S3 E47 Celebrity Souls Speak Eddie Van Halen, Includes Transcript

I spoke with Eddie shortly after he passed in 2020 but he wasn't ready for an interview, there are many things involved in our transition. He followed up with me recently during a session with someone else and we made plans for our chat. Here it is, hope you enjoy.

Transcript

B Welcome to Celebrity Souls Speak Season 3 Episode 47, Eddie Van Halen. We may think they’re gone but they’re still very much with us. Listening, watching, stepping in to help us navigate this Earth adventure. 

R We’re growing every day, reaching listeners around the world with messages from those celebrities passed. Thank you to all, especially:

San Jose, California

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Brisbane, Australia

Wilmington, NC

Sydney, Australia

Frankfurt, Germany

Washington, DC

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Columbus, Ohio

Los Angeles, California

This episode is recorded live, unedited except to speed up Eddie’s comments, the dead speak slowly.

R Edward Van Halen was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, January 26, 1955. Eddie lived a full life while he was here. In 1974 he formed the band Van Halen along with his brother Alex and in 1977 they were discovered by Gene Simmons of Kiss fame. Eddie struggled with alcoholism and drug abuse, he started smoking and drinking at the age of 12. Health issues plagued him throughout his career until his passing on October 6, 2020.

R Hey Eddie, you there?

E Bout time.

R Been waiting long?

E No time here sugar.

R Ok, thank you for joining me.

E No sweat. Hear that you do good things for us low-life musicians.

R Well, I am trying to help you pass messages to this ungrateful world of ego-driven maniacs.

E Haha good sense of humor too. I like it.

R So tell me. What do you have to say?

E I thought I wasn’t ready to leave but after I did I am so glad I am here. Things there are not so good, worse than I knew. Of course, I didn’t pay much attention to the workings of life, I just lived in my own world and shut out the rest of it. 

R I always ask about the passing, will you share what happened when you made the switch.

E It was just like that, a switch. One minute I was there, the next here. There wasn’t the light and the tunnel. I was in a place with many others who I now know is my soul family. There were many of them. And I did the life review and went into a training of sorts, orientation, and I learned about my abilities here. What you know and others do not want to know is that the afterlife is real, obviously. That place you inhabit is just one of many places to go. It is popular there because it is so difficult and many want to conquer it but it conquers most. I didn’t know what to think about it when I was there. I just wanted to make music. 

MRSo, for a minute let’s talk about your life here. What are you most proud of?

E That I was part of a group that entertained and tried to make people happy with our music. And my son.

R What do you regret?

E Nothing. You do what you do. At the time, you feel it is the right thing and sometimes things don’t turn out like you thought they would but there is no crystal ball and you just have to make decisions. I didn’t do anything to hurt anyone else, I don’t really regret my life there.

R What did people misunderstand about you.

E That I gave a shit. I did what I wanted to do. I didn’t care what others thought. I lived my life the way I wanted.

R What life challenge shaped you. 

E Having a child and getting cancer. Having Wolfie taught me to be more patient. Kids can try ya, ya know. Having cancer made me realize that we can go at any time. And being in a sick body is no fun. I though about exiting but I knew that wasn’t the right thing to do for my family so I lived every moment, sometimes horrible moments but I spent as much time as possible with those I love.

R What is something that people would be surprised to learn about you?

E I was pretty smart. I read books, I liked to learn. It helped my songwriting, gave me inspiration.

R What’s the best advice you got while here.

E Don’t trust anyone, even your family. People will do what is best for them, not for you. 

R What needs to change about the music industry?

E Burn it down. Bunch of thieves and liars. I know you’ve written on this subject, others have voiced their opinions and what they have said is true. Artists are treated like shit. We are simply money-making machines. Nobody really cares about you as a person. It’s all about the dollar. I don’t believe it will ever change. There will always be people who will want that fame and fortune, although there is a steep price to pay. 

R What are some things you do there?

E Play music of course. Golf, beach, mountains, whatever I desire. We make our own environment. I teach, most of us do. Both here and there. It is rewarding to help others. 

R How do you want to be remembered?

E As the guy who was good.

R Advice for mankind.

E Get over yourself and help others. Money is not the best thing. It causes most of the strife. And money doesn’t make you happy. You can live in a cardboard box and be happy if you understand that you are there to learn lessons. Most don’t know or care about the bigger picture. You will when you get here.

R Thanks for talking with me today. Contact me anytime you have a message or just want to chat.

E I will. And I know I met you once long ago. I was kind to you, wasn’t I?

R Yes you were. I was backstage at your concert in Baltimore and I wanted your autograph but I had no paper, just a pen. I gave you my ticket stub and the pen wouldn’t work.

E And I gave you a guitar pick.

R Yup and I still have both the pick and the ticket stub with your scratching on it. Along with the picture of me with the band. Yikes, I can’t believe that you know that.

E Oh, we know everything! (Laughing)