# Eddie Van Halen

> Dutch-American rock guitarist (1955–2020)

**Wikidata**: [Q272012](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q272012)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Van_Halen)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/eddie-van-halen

## Summary
Eddie Van Halen was a Dutch-American rock guitarist, songwriter, and record producer, best known as a member of the American rock band Van Halen. Active from 1964 until his passing in 2020, he was recognized for his contributions to hard rock and heavy metal music as a guitarist, keyboardist, and composer.

## Biography
- **Born**: January 26, 1955
- **Died**: October 6, 2020
- **Nationality**: Dutch (Kingdom of the Netherlands), American (United States)
- **Education**: Pasadena City College
- **Known for**: Being a rock guitarist, keyboardist, and founder of the band Van Halen
- **Employer(s)**: Van Halen (band)
- **Field(s)**: Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal music

## Contributions
Eddie Van Halen's primary contribution was his work with the rock band Van Halen, which was active from 1973 to 2020. He served as a guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer for the band. His work period spanned from 1964 to 2020. He was affiliated with the record label Warner Bros. Records. His creative output is documented under various identifiers, including the MusicBrainz artist ID `2a66baa5-9832-4fbc-8365-c9f607a89e47` and the IPI code `000235121`.

## FAQs
**What was Eddie Van Halen's role in the band Van Halen?**
Eddie Van Halen was a core member of the American rock band Van Halen, serving as a guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer. The band was formed in 1972 and performed until 2020.

**What was Eddie Van Halen's nationality?**
He held citizenship in both the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United States, making him a Dutch-American musician.

**Where did Eddie Van Halen receive his education?**
Eddie Van Halen attended Pasadena City College, a community college located in Pasadena, California, USA.

**What genres of music is Eddie Van Halen associated with?**
He is associated with rock music, specifically hard rock and traditional heavy metal.

## Why They Matter
Eddie Van Halen matters as a foundational figure in the hard rock and heavy metal genres. As a multi-instrumentalist and producer for Van Halen, he influenced the sound of rock music from the band's inception in the early 1970s through 2020. His dual citizenship and Dutch-American background bridged cultural contexts, while his technical role as a guitarist and keyboardist set performance standards in the industry.

## Notable For
-   **Founding Member**: Key member of the band Van Halen (1972–2020).
-   **Multi-Instrumentalist**: Recognized as a guitarist, keyboardist, and composer.
-   **Genre Influence**: Associated with the inception of hard rock (1967) and heavy metal music (1970).
-   **Production**: Credited as a record producer overseeing music recording.
-   **Long Career**: Maintained an active work period spanning 56 years (1964–2020).

## Body
### Identity and Background
Edward Lodewijk Van Halen (also known as EVH) was a human instance of the species *Homo sapiens*. He was born on January 26, 1955, and passed away on October 6, 2020. He held citizenship in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United States. His educational background included attendance at Pasadena City College, an institution founded in 1924 located in California.

### Musical Career and Affiliations
Eddie Van Halen was a member of the American rock band Van Halen. The band was founded in 1972 and remained active until 2020. His occupations included guitarist, composer, record producer, songwriter, and keyboardist. He was affiliated with the record label Warner Bros. Records. His professional work period began in 1964 and extended until 2020.

### Musical Genres
His work was categorized within several musical genres. He contributed to **rock music**, a popular genre established in 1948. He was specifically associated with **hard rock**, a genre characterized by chordal guitar riffs and "big" drums, which originated in 1967. Additionally, his work fell under **traditional heavy metal** and **heavy metal music**, genres known for slack-tuned instruments and unconventional changes in tonality, originating in 1970.

### Digital and Archival Presence
Eddie Van Halen is indexed in numerous databases and archives. His identifiers include:
-   **Library of Congress**: n84088364
-   **IMDb**: nm0887007
-   **ISNI**: 0000000119479910
-   **VIAF**: 29719635
-   **Discogs**: 229803112
-   **AllMusic**: mn0000146544
-   **Spotify**: 3ToiJ0Z0ZV33bRPrW0y4Ci
-   **Songkick**: 4924
-   **Social Media**: Verified accounts on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook under the handle `eddievanhalen`.

His official website is listed as `http://www.van-halen.com/`. He has a substantial digital footprint with 61 sitelinks and a Wikipedia title entry for "Eddie Van Halen."

## References

1. [Het Parool. 1955](https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ABCDDD:010830689:mpeg21:a0195)
2. Czech National Authority Database
3. [Eddie Van Halen Dead at 65](https://www.tmz.com/2020/10/06/eddie-van-halen-dead-dies-cancer-65/)
4. BnF authorities
5. Integrated Authority File
6. [Source](https://www.delcotimes.com/arts_and_entertainment/rock-music-menu-eddie-van-halen-set-for-smithsonian-talk/article_7f498548-67d9-57b5-83bf-f2623e934f7b.html)
7. [Encyclopædia Britannica Online](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eddie-Van-Halen)
8. International Standard Name Identifier
9. MusicBrainz
10. [Source](https://www.q13fox.com/news/eddie-van-halen-dies-of-cancer-according-to-son)
11. IMDb
12. Roglo
13. [Eddie Van Halen Dead at 65. TMZ. 2020](https://www.tmz.com/2020/10/06/eddie-van-halen-dead-dies-cancer-65/)
14. [Source](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-van-halen/rocker-eddie-van-halen-dies-at-65-son-wolfgang-says-on-twitter-idUSKBN26R3EJ)
15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
16. Virtual International Authority File
17. CONOR.SI
18. ISWC Network
19. Google Knowledge Graph
20. The Movie Database
21. ACE Repertory