Eddie Van Halen Wrote Huge Check Before Death

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Eddie Van Halen wrote a large check after a show drew a poor crowd and lost a promoter money in the 1980’s, according to a new newspaper tribute. Alternative Nation transcribed the promoter’s comments. The Eddie Van Halen last photo with his son Wolfgang was just revealed.

Frank J. Russo wrote, “So very sad of the passing of a rock and guitar legend. Eddie Van Halen was more than an artist, he was a very kind soul. Having promoted the band at the Providence Civic Center in the 1980’s, I endeavored to bring his group Van Halen to Foxboro Stadium with another major headliner, Metallica. The event was titled ‘Monsters of Rock.’

For some unexplained reason the ticket sales were very poor. I lost a large amount of money. Eddie personally called me and said that he was sending me a check for $50,000 and was sorry for my losses. Unheard of today. A class act right to the end. May his soul rest in peace.”

The Monsters of Rock tour featured Van Halen, Metallica, The Scorpions, Dokken, and Kingdom Come. Gene Simmons discussed seeing Metallica with Eddie Van Halen on Dennis Miller’s podcast. Van Halen fans just demanded refunds after a Sammy Hagar show.

“Metallica was coming up in the world, and we all started to hear about this new band and stuff. So I went out to Long Beach Arena, had a limo and bodyguard — all that stupid rock star stuff. And backstage, Edward comes up, ‘Hey, man, what are you doing?’ ‘Checking this band…’ ‘Yeah.’ In fact, I jumped up on stage with the guys and we did ‘Cold Gin’ together.

At any rate, when we got offstage, I was saying [to Eddie], ‘It’s great seeing you. I hope everybody is okay. I’m gonna jump in my car and go back to L.A.’ He goes, ‘No, man. Come with me. I’ve got my Jeep here, and I’ll drive you back.’ I go, ‘Sure. Sure. Why not?’ So I told the limo driver, ‘You know what? Make your way back. I’m gonna go with this guy.’ Well, be careful what you wish for.

So he puts me into this old jalopy thing with no doors. Ever see [the American war comedy-drama television series] ‘M*A*S*H’ with those helicopters that don’t have doors on them, and they’re flying sideways and you think you’re gonna die? This thing’s got no doors. It’s got seatbelts. And Edward’s smoking away like a chimney and driving what I thought was a hundred miles an hour up the 405 [freeway]. And I’m holding on for dear life and trying to pretend that I’m a guy without fear and all that. [I was] scared to death. And I said, ‘Eddie, Eddie, slow down.’ And a cigarette was hanging out of his mouth, and he said, ‘Why?’ I didn’t quite know what to answer.”