We didn’t forget about the passing of Eddie Van Halen. We were just so locked in on celebrating Willie Phoenix Way that it had to take a back seat while we wrapped up that series.
It is not hyperbole to say there has never been a talent and personality quite like Eddie. He was a GIANT in the Pencil Storm rock world AND the actual rock world. Let’s go down the EVH rabbit hole, shall we? Say goodbye to the next 10 hours of your life.
There really isn’t anything that I could write that comes close to this story from the great Chuck Klosterman:
Click here to read: All 131 Van Halen Songs Ranked Worst to Best
And if for some krazy reason you haven’t read Chuck’s heavy metal masterpiece Fargo Rock City, do it now. Or at least click here to read: TV Party Tonight Salutes Chuck Klosterman and Fargo Rock City.
Speaking of good books, I recently read Greg Renoff’s excellent Ted Templeman bio and, as usual, the Van Halen chapters were the most interesting. I was struck by Ted describing Van Halen launching into “I’m The One” while recording their landmark debut record. He said it was well after midnight and the band had been drinking heavily and snorting “krell” for hours. Suddenly they said, “Let’s record this one,” and launched into what Ted describes as the most amazing display of musical dexterity he has ever witnessed in rock n roll.
Like everyone, I have heard this song a million times, but when you listen to it in the context of what Ted describes and realize that this is a LIVE non-overdubbed version, it’s jaw-dropping. I mean….. (yes, they overdubbed DLR vocals later).
Which brings me to the next track on Van Halen 1, Jamie’s Cryin’. If you want to know what separates Eddie from his so called peers, just listen to these songs back to back. The first is a blazing display of raw talent. The second is a just as impressive display of musical discipline. You don’t think Eddie couldn’t have shredded a solo on Jamie’s Cryin’? Of course he could have, he is Eddie Freaking Van Halen for Christ’s sake. BUT… he chooses to just reinforce the main hook four times in a row. Combine these two songs and we have a genius at work. Then again, as a kid Eddie would win classical piano competitions and he couldn’t even read music. He would just fake-turn the pages. He just played by ear. That isn’t normal. Anyway, dig this.
I guess Eddie not being normal is no surprise since his childhood was the furthest thing from normal. Check out this interview with Eddie talking about the Van Halen’s emigrating to America as kids and not being able to speak English.
This is my favorite Van Halen footage on YouTube. It’s cut-up and a little grainy, but if you stick with it, it’s a glimpse of VH blowing Black Sabbath off the stage on their very first tour. You can tell the crowd doesn’t exactly know who they are, but by the time Eddie finishes Eruption and they launch into You Really Got Me, people are ripping shit off the walls and hitting each other over the head with chairs. It’s amazing how polished Van Halen already were, but then again they had been playing like the Beatles at Hamburg all around Southern California for years and years. Free beer and three sets a night six days a week. The Van Halen brothers work ethic is the stuff of legends. Please watch this.
Which brings me to Van Halen Rising by Greg Renoff. An absolute MUST read for any fan of rock n roll books. Click here to check it out.
And let’s watch this video just because…
Onto the Sammy era. Spare me your lectures. I like this era too. (editor’s note: Ricki C. does not concur.) Listen, it’s not like Sammy kidnapped Dave and forced Eddie and Alex to make records with him, this was Eddie’s band and he wanted to go that direction. So if you don’t like it, point the finger at Eddie. Click here to read: 5150 Never Helped Me With the Ladies But it’s Still My Favorite Van Halen Record. By Me.
And for the SINGLE best chapter ever written about VH, read Sammy Hagar’s account of first jamming with Alex and Eddie is his excellent memoir Red. Eddie and Alex just drinking beer, eating hotdogs and jamming for hours everyday. Like, literally everyday.
If you look at footage from the beginning of the Sammy era, you will never see a happier rock n roll band. These guys loved playing together and loved each other. How can you begrudge Eddie for this happiness? Watch this!
This version of 5150 alone completely validates the entire Sammy era……
This is pop, but damn, it just sounds great.
And playing a parking lot party? You betcha.
Okay, Van Halen 3 with Gary Cherone was a bridge too far, but all legendary rock bands have at least one horrible record. It’s almost mandatory. The Doctor, St. Anger, Dirty Work, The Elder… and so on and so forth…,,
You can’t blame Gary Cherone for this…..
The good news is they reunited with DLR for one final excellent record before calling it a career. Let’s wrap it up with this. Still jaw-dropping after all these years. RIP EVH. The world is way less interesting without you. - Colin Gawel
Bonus picture: Me with my Eddie Van Halen model guitar playing a gig when I was 16. ‘Nuff said.
