Stunned.
Just moments ago, TMZ broke the story that the Van Halen founder and guitarist has passed away from a long standing battle with throat cancer. He was 65.
I’m not one to take TMZ for gospel, and an immediate Google search was coming up empty. My next stop was the Facebook page of Eddie’s son, Wolfgang Van Halen, where it had been confirmed.
Eddie Van Halen and his brother, drummer Alex, formed Van Halen in 1972. The brothers stuck together thru it all: original bassist Mark Stone being replaced with Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth being replaced by Sammy Hagar, Gary Cherone and back to Diamond Dave. Even a supergroup stint with Michael, Sammy and guitar God, Joe Satriani called Chickenfoot.
He struggled with drugs, alcohol, a marriage to actress Valerie Bertinelli that brought a beautiful boy, Wolfgang, into the world, but ended in divorce in 2007. Wolf replaced Michael in Van Halen in recent years.
He had undergone hip replacement surgery in 1999 after he had been diagnosed with avascular necrosis, which essential meant his bones were dying.
In 2002, he began receiving treatment for tongue cancer, in which almost a third of his tongue was removed. He was declared cancer free in 2002.
Last year, he went public with the news that he had been battling throat cancer since 2014
Eddie will always be one of the best guitarists the world has ever known. He defied the laws and rules and created sounds and a style that many try to copy to this day. Even his method of playing was unconventional. And, he never learned how to read music.
Rest in Power Edward Lodewijk Van Halen. Thank you for all the amazing music and inspiration.
