Eddie Van Halen hailed ‘the Mozart of our generation’ as he is honored at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a month after his death
The late Eddie Van Halen was honored on Saturday at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s yearly induction ceremony.
The live event, which was made virtual due to the Covid-19 pandemic, paid tribute to the rock god, a month after he tragically died after a lengthy battle with cancer on at the age of 65.
With a slew of music colleagues memorializing him, Van Halen was hailed ‘the Mozart of our generation,’ as he was celebrated for his tremendous talent.
Tremendous honor: The late Eddie Van Halen was honored at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday. After dying at age 65 following a decade long battle with cancer last month, rock colleagues paid tribute to the legendary guitarist; pictured 2015
In the nearly three minute video, fellow rock legends Slash, Kirk Hammett of Metallica and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello, eulogized the legendary guitarist.
A compilation of insane guitar riffs are interspersed with personal anecdotes as they reflect on his life and incredible skill.
‘Eddie Van Halen was a tremendously gifted musician. His style and his sound were completely unique to him,’ said Slash.
He continued, ‘He had a massive impact on guitar playing, and I don’t think there’s anybody that’s picked up the guitar…that hasn’t been touched in some way by [his] influence.’
Rock god: In the three minute video, Van Halen is eulogized by fellow rock legends set against the backdrop of his epic guitar riffs; pictured 1984
Stage presence: Known for his unique guitar style and larger than life stage presence, the iconic artist is hailed as one of the greatest by many; pictured 2012
‘Not since Jimi Hendrix had there been a guitar player that had so much impact and was so inspiring to me,’ said Hammett.
‘He was from a different planet,’ he continued.
Morello called Eddie ‘The Mozart of our generation,’ as he gushed over his skills.
‘He had the kind of talent that maybe comes around once a century. He inspired me to practice 20,000 hours to try and get within 100 miles of his inspired mastery of the electric guitar,’ he said.
Hall of fame: He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007 ; pictured 1998
The video then cuts to old footage of Van Halen as he says, ‘If I hit 80, if I make it that far I’ll still be doing the same thing. I might not be jumping, I might be sitting on a stool but I’ll still be making music.’
Though he tragically never made it to 80, Eddie still made music with his son Wolf towards the end of his life.
His last concert was at the Hollywood Bowl on October 4, 2015, nearly five years to the day of his passing.
The guitarist was widely recognized for his otherworldly talent and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.
The virtual show also inducted Whitney Houston, Nine Inch Nails and Notorious B.I.G. into the
Inspiring: In the tribute video, Eddie was seen saying that if he makes it to 80, he’ll ‘still be making music’; ‘pictured 2020