Legendary Van Halen Guitarist Eddie Van Halen Dead at 65

Eddie Van Halen, guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the legendary rock band, Van Halen is dead at the age of 65. Van Halen had been suffering from throat cancer.

“I can’t believe I’m having to write this, but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning. He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage was a gift. My heart is broken and I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from this loss. I love you so much, Pop,” commented Wolfgang “Wolfie” Van Halen in a social media statement.

Eddie and his brother Alex Van Halen formed a band in 1972. The band eventually became known as Van Halen and became a well known on the Los Angeles music scene. This led to a recording contract which would eventually lead the band to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Along the way Eddie moved into a category of all-time great rock and roll guitarists including being voted number one in a 2012 Guitar World magazine reader’s poll for “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”

Eddie played the guitar solo on Michael Jackson’s worldwide hit, “Beat It”. Many consider his guitar work on “Eruption” on the Van Halen 1 album to be groundbreaking.

Eddie was known for his marriage to actress Valerie Bertinelli, and the two would have one son – Wolfgang.

He has became known for his various feuds within the band – including lead vocalists Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth as well as bassist Michael Anthony.

In recent years Eddie had become more of recluse battling various health issues – including including hip-replacement surgery in 1999, tongue cancer in the early 2000s, numerous drug and alcohol abuse that led him to enter a rehabilitation facility in 2007, and surgery for diverticulitis in 2012.

The Prime Time Jukebox Show will have more on the career of Eddie Van Halen in an upcoming episode.

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