Calling all Van Halen die-hards.
A long-rumored tribute project honoring the late Eddie Van Halen is officially in the works. Described as highly anticipated and deeply emotional, the passion project is being built from unreleased recordings by one of rock’s influential guitarists. While fans are still waiting for its release, though, there’s already another way to celebrate the moment (details way below).
According to Guitar World, the still-untitled EVH project is being shaped by Toto guitarist Steve Lukather and Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen, who told the outlet that the record is a heartfelt sendoff to the legendary guitarist. Lukather also emphasized that the project is not about commercial gain, but about “love of the guys.”
A longtime pal of Eddie’s, Lukather was personally chosen by Alex to help guide the honorary record, which was reportedly close to completion before Eddie’s death in 2020. And even though Lukather is a guitar legend in his own right, he confirmed he’s not playing a single chord on the album.
“These are finished tracks with Ed and Al,” Lukather said, “and Ed’s playing bass on a lot of it. That’s all I can say right now because it’s a much bigger picture, and it’s Alex’s story to tell.”
Lukather added that the material is fully realized, pushing back against any notion it is unfinished or assembled from scraps: “If you think this is a bunch of throwaway crap that we’re trying to Mickey Mouse together to suck the dollar out of poor, unsuspecting Van Halen fans, it’s not,” he said.
As anticipation builds for the ultimate tribute album already generating major interest across classic rock news, EVH legacy coverage, and posthumous rock releases, fans can also take part in a separate collaboration.
Teaming with Ultimate Classic Rock, the band is giving away a signed edition of their double-vinyl album that releases this Friday, June 5. One lucky winner will receive a vinyl edition of Live in New Haven, CT 1986, complete with post-David Lee Roth frontman Sammy Hagar’s John Hancock and a collectible vinyl slipmat featuring the classic Hagar-era Van Halen logo.
The double live album captures the band’s “powerhouse lineup of Sammy Hagar, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, and Michael Anthony during the legendary 5150 Tour,” recorded live at the New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum back in August 1986.
For fans who don’t win the giveaway, the album will also be available for purchase through the band’s official store. Either way, it’s a reminder that even decades later, the legacy of Eddie Van Halen and the era he helped define will live on forever.
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‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source parade.com ’
