Guitar legend Eddie Van Halen will speak at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and Zócalo Public Square February 12th about innovation as part of the national “What It Means to Be American” program. The Dutch immigrant and naturalized U.S. citizen will discuss his American journey, his role in creating one of the biggest American rock bands of all time, how he has reinvented the way the guitar is played and designed, and he will answer the question, “Is rock ‘n’ roll about reinvention?” Entertainment journalist Denise Quan will moderate the sold-out event.
Edward “Eddie” Van Halen (b. Jan. 26th, 1955) is a Dutch American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, producer and self-taught inventor of guitar technology and technique that allows musicians to make sound in new ways. The February 12th event is sold-out, and no public tickets are available. The event video may be accessed February 13th at www.whatitmeanstobeamerican.org.
Best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen is recognized for his innovative performance and recording styles, two-hand tapping, scorching solos and energetic concerts. Van Halen has invented guitar technology, technique and instruments that have redefined how the guitar is played and heard.
For the event Van Halen and Fender will donate a master-built replica of Van Halen’s infamous white-with-black-stripe Stratocaster. This is the guitar that changed the guitar world in 1978 when Van Halen cross-pollinated Gibson electronics with Fender body and neck designs. To represent the path of progressions in his instrument designs, a Stealth finished EVH Brand Wolfgang will also be included to represent his modern-day workhorse.
In addition to the guitars, Van Halen and Fender Musical Instruments Corp. will also donate an EVH Brand 5150-III amplifier and speaker cabinet to embody the journey and progression of his amplifier designs from the early ’70s through the modern day.
The National Museum of American History and Los Angeles-based Ideas Exchange Zócalo Public Square have partnered to present “What It Means to Be American,” a collaborative three-year initiative aimed at engaging leading thinkers, public figures and Americans from all walks of life to explore how the United States became the nation it is today.
The “What It Means to Be American” initiative will inform the museum’s upcoming exhibition projects centered on exploring the themes of democracy, immigration and migration, and the nation people build together. Additional events will take place in the museum’s Liberty Square, an interactive events space scheduled to open in 2016.
Through incomparable collections, rigorous research and dynamic public outreach, the National Museum of American History explores the richness and complexity of American history. The museum helps people understand the past in order to make sense of the present and shape a more humane future. The museum is located at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W., and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free. For more information, visit americanhistory.si.edu. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000.
Zócalo Public Square, a proud affiliate of Arizona State University, is a not-for-profit Ideas Exchange that blends live events and humanities journalism. Zócalo partners with educational, cultural and philanthropic institutions, as well as public agencies, to present free events and conferences in cities across the U.S. and beyond and to publish original daily journalism that is syndicated to more than 160 media outlets.
6 Responses
Eddie Van Halen IS the innovator! And once again, I really hope EVH is the legend who will be the first guest on TMS on 2/21, and if he is, I will be standing on “TOP OF THE WORLD”! 🙂
Hmmm, EVH in DC 2/12 & TMS tapes 2/17 in NYC
Hopefully, this “MAN ON A MISSION” will “RUNAROUND” the East Coast a few days, then do an “IN ‘N’ OUT” with TMS.
Maybe I’m being a “LITTLE DREAMER” but “I’LL WAIT” for the announcement.
Eddie, don’t play us for “FOOLS”, you know “EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!”
You’re “GOOD ENOUGH”, so when “PUSH COMES TO SHOVE” please “JUMP” at the chance to do TMS.
“I’M THE ONE” begging you, make our “DREAMS” come true and we’ll be “DANCING IN THE STREET”
Dude that was funny!
I’m more curious to learn if VH will any more music out. From what I’ve read Roth claims he hasn’t written any new music with Edward in decades. I’m wonder if that’s changed. I bet it hasn’t. Ed is the king, and truly an innovator, but color me disappointed as VH fan over the last 15 years. ADKOT was good for being all reworked old demos, but I hope it wasn’t the finale. Something tells me it was, though.
Without Eddie, we would not be where we are as far as guitar innovation and inventions go. He was like a mad scientist! We’d be playing low strung Les Paul’s, not that there’s anything wrong with that, or jangling Fenders, not that there’s anything wrong with that either, and trying to squeeze as much out of those types of guitars and the amps of the old days as we could. Eddie turned everything on its ear and kick started a musical revolution. 80’s metal, especially 80’s guitarists, would simply have not been the same if Eddie hadn’t done all he did. When we all heard ERUPTION for the first time, it was jaw dropping! I couldn’t wrap my head around it! It just have been similar to what it was for the generation before me when they heard Jimi Hendrix for the first time: mind blowing!
Django, Hendrix, Van Halen, and Yngwie were all game changers. They found a way to convey emotion through their instruments like no others had done before them. I must admit though that after hearing some of the stories I’ve heard about Eddie’s reclusive period and Sammy stories, I’m just glad he’s still alive.