In A Few Months It Will Be 3 Years Since We Lost Eddie Van Halen
In A Few Months, It Will Be 3 Years Since We Lost Eddie Van Halen to Cancer. October 6th, 2020. The first thing I remember is a Twitter message from Wolfgang: “He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage was a gift. My heart is broken, and I don’t think I’ll ever recover from this loss. I love you so much, Pop.” Personally, my own heart sank. I felt as if a lifelong friend had passed. We now live vicariously through Wolfgang watching him carry the Van Halen Family legacy. Wolfgang is doing all of us proud. Wolfgang did this incredible video as a tribute to his Father. From his debut release, the song was called, “Distance,” which included home movies of the Van Halen Family.
The first time heard of Van Halen was at a friend’s house. The first song, “Eruption,” and I asked my friend, “Are you sure the record isn’t on the wrong speed? There’s no way a guitarist could be this fast.” They had the whole package: guitar, drums, bass, and one flamboyant lead singer. Years later in my radio career, I got to meet them all. On the VH Balance tour, I got the one-on-one meeting with Eddie Van Halen and to see all the awesome guitars. The gold ‘Lil guitar, the red-white-stripe guitar. And got to very lightly shake his hand.
Eddie Van Halen’s legendary Frankenstein guitar
Thanks again for being a wonderful soundtrack to my life and radio career. R.I.P. Ed and Thank You.
~screamin scott
Eddie Van Halen & Screamin
6 Of the Most Epic Moments in Live Music
A lot of details go into it becoming an epic moment in time. Factors go into determining how great the event is going to be. Let’s start with the concert announcement. All the greatest, Most Epic Moments in Live Music started on the radio. Some of the great ones were way before social media was a thing. Radio would be the first clue when the radio personality would tease coming up at 10 am a major concert announcement. Waiting all morning even guessing at who might be coming to town. My concert memories always had that, “it will be something to tell your grandkids someday.
Concert announcements by looking in the local newspaper. Pine Knob would post in early Spring the concerts for the upcoming season. There was always word of mouth about a concert coming to town or a friend who worked at a local record store.
The next step in the process was who was going to go with you to the show. Would it be an epic night with close friends or a concert with your best girl? Choose carefully as one wrong choice had major ramifications. Next was the transportation to and back from the show. Yes, I said back from the show. How many have ever been left at a show to find their own way home?
The last is to enjoy the show. Favorite beverage, or extracurricular activity to say it lightly. Remember you want to remember the show. What was nice is that some on this list have no cell phone documentation. Don’t be that person that goes Facebook live with distorted audio and you singing in the background.
Some of you attended some on this list of the Most Epic Moments in Live Music
Born in Mt Clemens, Screamin’ Scott has been a part of the Detroit airwaves for 30-plus years. With 40 years of experience in radio. When he’s not out on the streets for WCSX, you can find him devoting time to local charities with his, “Screamin Angels”; and for 16 years with Rock 4 Tots charity. And last 10 years with his local band, "Chit!." Screamin Scott likes to write about nostalgic Detroit area memories, classic rock, and local metro Detroit topics.
