Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony share emotional video tribute to Eddie Van Halen
The video is entitled We Love You Eddie
Last updated 9th Oct 2020
Former Van Halen vocalist Sammy Hagar and bassist Michael Anthony have posted a highly emotional video message dedicated to their late Van Halen legend Eddie Van Halen.
Guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen lost his battle with lung cancer on Tuesday morning (6th October) sparking an outpouring of tributes from across the rock world, including his brother Alex Van Halen, son Wolfgang Van Halen, and band mates David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar.
In addition to their earlier tributes, Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony posted a two-minute video to Sammy Hagar’s YouTube channel last night (8th October) under the title ‘We Love You Eddie.’
Recorded at Catalina Island off the coast of California where they’re rehearsing for Sammy Hagar & The Circle virtual concert on the island on 17th October, Sammy said the news of Eddie’s death “was like getting hit by a freaking Mack Truck.”
Visibly emotional in the clip, Sammy says: “After the unfortunate thing that happened with Eddie Van Halen yesterday, which was, for Mike and I, just was like getting hit by a freaking Mack Truck, kinda took the wind out of the sails. A Van Halen song never felt so hard to sing and play in my life.”
Michael Anthony adds: “It’s very surreal right now. It hasn’t sunk in yet.”
Sammy continued: "What I felt playing especially a song like 'Right Now' that is so timeless, that I felt, 'Wow, thank God for this.' We'll never play it with Eddie again, but thank God for this."
Anthony said: "We have the music, if nothing else."
Watch the video tribute here:
Yesterday (8th October), Van Halen drummer Alex Van Halen paid tribute to his late brother Eddie by writing the simple yet poignant message: “Hey Ed. Love you. See you on the other side. Your brother, Al.”
Alongside the message is a photo of Alex and Eddie Van Halen when they were young boys and still living in the Netherlands.
You can read tributes to Eddie Van Halen from Ozzy Osbourne, Nikki Sixx, Tony Iommi, Def Leppard Metallica, Aerosmith, AC/DC and many more by clicking right here.
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