Van Halen Performs ‘Panama’ at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards
5. He Doesn’t Remember His Own Band’s Lyrics
Aside from not being able to read music, Eddie admits he’s also forgotten many of the lyrics to Van Halen’s songs. And though he barely has a relationship with David Lee Roth, he soldiers on for the fans: “I think it’s now built into people’s DNA, that it just won’t be Van Halen if it’s not Roth’s voice,” he explains. “You make music for people. Otherwise, just play in your closet. And how do you reach the most people? By giving them the band that they know. To do it any other way would be selfish.”
Read Eddie Van Halen’s Billboard cover story when it’s out Friday, June 19.