We at the Van Halen News Desk just learned that Eddie, Alex, and Wolfgang Van Halen have donated some signed items for an auction to help to help a Southland sheriff’s deputy who is fighting acute myeloid leukemia. (The full story is below).
This news doesn’t surprise us, as we know that Eddie Van Halen actually does this sort of thing all the time. But because he prefers his personal life to remain private, his generosity and love for others often goes unnoticed.
Edward buys food for the homeless in the Los Angeles area and donates both time and money to charities. He visits those whom are terminally ill and wish to meet him, as well as so many other genuine acts of kindness. Ed is a caring, loving and emotional individual who does some really great things for people.
And Edward isn’t the only one in Van Halen who performs these “random acts of kindness.” Before we ran the Van Halen News Desk, we published the all-Van Halen magazine, The Inside, back in the ’90s. During that time we actually were shocked to learn just how often all four members of Van Halen gave to charities. These generous contributions nearly always went unnoticed by the press because that’s how the band wanted it. We have always been very impressed by that, and it’s good to see that they are continuing the tradition.
Taken from DaileyNews.com:
Some of rock music’s biggest names have donated autographed guitars and percussion equipment to help a Southland sheriff’s deputy who is fighting acute myeloid leukemia.
Money raised from the auction will help cover the medical expenses of Robert Corrales, who has been a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy for nearly a quarter-century.
The autographed instruments, which are being auctioned on eBay through today [Monday, March 2nd, at 4:30 pm PST], include Alex Van Halen’s brass snare drum from his personal kit, and a drum head signed by Alex, Eddie and Wolfgang Van Halen.
Rush drummer Neil Peart donated an autographed DW drum head.
“Several of rock ‘n’ roll’s royalty immediately stepped up,” said sheriff’s Deputy Mike Ascolese. He and Deputy John Maio organized the fundraiser.
Paul Stanley of KISS gave an autographed Silvertone guitar, while Slash, Matt Sorum, Duff McKagan and Dave Kushner from Velvet Revolver each signed an Epiphone guitar that had been donated by the Guitar Center’s Dave Weiderman.
Corrales, who grew up in San Fernando and Pacoima, was diagnosed with leukemia last April.
Several drives have been held to look for a bone-marrow donor, but a suitable match has not yet been found because of his unusual Mexican-Chinese ancestry, organizers say.
Ninety percent of the auction proceeds will help Corrales, while 10 percent will be donated to the T.J. Martell Foundation, which is trying to find cures for leukemia, cancer, and AIDS.
The eBay auction-location numbers are:
Autographed Alex Van Halen Brass Ludwig Snare Drum (290297834030)
Drum Head Autographed by Eddie, Alex and Wolfgang Van Halen (290297839393)
Autographed Velvet Revolver Epiphone Electric Guitar (29029781580)
Autographed Paul Stanley Silvertone Guitar (290297821537)
DW Drum Head Autographed by Neil Peart of RUSH (290297835083)
Drum Head & Drum Sticks Autographed by Matt Sorum (290297837043)
