Van Halen soundcheck - Eddie's roaring opening lick. 

An update since our hero left us: I have nothing but eternal gratitude that I was able to enjoy this moment. I will never forget this day and the sheer luck that led me to witness Alex, Wolf, Dave and our Beloved Edward in a candid, behind the scenes type of setting. Seeing Van Halen perform later that night was a religious experience, but there is something about seeing our Hero in his own time tinkering around with his gear, wandering the stage and the street while trying to perfect his sound and just seeing his facial expressions read "little more of this, that's good, hmm a bit more... okay great" that feels more lively than what any ticket could buy. I never expected to witness this, let alone record it. The gods blessed me and only a handful of strangers standing beside me that beautiful day. I never expected almost one million people to view this, too. I had uploaded this, and the other videos I recorded that day to RU-vid for the sole reason that, if I was ever feeling down, or had a slow day or needed to cheer up a friend, I could type in the name in the search bar and up would appear the happiest day of my life, forever within a click away. I'm glad almost one million of you can enjoy this, too. It's not professionally filmed (many of you have made that... well... disgustingly clear.) but it is a window into a moment that happen to be, by chance, the happiest day of my life thanks to Edward Van Halen. For the longest time, this was the one I truly feared the most at the thought of leaving. I am in disbelief, shock, hurt and I can't actually believe, so abruptly, this guy has left us. The greatest virtuoso guitar player of all time, Eddie Van Halen was more than an idol to me. He was more than an inspiration. I can't quite figure out just what he was to me, which is why I spent years and years, days and nights, just gazing over any pictures I could find, any single video I could watch, any hidden song or demo I could find just to get more wrapped up in the enigma of what this guy and his music even was and is. Eddie Van Halen is possibly the sole reason I take any vested interest in music today. He's the reason I so terribly try to emulate what ever the fuck it is he's doing on guitar. Above all he's the reason, many summers ago, I got through some of my darkest days - for which I am in eternal gratitude for. He's the reason it made me believe it's okay to not do things conventionally. That your best ALWAYS comes out when it's done your way. In any way. In any aspect of life. This year has been beyond rough, and we've all lost a lot. Today, I lost my idol and I'll sadly never see this God perform again with a smile. Holding a guitar will never feel quite the same to me. Today, Eruption will be blasted and my ears will ring for as long as they can. I love you Eddie Van Halen. Rest in paradise, the last true Virtuoso. The hardest rocking guitar player of all time. Just like his guitar playing, it'll be a long, long time before I can wrap my head fully around this.

Eddie: *checks with simple chords* Also Eddie: *initiates warp drive*

I remember a house party on a Saturday night in the spring of 1978 and someone pulled the needle off the record in the middle of a Steve miller song and everyone yelled at him. Ten seconds later we were stunned with what we heard. It was played back to back to back three times side A then side B over and over no one could believe it. Van Halen’s first album next day I bought the 8 track and wore it out. Great times back then.

That roar, through that cavernous reverb, was the greatest guitar tone I have ever heard.

Can always spot Alex's playing. Plays the drums the way Ed plays guitar.

I was waiting a block away. The excitement grew as I could hear this loud from down the street. I waited all day to see them. 8 hours in the hit california sun. Got to be about 20 feet from Eddie. One of the best days of my life.

That was recorded on the balcony at the dolby theatre. I was standing right next to you, lol...what a day! Thanks for posting!

The world will miss him. Such a great musician!

I come back to this clip all the time. That opening lick is just ELECTRIC. No one will ever do it like him again.

He’s gone 😭 Thanks for the memories and great music Ed. You were magical.

I could never be his tech, I'd just be giddy the whole time and asking him, "Um, do you know who you are? You're Eddie freakin' Van Halen!" and I'd get fired.

I love how those insane licks just come out of his fingers like you or I breathing! RIP sir, you were and are an absolute Titan!

PSA: Before you comment any negativity on the camera quality in any way, I filmed this 110% only for myself and uploaded so I can forever remember seeing Van Halen live and access it anytime. It's a privilege you get to even see this. Be grateful.

