A band that hasn’t had a Top 10 hit in 31 years was trending Monday on Twitter thanks to an artist who’s had two Top 10 hits in the last three months alone.
Van Halen was a hot topic because Billie Eilish admitted during a recent talk show appearance that she wasn’t familiar with the rock band. Asked by Jimmy Kimmel to name any member of Van Halen, Eilish replied: “Who? No, who is that?”
Van Halen hasn’t released an album since Eilish was 10 years old – but that didn’t stop people from weighing in on Twitter.
“It’s ok. I don’t know who @billieeilish is,” tweeted Winnipeg-raised pro wrestler Chris Jericho.
Canadian singer Ron Sexsmith tweeted: “I don't understand why people are so surprised that Billie Eilish doesn't know who Van Halen is. She’s only 17....why would she know? I'm 55 and I don't have a clue who she is so it all evens out.”
“Van Halen was a model/icon from Toronto,” quipped musician Questlove, “whom on a chance meeting with singer Prince (while on a date with Rick James) became an international star in 1982 with songs like ‘Nasty Girl’ & ‘Pretty Mess.’”
On Monday, Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang tried to bring peace to the universe.
“If you haven’t heard of Billie Eilish, go check her out. She’s cool,” he tweeted. "If you haven’t heard of Van Halen, go check them out. They’re cool, too.
“Music is supposed to bring us together, not divide us. Listen to what you want and don’t shame others for not knowing what you like.”
Of course, some people chose to simply have some fun with it.
“LOL Billie Eilish doesn’t know who Van Halen is”
— Santa Claus, CEO (@SantaInc) December 3, 2019
“Ok. What’s Van Halen’s drummer’s name?”
“I don’t know that—WHOA!” [gets cast from the Bridge of Death into the chasm] pic.twitter.com/2BD4koUAC0
I'm gonna tell my kids that this was Van Halen pic.twitter.com/DP4Uz96qmb
— Mayo/Aaron (@maroyasha) December 3, 2019
It’s not Billie Eilish’s fault she doesn’t know who Van Halen is. All music before 2008 was erased when Ray J released “Sexy Can I”
— Ben Miklavcic (@benmiklavcic) December 3, 2019
I'm so old I can remember when Van Halen and the Pointer Sisters both recorded a song called 'Jump' in 1983 but the latter blinked, adding a parenthetical '(For My Love)' to their title.
— Mats Holberg (@matsholberg) December 3, 2019
This video is only reason i know who van Halen is: pic.twitter.com/Ex5F9sYjFh
— live action bitmoji (@CrustyMucus) December 3, 2019
Just double checked and my 15 year old knows who #VanHalen is. I'll take that as a #Parentingwin pic.twitter.com/zGV6Nc5oIL
— Elise Crane Derby (@EliseCD) December 3, 2019
Y'all, it's possible for younger people to know who #VanHalen is AND for older people to know who #BillieEilish is. Really! Explore, read, listen, learn. It's easy! pic.twitter.com/6HEeVWDBws
— Thad Ogburn (@thadogburn) December 2, 2019
Billie Eilish, never heard of the guy. #VanHalen pic.twitter.com/o0NkNT3gX0
— Gridiron Assassin (@GridAssassin) December 3, 2019
I saw @billieeilish in concert. He sang his old hit ‘Dancing with Myself’ @DavidLeeRoth #VanHalen pic.twitter.com/HVYC8ULFwz
— Diane (@dibirch) December 3, 2019
If I ever get to meet Billie Ellish, I'm gonna tell her this is #DavidLeeRoth & #VanHalen pic.twitter.com/OhiUJZ22TQ
— AARP*Goddess (@AAARPGodess) December 2, 2019