Happy birthday, Eddie Van Halen.
On Tuesday – which would have been the late rock star’s 66th birthday – a colorful mural of the guitarist will open in front of the Guitar Center main store in Hollywood. Painted by Los Angeles artist Robert Vargas, the 5 by 105 foot portrait shows the musician destroying his “Frankenstrat” guitar.
Van Halen died in October at age 65 after battling throat cancer.
“Eddie was one of my creative heroes,” Vargas said in a statement. “When I was young, Van Halen’s debut album was the first I had. He has influenced me over the years in many different ways.
“As soon as I heard of his passing, I knew that I needed to do something creative to honor him, and the Guitar Center was the obvious place. Right here on the Sunset Strip, where the band made its bones – I can’t think of a better place for this tribute to him, and I thank the Guitar Center for giving me the canvas to share it with the world. “
Located on Sunset Boulevard, the Guitar Center’s location in Hollywood already boasts several tributes to hitmaker “Runnin ‘With the Devil”, including instrumental memorabilia and Van Halen’s handprints, the latter of which are featured prominently outdoors in the RockWalk filled with store stars. The building also has a mural by another guitar god, Jimi Hendrix.
In recent months, California and its City of Angels have seen a series of murals in honor of fallen entertainment heroes, including screen icon Chadwick Boseman and Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, who died with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, in a helicopter accident exactly a year ago.
After his death last year, a series of rockers greeted Van Halen’s co-founder on social media. Sincere tributes came from Van Halen lead singer Sammy Hagar, Kiss musicians and singer-songwriter Billy Idol, as well as Van Halen’s son bassist Wolf Van Halen and ex-wife actress Valerie Bertinelli.
“Happy 66th birthday, Pop,” Wolf Van Halen wrote on Instagram on Tuesday. “I wish I could give you the biggest hug and celebrate with you. I love you and I miss you so much it hurts. I don’t even know how to put it into words. I’m doing my best to hold on, but damn, it’s very difficult to be here without you. “
Van Halen fans are encouraged to visit Guitar Center’s Instagram and YouTube pages to see behind the scenes of the making of the mural, which was scheduled to be completed and signed by Vargas at 1pm today.
“When you work hard on something, you can reach your full potential,” Vargas said in a statement. “Be true to your art, and your art will be true to you. I had the chance to meet Eddie a few years ago, and because he and I connected with the nature of art and creativity, painting him here is therapeutic. “