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ROCK MUSICIAN EDDIE Van Halen, of the iconic hard rock group that bears his last name, has passed away at 65 after a long battle with cancer.
His son announced the news in a post on Twitter tonight.
“I can’t believe I have to write this, but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning,” Wolf Van Halen wrote alongside a photo of his father.
“He was the best father I could ask for,” he added. “Every moment I have shared with him on and off stage was a gift.
My heart is broken and I don’t think I will ever fully recover from this loss. I love you so much dad.
Eddie Van Halen archive image.
Source: AP / PA Images
Born in the Netherlands and raised in California, Van Halen founded the rock group with his older brother Alex in the 1970s and quickly grew a fan base.
The group’s classic hits include Runnin ‘with the Devil and the guitar solo Eruption.
Van Halen has sold more than 75 million albums and has more number one hits on the US rock chart than any other artist, according to the band’s label.
Van Halen had dealt with health problems and alcoholism throughout his life. He was first treated for tongue cancer in 2000 and subsequent surgery removed about a third of his tongue.
He was declared cancer free in 2002. Last year it was reported that Van Halen had been privately battling throat cancer for five years.
Tributes were paid to the guitarist following the news of his death tonight.
Kiss lead guitarist Tommy Thayer said he is “very sad to hear this.”
Geezer Butler, Founding Member of Black Sabbath, said: “Just when I thought 2020 couldn’t be worse, I heard that Eddie Van Halen passed away. So shocking. One of the most down to earth and personable men I have ever met and traveled with. A true gentleman and a true genius. D.E.P. Very sad. Thoughts are with his brother Alex and his family. “
The rock group Pantera’s Twitter account tweeted that Van Halen was a “tremendous influence” on their music.
It said: “RIP Eddie Van Halen. Van Halen was a tremendous influence on both Vinnie & Dime & Pantera. Hope they’re all rocking together now! “
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Star Wars actor Mark Hamill sent his condolences to Van Halen’s son Wolfgang, adding: “But take comfort in knowing that you will be long remembered and live forever as one of Rock’s most extraordinary guitar virtuosos.” .
In 2015, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Van Halen eighth on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam wrote a tribute at the time, saying, “A lot of that is in his hands – the way he holds the pick between his thumb and middle finger, which opens things up for him to play with. fingers. (When I found out he played that way, I tried it myself, but it was too weird.)
But underneath that, Eddie has a soul. It’s like Hendrix: you can touch the things he wrote, but there’s an X factor that you can’t get. “
The band was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
Additional reports from the Press Association
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