Eddie Van Halen | Guitar, Virtuoso, & Biography

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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.allmusic.com/artist/eddie-van-halen-mn0000146544/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">AllMusic - Eddie Van Halen</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/eddie-van-halen" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Lemelson-MIT program - Eddie Van Halen</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/oct/07/eddie-van-halen-obituary" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">The Guardian - Eddie Van Halen obituary</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: Edward Lodewijk Van Halen</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/jacob-stovall/12961574" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Jacob Stovall</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Jacob Stovall is a freelance contributor at Encyclopedia Britannica, with a focus on the arts, humanities, and social sciences.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Jacob Stovall</span></div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-10-17T00:00:00CDT" >Oct 17, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eddie-Van-Halen/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Byname of: </dt> <dd>Edward Lodewijk Van Halen</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Born: </dt> <dd>January 26, 1955, <a href="/place/Amsterdam">Amsterdam</a>, <a href="/place/Netherlands">Netherlands</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Died: </dt> <dd>October 6, 2020, <a href="/place/Santa-Monica">Santa Monica</a>, <a href="/place/California-state">California</a>, U.S. (aged 65)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also Known As: </dt> <dd>Edward Lodewijk Van Halen</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Eddie-Van-Halen"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref1317158"></span>Eddie Van Halen</strong> (born January 26, 1955, Amsterdam, Netherlands—died October 6, 2020, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Santa-Monica" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Santa Monica</a>, California, U.S.) was a Dutch-born American guitarist and cofounder of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/heavy-metal-music" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">heavy metal</a> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/band-music" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">band</a> <span id="ref1317159"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Van-Halen" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Van Halen</a>, for which he served as the primary songwriter. He was known for his virtuosic <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/electric-guitar" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">electric guitar</a> playing technique <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="characterized" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/characterized" data-type="EB">characterized</a> by speed and the fusion of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/blues-music" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">blues</a>-based <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/rock-music" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">rock</a> with classical <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/music" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">music</a> influences. Widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential rock guitarists of all time, he pioneered, but did not invent, the finger tapping technique, wherein both hands are used to play arpeggios on the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/guitar" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">guitar</a> fretboard.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref361284"> <h2 class="h1">Early life</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Edward Lodewijk Van Halen was born in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Amsterdam" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Amsterdam</a>, the youngest child of Eugenia (née van Beers) Van Halen, who was of Indonesian descent and worked as a housekeeper, and Jan Van Halen, who was of Dutch descent and worked as a professional clarinetist and saxophonist, among other jobs. Because his parents were a mixed-race couple, the family experienced <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/racism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">racism</a> in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Netherlands" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">the Netherlands</a> and moved to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Pasadena-California" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pasadena</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/California-state" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">California</a>, in 1962.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Eddie and his elder brother, <span id="ref1317160"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alex-Van-Halen" class="md-crosslink ">Alex</a>, were trained from a young age to become classical pianists. Despite never learning to sight-read sheet music proficiently, Eddie was skilled at learning music by ear, and he won several local <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/piano" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">piano</a> recital contests. However, despite their initial training in classical music, the brothers were drawn to rock music by bands such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/the-Beatles" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">the Beatles</a> and the Dave Clark Five. At first Eddie took up the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/drum-musical-instrument" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">drums</a>, and Alex played guitar. They <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="swapped" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/swapped" data-type="EB">swapped</a> instruments when Alex became proficient at the drums, impressing Eddie with his mastery of the solo from “Wipe Out” by the Surfaris. In the book <em>Eruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen</em> (2021) by Brad Tolinski and Chris Gill, Eddie remembered: “He kept playing my drums, and when he got better, I started playing his guitar. That was the real beginning of Van Halen—that’s how it all started.”