Eddie Van Halen honoured with lone Frankenstrat guitar at Billboard Music Awards
Van Halen's 2015 performance of 'Panama' was also broadcast
Last updated 15th Oct 2020
Eddie Van Halen was honoured at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards in Los Angeles last night (14th October) with a lone Frankenstrat guitar on stage.
Held eight days after Eddie Van Halen’s untimely death from cancer aged 65, the Billboard Music Awards took place at The Dolby Theatre in Hollywood without an audience in attendance.
Paying tribute to Eddie Van Halen, the legend’s signature Frankenstrat guitar was positioned on stage and at one point it was illuminated by a single spotlight.
Together with the powerful on-stage tribute, Van Halen’s performance of ‘Panama’ at the Billboard Music Awards in 2015 was also replayed as part of the live broadcast.
Eddie Van Halen played the ‘1984’ anthem alongside his son Wolfgang Van Halen, brother Alex Van Halen and vocalist David Lee Roth at the industry back-patting event five years ago.
Pop singer Kelly Clarkson also paid homage to Eddie Van Halen at the ceremony, saying: "Just a few days ago, a true giant was taken from us: Eddie Van Halen. He was a legendary guitarist, an amazing musician and an incredible songwriter."
After the performance of ‘Panama’ aired, Clarkson added: "That moment is one that all who saw will always remember.”
Progressive metal titans Tool won Top Rock Album at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards last night for their sprawling opus ‘Fear Inoculum’. Incidentally, one of Eddie Van Halen's last public appearances was at a Tool concert at The Staples Centre in Los Angeles in October 2019.
Sharing the photo of his dad, Wolfgang Van Halen wrote at the time: “A guy asked my dad if he could take a picture of him with the stage behind him having no idea who he just asked, and that was my favourite moment from the Tool show last night.”
You can read tributes to Eddie Van Halen from Wolfgang Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Ozzy Osbourne, Nikki Sixx, Tony Iommi, Joe Elliott, Metallica, Aerosmith, AC/DC and many more right here:
The rock world pays tribute to Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen - the legend in photos:
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen in 1978
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Michael Anthony, and Alex Van Halen in 1978
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen striking a pose at the Kouseinennkinn-kaikan, Tokyo, June 1978
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen performs onstage at the Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois, April 6, 1979.
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen doing a trademark jump on stage in 1980
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Michael Anthony, Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth and Alex Van Halen in 1981
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen on stage in 1982
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen in his live element in 1984.
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen in the mid-1980s
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen and Sammy Hagar in 1986
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen in 1991
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen during Van Halen III Live in Chicago at Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, 1998
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen in 2012
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen with his son Wolfgang Van Halen in 2012
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth in 2015