, he finally gave in, allowed others to help him & got sober...and remained so for the rest of his life. I don't think for a minute she ever stopped loving him. The fact that they both celebrated each others 2nd marriages, together, shows just how deeply they really did love & respect each other.
Man you cant fail to realize how solid and tasteful Eddie’s rhythm playing is sheesh
THE best version of Panama I ever saw. Eddie was a class act through and through- waiving credit to the band after his epic performance. I also never saw Paul smile and dance as much as he did. Cleary playing with Eddie brought out the best of all musicians- and he put on a great show. R.I.P.
Thank you for posting! Such joy, talent, magic, memories....and the music lives on! RIP Eddie. Love to Valerie, Wolfie, and all those loving them tonight.
ua-cam.com/video/jnDSN_XKqdk/v-deo.html
Watching our idols die, we´re getting old!
Sucks getting old.
@sabbracadabra If people think you're a fruitcake because you think there is something more, than my friend, there are a lot of fruitcakes in this world including me. LOL. It's not about religion really (although I have faith), but it is about energy also. #RIPEDDIE
@val sammut yeah
@@jays1222 Better than the alternative!
@Gertg Derften ABSOLUTELY and my son is grown, but can't believe the difference between himself and others in his generation....I raised him old school, with DRIVE AND WORK ETHIC....he works hard and is proud of a job done complete and correctly!
I've missed Dave for years and now I miss Eddie! RIP to the greatest guitar player of all time. Way too hard to believe he is gone.
This was so stinking awesome - when it happened and even more cool to watch it all again!
This is impressive! Thank you! I’m in a state of mourning. I had to finally cry today. What an amazing man and guitar genius. Saw VH in the 1990s with Sammy Hagar. It was EPIC!!!!!! God bless you EVH!!!
This shows how truly great Eddie really was musically nice job
A great guitarist that deserved every accolade and more, We love you Eddie, you inspired so many musicians to take their craft to the next level
Thank you.. amazing
No one comes close
Talented! RIP will be missed
greetings from California.
Eddie provided the soundtrack for the best years of my life! Eddie was the best guitarist EVER!
That opening piano solo on Not Enough, with Eddie smiling...looking so healthy and happy....had to fight back a tear. VH forever!
Eddie always looked like he could not be having a better time anywhere else...unless he was playing there...
You can really hear how great a player EVH is here, in a normal rock & roll setting with other great musicians from the World's Most Dangerous Band. Thanks for putting up so quickly--you are a national treasure!
Just remarkable
This is GOLD!!! OMG...
He really WAS amazing...
He’s also quite good with G.E. Smith and the SNL band.
I grew up with Van Halen with David Lee Roth and they made some awesome and memorable music together and my opinion when Sammy Hagar join the band they made some of the most beautiful music and I enjoy listening to it today thank you Van Halen and thank you Eddie rest in peace
Great composition of music. I worked on a couple of the VH videos, back when MTV did videos in the late 80’s... I was also lucky enough to be one of the truck drivers on the VH tour in ‘95. Great times and great memories. RIP Eddie, Thanks for the great memories.
Eddie and Valerie were one of those couples that you were SO disappointed when you heard that they had broken up. RIP Eddie
Agreed
@Barry Obama apparently her too. Why couldn’t they stop hurting each other 😢
I think they still loved each other after the divorce...
They look like twins..cute!
@@dakotastarchild4424 I believed that too, until I saw his 2012 interview in Esquire where a sober Eddie disses Valerie and basically refers to her as a battle ax.
That was a really great homage to him. RIP Eddie. You'll be missed.
Beautiful tribute man. Thank you so much, this brought tears to my eyes. Aside from his amazing talent, Eddie hands down had the best smile in rock!
Such a huge loss. I was in early high school when 1984 came out. I wore out that tape. The 80s were the best in music.
literally eddie and val are like best friends in public and they joke about things but that bond was impossible to break. RIP Ed we will miss you 🎸
"Does David get on your nerves?“ LOL 😂😂😂
Hilarious!
You guys in America were so lucky to have this show on tv! What a great vibe ! The laid back atmosphere must have been a great relief to the people appearing on the show! Eddie clearly is having a ball! Nice to see him enjoying playing for fun and playing some hot licks! Legend!
The NBC era of Letterman was something special, indeed.
Thanks, Don.
My first ever concert experience was to see Van Halen at the Sydney Entertainment Centre (Australia) in 1998. No phones in sight. Still the best concert I have ever been to.
Great band! Proper musicians that can play any style of song!
Grazie Don, grazie per aver condiviso con tutti noi questo video.
Un abbraccio immensamente grande alla famiglia di Eddie tutta.
💟
Eddie Van Halen and Johnny Carson on the same episode of late night? Two epic legends. I wish I'd seen that one
Carson, Lee Marvin, and now Eddie Van Halen and Los Angeles, all gone.
Man.. shudder to think.
But I I feel fortunate .
All of us who came of age Anywhere between 1967 and (thanks to Eddie ..all the way to 1989-..
We lived our lives to the sounds of the BEST Music soundtrack you could ever hope for.
Or imagine.
Thank you Eddie Van Halen. You gave great Rock N Roll a longer shelf life.
a
Neil Peart; the greatest drummer ever!
And throw in Valerie and Sarah, and I believe we have one of the most disparate group of guests, ever assembled. I mean Lee Marvin AND Eddie and Valerie, alone, blows my mind. In a good way.
anyone go watch the lee marvin interview ?
also check out dweezil zappa eruption / EVH story xx
HORRIBLE TIMES. 2020
Need all the Eddie I can get right now - thanks for putting this together.
Great editing. I gave a standing ovation at the end.
Photos or it didn’t happen. :)
Eddie was the ultimate "California party dude" guitarist. I feel like I'm chugging cheap beer in someone's backyard when I hear him play.
Dutch
Schlitz Malt Liquor was their beer of choice all the way to 1983.
@@Andersdenkende "Californian's" aren't necessarily originally from California though, and it Van Halen is as California as it gets
I already Miss Eddie like he's been gone forever. Dude had so much talent!!! He was just like Hendrix, you couldn't say his name without onow exactly who he was and it's just still unbelievable that he is gone! Rest in Paradise brother.
Thanks for the tribute to the great Eddie, Don!
we love you Eddie Van Halen…the world will never be the same..RIP
This is a great collection of video clips! Eddie Van Halen is Legendary
Since the SuperBowl of Rock and Roll in 1979, New Orleans, LA. Stood against his tower of amps more than once with the felt on my cheek absorbing the magnificence of Eddie playing faster than the speed of light above us overlooking his fans with that shy boy grin.
May God Bless Eddie a million times over for the joy he gave all us Van Halen fans!
This happened the night when i was born. That's a crazy thought for me.
leeD S trust me, no one else cares.
jerrywitaj i know. Doesn't matter 😆
♉️♉️⚡️
leeD S then why did you announce it for everyone to see?? I think it matters...very much so.
jerrywitaj at this point it looks like you care about it more than I do. You're pathetic.
EVH was insanely good.