This is only a preview. The auction will open on: 10/28/2026 1:00:00 PM
Offered Here: Van Halen 1978 Van Halen II RIAA Gold Sales Award Presented to Zeke Clark With COA
Item Details: An exceptional offering from the definitive era of stadium rock, this authentic RIAA gold sales award honors Van Halen's explosive 1979 follow-up masterpiece, Van Halen II. Commemorating the commercial brilliance of chart-topping hits like "Dance the Night Away," this coveted award is configured in the classic R hologram style, showcasing both the gold record and cassette formats on a striking display layout. Elevating its historical value to the absolute highest tier, the accolade is officially presented to Zeke Clark, the legendary longtime guitar technician for Eddie Van Halen. Measuring approximately 17 x 21 inches, this rare, insider presentation stands as a premier artifact representing the internal operations of one of the greatest rock bands in music history.
Provenance/Authenticity: Randall "Zeke" Clark is a renowned luthier and legendary guitar/amp technician who got his start in the San Francisco music scene in the 70s, working with various A-list artists until moving to LA in the 80s, where he worked for Eddie Van Halen.
From 1985 to 1993, he served as Edward Van Halen’s lead guitar and amp tech, transitioning to the crew with Sammy Hagar to maintain the band's gear through the monumental 5150, OU812, and For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge eras.
Beyond his historic tenure as the custodian of Eddie's tone, Clark's elite five-decade career includes building, repairing, and maintaining specialized gear for iconic artists such as Prince, Sammy Hagar, Journey, Heart, Poison, and others. This curated selection of items offers collectors a unique and direct connection to rock history through the hands of a master craftsman who shaped the sound of guitar royalty.
This item was personally handled, vetted, and released by Zeke Clark, ensuring its authenticity and rock-history provenance. Zeke Clark utilizes an Official Personal Signature Stamp to validate and inventory documents and artifacts released directly from his private estate. This item comes with his personal ink-imprinted signature stamp on the certificate of authenticity, which serves as his legally binding, authorized mark of verification and carries the full weight of a hand-signed signature.
Released in 1979, Van Halen II followed the band's 1978 debut and confirmed the Pasadena group as one of the leading hard rock acts of its era, with Ted Templeman again producing a lean, energetic sound built around David Lee Roth's showmanship and Eddie Van Halen's guitar work. The album produced "Dance the Night Away," the band's first Top 20 single, and featured the nylon-string instrumental "Spanish Fly," which extended Eddie Van Halen's two-handed tapping technique to acoustic guitar. That approach to the instrument, along with his homemade guitars and distinctive tone, shaped a generation of rock and metal players and made Van Halen one of the most influential American bands of the late 1970s and 1980s.
Condition: The award is preserved in remarkably good condition, showing a beautifully presented front with common signs of wear, aging, and storage consistent with a handled music industry artifact of this age. The unique formica frame covering exhibits minor blemishes, including a small backside corner at the bottom where the formica has slightly lifted from the wood frame. On the reverse side, the backing board shows some scrapes and tearing from decades of storage, which remains entirely hidden from view when displayed and serves as a testament to the award's undisturbed history.
SKU: RZC2119