Eddie van halen net worth

1. Biography of Eddie Van Halen
2. Early Life and Musical Beginnings
3. Formation of Van Halen
4. Rise to Fame and Musical Style
5. Personal Life and Health Struggles
6. Philanthropy and Legacy

Biography of Eddie Van Halen

Eddie Van Halen, an American musician of Dutch descent, was a multi-instrumentalist, virtuoso guitarist, songwriter, and producer. He is considered one of the best and most influential guitarists in the history of rock music. Alongside his brother Alex Van Halen, Eddie co-founded the hard rock band Van Halen, which became the 19th best-selling project in US history. Despite a tumultuous biography, Eddie Van Halen left a lasting impact on the music industry.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Eddie Lodewijk Van Halen was born on January 26, 1955, in Nijmegen, Netherlands, to Jan Van Halen, a clarinetist, saxophonist, and pianist, and Eugenia, who was originally from Indonesia. In February 1962, the family moved to Pasadena, California. Eddie and his older brother Alex began piano lessons at a young age, although the instrument did not initially captivate them. Instead, Eddie learned by listening and observing. As a teenager, Eddie won first place in an annual piano competition, impressing judges with his unique interpretation of a classical piece.

Formation of Van Halen

Once Alex switched to guitar, Eddie became enthralled with the drums and spent days mastering a drum set they had purchased. However, after hearing Alex's drum solo in The Surfaris' track "Wipe Out," the brothers traded instruments, and Eddie never parted with his electric guitar again. The musical brothers formed their first band, The Broken Combs, with three other boys when Eddie was just in fourth grade. This experience ignited Eddie's desire to pursue music professionally. In 1972, Eddie formed another band, initially called Genesis but later renamed Mammoth. They rented sound equipment from David Lee Roth, whom they eventually invited to join their band as the lead vocalist. It was David who marveled at the name "Van Halen," leading to the band adopting that name.

Rise to Fame and Musical Style

Before achieving success, Van Halen played cover songs from various genres, including pop and disco. In May 1977, producer Ted Templeman noticed the band and contacted Warner Bros. Records, leading to Van Halen signing their first contract within 24 hours. Their debut album, "Van Halen," was released on February 10, 1978. Van Halen's discography includes 12 studio albums, two live albums, two compilations, and 56 singles, with approximately 75 million copies sold worldwide by 2007. In the 1980s, the band had an unprecedented number of hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Eddie Van Halen gained fame for his unique guitar playing style, which combined several distinctive elements. He popularized the use of two-handed tapping, natural and artificial harmonics, vibrato, and tremolo, complementing his melodic approach and musical rhythm sense. His guitar solo in "Eruption" was ranked second on Guitar World magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Solos." While Eddie did not invent tapping, he revolutionized it and influenced a new generation of guitarists who adopted his lightning-fast and vibrant playing style.

Personal Life and Health Struggles

On April 11, 1981, Eddie married actress Valerie Bertinelli, and they had a son named Wolfgang on March 16, 1991. After his father's death in 1986, Eddie battled with substance abuse, including drugs and alcohol, for 20 years. In 1988, he was hospitalized with dengue fever while celebrating his wedding anniversary in Australia. Eddie publicly committed to sobriety on September 2, 1994.

Throughout his life, Eddie Van Halen faced several health challenges. In November 1999, he underwent hip replacement surgery due to his acrobatic stage performances and auto accidents. In 2001, he was diagnosed with and successfully treated for tongue cancer, resulting in a partial reduction of his tongue length. In December 2005, Bertinelli filed for divorce, which was finalized on December 20, 2007. Eddie later announced his intention to enter rehabilitation without specifying the reason. However, Van Halen band members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony disclosed that Eddie's treatment was related to alcohol abuse.

Eddie Van Halen married actress and stuntwoman Janie Liszewski on June 27, 2009, with his son and ex-wife in attendance. They remarried on January 1, 2011, with Bertinelli and their son present. In August 2012, Eddie underwent emergency surgery for severe diverticulitis, requiring almost six months of recovery and necessitating the postponement of their planned tour in Japan.

Philanthropy and Legacy

Eddie Van Halen donated 75 of his personal guitars to "The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation," which helps musically gifted children fully develop their potential. He was ranked eighth on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists" in 2011. In 2012, readers of Guitar World magazine voted Eddie as the greatest guitarist of all time in their poll of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."