| Revision as of 23:37, 4 August 2003 editXj14y (talk | contribs)342 edits Added parents, Valerie, and wolfie.← Previous edit | Revision as of 00:42, 7 August 2003 edit undoXj14y (talk | contribs)342 edits added m jackson and soundtrack work. also more personal stuffNext edit → | ||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
| Eddie started classical piano training, and won many talent shows as a child. In an ironic twist of fate, Eddie's brother ] started taking guitar lessons and Eddie bought a drum kit. While Eddie was delivering newspapers to pay for his drum kit, Alex would play it. They soon switched instruments permanently. | Eddie started classical piano training, and won many talent shows as a child. In an ironic twist of fate, Eddie's brother ] started taking guitar lessons and Eddie bought a drum kit. While Eddie was delivering newspapers to pay for his drum kit, Alex would play it. They soon switched instruments permanently. | ||
| In ] the brothers along with ] and ] became known as Van Halen. They were signed to ] in ] and released their self titled debut album on ], ]. | In ] the brothers along with ] and ] became known as Van Halen. They were signed to ] in ] and released their self titled debut album on ], ]. Multiplatinum sales and world tours followed. | ||
| Van Halen also played a pivotal role in getting R&B videos played on then rock-dominated ]. He was called in to lay down a guitar track for the song ''Beat It'' from ]'s breakthrough ] album, "Thriller". The combination of ]' production and Eddie's guitar work broke new ground, and ushered in yet another musical trend. | |||
| He has done soundtrack work for movies such as ''Back To The Future'' and ''Wild Life'', and has recorded with ], ], and ]. | |||
| He built his trademark red and white striped guitar (Originally black and white) by hand, using an imperfect body and neck picked up at a discount. | He built his trademark red and white striped guitar (Originally black and white) by hand, using an imperfect body and neck picked up at a discount. | ||
| He created and promoted a new signature guitar made by ] in the 1990's. | |||
| ⚫ | He married actress Valerie Bertinelli in ]. They separated in ] | ||
| The 1990's proved to be a rough time for Van Halen. He lost his mother to cancer, was treated for cancer himself, had hip surgery done to correct years of abuse fueled by alcohol, and his band went through their third lead singer. | |||
| ⚫ | He married actress ] in ]. They separated in ] | ||
| He has one son, Wolfgang Van Halen, born ], ] | He has one son, Wolfgang Van Halen, born ], ]. He was named after ], and nicknamed "Wolfie". | ||
| '''See also:''' ]. | '''See also:''' ]. | ||
Revision as of 00:42, 7 August 2003
Edward Lodewijk Van Halen (born January 26, 1955) Father: Jan Mother: Eugenia
The guitarist and founding member of the heavy metal band Van Halen. He was born in Nijmegen, Netherlands and moved with his family to Pasadena, California in 1962.
Eddie started classical piano training, and won many talent shows as a child. In an ironic twist of fate, Eddie's brother Alex Van Halen started taking guitar lessons and Eddie bought a drum kit. While Eddie was delivering newspapers to pay for his drum kit, Alex would play it. They soon switched instruments permanently.
In 1974 the brothers along with David Lee Roth and Michael Anthony became known as Van Halen. They were signed to Warner Brothers in 1977 and released their self titled debut album on February 8, 1978. Multiplatinum sales and world tours followed.
Van Halen also played a pivotal role in getting R&B videos played on then rock-dominated MTV. He was called in to lay down a guitar track for the song Beat It from Michael Jackson's breakthrough 1982 album, "Thriller". The combination of Quincy Jones' production and Eddie's guitar work broke new ground, and ushered in yet another musical trend.
He has done soundtrack work for movies such as Back To The Future and Wild Life, and has recorded with Brian May, Jeff Pocaro, and Thomas Dolby.
He built his trademark red and white striped guitar (Originally black and white) by hand, using an imperfect body and neck picked up at a discount.
He created and promoted a new signature guitar made by Peavey Guitars in the 1990's.
The 1990's proved to be a rough time for Van Halen. He lost his mother to cancer, was treated for cancer himself, had hip surgery done to correct years of abuse fueled by alcohol, and his band went through their third lead singer.
He married actress Valerie Bertinelli in 1981. They separated in 2001
He has one son, Wolfgang Van Halen, born March 16, 1991. He was named after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and nicknamed "Wolfie".
See also: guitar.