Eddie Van Halen paid tribute to Dimebag Darrell, as shared by Charlie Benante in a recent Vinyl Guide podcast episode.
In December 2004, Darrell tragically died onstage. At his funeral, Van Halen honored the Pantera guitarist in a touching way. Benante recalled:
“I noticed that Eddie was carrying a guitar. And [Eddie] came right over to us, and he crouched down, put the guitar down on the floor, and crouched down and was talking to us, just saying how sorry he was. And I noticed on the guitar case it had a piece of tape that was there for like, forever. And it said VH2 on it.”
The Bond Between The Two Musicians
Van Halen and Darrell only became friends a short while before Dimebag’s untimely death. Still, they shared a connection over music. Benante continued:
“Darrell’s favorite Van Halen guitar was the bumblebee, which was on ‘Van Halen II.’ And [Eddie] opens the guitar, and he says, ‘I brought this for your brother.’ It was the guitar from the back of ‘Van Halen II.’”
Van Halen’s Tribute To Dimebag
During the funeral service, Van Halen addressed Dimebag’s passion for rock ‘n’ roll, saying:
“I’m here for the same reason as everyone else: to give some love back. … This guy was full of life. He lived and breathed rock ‘n’ roll.”
Then, he played a message from Dimebag on his phone through a microphone for everyone to hear. The late musician said:
“Thank you so much, man, for the most awesome, uplifting, euphoric, spiritual rock’ n’ roll extravaganza ever!”
The phrase ‘Van Halen’ had a deep meaning for Darrell and his brother Vinnie Paul. They used it as a code word for having a great time and letting loose before their performances, and it was the last exchange they had before Dimebag’s death. Dimebag was a huge fan of Eddie Van Halen, and he often listened to his music before shows.