RIP Eddie Van Halen

Quote from: wons on October 06, 2020, 05:15:34 PM

Biggest selling American bands in the United States based on sales of original studio albums only, no compilations.


01. Metallica - 52 million - 10 albums
02. Van Halen - 51 million - 12 albums
03. Eagles - 45.5 million - 7 albums
04. Aerosmith - 43 million - 14 albums
05. Guns N Roses - 38 million - 5 albums

I'm sure that means a lot to his fans, wons.

I think some people might forget the impact that Van Halen has had here in the United States. Billie Eilish should have known who Van Halen was at her age. Its only been in the last few years that Metallica actually pushed past Van Halen on this list for the top spot.

Quote from: John Galt on October 06, 2020, 05:30:02 PM

Quote from: wons on October 06, 2020, 05:15:34 PM

Biggest selling American bands in the United States based on sales of original studio albums only, no compilations.


01. Metallica - 52 million - 10 albums
02. Van Halen - 51 million - 12 albums
03. Eagles - 45.5 million - 7 albums
04. Aerosmith - 43 million - 14 albums
05. Guns N Roses - 38 million - 5 albums

I'm sure that means a lot to his fans, wons.

I think some people might forget the impact that Van Halen has had here in the United States. Billie Eilish should have known who Van Halen was at her age. Its only been in the last few years that Metallica actually pushed past Van Halen on this list for the top spot.

She is only 18....I am 30 years older than her and i could not name a Van Halen album.

Quote from: wons on October 06, 2020, 05:37:21 PM

Quote from: John Galt on October 06, 2020, 05:30:02 PM

Quote from: wons on October 06, 2020, 05:15:34 PM

Biggest selling American bands in the United States based on sales of original studio albums only, no compilations.


01. Metallica - 52 million - 10 albums
02. Van Halen - 51 million - 12 albums
03. Eagles - 45.5 million - 7 albums
04. Aerosmith - 43 million - 14 albums
05. Guns N Roses - 38 million - 5 albums

I'm sure that means a lot to his fans, wons.

I think some people might forget the impact that Van Halen has had here in the United States. Billie Eilish should have known who Van Halen was at her age. Its only been in the last few years that Metallica actually pushed past Van Halen on this list for the top spot.

She is only 18....I am 30 years older than her and i could not name a Van Halen album.

Big difference is that you're British and she is American. The list was AMERICAN bands sales in the UNITED STATES. If your born and raised in America, you should know who Van Halen is, because just until recently, they were the biggest selling American band in AMERICA.

Quote from: an tha on October 06, 2020, 05:46:46 PM

Quote from: wons on October 06, 2020, 05:37:21 PM

Quote from: John Galt on October 06, 2020, 05:30:02 PM

Quote from: wons on October 06, 2020, 05:15:34 PM

Biggest selling American bands in the United States based on sales of original studio albums only, no compilations.


01. Metallica - 52 million - 10 albums
02. Van Halen - 51 million - 12 albums
03. Eagles - 45.5 million - 7 albums
04. Aerosmith - 43 million - 14 albums
05. Guns N Roses - 38 million - 5 albums

I'm sure that means a lot to his fans, wons.

I think some people might forget the impact that Van Halen has had here in the United States. Billie Eilish should have known who Van Halen was at her age. Its only been in the last few years that Metallica actually pushed past Van Halen on this list for the top spot.

She is only 18....I am 30 years older than her and i could not name a Van Halen album.

Big difference is that you're British and she is American. The list was AMERICAN bands sales in the UNITED STATES. If your born and raised in America, you should know who Van Halen is, because just until recently, they were the biggest selling American band in AMERICA.

Wons - my reading comprehension is ok, you don't need to put America/American etc in capitals....

18 years old girl.

I just checked and they have released 1 album in her life time in 2012....she would have been about 10/11.

I don't see it as at all surprising if she hasn't heard of them.

Quote from: wons on October 06, 2020, 05:51:49 PM

Quote from: an tha on October 06, 2020, 05:46:46 PM

Quote from: wons on October 06, 2020, 05:37:21 PM

Quote from: John Galt on October 06, 2020, 05:30:02 PM

Quote from: wons on October 06, 2020, 05:15:34 PM

Biggest selling American bands in the United States based on sales of original studio albums only, no compilations.


01. Metallica - 52 million - 10 albums
02. Van Halen - 51 million - 12 albums
03. Eagles - 45.5 million - 7 albums
04. Aerosmith - 43 million - 14 albums
05. Guns N Roses - 38 million - 5 albums

I'm sure that means a lot to his fans, wons.

I think some people might forget the impact that Van Halen has had here in the United States. Billie Eilish should have known who Van Halen was at her age. Its only been in the last few years that Metallica actually pushed past Van Halen on this list for the top spot.

She is only 18....I am 30 years older than her and i could not name a Van Halen album.

Big difference is that you're British and she is American. The list was AMERICAN bands sales in the UNITED STATES. If your born and raised in America, you should know who Van Halen is, because just until recently, they were the biggest selling American band in AMERICA.

