Eddie Van Halen: Rockers React to Guitar Icon’s Death

Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

October 6th, 2020 5:58 PM

Eddie Van Halen has been one of the most influential guitarists ever since Van Halen released their iconic self-titled debut album in 1978.

News of his death at the age of 65 spread quickly as did countless tributes to the late guitar god. Here is just a selection of guitarists and other rockers paying their respects to EVH.

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GALLERY: A Look at 1978’s Best Rock Albums

• Van Halen – ‘Van Halen’

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  Van Halen's self-titled debut helped set a new standard for budding guitarists and frontmen. Eddie Van Halen remains one of the biggest guitar heroes ever, and David Lee Roth is still cited as one of the greatest performers, and much of that is thanks to this iconic debut.

• AC/DC – ‘Powerage’

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  A fan-favorite among the AC/DC faithful, 'Powerage' features some of the band's best songs including "Rock and Roll Damnation" and "Sin City."

• Blondie – ‘Parallel Lines’

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  Blondie's classic album 'Parallel Line' stretched from early rock covers with Buddy Holly's "I'm Gonna Love You Too" to disco with their monster hit "Heart of Glass."
• Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band – ‘Stranger in Town

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  The follow-up to 1976's 'Night Moves,' 'Stranger in Town' would go on to be certified six-times platinum and features the hits "Hollywood Nights," "We've Got Tonight," "Still the Same" and "Old Time Rock and Roll."

• Foreigner – ‘Double Vision’

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  One of the albums that defined rock radio, 'Double Vision' contains classics like "Hot Blooded," "Blue Morning, Blue Day" and the title track.

• The Police – ‘Outlandos d’Amour’

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  The Police's debut album 'Outlandos d'Amour' would help sow the seeds of a trio that would go on to be one of the biggest bands of the 1980's thanks to songs like "Roxanne" and "Can't Stand Losing You."
• The Rolling Stones – ‘Some Girls’

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  Fifteen years into their career, The Rolling Stones were still great, and they proved it with one of their best albums, 'Some Girls,' which topped the album charts and featured the #1 single "Miss You."

• Rush – ‘Hemispheres’

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  Only having four songs total, the title track of Rush's 'Hemispheres' took up all of side one on the record. Side two, meanwhile, featured the epic instrumental "La Villa Strangiato."

• The Cars – ‘The Cars’

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  The Cars' sleek look and sound helped to define the new wave sounds of the 1980's, but songs like "Just Want I Needed" and "My Best Friend's Girl" had an instantly classic sound.
• The Who – ‘Who Are You’

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  The Who's 'Who Are You' was the band's final album with powerhouse drummer Keith Moon, who would die less than a month after the album's release. The title track, which was the last song on the album, was a great final blast from the original lineup.

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Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

Category:

• 93.3 WMMR
• Music
• Rock News

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Eddie Van Halen