The new Red Hot Chili Peppers single "Eddie" was inspired by the death of Eddie Van Halen.
Frontman Anthony Kiedis says, “Eddie Van Halen was a one of a kind. The day after his death Flea came into rehearsal with an emotional bass line. John [Frusciante], Chad [Smith], 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...
"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.”
However, the song does name check David Lee Roth in the line, "It’s only 1983/ Please don’t remember me/ For what I did with David/ You know I’m talking David Lee."
"Eddie" is on Return of the Dream Canteen, which comes out October 14th.