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Van Halen recorded parts of 'Panama' music video in Providence


FILE - In this June 22, 2004, file photo, Eddie Van Halen plays the final chord of "Jump" during the Van Halen concert at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N,.J. (John Munson/NJ Advance Media via AP)
FILE - In this June 22, 2004, file photo, Eddie Van Halen plays the final chord of "Jump" during the Van Halen concert at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N,.J. (John Munson/NJ Advance Media via AP)
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Eddie Van Halen, often described as one of rock music’s best guitarists of all time, has lost his battle with cancer.

The innovative musician is being remembered for being a pioneer of his generation and beyond.

“Eddie just changed the way people played,” said Doug Palmieri, who is the program director at 94 HJY, a popular Rhode Island-based radio station.

“He played the guitar differently than anyone up until then had,” Palmieri added, as Van Halen focused on big leads, powerful solos, and finger-tapping. “It doesn’t happen often that someone sees an instrument that’s been used by many and does something completely different with it.”

Van Halen co-founded the band with his brother, Alex, a drummer, in California during the early 1970s.

In March 1984, when they performed back-to-back nights at the Providence Civic Center, which is now known as the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, the band recorded parts of their music video, “Panama.”

Scenes show front man David Lee Roth doing his famous high kicks and flying through the air on a harness while holding a boom box, plus former bassist Michael Anthony singing and dancing on stage.

“It was during sound check and prior to the show,” Palmieri said.

Footage includes Van Halen playing his signature red, black, and white stripped guitar and jumping off drum risers. He never stops smiling for the camera.

“This is a guy who played guitar, you could argue, better than anybody, and always did it smiling,” Palmieri said. “There was never that weird, intense, withdrawn guitarist face. He was having fun all the time.”

Some parts of the video were also recorded during the concerts, which were high-energy and fun-filled.

“They were an amazing band and that is great that something took place at the Civic Center, where so many great shows came through the 1980s,” Palmieri said. “Van Halen played there a bunch of times.”

Palmieri, who grew up listening to Van Halen, was 13 years old when the tour came through the Ocean State. He had tickets but didn’t end up going.

“I got grounded and I was like, ‘Ugh, I’ll go next time,’ because they came every two years or so in the area,” he said.

But then, Roth left the band. Not long after, Sammy Hagar took over on vocals.

“That was difficult, I think, for a lot of Van Halen fans who were big David Lee Roth fans, but they actually had more hits and more albums and were incredibly successful with Sammy Hagar,” Palmieri said.

Palmieri later saw them at the Monsters of Rock Tour in Foxborough, alongside other bands like The Scorpions, Dokken, and Metallica.

“I rushed up to the stage to get as close as I could just to see Eddie Van Halen play guitar,” Palmieri said.

He eventually saw DLR at the Boston Garden in 2008 after the band reunited with Diamond Dave.

“That was fantastic, as well, and that was with Wolfgang, Eddie’s son, playing bass,” Palmieri said.

The guitarist died on Tuesday, with Wolfgang, announcing the news on Twitter. His rock star dad was 65 years old.

“He was the best father I could ever ask for,” Wolfgang tweeted. “Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage has been a blessing. My heart is broken and I don’t ever think I’ll fully recover from this loss. I love you so much. Pop.”

Wolfgang’s mother, actress Valerie Bertinelli, who is Van Halen’s ex-wife, replied to the post, sharing several broken heart emojis.

“She was with Wolfgang and Eddie when he passed,” Palmieri said, citing social media posts from former band members.

But while the legendary guitarist has died, Palmieri, who co-hosts the afternoon show on HJY with Steve Scarpetti, said Van Halen’s innovative skills will live on forever through his music.

“It happened when I was on air and we played a ton of Van Halen,” Palmieri said, adding that they’ve been taking requests and chatting with their fans on Facebook about shows and experiences with the band. “We’re trying to have conversations with the listeners about it.”

Palmieri added that HJY is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary next year. He started there as an intern in the 1990s, frequently incorporating Van Halen in his broadcasts.

“No one was as impactful in that time period as Eddie Van Halen was to the overall sound of rock guitar,” Palmieri said. “There’s a few guys historically that changed the way guitar was played in rock music, you know, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, and then Eddie Van Halen. He opened a door to almost an entire genre of rock music.”

Plus, he said, Van Halen was collectively a one-of-a-kind band. He’s grateful for all the “incredible” music.

“That’s a real gift and I look at it as a celebration of what he was able to accomplish, as opposed to the sadness of having him not around anymore,” Palmieri said.

Listen on 94HJY.com or iHeart Radio.

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