Eddie Van Halen’s speech at an event to help launch “What It Means To Be American” – a new three-year initiative by The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington – will be streamed live on February 12.
The project is aimed at engaging leading thinkers, public figures and Americans from all walks of life to explore how the United States became the nation it is today.
One of the campaign’s goals is to foster a national conversation through a series of free public events across the U.S.
On February 12, the Dutch immigrant and naturalized U.S. citizen will discuss his American journey, his role in creating one of the biggest American rock bands of all time, how he has reinvented the way the guitar is played and designed, and he will answer the question, "Is rock 'n' roll about reinvention?"
Entertainment journalist Denise Quan will moderate the sold-out event.
For the event, Van Halen and Fender will donate a master-built replica of Van Halen's infamous white-with-black-stripe Stratocaster.
This is the guitar that changed the guitar world in 1978 when Van Halen cross-pollinated Gibson electronics with Fender body and neck designs. To represent the path of progressions in his instrument designs, a Stealth finished EVH Brand Wolfgang will also be included to represent his modern-day guitar.
In addition to the guitars, Van Halen and Fender Musical Instruments Corp. will also donate an EVH Brand 5150-III amplifier and speaker cabinet to embody the journey and progression of his amplifier designs from the early '70s through the modern day.
Van Halen’s speech at the National Museum of American History in Washington will be streamed live on February 12 starting at 6:30 PM ET at whatitmeanstobeamerican.org
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