![](https://heysocal.com/wp-content/themes/heymediadev/assets/img/logos/beacon_white.png)
![](https://heysocal.com/wp-content/themes/heymediadev/assets/img/logos/logo-white.png)
By Terry Miller
The legendary rock band Van Halen — composed of brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen, vocalist David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony — was formed in 1974 in Pasadena on Las Lunas Street. On Tuesday, Eddie Van Halen died in Santa Monica after a decade of battling throat cancer.
Initially rehearsing at the family garage on Las Lunas and playing local gigs, one local rock historian and music aficionado, Ted Jorgensen, remembers the band well and the wild atmosphere at “kegger parties” where they played.
We are saddened by the news of Eddie Van Halen's passing. Pasadena was home to Eddie and his family for many years. Our condolences go out to the entire Van Halen family. https://t.co/rpE8TObCOI
— City of Pasadena (@PasadenaGov) October 6, 2020
We are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of #PCCAlum #EddieVanHalen. We hope Eddies legacy inspires the next generation of backyard student musicians. Eddie, you will truly be missed. Rest In Peace. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/CGawXHmy2Z
— PasadenaCityCollege (@PCCLancer) October 6, 2020
“Being from the Netherlands, our families knew one another, and I witnessed some of their very early and unique talent. The Van Halen brothers played out some incredible jams, much to the neighbors’ chagrin … [They] were always calling the cops. The brothers were always creating new and exciting sounds with various electronic components no one ever thought of before – truly innovative,” Jorgensen told Pasadena Independent.
Memorials appeared on the sidewalk of his childhood home in Pasadena on Tuesday night. People have left flowers and candles. Another memorial popped up on Allen Avenue where the Van Halen brothers scratched the bands name into wet cement on the sidewalk.
Eddie Van Halen grew up in Pasadena, and in the late 70s carved the name into some wet cement outside a store in Pasadena (corner of Allen and Villa). Stopped by today, where a small shrine has formed. I wasn't the only person there, either #RIPEddieVanHalen #RIPEVH #VanHalen pic.twitter.com/cIjB1fWPW1
— Rachel (@rachillax_13) October 7, 2020
The Van Halen childhood home on Las Lunas in Pasadena is dark tonight, but some kind soul placed some 🌸 on the curb. RIP EVH pic.twitter.com/EEQ0TDezwl
— Greg Renoff (@GregRenoff) October 7, 2020
Van Halen was a “relentless experimenter who would solder different parts from different guitar-makers, including Gibson and Fender. He created his own graphic design for his guitars by adding tape to the instruments and then spray-painting them. He said his influences were Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix,” according to the Associated Press.
In addition to all the massive hits the band had, Van Halen also played guitar on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” His solo lasted only 20 seconds and took half an hour to record, allegedly. He did it as a favor to producer Quincy Jones, while his bandmates were out of town, according to Billboard Magazine.
For much of his career, Van Halen wrote and experimented with sounds while drinking or experimenting with drugs, as was the style of the time, especially for musicians.
“I didn’t drink to party,” Van Halen told Billboard in 2015. “Alcohol and cocaine were private things to me. I would use them for work. The blow keeps you awake and the alcohol lowers your inhibitions. I’m sure there were musical things I would not have attempted were I not in that mental state.”
We are able to provide high-quality political journalism to you for free thanks to our advertisers. So that you can continue to enjoy HEYSOCAL's in-depth reporting, we ask that you please turn off your ad blocker and come on in, free of charge.
Subscribe to our newsletter for this giveaway and many more. Also, stay in the loop for SoCal news and updates.
Your subscription has been confirmed. You've been added to our list and will hear from us soon.
Your request has been confirmed! We will get in touch with you shortly.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Essential Cookies should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.
Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.
Please enable Essential Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!
You can find more information about our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy