Video: Eddie Van Halen accepts Spike TV’s “Guitar God” award

June 23, 2009 63 Comments

Robert Downey, Jr presents the Guitar God award to Eddie Van Halen during Spike TV’s “Guy’s Choice” awards, which aired June 21st.

Thanks to MATT2productions for uploading this video to youtube.

Filed Under: Eddie Van Halen, Van Halen

Kevin

another example of how eddie is always very sincere.
DANNYBOY

The clip was fantastic.Ok, now here it comes…i get the whole sobriety thing and so on and so on, hate to admit it, but that drinking Dutch boy made some amazing music..something to say for the ol’ fire water-But from the man i thought he was, especially watching those clips, when he himself takes the podium he seems real weak in the fact that all these mentioned people had to save him from himself..BAH!!!!
garysamuelroth

I thought it was great.
Jim

Ed as always is a class act.
http://vhnd.com handymanrockstar84

I thought Ed’s speech was as real as it gets. It’s good to see him well.
Brian

Long live EVH!! Rock On!!
Bocephus

Wow. I can be hard on the guy.

But that was awesome.

Genuine article there. Looked healthy and doing well.

Keep it going EVH! We luv ya!
Tim

No mention of DLR? Not a good sign for the future.
woz

A humbled God!!! King Edward Van Halen…I bow to you!!! Someone once asked me “Is that Eddie Van Halen playing the guitar? To which I responded, “Nah that’s God…he thinks he’s Eddie Van Halen!!!”
ben

Long Live King Edward The Great!
Rocko

Way To Go Ed!!! Sounds like DLR wan’t mentioned in your thank you speech, Props to you on that since DLR may be an entertainer but even more so……………… the BIGGEST BULLSHIT ARTIST IN ROCK HISTORY!!!!!
Fair Warning

Eddie, truly, is the greatest guitar player of all time. He’s looking pretty healthy; let’s just hope he sounds real mean on the upcoming record!
AJ5150

It was great to see Edward out in a public appearance. He looks so healthy now. You can tell the speech came from the bottom of his big heart. One thing kinda…KINDA bothered me though. No mention on Diamond Dave. I mean, it’s really no big deal because the people Ed mentioned are the ones that have helped him the past few years. I just kinda thought that he might have mentioned Dave. However, backstage interviews from the Spike awards with various news outlets, Ed spoke highly of Dave. So it’s not really that big of deal that Dave wasn’t mentioned on TV.
http://www.myspace.com/dominikseelos dominik

ed rules. he deserves this. i really can’t wait for new VH music. van halen forever !!!
stephan chartier

Eddie is the greatest of all time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CrashDavis

Eddie is a class act … here’s hoping he conquered the alcohol demons that have dominated his life for so long.
paulgioia

Amazing!when he was drunk he would never do this type of thing. He deserves this. No mention of Valerie that put up with his shit for over 20 yrs. You rock Ed. 8/12/08 I have a year. Thanks for the influence A) for jacking me up at age 12 and B) Getting sober at age 42. Chikenfoot!
Karl

No doubt it is good to see Edie looking healthier than he has in a long time but seriously, talking about your alcho problem in the middle of a speech accepting a guitar hero award? Ed’s wife/publicist need to tell him that there’s a time and a place. And this was neither the time nor place.
kenny

now that was WICKED SINCERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS U EDDIE.
Phlip5150

Karl, I think him bringing that up was just him letting us know that it IS in the past and I felt that it fit well into his speech. JMO
Bo-Sox

Ya I concur Ed looks good and it came across as sincere.
Bob

So what if he didnt mention DRL? This wasnt about him, it was about eddie and his contribution to the guitar world. I think it took balls for him to get up there and address his drinking problem like he did. Hopefully this is a good sign.
http://None Ducky / Dirty Duck

Thank you eddie for STILL giving me goosebumps when I hear you play! I hope nothing but the best for this cat.
Ace

“Tonight’s about me, not your F@*%ing Hip” DLR “96″
It took 13 years but humbly King Edward got his revenge!
I wish he had shown for the RRHF Intuction but Spike did a great tribute for an amazing career, keep rock’n Ed!!
Gator Studio

Great speech. Short…. To the point…. Hopefully inspires other alcoholics to realize they can kick their demons. Hopefully Dave won’t get all PO’d and quit the band because he wasn’t given his props.
FAMAC

He seemed sober though. He’s got to stop chewing gravel.
http://vhnd surfsno

if drinks again
it may kill him
how selfish
i am happy he has stopped
its not easy
sobriety is beautiful
Myron Philpot

