#016 – The passing of guitar legend Eddie Van Halen.
In today’s podcast, we jump back to the year 1984 with the rock band Van Halen. This was the time in musical history when guitar wielding, string bending, finger tapping virtuoso axeman Eddie Van Halen commanded the stage and rocked arenas around the world, not only with his incredible technique but with his stage presence and confident demeanour.
A true innovator in both technique and sound, his command of the instrument was nothing short of sheer genius. His signature guitar sound was sought after by dozens of guitar production companies in an attempt to replicate his tone by combining Fender and Gibson parts and pieces wrapped in a red, white and black stripped package. Try as they may, the sound emanating from Eddie’s guitar was 90% Van Halen and 10% instrument.
I was fortunate enough to have seen the band while living in Winnipeg during the 1984 tour and this certainly had a lasting impression on me. Primarily, Eddie’s ingenuity and creativeness not only with his style of playing but in his creativity and an instrument builder and sound crafter. The lasting impression from such an innovator certainly steered my desire to be creative with my hands.
Not only as a musician but as a builder and creator of all things in life, both musical and physical when it comes to craftsmanship and experimentation. I own a debt of gratitude to Eddie and to all of my mentors during my early years who were/are creative with their hands and minds.
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I hope you enjoy this podcast and I thank you for joining me as a "M.A.Y.L. carrier”, as we proudly deliver our amazing Yukon life stories to the outside world.
Cheers
“Trapper Dan your Renaissance Man”
Daniel Halen