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Reuters
Eddie Van Halen was considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
Eddie Van Halen, revered guitarist and co-founder of the popular rock band Van Halen, has died of cancer, his son announced.
The Dutch-American musician, 65, had been undergoing treatment for throat cancer.
His band, Van Halen, was best known for their song Jump, which reached the top of the American charts in 1984.
His son Wolfgang paid tribute to him on social media and said he was the best father he could ask for.
“My heart is broken and I don’t think I will ever fully recover from this loss. I love you very much, Dad,” wrote his son.
Celebrity news website TMZ, which was the first to break the news of his death, said Van Halen died at St Johns Hospital in Santa Monica, California on Tuesday surrounded by his family.
The guitarist had been in and out of hospital for the past year and recently underwent a round of chemotherapy, TMZ reported, citing sources.
He had been living with the disease for years after receiving treatment for tongue cancer in 2000.
During his treatment, Van Halen continued to attend concerts and rehearse music with his son, TMZ said.
Van Halen formed Van Halen in the early 1970s in Los Angeles, with his brother Alex on drummer, David Lee Roth on singer, and Michael Anthony on bass.
The band released their self-titled debut album in 1978. The album soared to number 19 on the Billboard charts, becoming one of the most successful debuts of the decade.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, Van Halen received high praise for his distinctive guitar parts on many of the band’s hits.
Some of the biggest names in rock have paid their respects on social media.
Kiss frontman Gene Simmons tweeted: “My heart is broken. Eddie was not just a guitar god, but a genuinely beautiful soul. Rest in peace Eddie! … Eddie Van Halen dead at 65 Of cancer”.
On Twitter, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea wrote that Van Halen had a “beautiful creative heart.”