</p><div class="module-spacing"> </div><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Eddie practiced the guitar constantly. In a 1996 interview with <em>Guitar Player</em> magazine, he recalled: “I used to sit on the edge of my bed with a six-pack of Schlitz Malt talls. My brother would go out at 7 <span class="text-smallcaps">pm</span> to party…and when he’d come back at 3 <span class="text-smallcaps">am</span>, I would still be sitting in the same place, playing guitar. I did that for years—I still do that.”</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In 1972 Eddie and Alex formed a band that was initially called Genesis but was later renamed Mammoth. Singer <span id="ref1317161"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/David-Lee-Roth" class="md-crosslink ">David Lee Roth</a> and bassist <span id="ref1317162"></span>Michael Anthony joined in 1974, and the band changed its name to Van Halen. The band progressed from playing backyard parties and high-school gigs around Pasadena to performing at nightclubs in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Los-Angeles-California" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Los Angeles</a>, such as the Starwood, Gazzarri’s, and the Whisky a Go Go. In 1977 <span id="ref1317163"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gene-Simmons" class="md-crosslink ">Gene Simmons</a> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kiss-band" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Kiss</a> funded and produced a Van Halen <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="demo" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/demo" data-type="EB">demo</a> recording, and later that year record company executive Mo Ostin and producer Ted Templeman signed the band to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Warner-Brothers" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Warner Brothers</a> Records.</p><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="marker h3"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref361285"> <h2 class="h1">Career and personal life</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><span class="inline-youtube-video d-print-none"><iframe class="" width="560" height="315" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/M4Czx8EWXb0?rel=0"></iframe></span>The band’s critically acclaimed debut album, <em><span id="ref1317164"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Van-Halen-album-by-Van-Halen" class="md-crosslink ">Van Halen</a></em> (1978), reached number 19 on the <em>Billboard</em> album chart and eventually sold more than 10 million copies in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United States</a>. <em>Van Halen</em> features the band’s heavy take on <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Kinks" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">the Kinks</a>’ “You Really Got Me” and the original songs “Runnin’ with the Devil,” “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” and “Eruption,” a blazing 102-second guitar-based instrumental that showcases Eddie’s finger tapping technique. The band followed up its debut album with <em><span id="ref1317165"></span>Van Halen II</em> (1979), which produced its first top 20 single, “Dance the Night Away,” and includes the tracks “Light Up the Sky,” “Beautiful Girls,” and the finger-tapping instrumental “Spanish Fly.”</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><span class="inline-youtube-video d-print-none"><iframe class="" width="560" height="315" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/kkxqcWhym9U?rel=0"></iframe></span>Van Halen went on to release the albums <em><span id="ref1317166"></span>Women and Children First</em> (1980), <em><span id="ref1317167"></span>Fair Warning</em> (1981), and <em><span id="ref1317168"></span>Diver Down</em> (1982), the last of which is anchored by the hit single “(Oh) Pretty Woman,” the band’s take on <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Roy-Orbison" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Roy Orbison</a>’s classic tune. <em>Diver Down</em> also includes the track “Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now),” which showcases Jan Van Halen on clarinet.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=black-friday-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><span class="inline-youtube-video d-print-none"><iframe class="" width="560" height="315" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/SwYN7mTi6HM?rel=0"></iframe></span>The band toured relentlessly through the early 1980s and began receiving considerable airplay on <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/MTV" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">MTV</a>. Van Halen’s sixth studio album <em><span id="ref1317169"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/1984-album-by-Van-Halen" class="md-crosslink ">1984</a></em> (1984) launched the band into megastardom with the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="standout" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/standout" data-type="EB">standout</a> tracks “Panama,” “Hot for Teacher,” and the band’s only number-one hit, “Jump,” which featured Eddie on <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/music-synthesizer" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">synthesizer</a> and guitar. <em>1984</em> reached number two on the <em>Billboard</em> album charts, peaking behind <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Jackson" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Michael Jackson</a>’s multiplatinum <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Thriller-recording-by-Jackson" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true"><em>Thriller</em></a>. Eddie contributed a raucous guitar solo to Jackson’s hit song “Beat It” from <em>Thriller</em>, and he also played a role in shaping the arrangement of the song.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD9 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="19047" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/23141-004-12A94725/Eddie-Van-Halen-1986.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1292002/19047"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/23141-004-12A94725/Eddie-Van-Halen-1986.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/23141-004-12A94725/Eddie-Van-Halen-1986.jpg?w=300" alt="Eddie Van Halen" data-width="250" data-height="300" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/41/23141-004-12A94725/Eddie-Van-Halen-1986.