VAN HALEN NEWS DESK

Posts Comments

Happy Birthday, Eddie

January 26, 2010 79 Comments

Today, January 26, 2010, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen celebrates his 55th birthday. We thank him and the band for all the wonderful music they’ve given us (over 100 songs!) and for touring the world no less than 14 times to play it for us.

Here’s a soundboard recording of Eddie, Alex & Michael jamming. This was probably recorded during a full-stage rehearsal for Van Halen’s massive 1984 tour. (This full 10 minute clip hasn’t been on YouTube until now).

Here’s a two part soundboard recording of Eddie Van Halen jamming alone. This was probably recorded during a full-stage rehearsal for the 1984 tour. Never on YouTube until now!

Filed Under: Eddie Van Halen, Van Halen
Newer Comments →
  • http://twitter.com/johnnybeane johnny beane

    Love this stuff!!
    Makes me wanna play my guitar!!!

  • http://twitter.com/johnnybeane johnny beane

    oh yeah! happy 55 eddie!

  • Peter

    Happy birthday to the king of six strings. A true legend

  • Simon

    Happy Birthday to THE MAN who changed my musical life + approach to the Guitar ! And now let’s return to the Studio, release a new Record and make a European Tour in 2010 !

  • http://vhnd.com surfthis!!

    i aint getting younger .

    but at least he is alive and sober.

  • Matt from Australia

    Happy Birthday Ed!

  • VH fan

    Happy birthday Eddie.

  • Frank

    Hartelijk gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag, ouwe pik! En schiet nu effe op met die nieuw CD…:-)

    Frank, NL

  • PAVH5150

    HAPPY birthday Eddie you legend

  • Rich

    These rehersals showcase just what a legend Edward Van Halen really is. The MAN, the KING of guitar, we’re all glad that you’re happy and healthy Eddie.

    People bitch and moan about a new album but it would have been worse if Eddie was dead. Something tells me that somebody wants Eddie to live. He’s fought his demons and came out brighter on the other side.

    Heres to another 55 years Ed! (:

  • Rick Pride

    Happy Birthday Eddie!!!! We love you Champ!!! Thank you for being the most amazing man to ever walk the planet. Thanks for changing our world through music. May you live to be 1000 happy, healthy, and strong. I’ll never understand how you came up with the amazing sounds that you do but God only made one Eddie Van Halen!!! And I thank him for you!!!

  • Darren from Staten Island

    All hail the King of 6 strings and 10 fingers. The Mighty Edward Van Halen. Happy Birthday and meny more. You rule dude.

  • kenny

    Happy Birthday Eddie. God Bless You.

  • Russ

    Happy Birthday Eddie. You have an amazing gift. Allow yourself to shine through this gift.

  • CHRIS

    THE KING!! NOBODY CAN SOUND AND PLAY LIKE KING EDWARD VAN HALEN!! Eddie’s playing & music is of another planet, we a bless and greatful that he came to planet Earth to erupt, play and change the music landscape!! Happy birthday Eddie and may there be many more to come!!!

  • stephan chartier

    Eddie happy birthday man we love you you changed my life all thoes years ago keep rocken man and how about that new cd for us

  • Brian

    Happy Birthday to the greatest guitarist of all time! Happy Birthday, Eddie!

  • http://myspace/kwijiboband Zeb from Kwijibo

    Happy Birthday Maestro!

  • freddiegirl

    Happy Birthday, Edward Van Halen, thanks for all the wonderful music! Here’s to being healthy and happy! I agree, you’ve survived for a reason…because you’re the best rock guitarist ever!

  • http://none Dirty Duck

    Well eddie,

    To start off I would like to wish you a very happy birthday!
    Seems like yesterday when I would turn on MTV and see your face smiling back at me! It’s not 84 anymore but your legend lives on and I’m proud to be a fan! Thank you for all the years of stellar music and for making my love for rock and roll stronger everyday! I hope you have nothing but a safe, happy and rockin’ new year ahead!

    You’re like fine wine brother….you keep getting better with age! Again…happy birthday!

    DUCK

  • TheTruthHurts

    Thank you VHND for making these clips available for us! And a Happy Birthday to Eddie!

  • mh5150

    HAPPY B-DAY EDWARD
    HOPE TO SEEYA IN BALTIMORE OR PHILLY IN2010

  • jc

    The greatest guitar player and greatest hockey player of all time have the same birthday.

  • Rockenvelop

    Happy Birthday EVH. May God Bless you with all the best.

  • Chad

    Notice at the 1:54 mark of the 3rd clip that Eddie plays the riff for “Top of the World”… back in 1984.

  • Don

    happy birthday edward van halen, you know somthing eddie, i might not play guitar but you will always and forever be my idol no matter what! and god bless you edward and thank you for all ur hard work. =VH= FOREVER best wishes, Don.

