As the story goes, Eddie Van Halen was hanging out at 30 Rockefeller Center while his wife at the time, Valerie Bertinelli, was hosting Saturday Night Live and the band asked Eddie to jam. They had so much fun, this performance ended up happening and airing on the show. Look at how easy Eddie Van Halen makes it look. He was the greatest.
Update: Here's a video with former SNL bandleader G.E. Smith telling the story of how Eddie got involved in playing that week. It's glorious.
Earlier this week, we posted 10 great Eddie clips from the internet, also worth checking out. One of the clips we featured was a sketch from this episode, "Dinner at the Van Halen's"
https://www.facebook.com/chris.orciuch/videos/1380881328049/
Eddie Van Halen passed away on October 6 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
TMZ reports he died at St. Johns Hospital in Santa Monica Tuesday with his wife by his side. The last 72 hours "went massively downhill — doctors discovered his throat cancer had moved to his brain as well as other organs." according to TMZ.
His son, Wolfgang Van Halen commented on social media "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. He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage was a gift. My heart is broken and I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from this loss. I love you so much, Pop."
Sammy Hagar commented "Heartbroken and speechless. My love to the family." The tributes are already pouring in from all over the rock and metal world. See the ones we've collected here.