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1292002/19047">Eddie Van Halen</a><span>The driving force behind the success of the Los Angeles-based band Van Halen was the virtuosic guitar playing of Eddie Van Halen.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">After the release of <em>1984</em>, artistic and personal tensions grew between Eddie Van Halen and Roth, both of whom wrestled with creative control of the band. Roth wanted to keep the band on its image-focused, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/popular-music" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">pop</a>-oriented trajectory, whereas Eddie wanted to develop a more restrained, artistically oriented approach that would showcase his work as a guitarist. Tensions in the band were <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="exacerbated" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exacerbated" data-type="MW">exacerbated</a> by heavy drinking and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/drug-use" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">drug use</a>. An appearance at the 1983 US Festival, for which the band was paid a whopping $1.5 million dollars, was marred by Roth’s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/alcohol" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">alcohol</a> <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="consumption" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consumption" data-type="MW">consumption</a>, which caused him to forget song lyrics.</p><span class="marker MOD9 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD10 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="288221" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/95/249495-050-49364446/Eddie-Van-Halen-1993.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/1292002/288221"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/95/249495-050-49364446/Eddie-Van-Halen-1993.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/95/249495-050-49364446/Eddie-Van-Halen-1993.jpg?w=300" alt="Eddie Van Halen" data-width="1244" data-height="1600" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/95/249495-050-49364446/Eddie-Van-Halen-1993.jpg" data-href="/media/1/1292002/288221">Eddie Van Halen</a><span>Eddie Van Halen performing with Van Halen at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, on August 20, 1993.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Roth left Van Halen in 1985 to pursue a solo career. He was replaced by singer <span id="ref1317170"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sammy-Hagar" class="md-crosslink ">Sammy Hagar</a>, who remained in the band until 1996. Van Halen continued to achieve commercial success with Hagar as its front man. In 1986 the band released their first number-one album, <em><span id="ref1317171"></span>5150</em>, which features the hit song “Why Can’t This Be Love.” The next three Van Halen studio albums, <em><span id="ref1317172"></span>OU812</em> (1988), <em><span id="ref1317173"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/For-Unlawful-Carnal-Knowledge" class="md-crosslink ">For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge</a></em> (1991), and <em><span id="ref1317174"></span>Balance</em> (1995) also reached number one on the album chart. The relationship between Eddie Van Halen and Hagar began to <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="fray" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/fray" data-type="EB">fray</a> in 1996, and Hagar left the band in June of that year.</p><span class="marker MOD10 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD11 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The band eventually replaced Hagar with singer <span id="ref1317175"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gary-Cherone" class="md-crosslink ">Gary Cherone</a>, who had previously fronted the glam metal band Extreme. The band’s lone album with Cherone, <em><span id="ref1317176"></span>Van Halen III</em> (1998), was a commercial disappointment that was widely panned by critics. Cherone left Van Halen in 1999, and the band stagnated without a singer for three years. Roth and Hagar shared front man duties during a 2002 tour that also featured each singer’s solo material. The band (with Roth and Hagar) was inducted into the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rock-and-Roll-Hall-of-Fame-and-Museum" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Rock & Roll Hall of Fame</a> in 2007.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD11 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD12 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">In 1981 Eddie Van Halen married actress <span id="ref1323959"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Valerie-Bertinelli" class="md-crosslink ">Valerie Bertinelli</a>. The couple had one child, <span id="ref1323960"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wolfgang-Van-Halen" class="md-crosslink ">Wolfgang</a>, and divorced in 2007. In 2009 he married actress Janie Liszewski in a ceremony officiated by his brother, Alex, who is an <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="ordained" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/ordained" data-type="EB">ordained</a> minister. In 2012 Roth rejoined the band to record its final studio album, <em><span id="ref1317177"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/A-Different-Kind-of-Truth" class="md-crosslink ">A Different Kind of Truth</a></em>, which also features Wolfgang Van Halen on <a href="https://www.britannica.com/art/bass-guitar" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">bass guitar</a>. In 2019 Eddie was hospitalized with complications from throat <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/cancer-disease" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">cancer</a> treatments, and he died in 2020 after a long battle with the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/disease" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">disease</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD12 mod-inline"></span> </section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/contributor/jacob-stovall/12961574">Jacob Stovall</a></span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":1292002,"pageLength":1113,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"BIO_LARGE","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Eddie Van Halen | Guitar, Virtuoso, & Biography | Britannica