I grew up near Pasadena and actually played street football with Alex when we were kids. Anthony lives in my hometown. I saw numerous versions of the band at backyard five keg events from 1973 to 76, when they finally launched. For the San Gabriel Valley, it was strange to think that our two greatest cultural exports were Van Halen and In-N-Out burger. I think Eddie deserves credit for reimagining the "guitar god." By 1978, when they openned for the Stones, Led Zep and Jimmy Page were on the descent, largely due to his troubles with heroin.
Eddie was and has been largely hampered by his alcoholism, which really started to take over in 1983, at the time of their US Festival gig. I used to him tits up all the time around town, in the local grocery store and record shops. I like the fact they were able to tour briefly four years ago, while he was sober on the first part of the tour, the first time in close to 24 years. It brought back good memories of the first years. David Lee actually could sing on key, through most songs, and was especially fit.
