Eddie Van Halen

Born: 1955-01-26

Eddie Van Halen (26 January 1955 - 6 October 2020) was a Dutch-American musician, songwriter, producer, and inventor. Moving with his family (headed by musician Jan Van Halen) to Pasadena, California as a boy, Eddie and brother Alex were both trained on classical piano. Eddie got a paper route to pay for a drum set, but Alex spent far more time playing it while Eddie was at work, so Eddie "stole" Alex's guitar to get back at him, and they continued to play those instruments for the rest of their careers. The Van Halen brothers started a band called Mammoth, eventually recruiting frontman David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony, and renamed the band Van Halen at Roth's insistence. Van Halen's debut album is one of the most influential and best-selling rock debut albums in history, and Eddie's innovative guitar playing had a massive influence on rock musicians worldwide, with Eddie being hailed as a guitar god and routinely being featured on and in guitar magazines. After a decade with Roth as frontman, he was fired and was successfully replaced by Sammy Hagar, bringing another decade of success for the band before Hagar's departure. A third lineup featuring Gary Cherone was not successful, and Van Halen reunited with both Hagar and Roth for brief periods, replacing Anthony with Eddie's son Wolfgang on bass. Eddie developed tongue cancer in the 2000s, had surgery and was in remission for a number of years, but it eventually returned, and he passed away in 2020, with an outpouring of support and appreciation from musicians the world over.


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The Dirt

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: 2019-03-22

The story of Mötley Crüe and their rise from the Sunset Strip club scene of the early 1980s to...

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The History of Rock 'n' Roll

as Self
Released: 1995-03-06

The history of rock n' roll and pop music are explored are explored via interviews and footage...

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Van Halen: Live Without A Net

as Self (Lead Guitar / Vocals)
Released: 1987-09-15

Recorded live at the New Haven Veteran's Coliseum in New Haven, Connecticut on 27 AUG 1986 and...

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Randy Rhoads: Reflections of a Guitar Icon

as Self (voice)
Released: 2022-05-06

Randy Rhoads’ guitar riffs re-shaped rock ‘n roll and raised the stakes for guitarists around...

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Play It Loud: The Story of Marshall

as Self
Released: 2014-11-28

A history and tribute to British Jim Marshall's amplifiers, which since then became the standard...

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Van Halen: The Van Halen Story

as Himself
Released: 2003-01-01

"The VAN HALEN Story: The Early Years", chronicles the rise of four young musicians from their...

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Van Halen - Live: Right Here, Right Now

as Lead Guitar, Vocals
Released: 1993-02-23

Live: Right Here, Right Now. is the one and only live album by American hard rock band Van...

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Van Halen : Live In Japan Tokyo Dome 1989

as Self (Lead Guitar / Vocals)
Released: 1989-02-01

This show is the only known show from the 'OU812 Tour' that was professionally filmed.

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Van Halen Live at Monsters of Rock, Donington Park 1984

as Self
Released: 2023-08-21

Van Halen in a blistering performance at Donington Park, Leicestershire, England on 18 August...

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Van Halen: Video Hits Vol. 1

as Lead Guitars, Vocals
Released: 1996-01-01

A collection of music videos from one of the most successful rock and roll bands ever. From the...

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Van Halen Live at US Festival

as Himself
Released: 1983-05-29

Van Halen live on the 29th of May, 1983 at the US Festival

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Van Halen The Downtown Sessions

as uncredited
Released: 2012-02-07

Released with the Deluxe Version of Van Halen's A Different Kind of Truth album, The Downtown...

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Cry Baby: The Pedal that Rocks the World

as uncredited
Released: 2011-03-11

Cry Baby: The Pedal That Rocks The World tells the story of the wah wah effect pedal, from its...

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Van Halen : Live from Australia

as Self (Vocals / Guitar)
Released: 1998-04-09

Live from Austalia 1998

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Van Halen - Live 1986 New Haven

as Lead Guitar, Vocals
Released:

Live performance of Van Halen in 1986 at New Haven

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Van Halen: Live in Pensacola, Florida

as Lead Guitar, Vocals
Released: 1995-03-11

-- Opening - Jon Stewart -- -- The Seventh Seal -- -- Big Fat Money -- -- Don't Tell Me(What...

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Van Halen - In Concert

as Himself - Lead Guitar, Vocals
Released: 2011-03-11

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Two and a Half Men

as Himself
First aired: 2003-09-22

A hedonistic jingle writer's free-wheeling life comes to an abrupt halt when his brother and...

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Frasier

as Hank (voice)
First aired: 1993-09-16

After many years spent at the “Cheers” bar, Frasier moves back home to Seattle to work as a...

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Saturday Night Live

as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
First aired: 1975-10-11

A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The...

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MTV Video Music Awards

as Self
First aired: 1984-09-14

An annual award ceremony presented by MTV to honor the best in the music video medium.

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Cafe Americain

as Street Musician
First aired: 1993-09-18

Café Americain is an American sitcom starring Valerie Bertinelli which aired on NBC during the...

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