Wons - my reading comprehension is ok, you don't need to put America/American etc in capitals....

18 years old girl.

I just checked and they have released 1 album in her life time in 2012....she would have been about 10/11.

I don't see it as at all surprising if she hasn't heard of them.

Again, this is why she should have heard of them:

Biggest selling American bands in the United States based on sales of original studio albums only, no compilations.


01. Metallica - 52 million - 10 albums
02. Van Halen - 51 million - 12 albums
03. Eagles - 45.5 million - 7 albums
04. Aerosmith - 43 million - 14 albums
05. Guns N Roses - 38 million - 5 albums

Van Halen has toured the United States extensively since she was born.

Quote from: an tha on October 06, 2020, 05:57:19 PM

Quote from: wons on October 06, 2020, 05:51:49 PM

Quote from: an tha on October 06, 2020, 05:46:46 PM

Quote from: wons on October 06, 2020, 05:37:21 PM

Quote from: John Galt on October 06, 2020, 05:30:02 PM

Quote from: wons on October 06, 2020, 05:15:34 PM

Biggest selling American bands in the United States based on sales of original studio albums only, no compilations.


01. Metallica - 52 million - 10 albums
02. Van Halen - 51 million - 12 albums
03. Eagles - 45.5 million - 7 albums
04. Aerosmith - 43 million - 14 albums
05. Guns N Roses - 38 million - 5 albums

I'm sure that means a lot to his fans, wons.

I think some people might forget the impact that Van Halen has had here in the United States. Billie Eilish should have known who Van Halen was at her age. Its only been in the last few years that Metallica actually pushed past Van Halen on this list for the top spot.

She is only 18....I am 30 years older than her and i could not name a Van Halen album.

Big difference is that you're British and she is American. The list was AMERICAN bands sales in the UNITED STATES. If your born and raised in America, you should know who Van Halen is, because just until recently, they were the biggest selling American band in AMERICA.

Wons - my reading comprehension is ok, you don't need to put America/American etc in capitals....

18 years old girl.

I just checked and they have released 1 album in her life time in 2012....she would have been about 10/11.

I don't see it as at all surprising if she hasn't heard of them.

Again, this is why she should have heard of them:

Biggest selling American bands in the United States based on sales of original studio albums only, no compilations.


01. Metallica - 52 million - 10 albums
02. Van Halen - 51 million - 12 albums
03. Eagles - 45.5 million - 7 albums
04. Aerosmith - 43 million - 14 albums
05. Guns N Roses - 38 million - 5 albums

Van Halen has toured the United States extensively since she was born.

She's 18, Wons....18.

I very much doubt she knows much or cares much about the numbers of records people bought years before she was even thought of.

Anyway - let's not turn this RIP thread for this fella into a long back and forth about this.

Didn’t you Brits get videos back in the 80’s? VH were always on back then.

For anyone who hasn’t heard the brilliance of EVH this is from the 1st album in ‘78. No one had heard anyone play the guitar like this before. He was revolutionary.

I just got of the phone with my 80 yo dad who wanted to tell me about Eddie’s passing.

They knew each other back in the 80’s-90’s and my old man is a little shaken to say the least.

He shared a couple anecdotes I’m relaying here.

Back in 1988, when VH put together the Monsters of Rock tour, my dad absolutely wanted to be the sound system provider (and vice versa for VH) but all his equipment was booked through 1990, with acts like Billy Joel, Mellencamp and others touring extensively. I think at that time he could provide for 5 acts at the same time. So, he needed to acquire all the equipment for that huge tour and the investment was around 2.2M$US. Financing was a little troublesome because traditional banks didn’t want to lend money to a rock & roll operation. He managed to get on board a private financial firm, but still needed to bring at least half a million to the table, to get the whole thing going. He was short 300K$ and as a last resort, asked Eddie to personally loan him the money, which he easily agreed to. That’s the kind of rock star Eddie was.

Another one he told me happened when the 1984 tour came to MTL at the old Forum. My dad had the no-so brillant idea to bring my stepmother (his 2nd wife) to see the show. Let’s just say she was more into Barbra Streisand than rock music. She couldn’t stand it after an hour, so they existed the Forum to go to a nearby bar to wait for the show to end. They got back inside the Forum after, because my father wanted my stepmother to meet Eddie. So once they were in the dressing room and met, Eddie asked her “how did you like the show?”. She politely answered “Well I think I’m to old for this kind of music”, to which Eddie answered “Me too!”. 

I just got of the phone with my 80 yo dad who wanted to tell me about Eddie’s passing.

They knew each other back in the 80’s-90’s and my old man is a little shaken to say the least.

He shared a couple anecdotes I’m relaying here.

Back in 1988, when VH put together the Monsters of Rock tour, my dad absolutely wanted to be the sound system provider (and vice versa for VH) but all his equipment was booked through 1990, with acts like Billy Joel, Mellencamp and others touring extensively. I think at that time he could provide for 5 acts at the same time. So, he needed to acquire all the equipment for that huge tour and the investment was around 2.2M$US. Financing was a little troublesome because traditional banks didn’t want to lend money to a rock & roll operation. He managed to get on board a private financial firm, but still needed to bring at least half a million to the table, to get the whole thing going. He was short 300K$ and as a last resort, asked Eddie to personally loan him the money, which he easily agreed to. That’s the kind of rock star Eddie was.

