Jeff Scott Soto recently expressed his frustration about how the music industry handled tributes to Eddie Van Halen. He made his comments in a statement shared on Instagram.
Soto’s criticism was sparked after watching the tribute to Rob and Michele Reiner at the Oscars. This highlighted what he saw as a stark contrast to how the music world honored the late Van Halen guitarist.
“After seeing the heartfelt, considerate and even humorous tribute to Rob and Michele Reiner on the Oscars last night, it makes me even more annoyed the music world didn’t handle losing an important, trailblazing icon like Eddie Van Halen in the same fashion!” Soto said.
He went on to compare Van Halen’s treatment to other musicians who received more substantial tributes.
“Taylor Hawkins, God rest his soul, got TWO tributes/sendoffs, he deserved them because those around him made sure to celebrate him, Freddie Mercury’s sendoff was monstrous…Eddie was far too important a legend to not have a similar nod for his family, peers and fans!” he continued.
Soto specifically called out major industry events for their handling of the situation.
“But the Grammys blew it in this, as did so many other outlets who should have given him his proper salute, it’s a real shame!” he concluded.
Soto’s criticism reflects a broader controversy that erupted following the 2021 Grammy Awards ceremony. Many felt the music industry failed to properly honor one of rock’s most influential guitarists.
Rhino Records reported that Eddie Van Halen received only a brief 30-second tribute during the “In Memoriam” segment at the 2021 Grammys. The tribute featured a short clip of him playing the “Eruption” solo with his “Frankenstein” guitar spotlighted on stage. It notably included no live performance. This contrasted sharply with fuller tributes for other artists, such as Bruno Mars performing for Little Richard.
The brevity of the tribute sparked widespread outrage within the rock community. Loudwire noted that radio host Eddie Trunk called the tribute “beyond outraged and disgusting” during a three-hour show dedicated to the controversy. Van Halen III singer and Extreme frontman Gary Cherone also voiced his displeasure. He tweeted that an innovator who “changed the course of rock ‘n’ roll” deserved more than 15 seconds of recognition.
The controversy deepened when it was revealed that Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie’s son, had initially been asked to perform “Eruption” at the ceremony but declined. Antimusic revealed that Wolfgang believed no one could match his father’s performance. He was surprised when the tribute was reduced to just 15-30 seconds while other artists received longer honors.
The backlash extended beyond individual criticism. Many viewed the inadequate tribute as symbolic of rock music’s marginalization at major industry events. Chris Jericho of Fozzy and other prominent rock figures echoed similar sentiments. Some noted that Eddie wasn’t even listed in the opening “artists we lost” scroll during the ceremony.
