EVH Gear to be run by Wolfgang Van Halen and guitar technician Matt Bruck

Van Halen manager Irving Azoff has spoken on the future of Eddie Van Halen’s guitar and amplifier brand, EVH Gear, following the guitar icon’s death last Tuesday, 6 October.

[Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie’s son] and Matt Bruck [Eddie Van Halen’s longtime guitar technician] will run it, and that’s going to continue,” Azoff said during an interview with Pollstar.

Commenting on the possibility of unearthing unreleased material from the late guitarist, Azoff could make no guarantees. “Wolf and Alex [Van Halen] will go up to 5150, the studio in Ed’s house, but there’s been a lot of recording over the years,” Azoff said.

“I can’t predict that for sure there will be anything new, but for sure they’re going to look at it.”

In his interview, Azoff also confirmed that Van Halen’s rumoured summer stadium was planned for 2019, and was called off due to the guitarist’s declining health. The tour was to feature David Lee Roth and Michael Anthony, as well as guest appearances from the Foo Fighters and Metallica.

“We had lots of stops and starts, but there was every intention of doing a summer stadium tour (in 2019), and as the cancer moved around, [Van Halen] was physically unable to do it,” Azoff revealed. “In many ways, the tour would have been considered a fond farewell to one of the greatest bands and guitarists in rock history. There is no doubt in my mind that it would have been massive.”

The news comes as the music industry continues to mourn Eddie Van Halen, with scores of artists sharing their tributes to the great icon over social media – including Guitar virtuoso Steve Vai, who penned a lengthy open letter about his friendship with Van Halen, writing: “I feel the shock and the loss of the entire guitar community. I just want to say let’s focus on all that he gave us, because it truly was a gift.”

For more music news, click here.