After rock god Eddie Van Halen died of cancer Tuesday, Army Staff Sgt. Austin West processed the loss of one of his musical influences in the best way possible — by strapping on his guitar and absolutely shredding through a tribute on Facebook.
In a three-minute video posted to his personal Facebook page, the recruiter based in Watertown, New York, became a viral hit as he burned through some of Van Halen’s best-known riffs and solos, including “Eruption,” “Panama,” and the band’s cover of The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.”
At publication time, the video had more than 1.2 million views and 7,000 comments.
“Believe it or not, it just came through, and I played what I felt through Eddie,” the 26-year-old musician told Stars and Stripes.
West, who previously served as a guitarist with the US Army Band, said he started learning the guitar after listening to AC/DC, and seeing Van Halen live in 2008 further inspired him to pursue music.
“Hitting one million [views] is so shocking,” he told Stars and Stripes. “I know Eddie is smiling.”
RIP to a legend and inspiration Mr. Edward Van Halen! Here is my tribute to you and may you Rest In Peace ! ??
Posted by Austin West on Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Ethan E. Rocke is a contributor and former senior editor for Coffee or Die Magazine, a New York Times bestselling author, and award-winning photographer and filmmaker. He is a veteran of the US Army and Marine Corps. His work has been published in Maxim Magazine, American Legion Magazine, and many others. He is co-author of The Last Punisher: A SEAL Team THREE Sniper’s True Account of the Battle of Ramadi.
For more than 150 years, the Medal of Honor has been used to recognize acts of extraordinary battlefield courage performed in service to the United States.
Medical oversight and care were “poorly organized, poorly integrated and poorly led and put candidat...
Memorial Day was created as a remembrance to honor the fallen by decorating graves — a holiday meant...
The Air Force fighter pilot about to be nominated as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ...
In an effort to continue Black Rifle Coffee Company’s mission of supporting the veteran community, B...
Black Rifle Coffee Company will honor Marine Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Menusa during NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 this Memorial Day. Menusa was killed in 2003 during the invasion of Iraq.
The nuclear-powered ship USS Gerald R. Ford entered the Oslo fjord escorted by a rapid dinghy-type boat with armed personnel on board.
Two-time Academy Award nominee Adam Driver, who will soon be starring as Enzo Ferrari in a biopic of...