Eddie Van Halen: The Sound of One Hand Tapping

Eddie Van Halen has been the most influential electric guitarist since Jimi Hendrix. While Jeff Beck and Steve Hackett both used fretboard tapping before him, Van Halen took the technique to a new level and spawned an army of spandex and big hair clones in the 1980s. For any young guitar nut, he was the Man - the top of his field at the best thing in the world to be.

Western astrology does not say much about why certain people achieve such eminence. Yet Dutch-born Eddie's Jyotish chart reveals a powerful, success-laden signature. Moon-Mercury in his fifth house of creativity, ruling his 9th and 10th houses, forms a potent Raja Yoga, showing intelligence and originality, with the promise of wealth and protection. This pairing is disposited by exalted Shani in the lagna, making a Sasa Yoga and an all-round irresistible case for fame. A surprisingly conservative first-house perhaps, but equally one showing discipline, dedication and a lasting legacy.

Eddie Van Halen: 26/1/1955, 01:05, Nijmegen, Netherlands

Rahu in the 3rd house of arts and dance is a maverick, showing innovation and a touch - no pun intended - of genius. Strong Mars in the navamsha lagna shows a pushy character who knows what he wants: successful people generally do. Exalted Jupiter rules his 3rd from the 10th house of career, giving Hamsa Yoga (a second Mahapurusha yoga). Despite being in Bhava Sandhi and receiving an aspect from Saturn, Jupiter is doubly exalted,  vargottama in Cancer in the navamsha 9th house, and reasonably promises big things in his mahadasha. Sure enough, Eddie and his brother Alex formed their self-titled band in 1973, just as Jupiter period began. 

Eddie's personal superstardom peaked during his Jupiter-Venus period, with his 1983 appearance on Michael Jackson's Beat It. This spell also saw Van Halen's only #1 hit, Jump, in 1984, and second-house Venus would have brought money along with the acclaim. His stellar Jupiter mahadasha lasted until 1989, which was about the end of Van Halen's golden period. Frontman David Lee Roth had already quit and the band were never the same again. 

Shani mahadasa, beginning 1989, has brought very mixed results. Van Halen remained an iconic act, but with a sense of living on their laurels. First house Shani suggests health problems, specifically the bone structure, and Eddie has had spells in rehab, along with hip replacement surgery in 1999, a consequence of too much stage diving (rockstars' occupational hazard). He has also had repeated cancer diagnoses, first in 2000, which has caused him to lose parts of his tongue. Second house lord Mars in the Sixth may bring diseases of the mouth; there may also be a predisposition to the disease, plus of course any chain smoker with long-running alcohol problems is likely to suffer ill health. 

Still, his Shani is exalted and his potent Jupiter should offer Eddie faith and protection. He is 60 this year, and his reputation is secure as being one of the few - only? - truly game-changing musicians to come out of the heavy-metal genre.