Wolfgang Van Halen, the son of the iconic VAN HALEN guitarist Eddie Van Halen, has taken to social media to share a heartfelt message in honor of his legendary father on what would have been Eddie’s 69th birthday
Wolfgang Van Halen wrote: “I wish you were here so I could give you a big hug, go to dinner, celebrate it with you and make a dumb joke about it being your 69th birthday. Just regular shit. I miss hearing you laugh. I miss laughing with you. It’s the little things.
“I’ll do my best to keep a smile on my face and think of you today. But then again, that’s not very different than any other day so far without you.
“I love and miss you more than you could ever possibly know.
“Happy Birthday, Pop”.
In October 2020, Eddie Van Halen passed away at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. Following his demise, admirers adorned his childhood home on Las Lunas Street in Pasadena, California, with floral tributes. Additional flowers, candles, and tokens from fans adorned Allen Avenue, where Eddie and his brother, VAN HALEN drummer Alex, etched their band’s name into the wet sidewalk cement during their teenage years.
Upon being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, Eddie sought treatments in Germany, flying back and forth for medical care. Unfortunately, the cancer progressed to his spine and brain, leading to Eddie’s passing a few months later at the age of 65.
Wolfgang shared his belief with The Washington Post that, had it not been for the COVID-19 crisis, Eddie might have continued flying to Germany for additional radiation, potentially extending his life.
In November 2020, Wolfgang disclosed to Howard Stern on SiriusXM that doctors initially gave Eddie a dire prognosis of “six weeks” after the stage four lung cancer diagnosis. However, after seeking treatment in Germany, Eddie defied the odds, granting Wolfgang three more precious years with his father.
In December 2020, the official cause of Eddie‘s death was disclosed as a cerebrovascular event, akin to a stroke. His death certificate, obtained by TMZ, also cited pneumonia, myelodysplastic syndrome (a blood disorder), and lung cancer as underlying factors. The document listed several other “significant conditions,” including squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (skin cancer) and atrial fibrillation, a condition elevating the risk of stroke due to irregular heartbeat.
In related news, EVH has announced the debut of Wolfgang Van Halen‘s signature guitar, SA-126.
SA-126 is the result of a three-year collaborative development process between Wolfgang, Matt Bruck and EVH‘s masterbuilder Chip Ellis. With this release, Wolfgang and EVH carry forward the more than 30-year brand legacy of innovation and top-quality standards into the future with a unique hybrid of classic and high-performance design and features. The end result is a guitar that is unique in its vision and tonal fingerprint.
“The SA-126 was born out of necessity for finding my own sound,” said Wolfgang Van Halen. “I wanted to do my own thing and that’s how I gravitated towards semi-hollow bodies and how it became my core sound. The goal was to put together a guitar that didn’t exist yet, which merged the beauty and wonderful warm tones of a classic semi-hollow guitar but with the performance style and neck that EVH gear is known for.”
Crash-tested for over two years by Wolfgang on tour with his band MAMMOTH WVH, this hot rodded semi-hollow instrument projects a beautiful and detailed aesthetic while producing a super wide spectrum of tones from articulate cleans, to burning leads to brutal chugging chordal rhythms. It creates a new categorization for electric guitar and is characterized by its limitless nature.
Featuring a set of custom wound bridge and neck pickups — meticulously crafted exclusively by Fender‘s resident and legendary pickup designer Tim Shaw, in collaboration with the EVH team — the development was exhaustive. What came from that attention to detail is the perfect, unique voicing the instrument needed to provide such a wide range of versatility and tones.
The SA-126 also features a mahogany body with a basswood centerblock for tone, along with a capped maple top on solid finishes and quilt maple top on translucent finishes with 5-ply body binding. The mahogany neck features a 22-fret 12″- 16″ compound ebony fingerboard, jumbo frets and triple block inlays, providing a modern-classic feel that is both familiar and comfortable. Its 24 and three-quarters scale length adds to the overall playability. To facilitate easy adjustments on the fly, a spoke wheel truss rod adjustment is conveniently located at the butt end of the neck.
“Unveiling the SA-126 on this significant day is a testament to the future we’re forging at EVH Gear,” said Jon Romanowski, VP category management, EVH Gear. “I’m incredibly proud of Wolfgang and the team for their dedication to pushing boundaries and shaping the brand’s next chapter with innovation and artistry.”
About EVH: Two of the most important and recognizable names in rock ‘n’ roll joined forces in 2005 to develop the EVH brand of guitars, amplifiers and musical products. Guitar icon and virtuoso Eddie Van Halen combined his unparalleled instinct and innovation in instrument and amp design with the expertise of the craftsmen and engineers at Fender to create a line of high quality, durable instruments that epitomize the sound of rock ‘n’ roll.
The result is an arsenal of super powerful guitars and amps that remain unmatched in sound and form and guitars that embody speed, style and emotion. Today, Fender honor’s the legacy of the legendary guitarist through exceptional offerings that embody the spirit of innovation and musical excellence that defined his illustrious career. Guided by Eddie‘s son, Wolfgang Van Halen, the brand is embarking on a bold direction that seamlessly merges tradition and forward-looking innovation, paying tribute to his father’s influence while forging a path of its own.
EVH is a licensed brand under Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) and their work together has provided musicians everywhere with the foundation to emulate one of the world’s best guitarists while also recruiting some of the biggest names in music whose inventive playing styles honor the legacy of Eddie Van Halen.
— Wolf Van Halen (@WolfVanHalen) January 26, 2024