Eddie Van Halen, the much-admired guitarist and co-founder of the beloved band Van Halen, has died of cancer, his son has announced. The Dutch-American musician had been undergoing treatment for throat cancer, but sadly lost his battle, aged 65.
Eddie Van Halen formed Van Halen in the early ’70s in Los Angeles. His brother Alex was the drummer, David Lee Roth was the singer and Michael Anthony was on bass. The band released their eponymous debut album in 1978, making number 19 on the Billboard charts, becoming one of the most successful debuts of the decade.
As time passed, Van Halen’s songs remained impactful, consequently in 2007, Eddie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This was largely due to the many iconic guitar performances he brought to the band’s hits.
Sadly, after being diagnosed with cancer, the legendary guitarist had been in and out of the hospital in the past year and recently underwent a round of chemotherapy. He had been living with the disease for years after receiving treatment for tongue cancer in 2000. Throughout his treatment, Van Halen continued to attend concerts and rehearse music with his son.
His son Wolfgang paid tribute to him on social media, saying he was the best father he could ever ask for. “My heart is broken and I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from this loss. I love you so much, Pop,” his son wrote. Celebrity news website TMZ, which first broke news of his death, said Van Halen died at St Johns Hospital in Santa Monica, California on Tuesday surrounded by his family.
Kiss frontman Gene Simmons tweeted: “My heart is broken. Eddie was not only a Guitar God, but a genuinely beautiful soul. Rest in peace, Eddie! …Eddie Van Halen Dead at 65 from Cancer.”
