Red Hot Chili Peppers honor Eddie Van Halen with new ’Return of the Dream Canteen’ song, “Eddie”

Red Hot Chili Peppers have premiered a new song called “Eddie,” a track off their upcoming album, Return of the Dream Canteen.

The track, which is available now via digital outlets, is a tribute to late Van Halen icon Eddie Van Halen, who died in October 2020.

“Sometimes we don’t realize how deeply affected and connected we are to artists until the day they die,” says frontman Anthony Kiedis. “Eddie Van Halen was a one of a kind. The day after his death [bassist] Flea came into rehearsal with an emotional bassline. [Guitarist] John [Frusciante], [drummer] Chad [Smith] and I started playing along and pretty soon with all our hearts, a song in his honor effortlessly unfolded.”

“It felt good to be sad and care so much about a person who had given so much to our lives,” Kiedis adds. “Although the song doesn’t speak to Eddie by name, it talks about his early days on the Sunset Strip and the rock n roll tapestry that Van Halen painted on our minds. In the end, our song asks that you not remember Eddie for dying but for living his wildest dream.”

Return of the Dream Canteen, which also features the single “Tippa My Tongue,” will be released October 14. It’s the second Chili Peppers album of 2022 following April’s Unlimited Love.