By Daniel Sullivan
Special to the Outlook Valley Sun

Eddie Van Halen, who died last week of throat cancer at age 65 and was widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists ever, performs as a 20-year-old at Lanterman Auditorium.
The news this past week hit me like it did so many who grew up witnessing rock guitar greatness: Eddie Van Halen, one of the finest guitar players, had passed away.
For those of us living in La Cañada or Pasadena during the 1970s and ’80s, this was especially difficult to bear because Eddie was a local guy who went to public schools, then Pasadena City College where he and his band played back yard parties and small concerts before stepping into the world spotlight and the pantheon of rock gods.
This past week took me back to a time 45-50 years ago in my life, when roads would intersect and memories were made on tape as well as 35mm grainy black-and-white pictures.
I was born in Pasadena in 1956, and my family lived in La Cañada. Eddie Van Halen and his brother Alex were born in Holland. His family came to the U.S. and settled into a working class neighborhood of Pasadena.