1) Interesting that the audio and bulk of the video intro was from Ed’s solo on LWAN. It always seemed the strongest and most complete, even if it was stretched a bit far and played out to the hilt.
2) Does getting an award from a show like this (where other catagories are questionable at best, down right juvenile and inane at worst) really mean anything? I would think an accolade from a guitar publication or organization would be more legit.
3) Yeah, yeah, yeah, Ed, we know you’re a drunk. It’s OK ’cause I’m one too and there are plenty others out there struggling every day. However, middle of this speech is an awkward moment to bare your soul about the bottle. How about a little focus on the honor at hand?
Karl

^ Exactly. If the award had been for Recovering Alcoholic Of The Year, then spot on. Otherwise say something about guitars.
Eddie

Too much hate going on in the world. Give the guy his due, there will never be another Eddie Van Halen, or VAN HALEN for that matter. Whether in good times or bad, Van Halen will always be a link to GREAT ROCK MUSIC, ELECTRIC GUITAR, THE BROWN SOUND, TWO FINGER TAPPING, ERUPTION, UNCHAINED, and the list goes on. And yeah, stand up, give him your acknowledgement, cause “the king of ten fingers and six strings..” will continue to be around making DAMN GREAT FREAKIN ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC which you can bang your head to, pump your fist to, air guitar to, jump up and down to, and dance to…for many, many years to come. GUARANTEED.
Adam

Regarding the alcohol statement – it was a good tie-in to his guitar award. He said:

* His family came to America, poor, when he was 7 years old; “Anything is achievable”.

* He drank for 42 years and has been sober for a full year; “Anything is achievable”.

Great speech! Great to see Eddie looking good, happy, sober!
Adrian

eddie is such a sincere person really a real person love it cant wait for your new inventions kind edward!
Pete

Eddie deserves this kind of award for what he has done.

Sad that this event sees him looking for sympathy for growing up poor and being an alcoholic.

I guess he’s looking for a way to not look like the “bad guy” as he says.

If you want people to feel better about you, then don’t forget the step where you apologize for your wrongs. You don’t have to go into detail, but you have to make peace with your past. You also can’t pretend you’re 100% right all the time and that everyone else was always wrong.

I’m sure if Eddie admitted that he was a prick to Dave, Sam, and now Mike that he might be surprised with the reaction he’d get. Everyone is a jerk sometime. He just has never acknowledged his part in anything and people find this hard to relate to.

I hope he mans up, acknowledges that everyone just did the best they could, apologizes, and then dedicates himself to moving forward with his son or whatever. And then, he just has to stop being such a bitter angry guy.

I hope the man does this and finds himself some peace. I feel bad for him.
Jake

Myron Philpot, you couldn’t be more right in one instance about the Spike award not meaning much but I don’t think Eddie could possibly win another award from a guitar publication, he has won them all over and over again!!

I also thought talking about his sobriety was excellent. That is the only path now that will keep him achieving the honors he was being celebrated for at this event.

Ed, you looked great and lay off the smokes brother and get to recordin’ already!!
Aftershock

I wish I could say it’s unbelievable that some people are nitpicking Eddie’s award speech, but sadly, it’s not.

This was a completely genuine, from-the-heart speech. He even mentioned that he had no idea what he was going to say on the drive over. Sorry if some of you found it a little awkward that he mentioned his problem with alcoholism. You know what, if he wanted to address the issue, then it was perfectly apropos to do so. It is something that has posed the biggest threat to derailing his career — and his life. What better forum for him to humbly say, in effect, I have my weaknesses, but I am working to overcome them with the help of those who are closest to me, and if I can do it, then anything is achievable.

Say something about guitars??? Yeah, then this thread would be fired up with comments about Ed plugging his equipment. What can he say about guitar playing that he hasn’t said a million times already? His fingers have done all the talking about guitar playing the world needs to know. Let Robert Downey Jr. talk about Ed’s guitar playing. Instead, Ed saw the elephant in the room, and addressed it head on.

This just shows, once again, that no matter what Eddie says, there’s always going to some faction of the Van Halen fanbase that will be complaining about some aspect of it. Instead, I choose to enjoy the moment — a well-deserved honor for the greatest guitarist of our generation. I say that gives him the right to deliver whatever message he wants.
Vanicionado

Jake says: “Ed, you looked great and lay off the smokes brother and get to recordin’ already!!”

Exactly what I was thinking Jake… I mean, he lost part of his tounge for Cripes Sake.

