Sad day indeed.
I recall when Van Halen came out and thought holy cow, these guys can play. BUT, being a bigger Kinks fan I thought what are they doing to “You really got me”. A band I joined at the time said Let’s play “You really got me”, and I said Great, love the Kinks! The reply was the Kinks did that song? A little age difference but respect for great song. Eddie obviously like the Kinks because they did a good cover of “Where have all the good times gone?” as well.
Missed a chance to see him solo in the mid 80’s. Saw the Eric Martin band in a bar in San Francisco and left before show ended. What do ya know, Eddie Van Halen came in and played with the band at the end. Missed opportunity for sure.
I did see the Diver Down tour in Indiana and Eddie was on fire. In 1982 they were still setting the stage and they rock and rolled.
Have to agree with a comment in “greatest guitarist” article from a few years back (Can’t recall the guitarist now) that said Eddie Van Halen was one of those once or twice in a lifetime guitarist. Jimi Hendrix introduced electronics and Eddie brought speed and fretboard wizardry, I believe it will be some time before another player comes along that truly introduces something awe inspiring and different like Eddie did.
RIP EVH