Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Statement & Assets for Inductee Eddie Van Halen

CLEVELAND (October 6, 2020) – The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has issued the following statement for the passing of 2007 Inductee Eddie Van Halen.

“Inductee Eddie Van Halen forever changed the vocabulary of the electric guitar. With blistering speed, control, and melodic feel, he perfected the art of shredding, unleashing two-handed finger tapping, dramatic whammy-bar moves, and other astonishing never-before-seen techniques. Innovative, like his hero Les Paul, Eddie reimagined the sonic possibilities of the guitar and became an inspiration for an entire generation of musicians who worshiped his sound and style. His band Van Halen kicked the American hard rock scene into high gear in the late Seventies, became rock heroes on MTV in the Eighties, and gave rise to a steady stream of shredders and trailblazers ever since.”

-Greg Harris, President & CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Watch (and use courtesy of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame) Van Halen’s 2007 Induction speech and performance of “Why Can’t This Be Love” and Induction by Velvet Revolver at https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/van-halen, where you can also find Van Halen’s bio and read their official Induction program essay.

To request an interview with a Rock Hall spokesperson about Eddie Van Halen’s legacy, please contact: Shauna Wilson, 215-900-0476, swilson@rockhall.org.

Eddie Van Halen is represented inside the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio:

• Hall of Fame Gallery (L3): signature wall
• Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll (L0 & L6): Including his well-known Frankenstein guitar, Wolfgang guitars, rigs, and more
• The Garage (L2)

Recommended listening – Van Halen career defining playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0psCzG9LMEOnsS2SsWSute?si=Y3ufG0cASTWxdbOQelrxrA

About the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

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