Honestly Eddie hit a real peak in the last few years of touring with VH. He was on fire.

I’m so grateful to have lived during Eddie’s reign. He was our Bach, Mozart and Beethoven wrapped up in this amazingly innovative Dutch boy! He will be missed.

Eddie will never be gone. As long as we remember him, play his music, and talk about him he’ll always be with us. Long Live the Mighty Van Halen! We miss you and Love You Ed. I hope your shredding with your pa. Rock In Peace!

Eddie is the real deal. Builds guitars; a one of a kind musical gift to the human race.

I hear a lot of people talk about how there's this twelve year old kid that can shred faster and more technically than him, but I've never heard another guitar player who blows me away equally with both their raw ferocity, and yet playing with such smoothness of feel quite like Eddie Van Halen. Even in his improvisations, his playing catches your attention. His guitar solos have a wide variety of interesting emotion and intensity, and his rhythm playing tells a story that you can tap your foot to. Not to mention he's written so many classic songs. Pure old fashioned Rock 'n roll with the perfect blend of blues and swing, it doesn't get any better than old school Van Halen.

If I heard that drum kit anywhere without seeing him, I’d know instantly that it was Alex’s kit. Such a signature sound.

If Alex was in any other band he would probably get the recognition he deserves.When your a little bro is a guitar God, you get overshadowed.AVH is a badass drummer!!!!!This coming from a drummer He is easily in my Top 10 greatest Rock Drummers of All Time

I’m 57 and let me tell you, he changed everything!

Something magical going on here. Very rare to see Eddie just standing there at times with no hands on guitar. You are one lucky dude to have caught this. Thanks for posting

You have admit, Eddy aged better than most Rockers from his Era even though he had been fighting that awful disease. I wish I was up there with ya watching this performance, Thanks for sharing.

Alex behind the drums and his younger brother Eddie screaming a warm brown sound on his guitar is heaven to us V.H. fans for ever. Rest in power Eddie Van Halen!!!!

You can't replace what is arguably the greatest guitar player ever. Just like you can't replace icons like Prince, Michael Jackson and Neil Peart. I bet they have a Hell of a band up in heaven.

the most telling thing is that even in sound check you know it's Ed. friggin' amazing.

still sounds futuristic and farout of this world

Yoooooo two GODS of R&R... what a blessing that they are still rocking! They look great and sound as good as ever. Eddies playing was the ‘roar’ heard round the world. He changed the game forever.

Hard to comprehend that we all now live in world without Edward. Rest easy EVH

Van Halen fan here. This video just appeared on my feed. It's fantastic. A video from a moment in time that only a few people were able to see and hear. Thanks for posting.

Damn Eddie looks as healthy and on point more here than ever. Keep it up brutherrr.

The band that i love the most. But one precious organ of this band is missing. We will never get him anymore. It really hurts.h

This gives me goosebumps from the grave.. nobody can start a solo like that and give it his all.. so distinctive

I was a kid from the 80s van Halen was and always will be my favorite ,I have 7 children and I have every song v h ever made ,I often will turn on Panama or any great tune and like the first time I heard them the hairs on my arms and neck stands up lol I tell my son and wife who both plays guitar listen to the master listen to his solos ,this is music and nothing from today or anything in the future will ever come close to sounding like Eddie or the boys of van Halen. Rock gods rip eddie

Your love for Eddie, your passion for his music, your appreciation for his gifts and talents, your gratitude for having seen him play live...this is what music is about, man. Other than love, it touches and elevates the soul like nothing else and the messengers who create it are literally gifts to our species from the godhead. Thanks for sharing and RIP EVH.

Thanks for sharing this moment behind the scenes. It’s hard to accept how quickly he left us and the shock of his loss. He was the Mozart of the Guitar 🎸. He gave us so many melodic notes that it was amazing and surreal at times. Your lucky to see him live for the last time. I never did. The music will live on but the live experience is gone. Sad but true. RIP EVH-You gave the world an embarrassment of Rich’s!

