Red Hot Chili Peppers share emotional tribute song for the late Eddie Van Halen

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By ( Metal Hammer ) last updated

Red Hot Chili Peppers release new single, Eddie, inspired by their love for the late guitarist Eddie Van Halen

Red Hot Chili Peppers and Eddie Van Halen
(Image credit: Clara Balzary, Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)

Red Hot Chili Peppers have shared a new single, Eddie, their tribute to late Van Halen guitarist, Eddie Van Halen, who passed away in October 2020.

The song is the second single taken from the LA quartet's forthcomingReturn Of The Dream Canteen album, which is set to emerge on October 14, just six months on from the release of their twelfth studio album Unlimited Love. The song follows on from the previously-released single Tippa My Tongue. 

Chili Peppers' frontman Anthony Kiedis paid tribute to guitar legend Van Halen while explaining the genesis of the touching commemorative ballad, which namechecks legendary Sunset Strip rock venues such as the Whisky-A-Go-Go and The Rainbow.

"Sometimes we don't realize how deeply affected and connected we are to artists until the day they die," Kiedis explains on social media. 

"Eddie Van Halen was a one of a kind. The day after his death [Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist] Flea came into rehearsal with an emotional bass line. John [Frusciante, guitar], Chad [Smith, drums] and I started playing along and pretty soon with all our hearts, a song in his honor effortlessly unfolded. It felt good to be sad and care so much about a person who had given so much to our lives."

Elaborating on the song's lyrics, he continues, "Although the song doesn’t speak to Eddie by name, it talks about his early days on the Sunset Strip and the rock n roll tapestry that Van Halen painted on our minds. In the end, our song asks that you not remember Eddie for dying but for living his wildest dream."

Kiedis' lyrics for the song include the following lines: 'Sailing the Sunset Strip, I'm a bit of a king / Granny would take a trip, I'll be bending the strings / Got hammers in both my hands, such a delicate touch / They say I'm from Amsterdam, does that make me Dutch?'

Listen to Eddie below:

Liz Scarlett
Liz Scarlett
Content Editor

Liz manages Louder's social media channels and works on keeping the sites up to date with the latest news from the world of rock and metal. Prior to joining Louder as a full time staff writer, she completed a Diploma with the National Council for the Training of Journalists and received a First Class Honours Degree in Popular Music Journalism. She enjoys writing about anything from neo-glam rock to stoner, doom and progressive metal, and loves celebrating women in music.