Guitar legend Eddie Van Halen dies age 65
Guitarist reportedly passed away at at St Johns Hospital in Santa Monica, California
The legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen has passed away at the age of 65 from cancer. The news was confirmed by his son Wolfgang in a statement on social media today (6 October).
A photo posted by @wolfvanhalen on Oct 6, 2020 at 12:26pm PDT
"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," Wolfgang wrote.
"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."
The Van Halen co-founder was first diagnosed with throat cancer over a decade ago, and the guitarist had reportedly received hospital treatment again over the last year.
TMZ has reported that EVH's cancer had travelled to his brain and other organs and that his health took a serious decline during the last 72 hours.
He reportedly passed away at St Johns Hospital in Santa Monica, California with his wife Janie and Wolfgang present.
Eddie Halen formed Van Halen in Pasadena, California in 1972 with his brother Alex on drums, Michael Anthony on bass and David Lee Roth on vocals. The band would sell over 80 million albums worldwide and Eddie's trailblazing approach both as a player and with gear continues to influence countless players.
Get the MusicRadar Newsletter
Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Sign up here.
“I’m all about Dimebag and Zakk Wylde!”: Tetrarch guitarist Diamond Rowe salutes the giants of metal
“I had moments where I thought, ‘I am in a great place. I can make music… then somehow, everything would fall apart. That’s what the song was about”: Brian May on how The Night Comes Down was born of depression – and the desire to prove people wrong
MusicRadar is the number one website for music-makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, DJs or producers...
- GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high-quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.
- TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.
- STARS: We talk to musicians and stars about their creative processes, and the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the craft of music-making that no other music website can.
“I’m all about Dimebag and Zakk Wylde!”: Tetrarch guitarist Diamond Rowe salutes the giants of metal
“I had moments where I thought, ‘I am in a great place. I can make music… then somehow, everything would fall apart. That’s what the song was about”: Brian May on how The Night Comes Down was born of depression – and the desire to prove people wrong