Anyhow.

Don’t see a problem with his talking about the bottle. Isn’t that one step in the program: Acceptance?

Ed looks good. That’s the clearest I’ve ever heard him speak (see aforementioned missing part of tounge.)

I’m getting excited again!!

(But I’m STILL diggin’ the Chickenfoot.)

Peace to all my VH worshipping brothers… we all share a passion for good music, so let’s fight no more!!
Kevin

those who are dissing the award, its better that he comes out for an award voted for by people all over than one decided by the heads of a company or industry people. This would mean more to him probably (It definitely would to me) because it came from the opinion of many people just like you and me.

and lol Ed almost sounds like the Joker from Dark Knight
Brian

Absolutely no problem at all with Eddie trying to inspire people to achieve their goals and get sober. A truly positive, poignant message from someone who has had some “not so great” public appearances in recent years.

Just quit those cigarettes.
Adam

Well said, Aftershock.
Frank

Dit is een dikverdiende prijs, Ed.
Je hebt duidelijk laten zien wat je kan bereiken met slechts een paar honderd gulden op zak, een koffer met kleding en een piano.
Als mede Nederlander ben ik trots op jouw en Alex’ prestaties, hoop dat ik er nog lang van kan genieten.

Frank, NL
Karl

^ Don’t know why, but there’s something quite cool about him being Dutch.
phil

now that’s the eddie i remembered….humble and genuine.
Andy

What no thanks Dave ????
Myron Philpot

Yeah, I know what you mean, Jake. How many times can Guitar World spray their shorts over Ed and have it mean anything anymore? Same to a lesser extent with Guitar Player. To me, GFTPM was the most credible though that mag was a cover-to-cover advertisement too. Bah! Just gimme the tabs, that’s all I ever wanted out of a guitar mag.

On second thought, Ed can talk about his boozin’ and loozin’ all he wants. Alcoholism is rough and its victims generally experience the absolute worst forms of humiliation at some point. Ed’s been very lucky his drunken mistakes have been relatively quiet and out of the public eye (the 2004 tour not included). Somewhat ironic that RD, Jr. would introduce Ed when Bobby’s had so many problems with drugs himself.
ROB5150

I think everyone of us at some point of our lives interest more the family than all the rest.
And currently Ed’s family is Wolf, Alex and the new wife.
Dave isn’t part of his family, currently he is a collegue.
I know that many years ago when I saw at pictures of Van Halen, expecially with Sam, they looks like a big family, and I was happy for them and I was thinking “Wow how lucky I am to be the fan of these guys!”.
It’s sad but today even with Dave or Sammy or Mike never will be the same, it’s life!
We must be happy that Ed now seems to be healty, I’m happy also for Robert Downey JR, for me is a great actor.
We can like or criticize the musician but we must respect the man.
http://www.merchnow.com blindbubbacheeks

Aftershock hit the nail on the head!
phillster

ALLinALL,-it`s nice to see ED get out of the house isn`t it?
I`ll admit, the show had the same approach as your average crappy “Mtv” awards.But it had it`s “moments”(ClintEastwood,-BradPitt calling MelGibson”sugartits”Triumph the insult dog”)
ED was a true gentlemen, no sh*t slingin“bout sam&mike,(fellow bloggers take note-)& just talked from the heart.
After being a fan these last 31yrs I`ve seen every sh$t talking comment EVERYONE of them has made about each other,
some of`m offended even me.-&that`s hard to do-believe me;/
But after following my fav bands over the years I`ve noticed they`ve ALL talked sh$t `bout each other(WHO,ZEP,SABBOTH,STONES,Kiss,etc)
& every time i hear some new news`bout`m i get that same feeling i did when i was a “young shaver”.-giddy(Xcept4Kiss).the feeling that you`re a part of “something bigger”, a secret club like the “stone masons”,where everyone shares the same secret.”DISCIPLES” of “ROCK” we are, touched by the hand of greatness. don`t forget it&don`t forsake it.
pushtoshove

Well….Gotta say after just seeing the award video…Eddie comes off sincere and working his sobriety…Way to go Ed! Now if you would Mr. Van Halen…Give us some traveling music to get out of this economy funk we’re in….Alright Boys!!!
Geno

That was good to see, Ed has finally figured out what is important in his life, what really matters. I hope Ed can stay sober, a new album would be icing on the cake.
Jor-L5150

LOVED EVERY minute of this.

layers and layers of irony – RDJR , etc etc …

good for him . some growth .