Eddie Van Halen Tribute & Interview

Eddie Van Halen passed away at the age of 65. Fook You Cancer! I am sad; heartbroken. I loved Van Halen and I loved Eddie. He meant so much to me and my entire generation of drunken teens. He reinvented the Guitar, influenced a generation and changed the face of music.

EVH was handsome, incredibly talented and could play the guitar better than anyone on the planet. Normally you would hate a guy like that, but we all loved him. Even when he married the love of my life and my childhood crush, Valerie Bertinelli, I wished him well and said it couldn’t happen to a better guy.

Eddie and his brother Alex formed Van Halen with frontman David Lee Roth and Bassist Michael Anthony. One of the greatest Hard Rock/Heavy Metal bands of the 70’s and 80’s, the band broke ground musically, sexually and chemically.

Eddie seemed to be always smiling, even in the later years when he was suffering and in pain or when he was battling his demons. Even when he had to deal with pain in the a$$ lead singers, he kept on smiling. Eddie was a once in a lifetime talent, and there will never be another. Rest easy Eddie, we will miss you brother.

Now, Please enjoy our amusing little ‘interview’ with Eddie from May 2020!

Madhouse Magazine – For this interview, I would like to get your true feelings on some of the band member past, present and future?

Eddie Van Halen: Bring it on man, I got nothing to lose and I will lay it all on the line. 

Madhouse: Ok let’s start with David Lee Roth

EVH: Ok, I actually like David, he was an incredible frontman and perfect singer for Van Halen. Obviously we made our best music while he was in the band. When I first met him, I thought he was half a sissy, but he got more a$$ than a toilet seat. But now that was all a very long time ago and he looks like Dr. Smith from Lost in Space now and he has become a huge pain in my a$$. 

Madhouse: Do you ever see yourself touring with David again?

EVH: No absolutely not! I would rather have my hips removed with a cork screw. If I never speak to David again or look at his stupid face, it will be too soon.  

Madhouse: Ok let’s discuss Sammy Hagar?

EVH: I was in a weird place. David left the band to do Broadway or something and we needed a singer. My first choice was Jimmy Buffett, but he turned us down so I settled on Sammy. I was drinking a lot at the time. Sammy is a good singer but he is kind of a douche with that surfer BS. He looks like that annoying guy at the bar. I can’t drive 55 – wtf is that!? I saw him drive 55 many times. 

Madhouse: Michael Anthony?

EVH: I love Michael. We only let him in the band because we felt sorry for him. He was like that fat little kid on Beavis and Butthead that wore the Winger tshirt. I think his name was Stuart. Well that was Michael. We used to give him wedgies and fart on his head. Wolfie is a much better bass player and singer. 

Madhouse: Gary Cherone?

EVH: Who?

Madhouse: Gary Cherone. Remember he was the lead singer of Van Halen in the mid 1990’s?

EVH: [laughs] Are you serious or are you joking? I have absolutely no recollection of this at all. Are you sure you are thinking about Van Halen. Wasn’t he in ‘Extreme’? That sappy ‘More Than Words’ song? 

Madhouse: I am positive he was in the band. You guys recorded an album and went on tour with him. 

EVH: Holy crap. I am so glad I stopped drinking. Man I don’t remember this at all. The 90’s were a blur man, but if i let that guy in the band I must have been really messed up. I never want to hear that album. Please no. 

Related Stories: Wolf Van Halen Loses Famous ‘Frankenstrat’ Guitar on Bus