Rock lost a legend on this day in 2020 when Eddie Van Halen passed away after a battle with several serious health issues. The guitar great's death was attributed to a stroke while he was sufferring from pneumonia, a blood disorder and lung cancer.
The future legendary guitarist was born Edward Lodewijk van Halen in the Netherlands on January 26, 1955. When he was six, Eddie's family would move to Pasadena, California, where he and his older brother Alex would both start taking piano lessons. Eddie became a quite accomplished young pianist despite the fact he did not learn to read music. Ironically, Alex took-up the guitar first, a move that prompted Eddie to get a drum kit. They switched instruments after Eddie heard his brother banging out the drum solo in the Sufaris' instrumental Wipe Out!
The pair's first band was formed when Eddie and Alex were still in grade school. The orgin of the group that would become one of the biggest bands in Rock history would come in 1972 and played out under a couple of names before settleing on Van Halen in 1974. The group's raucous and roaring sets on the southern California club circuit caught the attention of Warner Brothers Records and the label signed VH in 1976.
The transition from opening act to tour headliner was rapid once promoters and more established acts saw the group live.
Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on October 6 include...
1951 REO Speedwagon lead singer, guitarist and keyboard player Kevin Cronin born.
1972 Genesis releases Fox Trot.
1978 Mick Jagger apologizes to Jesse Jackson for the lyrics on Some Girls.
1980 John Lydon of the Sex Pistols arrested for brawling in a Dublin pub.
1992 Stevie Ray Vaughan In The Beginning released.
1994 Glenn Frey has abdominal surgery, delaying Eagles Hell Freezes Over tour.
1998 John Mellencamp releases self-titled album.
2003 David Lee Roth abandons $200,000 suit against Van Halen.
2005 Bomb treat interrupts Rolling Stones set at the University of Virginia A Bigger Bang tour concert.
2008 Peter Green Anthology released.
2009 Joe Perry Project releases Have Guitar, Will Travel.
2015 Yoko Ono's attempt to set Guinness World Record for the most humans forming a peace sign falls short in Central Park...
