RIP Eddie Van Halen

I was never a fan of Van Halen, but Eddie Van Halen was an incredible guitarist. Ground-breaking and influential.
 
Damn. My favorite. There are technically better guitarists out there and better soloists, but NOBODY had his sound and his groovy rhythm riffs. He influenced countless guitar players. Sad day.
 
I remember when the first album dropped; it was so different from anything I had been listening to. While they were a band I enjoyed, they were never in my top favs. I saw them in concert several times and of all the great guitar riffs from Eddie, the live version of this one was tremendous every time.
 
I've barely been in my truck in the last week. I would imagine Ozzy's Boneyard and Hair Nation on SiriusXm have been playing a lot of Van Halen.
 
I remember riding around getting high and my buddy Cory put in a cassette. Hearing "Eruption" and "Running With the Devil" for the first time, I was stunned. We listened to that tape endlessly.

And I remember seeing Eddie on TV playing sixteenth notes with his pinky. He was the best.........