Loved Van Halen as a kid - Eddie created a lot of news ways to play. RIP

Eddie Van Halen Les Paul Special appearance 1988....

To have the musician most everyone played air guitar to, as well as the the one that most played air drums to die in the same year, is too much.

I started playing guitar in 1985. If I can point to a single person as the reason why I wanted to learn it, it would have to be Eddie. The amazing sounds he made, the fun music, the pure happiness you could see on his face while he was playing, the girls all thought he was so hot, and the guys all thought he was so cool.

He was not my biggest influence musically, as I gravitated towards heavier metal (Maiden/Metallica, etc), but he is almost certainly the main reason I ever picked up a guitar in the first place. RIP.

Eddie Van Halen was a phenomenal guitarist. He will be sorely missed...

I know people will hate to admit it but BOTH Eddie VH and Ace Frehley got a lot people to pick up guitars. I've seen so many mention both as influences.

Wolfgang Van Halen's first solo song "Distance" as a tribute to Eddie.
(plays all instruments and sings lead)

Extremely sweet video and actually not a bad song.

They obviously had a very special and close relationship which is great to see. Watching it made me go hug my 16 year old son.

The ONLY reason I was somewhat OK with WVH replacing Michael Anthony was you could see how much Eddie LOVED playing with Wolfie. When I saw them in 2012, I was blown away at how much fun Eddie was having with his son on stage.

Similar sentiments here too.

I wasn't really a big fan of Van Halen. I was primarily listening to their stuff for transcribing the guitar riffs. It was much more interesting than the generic guitar stuff common in other punk/metal type bands of that era.

I only recently started getting into Ace. Like within the last few weeks but that interview with Tom Snyder, his solo album, good shit all around.

Like his dad, Wolfgang is one talented dude. Impressive song and video.

It's hard to believe it's been one year since his passing.

Yeah, my Facebook post from a year ago, popped up in my Memories.

Wow, hard to believe it's been a year.

Man, a year already? Damn.

wow. I can't believe it's been a year either.

Sammy just dropped this song a few days ago as a tribute to Ed. I love it. It really channels some VH spirit.

“This song is my final bow to that part of my life. It’s not meant to be anything more than a thank-you – with love, with respect, and with one hell of a guitar solo.”
--Sammy Hagar
https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/...h-joe-satriani

I dig it. Solid song. I read about how he dreamed that Eddie came to him and showed him the guitar lick for it. Sammy's voice still sounds great as does Michael's.

I don't believe in Heaven but if there is one, I want my band's background singers to be Michael Anthony and Michael McDonald.

As a Satriani showcase, it's good. Not one of Sammy's better vocal/lyric efforts though. (he'll be pushing 80 soon ).

I know age is a factor but believe it or not, James Taylor and Sammy Hagar are the same age at 77. My wife and I saw James Taylor in concert last summer (or the summer before that) and he sounded pretty bad. So bad that my wife wanted to leave early and James Taylor is her favorite artist of all time. Sammy's voice runs rings around guys his age.

Especially when you consider the miles on his throat. I saw a live clip of him recently and he sound great. Of course, not Sammy 30 years old great but fantastic considering. And he at least still sounds like himself.

I'm well aware, I see Sammy live every chance I get (since the early 80s).

I may be a Dave-era fan but love the effort and intent from Sammy and the boys on this. The song is solid enough and I got a little misty-eyed during the opening sequence. Love hearing a new track with that VH vibe. Well done

I preferred Dave but this track isn't bad.