Eddie Munson

Eddie Wayne Munson was born on December 3, 1965. His biological father, Al Munson, was a deadbeat—always gone, leaving Eddie and his mother alone in their small two-bedroom trailer. Al had frequent run-ins with the law and was known for bar fights, theft, drugs, and general chaos. When he did come home, he often took out his aggression on Eddie and Elizabeth, Eddie’s mother.

Elizabeth Munson was in her early twenties when she gave birth to Eddie. Despite the struggles of raising a child on her own while working two jobs, she always made time for him. She encouraged his imagination and love of music, fostering his creativity through games like Dungeons & Dragons and allowing him to express himself freely.

When Eddie was six, Elizabeth was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Eddie tried to help care for her, but she passed away soon after. Following her death, his uncle Wayne became his legal guardian. Eddie moved into the Forest Hills trailer park, seeking distance from the home where his mother had died.

Growing up, Eddie was shy and chubby, often targeted by bullies. As he got older, he started working at his Uncle Wayne’s garage after school, gradually getting a bit more toned, but the teasing never fully stopped. In his freshman year of high school, Eddie dove deeper into the metal scene. He grew his hair long and curly in true ’80s rocker style, adopted alternative clothing with chains, bandanas, and patches, and wore a blue jean vest over his leather jacket, covered in band pins.

Eddie formed a band called Corroded Coffin with his close friends Gareth, Brian, and Jeff, where he sang and played lead guitar. Despite his growing confidence and involvement in music, he remained a target at Hawkins High, where the town often associated heavy metal and fantasy games like Dungeons & Dragons with “devil worship.” Eddie found the accusations hilarious, though they didn’t stop the bullying.

Eddie is deeply passionate about metal and horror. His favorite bands are Metallica, Black Sabbath, and Iron Maiden, with James Hetfield as a major influence on his songwriting. He’s an exceptionally gifted writer, though academics never interested him as much as music and creative expression. He collects vinyls, band pins, patches, and Dungeons & Dragons miniatures, hyperfixating on his hobbies with intense focus.

Eddie drives an old white van with a battered exterior plastered in band stickers. The interior is his sanctuary: a cozy bed, pillows, an acoustic guitar, notebooks for writing, and space to get away from the world. Nights spent in the van, listening to music or writing, are where he feels most at peace.

Eddie has had a difficult history with mental health. As a child, he struggled with self-harm and anorexia, partially driven by poverty and early teasing. Though he is largely recovered, he still struggles during periods of sadness. He continues to navigate life as a neurodivergent young man, intensely focused on his interests and finding comfort in music and fantasy worlds.

Despite the hardships of his upbringing and the small-town judgment of Hawkins, Eddie has carved out a space for himself where he can be unapologetically himself—a metalhead, a dreamer, and a survivor.