Eddie Van Halen

Eddie Van Halen (1955-2020) is widely considered the most influential rock guitarist of his generation. Born in the Netherlands and raised in Pasadena, California, he co-founded Van Halen with his brother Alex in the early 1970s. His two-handed tapping technique, harmonic innovations, and handbuilt guitars redefined what electric guitar could do. His "brown sound" — achieved through a modified Marshall Super Lead run at reduced voltage via a Variac — became one of the most studied tones in rock history. He also played keyboards, writing the synthesizer riff for "Jump" on an Oberheim OB-Xa. He died of throat cancer in October 2020.