Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 33. Chapters: Dutch classical guitarists, Dutch heavy metal guitarists, Dutch jazz guitarists, Dutch rock guitarists, Herman Brood, Eddie Van Halen, Harry Sacksioni, Mark Ritsema, Arjen Anthony Lucassen, Peter Van Wood, Anneke van Giersbergen, Ruud Adrianus Jolie, Ed Dieckmann, Adrian Vandenberg, Jan Akkerman, Signe Tollefsen, Irina Kulikova, Robert Westerholt, Jimmy Rosenberg, Eltjo Haselhoff, Eelco Gelling, Mark Jansen, Sander Gommans, Frank Harthoorn, Jan Bechtum, Ben Janssen, Martyn LeNoble, Stochelo Rosenberg, Pieter van der Staak, René Rutten, Henri Sattler, Jochem Jacobs, Geert R. A. Kliphuis, Annette Kruisbrink, Tymon Kruidenier, Jack Poels, Ton Masseurs, Boudewijn Vincent Bonebakker, Bertolf Lentink, Richard Hallebeek, Hans Kockelmans, Tom Kerstens, Johan Slager, Patrick Mameli, Jan Dumée, Jelmer Wiersma, Hans Theessink, George Kooymans, Hugo de Bruin, Robbie van Leeuwen, Ad Sluijter. Excerpt: Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen (born January 26, 1955) is a Dutch-born American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Eddie Van Halen is commonly known for his innovative performing and recording styles in blues-based rock, tapping, intense solos and high frequency feedback; he is also known for energetic and acrobatic stage performances. The All Music Guide has described him as "Second to only Jimi Hendrix.undoubtedly one of the most influential, original, and talented rock guitarists of the 20th century.". He is ranked 70th on the Rolling Stone list of Top 100 guitarists. Born in the Netherlands, Edward Lodewijk van Halen is a son of clarinetist, saxophonist and pianist father Jan van Halen and mother Eugenia. Eugenia van Halen was originally from Indonesia. Edward's middle name was derived from composer Ludwig van Beethoven. (Lodewijk is the Dutch version of Ludwig.) Edward continued this naming tradition by naming his son Wolfgang Van Halen after composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Edward was born in Nijmegen. In February 1962, at the age of seven, Edward moved with his family to the United States, settling in Pasadena, California. Van Halen learned to play the piano as a child and placed first in several different talent shows. His older brother Alex also played the piano. However, playing the piano did not prove to be challenging or interesting to him - he once said in an interview, "Who wants to sit in front of the piano? That's boring." Consequently, while Alex began playing the guitar, Eddie bought a drum kit and began practicing. He would practice for hours day after day. After Eddie heard Alex's performance of the The Surfaris' drum solo in the song "Wipe Out", he grew annoyed that his brother had overtaken his ability and decided to switch and begin learning how to play the electric guitar. He has stated that he wou