Rock Hall CEO Takes To Twitter To Pay Respect To Late Eddie Van Halen
By Kelly Fisher
October 6, 2020
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame CEO Greg Harris took to Twitter on Tuesday afternoon (October 6) with a tribute to the late Eddie Van Halen.
The legendary guitarist, who co-founded Van Halen, died Tuesday at age 65, following a lengthy battle with throat cancer.
Harris paid his respects to the Rock Hall inductee, along with a YouTube link of Van Halen performing with Les Paul in 1988.
“You inspired all guitarists that followed, and earned the respect of all that came before you,” Harris said of Eddie Van Halen.
Van Halen — which brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen, bassist Michael Anthony and vocalist David Lee Roth established in 1972 — was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by Velvet Revolver in 2007.
RIP @rockhall inductee Eddie Van Halen. You inspired all guitarists that followed, and earned the respect of all that came before you. Here is fantastic clip of Eddie with Les Paul in 1988 https://t.co/Hqj8kRmr2z via @YouTube
— Greg Harris (@rockhallceo) October 6, 2020
“Van Halen’s jarring stage presence and virtuosic skill kicked the American rock scene into high gear,” the Rock Hall noted. “They delivered their music with an unrelenting intensity and musicality that audiences devoured, launching them to superstardom and restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene.”
Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen's son, is the current bassist. He shared a tribute to his late father on Instagram on Tuesday afternoon.
"I can’t believe I’m having to write this, but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning,” Wolfgang Van Halen wrote. “He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage was a gift…I love you so much, Pop."
Photo: Getty Images