The power the brothers have is a force to be reckoned with.

i can feel the excitement in witnessing this sound check, his guitar had mass power, it makes your heart beat faster, he never lost that because you can tell he loves to play, we lost alot when he left us but im so gratefull i grew up in the age of VanHalen, i got to see them when they were young (1980) and it changed my life forever, i was never the same, thank you for sharing this moment with us, there will never be another like him, and good luck to wolfie as he starts his journey on his own, maybe he will touch some little kids soul like his dad did me so long ago, thanks again brother.

Thanks for this. So nice to see something candid and casual like this on this sad day. RIP EVH. Never truly gone, because you are a legend.

Farewell to the KING! RIP EVH! Thank you for making my years as a teenager growing up in the 1980's so enjoyable and memorable. I was grateful to see you in concert several times. You will be greatly missed!

Damn Eddie and Alex have still got it!!

I remember that day. That was so much fun. It was a real warm day. I am so glad I went down there that day. It’s still talked about to this day. 😊

I come back to this video every few months. It just makes me feel good

What a gem, to get to see this is fantastic especially from a drummers standpoint. To get to hear Alex’s sound check and warm up playing is great . He always sounds great . My Sympathies to him Wolfie , what a heartache to lose your younger brother and best friend. God bless them .

great video, thx for posting, I frickin' love Eddie

That 3 mins alone was better than 70% of the concerts you will ever see!!!

I’m glad I was born in 1959 and got to experience all the great rockers, soon they will ALL be gone

Thank you for recording this widescreen! This is so cool. I’ve seen them and have been a fan since the beginning. Bravo.

Rest in Peace,Eddie!!

Thanks for sharing. Nothing like seeing the man “off camera”, the master at work

Love seeing behind the scenes stuff like this! R.I.P Eddie!!

Eddie was a real baddass. He made that guitar scream. Lost a real great guitarist when he passed. R.I.P Eddie

The stage looks like a haladron collider and Eddie’s guitar is the catalyst 😂

Eddie...always laughing...always smiling...always so happy to be playing his music. What a loss 💔

Eddie, You know how talented you were and you knew your talent couldn’t be touched.. You and your talent are now missed and loved by so many. There will never be another Eddie Van Halen. Thank You for being the person you were. Thank You for your gift and talent in music and song. Thank you is not enough to say to someone like you. I bet those harps in Heaven get a sound check. I’m glad you were part of my favorite Band VH. 🙂

I'll forever miss Eddie Van Halen. I still listen to my Van Halen music on a weekly, if not, daily basis. Eddie's guitar licks will live on.

You can clearly hear here all that 'state of art' in those monumental sounds and effects Eddie created! is magnificent!.... as innovator, and virtuoso! Nobody come close him....

Eddie was a pioneer and guitar genius. RIP Eddie!

In 1984 I heard Jump on MTV. Couldn't believe anyone could play instruments like that... EDDIE had it all.. 1985 back to the future .. Marty played Eddie's guitar solo on his tape deck as Darth Vader from the planet Falcon... Eddie was King .. still is

Thanks for this Nick.... love Eddie so much. ❤️

Eddie used to warm up for hours before a show. I think the best part about his playing back then was his note phrasing, and willingness to try to push the envelope on stage. Now he just plays the flash tapping, Cathedral, and dive-bombs (although he does still do Meanstreet). Fans now don't come to see Van Halen to be surprised. It's now a nostalgia band. No one will be able to replace Michael Anthony's high voice - which made the harmonies uniquely Van Halen. And it really shows when Wolfie just stands there. Michael always gave a 100% show. He was very important.

Always thought Alex,s drums were freaking awesome and underestimated...

Amazing!! Thank you for uploading this!

GOD I miss Eddie. I've needed his awesomeness SO much this year.

Eddie Van Halen just doing soundcheck sounds phenomenal

It’s SOUNDCHECK. He is literally CHECKING the SOUND. Some of these comments are just bonkers.