  • SCAR

    A birthday toast and a toke to a great fucking guitar player who truly knows how to party!!!!

  • ken

    Happy Birthday to the man.

  • jano2412

    JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE ED,time for a new album now!

  • Ed

    Merry X-Mas everybody !!!!!!!!

  • meanstreet90

    to the man who inspired me to pick up the guitar and who continues to inspire me, Happy Birthday Ed! keep rockin!

  • DrJay

    Fantastic clips and of course Happy Birthday. Chad, the Top of the World riff was on the 84 album as part of the fade resolve ending on the Jump Track. Seriously cool to hear it in a noodling context.

  • Jarret

    @Chad – Not sure if you’d heard, but I read that Eddie wrote “Top Of The World” for the 1984 album, but Roth nixed it. Eddie was pissed, so that’s why he tagged the riff onto the end of “Jump”.

    Happy Birthday, Edward. Thank you for being you, and for gracing us with your talents. All the best in the future.

  • RobCT

    Happy B-Day to the legend that got me started playing guitar!

  • Top Jimmy

    I don’t want to turn this into a thing about Mike or whatever but they sounded so damn good back then. I miss those days. Ed, Al and Mike were so tight. They sound like Cream or something but better. The only way you get that tight is by jamming together day after day, like they used to do. Nobody has ever read Ed like Mike and Al could. The times that I’ve heard Eddie play with other people it always sounds funny and I think that’s why because nobody has the groove that Mike and Al have. Not even Wolfgang. Oh well. At least we have stuff like this.

  • phillster

    happy 55th dude,make it count.

  • ben

    Happy B-Day Eddie!!!

  • Tony

    Top Jimmy: I was thinking the same thing man, I have been jamming out to “Me Wise Magic” a lot lately and MAN, the original line up – with Mike on background vocals and just how phenominal they all sounded together. I really miss the old line up!

    BUT, never mind, I’m sure everyones sick of hearing that!

    “HAPPY BIRTHDAY EDDIE! WE LOVE YOU, MAN!”
    Hope you’re blessed & happy and if you ever grace us with a new album, we will cherish it!

  • Lisa

    Happy 55th B-Day Eddie!!! We love you and hope to you on the road soon. Don’t forget us in Toronto!

  • Michael

    Happy fucking birthday to you;-) from Denmark

  • http://www.davevanderpol.com Dave

    In all the universe….
    Out of all the infinite galaxies…
    Full of trillions upon trillions of stars…..
    In the endless and infinite time continuum of billions and billions of years…..
    I was born at precisely the specific universal split second to have the privilege of witnessing the greatest guitarist known to mankind.
    From the most sincere depths of my being…..Thank you for everything Ed.
    Happy Birthday Man :)
    Dave

  • damo

    Happy Birthday Ed

  • Steve

    It is such great news that Eddie is celebrating another B-Day. I am soo happy that he is in the best shape he has been in 14 years since Balance. Sometimes it just takes a while to get back on the horse. I am hoping that some bitchin’ tunes come out of 5150 and that Wolfgang included is awesome. Then we will have the Best Of Both Worlds: Chickenfoot and Van Halen

  • Dawn

    Happy Birthday Eddie! Thanks for bringing so much joy into my life with your music!
    Hope to see you on stage soon!

  • Dooley

    Ed’s not gettin’ older, he’s gettin’ better.

  • KTC5150

    Happy Birthday to the Lord Of The Strings!!! I was just wondering… not to start a conspiracy of ANY type, but I do recall Eddie saying they were jamming in 5150 to songs like “Girl Gone Bad” & “House Of Pain”… Are we sure these are soundboard clips from 1984, or 5150 studio jams from this past year?! I hope WHEN they come out on the road, in support of a NEW ALBUM, they pull out those old gems!!! Anyhoos… I hope Ed graces us with many more years of his wonderful music & looks at life with a big smile now… Your BEST years are ahead of you now!!! ALL HAIL THE KING OF TEN FINGERS & SIX STRINGS!!!

  • topjimmy77

    These YouTube posts are great, a real privilege to hear Ed just jamming ‘Girl Gone Bad’ with Al & Mike & to hear him noodling on his own, very cool stuff… Happy Birthday Ed, I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing you in the UK soon!

  • Aftershock

    Happy Birthday to the man who has fallen down the stairs and landed on his feet better and more often than any other guitar player on the planet.

    In fact, if I didn’t know better, I’d say he just slid down the railing!

    Happy 55th, Ed. I have a feeling that you can drive 55 quite nicely.

  • http://vhnd Jimmy

    Happy Birthday bro-ski! Peace to you and your family.

    Proud REAL VH fan…
    Jimmy

  • Canes_fan5150

    Happy Birthday Ed! your music has definately changed my life for the better. I would love to see you just one more time in concert. Keep doin what makes you happy

Newer Comments →