EVH ‘redefined the world of guitar’
Lead guitarist for Chicago’s Fall Out Boy recalls a hero
It’sweird when someone you love passes away. Yes, it’s also sad, traumatic, devastating, griefladen, painful, agonizing, mindnumbing, and just all-around horrible. But when someone who has taken up a particular space in your life— your entire life— just POOF, disappears virtually overnight … well, theworld suddenly feels incredibly strange. It’s a little likewaking froma nightmare— everything is slightly off. The death of Eddie VanHalen has set everything askew for me. At a time when things seem generally terrible, theworld feels just that much more out of sorts now that he’s gone.
As a kid, you growup with these heroes and assume they’ll be around forever. It’s an immature but sweet thought. Andwe hold onto these ideas, these childish notions, well into adulthood. But regardless of someone’s age, health issues or just the fundamental understanding that humanity is fragile and limited, we’re never ready to lose. And yet herewe are, mourning yet another fallen hero.
Not to be hyperbolic, but losing Eddie VanHalen feels akin to that of losingmy own mother, just a mere six years ago. My mom’s influence onme, like Eddie’s, is ever-present. I don’t knowif I would’ve played guitar or started Fall Out Boy (in the Chicago area) without either of them. My mom’s support, and Eddie’s influence, partially drove me to where I amtoday— and I ameternally grateful for that.
Mymombought memy first Stratocaster, a vague wisp of the Frankencaster. I tried to learn howto play like Eddie but found it easier (or lazier) to carvemy own niche as a guitarist. But even those who can emulate him, seemingly to a tee, can’t play like him. No one can. Eddie had his own niche— one that redefined theworld of guitar.
Eddie VanHalen’s playingwas
immediately recognizable and all his own. That tone, the “brown sound,” itwas all in his hands. That metallic chink, it came from howhe picked, holding the plectrum between his thumb and middle finger (which also allowed him to tap without shifting the pick itself ). You can hum his riffs, and his solos are memorable. It’s the utmost honor when people hear you play and say, “Hey, I knowthat guy!” That’s the sign of a truly unique artist and player.
Now, keep in mind that while his playingwas complicated as all hell, Eddie made sure that every lickwas nice and catchy— hooks abound. So, on top of having an identifiable sound, and being one of the most technically gifted players to have everwalked the earth, EVHknew howto make every measure count. He knew howto craft an earworm, one that youwelcomed to burrowinto your mind for eternity. His com
bination of skill, identity and a knack for melody— itwas like he had the Gold Codes at his disposal, the ultimateweapon.
And Eddie used thisweapon wisely. Not only did he attract EVERY guitarist— aspiring and otherwise— to his pulpit, but even those who had zero interest in the instrument took notice. I can’t begin to count the number of friends and family with zero musical ability whatsoever that fell in love with the guitar because of Eddie VanHalen’s playing. He made the guitar cool, and sophisticated. With a name like Edward VanHalen, and the chops of a veritable music god, referring to himwas like referring to a great classical prodigy of the 18th century. It’s nowonder he named his uber-talented son Wolfgang. Eddiewasn’t clueless; he knew hisworth, and there’s nothingwrong with that.
In the pantheon of popular
music, it’s a shame the guitar has taken a big-time back seat to more artificial musical leanings. I love the instrument; I’ve spent my whole life obsessed with it. So, yeah, it makes me sad to see it fading away, out of public interest. But I get it, we’re in a digital age, and the guitar is a bit too analog. Plus, I think too many people misrepresented the guitar as a corny extension of a hackneyed rocker’s prick, a dishonor to the instrument’s gorgeously expressive and supremely emotive nature. Eddie VanHalen knew howtomake the guitar sing in away that transformed the tool into a cultural touchstone. We needmore EVHs in thisworld to reintroduce the guitar to the people, as itwas meant to be, not the shell of what it has become.
In the meantime, we have to celebrate the life of Eddie Van Halen. We have to celebrate his work. We have to honor the one-of-a-kind contributions he has made to, not just music, but to the craft of playing guitar. Those of you who have yet to dip a toe into VanHalen’s catalog, I urge to put on “1984” and not fall in love with the legitimately cool and masterfully crafted songs.
And fromthere, I hope you fall in love, as I had, with Eddie’s playing, which can transport you away from your problems, into a state of pure, unadulterated joy. I thinkwe all need a little bit of that right now. And for the rest of you, raise a glass to the formidable, irreplaceable Edward LodewijkVanHalen— god amongst men. May he rest in peace and live on through humanity in power.