Thanks for sharing! Amazing sound they have, just Al and Eddie and it still has THAT SOUND.

What an outstanding artist Eddie Van Halen was....hard to put into words just how great he was.

Greatest guitar tone ever!

Listening to this reminds me of how underrated Alex is. He’s definitely one of the premier drummers of all time. RIP Eddie!

Thanks for capturing and sharing a great moment!

This is why I love youtube uploads.. Thanks for sharing that.

Eddie Van Halen is playing.his Heart out in Heaven let me Tell Ya. RIP Buddy 🎸🎸🎻🎻🎸🎻

Live or recording or even sound-checking, the late EVH's guitar sound was always amazing.

Saw them at the Califfornia World Music Festival, April, 1978. Absolutely incredible double-tapping and effects. Their first album was played with ceaseless abandon on every rock station and home turntable by 1979. Good to see Mr Van Halen inspired so many! May he rock in peace.

I got the goose bumps on my arms and legs when he let that first riff go. Magic. 🔥

Got to love EVH! One of my favorite guitar masters out there.Always love his solos and phrasings, nice vid!

THAT SOUND STATES EVERYTHING ABOUT ROCK AND VAN HALEN ROLL!!

That sound, that tone. Cant be matched. Thank you EVH.

Wow this is so badass!! Whattah phenomenal memory to have!! Check off ✅ bucket list! It’s sad for me cuz I never had the pleasure of witnessing him and Van Halen performing live REST IN PEACE EDDIE

This is one of those videos that you wish would never end!

Alex is one of the Drummer greats,seen them 6 times 78-89

Same man...he’s the reason I’ve played guitar for the past 35 years. Such a loss. I was unable to speak about it for about a week...couldn’t hold it together. Single largest influence on my life. It’s impossible to put it all into words...but you did as close a job as I’ve seen. Thanks for the tribute.

Will never forget hearing Eddie doing sound check in 1998 in Sydney. I could hear him from my hotel room. The excitement of what was to come later that night was spine tingling.

The long locks may be gone but his musicianship only continues to get better like fine wine.

Damn!! What a guitar tone!! Awesome!!!!!!

One of my favorite videos right here

This is great. I saw Van Halen 3 times and DLR solo tour. I feel very lucky. Being a californian. I'm very proud of our rock and roll hero(s). Thank you for this. I can only imagine what this intimate experience was like.

Always feel can tell a lot about a guitarist by the first thing he does with a guitar when he picks one up. VH... straight off the bat.

That is a beautiful drum kit

I love videos like this. I find them fascinating.

A moment to treasure. Thanks for sharing it with us all!

Mu god that tone is beyond perfect!!!!!

I was standing next to you taking still pictures. Glad to see it on video.

Greatest Rock Metal Guitarist of All Time! WOW,, that Roar of his guitar playing is just insane! RIP EVH!

This is ASTOUNDING and what amazing luck ypu were able to record this incomparablly gifted man in preparation. It's also so sweet thatcyou can see Wolfang there, I've read about how very close they were and how much he loved working with his dad. As sad as we are, my heart breaks for him, as he lost not only a musician but his father, and I know how much it sucks to watch someone go through an extended battle with cancer. Anyway, as a gen-xer, thank god I lived in the age of Eddie Van Halen!!

His energy is infinite 💫

Our Mozart!

Who doesn't remember the first time they heard eruption and immediately bought VH1 .... his sound is unmistakable and we were fortunate to have been blessed... gonna miss him RIP Eddie!

Great memory from EVH. Saw Alabama to a victory in T-Town on a Saturday. Drove to Biloxi that night. I had scored a single ticket to VH for the following Monday on the 3rd row. Seeing Eddie and Sammy perform. Nothing like seeing a band up close. In my time had the pleasure of close ups of EVH, West, Bruce & Laing, Edgar Winter (w Ronnie Montrose on g), Johnny Winter, the Dixie Dregs, Bloodrock, Cooper,, Satriana, Steve Vai. Growing up in the 70s the best era of rock that will never be seen again