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Van Halen Stage erected in late guitarist’s hometown of Pasadena
The Van Halen family had requested that the stage area be named after the entire band.
Image: Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy
A Van Halen Stage dedicated to Eddie Van Halen has been erected in the late guitarist’s hometown of Pasadena.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new stage was held over the weekend (17 September) alongside the opening of the new Playhouse Village Park in the city where the band was formed 50 years ago.
Interestingly, Blabbermouth notes that the stage in the park was initially set to be named after the late guitarist (following a city-wide survey to solicit for suggestions), but the Van Halen family “requested that the stage area be named for the entire Van Halen band” instead.
Speaking to Pasadena Now, Mayor Victor Gordo shared that as a young boy, he was “honoured” to serve the band margaritas whenever they visited the restaurant he was working at.
“As a young teen, I could not afford a concert ticket, but I was definitely a fan,” he added.
Council member Felicia Williams said of the occasion: “This event brings together history and community to celebrate a world-renowned artist. It’s not just the history of Eddie as a guitar legend, but also the challenges he faced growing up mixed race in Pasadena, which always spoke to me. And the community support and initiative to make this happen is inspiring. Thank you to everyone!”
Back in October 2021, a memorial plaque dedicated to the late Eddie Van Halen was unveiled after the guitarist had passed away from throat cancer on 6 October, 2020.
The plaque is currently located on a wall outside of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, where the band had performed 14 times between 1975 and 1978.
Scroll on for more photos and videos chronicling the event:
Long awaited Grand Opening of our neighborhood park and Van Halen Stage. Looking forward to bringing grandkids and their…
Posted by Deborah Dentler on Saturday, September 17, 2022
A HUGE thanks to everyone who has supported Pasadena 4 Van Halen and our Van Halen Stage Project. It was so wonderful to…
Posted by Pasadena 4 Van Halen on Saturday, September 17, 2022
Those BIG scissors! So honored to dedicate The Van Halen Stage this morning! #vanhalen @GregRenoff @shawnmpatterson @TheNewsBrian @ddunchained @VanHalenNews @BLABBERMOUTHNET WE DID IT!! ❤️🎸❤️ pic.twitter.com/txxKt7CFme
— @pasadena4vanhalen (@pasadena4vanha1) September 17, 2022
Just went to the ribbon cutting for the Van Halen stage at the newest park in Pasadena. Sadly, none of the surviving…
Posted by Jodi Taffel on Saturday, September 17, 2022
Posted by Howie Saul on Saturday, September 17, 2022
“Jump”ing for joy at the wonderful grand opening of the new Playhouse Village Park today with the Van Halen stage!…
Posted by Felicia Williams – Pasadena City Council District 2 on Saturday, September 17, 2022