Robert Vargas with his mural of Eddie Van Halen in progress.
January 18, 2021 – Artist Robert Vargas has been busy immortalizing guitarist Eddie Van Halen, who passed in October, 2020 in a mural. This stunning tribute (appropriately) to the King of “stun guitar” was begun on January 11th of this year. It was due to be completed on January 17th. The unveiling of the mural is scheduled for what would have been Van Halen’s 66th birthday on January 26th. If there is a live unveiling I will post a link to it here. Check back here on 1/25 or 1/26 for it!
As promised, here is the unveiling. Check it out:
This video, hosted by KXFM 104.7 FM on-air personality Leeza London shows the mural in the process of being created by Vargas at the Guitar Center in Hollywood, C.A. London interviews Vargas during the creation of the mural, with music from Van Halen blasting in the background, providing the artist’s inspiration, no doubt.
Watch London’s interview of Robert Vargas creating the mural below:
Personally, I hope the unveiling will be attended by his family – particularly Alex and Wolfgang Van Halen. It’s fitting to have a mural of Eddie painted on the side of that Guitar Center. It will go well with the handprints in cement of Eddie and the rest of the band located at the front entrance of the store. If you’ve never been there it’s worth checking out if you’re into Van Halen. The store usually has a room set aside just for the EVH product line with images of Eddie on the walls and sometimes pieces of equipment Eddie used back in the day.
Van Halen’s hand prints at the front entrance of the L.A. Guitar Center