Eddie Van Halen, legendary shredding guitarist from the band Van Halen, has died after a long battle with throat cancer at the age of 65.
His death was first reported by TMZ.
“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… I love you so much, Pop.”
wrote his son, Wolfgang Van Halen via Twitter.
Eddie and his brother Alex performed music together in high school and formed a band called Mammoth at Pasadena City College but only after meeting the energetic lead vocalist, David Lee Roth, did they form the 80’s powerhouse band, Van Halen. Eddie redefined what could be done with an electric guitar and pioneered the “tapping” technique of playing.
They recruited bassist Michael Anthony and Roth, the latter in part because the singer owned a PA system. The musicians agreed to name their group Van Halen, and they played backyard parties and high schools, graduating to the Sunset Strip clubs Gazzarri’s and the Whisky A Go Go.
In 1999 Van Halen lost a third of his tongue to cancer. Though he was declared free of the disease in 2002, recent reports suggested the cancer had returned. Roth said in a January interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “Ed’s not doing well.”
T.J. Martell Celebrity Golf Tournament – 8/18/1994 – Calabasas Country Club, Calabasas CA 
T.J. Martell Celebrity Golf Tournament – 8/18/1994 – Calabasas Country Club, Calabasas CA 
T.J. Martell Celebrity Golf Tournament – 8/18/1994 – Calabasas Country Club, Calabasas CA
Van Halen is survived by his second wife, Janie Van Halen, whom he married in 2009; son, Wolfgang (son of Van Halen and first wife, Valerie Bertinelli); and brother, Alex.
