Eddie Van Halen Gives Guitars To LA-Area Schools

Rocker Eddie Van Halen has donated 75 electric guitars to Los Angeles-area high schools as a way to inspire music in kids.

Tricia Steel of the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation says the Van Halen lead-guitarist came with the brand-new guitars this week, saying he wanted them used in schools and not sold.

Photo: AP Photo

David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen during the band’s tour warm-up gig at Café Wha? in New York City.

The non-profit Los Angeles foundation has distributed the guitars to seven schools serving mostly low-income students that needed them to replace broken instruments or build music enrollment.

Schools were not told where the guitars came from until they arrived, and then they were advised to keep them under tight lock and key.