Expert: Andrea Murphy Date: 4/25/2006 Subject: My love of Van Halen, and can you possibly pass this on to Eddie?
Question Hi Andrea,
First up - let me say that I've read your reviews and you are wonderful! It's great to have a dedicated fan who knows so much and can help others - you're doing excellent work and keeping people's dreams alive... Sighhh... "Dreams"... (I still see the Blue Angels flying when I say that)...
Anyway I have been a fan for about 20-25 years - being 35 now - and even though I love an incredible spectrum of music (believe me the range is bizarre) - I am still most passionate in life about all things Van Halen. I love the band in all it's forms - I've loved everything that came out of VH, no matter who the lead singer etc. Each step in their journey is just another flash of time at that point, and it makes you feel in touch with them to share their changes and moods at the time. I just love it all...
But as a guitar player (which I wouldn't have been unless I heard Eddie) I just have to say that I salivate over and know every single note the guy has ever put out on record (showing my age there), as well as many bootlegs. I can't say how much his playing, in every single song, just moves and rivets me. The one song I will always call my favourite - the song I've told everyone to play at my funeral if I ever get nailed by a bus or something - is "Girl Gone Bad" from 1984. Nobody ever talks about it, but if you go back and listen to it - really listen several times - you hear so much innovation and incredible syncopations and haunting melodies, all spliced together in one three-minute power punch - I just can't believe anyone could create that... Al is doing an off-beat riff mostly, thrown in with hard rock drumming at it's best, and some lightening fast runs; with Iron Mike putting up a complimentary wall of rhythm with some unusual notes that just bring out the best of the song at times. Anyway I won't go on, but have a listen if you get a chance!
I'm really writing to try and get in touch with Ed. I went to America for the first time last year, and it was a whirlwind tour (at the end of a European trip, so time and money were scarce). I was in HOLLYWOOD for two nights! I was actually there!! The first thing I did was buy a "Star Map", started crying when I saw Ed was on there, and then started asking everyone in the street if they'd seen Ed, where was Ed, did they know Ed, did they know anyone who knew Ed... I had tears to see I was standing within ten miles of the guy's house - I can't describe the feeling. I straight away made fast friends with the Hollywood Inn concierge - (Alex - you probably know the guy), and asked if he could drive me to Ed's place. he got back to me and would love to, but couldn't, as it's in a gated community. he had met Ed a few times, and himself owned a crazy 35 guitars or something. I even phoned him a few weeks ago, and he remembers me, and like many others he still has my contact details, and if he ever sees Ed he swears he'll pass them over. But as the days turn into months I haven't seen that magic email yet, so I thought I'd ask a few experts if they could pass my message on, such as yourself...
I walked for ten - yes TEN - hours my last night in Hollywood. I went all the way down to Santa monica Boulevard, and asked everyone I met the usual questions, giving them my details - all in the quest to meet Ed and just shake the hand of the man who has changed my life. I went to where they rehearsed once - Crossroads or something - then all the way to the Rainbow Room and Whiskey. Along the way I met everyone in the world - except Ed! I met stars and shook their hands, then made them upset by saying "yeah nice to meet you man, but man - where's VAN man"? I went to the 7/11 where he shops sometimes, I went into every single restaurant, pub, bar, shop, takeaway - everything that was open and anyone who was there got asked the same thing. I made notes in my diary, gave out my details, and kept up the search with that passion never dying. I met some great people who helped me in my quest, many of whom knew where he'd been seen once or had even met him - I shared handshakes, gave and got contact details, and kept pressing on, until getting to the famous bars at the end of the journey.
But - no Ed... :-( I met all sorts of up and coming rock stars and shared drinks with them and told my story. Half of Hollywood must be looking to give my info to Ed, and I stay in touch with as many as I can!
And in case you think I'm joking about my dedication, how's this: My personal info:
See what I mean!! I did firstly write the full numbers there, but in case this is visible on the internet somewhere, I took out some details. Ed would never call anyway - as long as the email is there that's cool - but I've based my life around loving these guys! You wouldn't have waited and hunted down things like phone numbers if you didn't care...
So there you have it! Sorry to strain your ears and eyes with such an impassioned plea like this, but hay - I live in hope that maybe one day I can hear from Eddie and thank him personally. I also want to make him aware that I am not alone. All of my friends are absolute fans of the band - there is not a time we talk that we don't at least mention Van Halen, or play something of theirs - they are just a part of our lives, and our most passionate thing. I have met thousands of others too - only slight exageration. When they came to Australia - (oh - I'm Australian by the way) - in 1998 I saw two of their shows - it was all I could get to. Man I will *never* *ever* forget that moment, when the spotlight came on and there was the man - Ed in the spotlight - twenty feet away and starting the show with *Unchained*... I still have goosebumps. I stood with mouth open and tears running freely for three songs straight before breathing again - in the midst of a crazy mob of beserk fans... Just another special moment in my life shared with Van Halen. Maybe the best moment out of ten trillion times and memories shared with Van...
Thanks Andrea. Hope to hear from you with any feedback if you get a chance! Love your work.
All the best - take care.
Mick
#1 Australian Van Fan
Answer Hi Mick,
Wow, you are definitely a die hard fan. I am roughly the same age and am almost as dedicated :) I don't really have any sure fire ways for anyone to meet or contact Ed. They aren't doing much in the way of touring or publicity, so they don't have an active agent or fan club. Ed keeps a really low profile in LA and is rarely seen out and about anymore. I don't know what to tell you.
I do hope you get the experience though, I met him at a concert in 1995 (I won a contest) and I got to say hi and tell him how much of an impact he had on me.
