On October 11, just a few days after the anniversary of Eddie Van Halen , a memorial plaque was unveiled in his hometown of Pasadena, California.
The city's mayor, Victor Gordo , and several council members were present at the ceremony, which took place near the Civic Auditorium, where Van Halen performed several times between 1975 and 1978. Council member Felicia Williams said the event not only represents "Eddie's story as a guitar legend, but also the challenges he faced growing up as a mixed-race person in Pasadena."
The text on the plaque reads: “The Van Halen family emigrated from the Netherlands to Pasadena in 1962. Alex and Eddie Van Halen attended schools in Pasadena and began playing music together, with Eddie on guitar and Alex on drums. Years later, the brothers formed the band Van Halen along with drummer Michael Anthony and vocalist David Lee Roth .”
Between 1975 and 1978, Van Halen performed 14 shows at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and Conference Center . Considered one of the most successful bands of all time, Van Halen will always be remembered for reinventing rock 'n' roll and its connection to Pasadena.
The ceremony was not open to the public due to coronavirus safety protocols, and Eddie Van Halen's family was also unable to attend due to "scheduling conflicts," according to official information. Watch the six-minute video of the ceremony:
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