Another one he told me happened when the 1984 tour came to MTL at the old Forum. My dad had the no-so brillant idea to bring my stepmother (his 2nd wife) to see the show. Let’s just say she was more into Barbra Streisand than rock music. She couldn’t stand it after an hour, so they existed the Forum to go to a nearby bar to wait for the show to end. They got back inside the Forum after, because my father wanted my stepmother to meet Eddie. So once they were in the dressing room and met, Eddie asked her “how did you like the show?”. She politely answered “Well I think I’m to old for this kind of music”, to which Eddie answered “Me too!”. 

Great stuff M’Pare!

I just got of the phone with my 80 yo dad who wanted to tell me about Eddie’s passing.

They knew each other back in the 80’s-90’s and my old man is a little shaken to say the least.

He shared a couple anecdotes I’m relaying here.

Back in 1988, when VH put together the Monsters of Rock tour, my dad absolutely wanted to be the sound system provider (and vice versa for VH) but all his equipment was booked through 1990, with acts like Billy Joel, Mellencamp and others touring extensively. I think at that time he could provide for 5 acts at the same time. So, he needed to acquire all the equipment for that huge tour and the investment was around 2.2M$US. Financing was a little troublesome because traditional banks didn’t want to lend money to a rock & roll operation. He managed to get on board a private financial firm, but still needed to bring at least half a million to the table, to get the whole thing going. He was short 300K$ and as a last resort, asked Eddie to personally loan him the money, which he easily agreed to. That’s the kind of rock star Eddie was.

Another one he told me happened when the 1984 tour came to MTL at the old Forum. My dad had the no-so brillant idea to bring my stepmother (his 2nd wife) to see the show. Let’s just say she was more into Barbra Streisand than rock music. She couldn’t stand it after an hour, so they existed the Forum to go to a nearby bar to wait for the show to end. They got back inside the Forum after, because my father wanted my stepmother to meet Eddie. So once they were in the dressing room and met, Eddie asked her “how did you like the show?”. She politely answered “Well I think I’m to old for this kind of music”, to which Eddie answered “Me too!”. 

I like Eddie response to your Stepmother. I'm sure after a two to three hour show, he was feeling it in that moment.

Awesome stuff, MPare.

Liked the band with both David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar as frontman, and that was certainly a noteworthy change made.  RIP to one of the all time, guitar greats in Eddie Van Halen.

I just got of the phone with my 80 yo dad who wanted to tell me about Eddie’s passing.

They knew each other back in the 80’s-90’s and my old man is a little shaken to say the least.

He shared a couple anecdotes I’m relaying here.

Back in 1988, when VH put together the Monsters of Rock tour, my dad absolutely wanted to be the sound system provider (and vice versa for VH) but all his equipment was booked through 1990, with acts like Billy Joel, Mellencamp and others touring extensively. I think at that time he could provide for 5 acts at the same time. So, he needed to acquire all the equipment for that huge tour and the investment was around 2.2M$US. Financing was a little troublesome because traditional banks didn’t want to lend money to a rock & roll operation. He managed to get on board a private financial firm, but still needed to bring at least half a million to the table, to get the whole thing going. He was short 300K$ and as a last resort, asked Eddie to personally loan him the money, which he easily agreed to. That’s the kind of rock star Eddie was.

Another one he told me happened when the 1984 tour came to MTL at the old Forum. My dad had the no-so brillant idea to bring my stepmother (his 2nd wife) to see the show. Let’s just say she was more into Barbra Streisand than rock music. She couldn’t stand it after an hour, so they existed the Forum to go to a nearby bar to wait for the show to end. They got back inside the Forum after, because my father wanted my stepmother to meet Eddie. So once they were in the dressing room and met, Eddie asked her “how did you like the show?”. She politely answered “Well I think I’m to old for this kind of music”, to which Eddie answered “Me too!”. 

Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

I have to say, although I knew of EVH and knew he was kind of a big deal in certain circles, here in France I only knew him for Jump and Beat it... and, of course THAT Back to the Future scene.

I was very sad, though, to learn that he had contracted cancer because he had been using copper picks most of his life... and every guitarist on Earth holds a pick in his/her mouth half the time... I wish we knew better.

The following article link provides a little more information on what happened:



Eddie Van Halen has had cancer off and on since the year 2000, over 20 years now.

According to TMZ, which first broke the news, the legendary guitarist’s condition suddenly and drastically worsened during the past 72 hours, with doctors discovering that his throat cancer had spread to his brain and other organs. TMZ reports that Eddie died at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, Calif., with his wife Janie, his brother and bandmate Alex Van Halen, and Wolfgang by his side.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/guitar-great-eddie-van-halen-dead-at-age-65-204429312.html

I believe Valerie Bertinelli was also by his side when he passed on.