Video: Eddie Van Halen Visits Jason Becker in 1996

Newly unearthed video footage shows the late Eddie Van Halen visiting Jason Becker at his home in 1996. Becker, who played for a time in David Lee Roth’s solo band as a rising guitar star, had been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) a few years prior and was not in good shape, but Van Halen’s visit bolstered his spirits. The encounter was filmed for an ALS awareness promotional video, and now that footage, which features Eddie joking, telling stories, and playing a guitar he gifted to Becker, has finally made its way online through Becker’s own YouTube channel.

In a note preceding the clip, Becker says “It is really hard to watch myself struggling here. This was right before getting my trache and stomach tube and I couldn’t breathe, talk or eat.”

Have a look below.

Becker continues to write and record music using computers despite having lost the ability to control his body (and hence play any instruments) in the ’90s. You can check out his most recent solo project, Triumphant Hearts, here. 

Van Halen died in October from complications related to throat cancer. He was 65 years old.

[via Blabbermouth]