Rock star legend and guitar great, Eddie Van Halen, has died at the age of 65 after losing his battle with cancer. In a statement his son, Wolf Van Halen, expressed his devastation at the loss of his musician father saying: "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.”
According to various reports, it is believed that he was recently diagnosed with throat cancer after having beaten it once before in 2002.
Van Halen formed the band of the same name in California in 1972, with David Lee Roth on vocals, his brother on drums, and Michael Anthony on bass. The band is best known among a broader audience for their crossover mega-hit single Jump - it sold 10 million copies in the US alone. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
Van Halen is also known to have been asked by Michael Jackson to compose the distinctive guitar break on Beat It – something he was to later tell the media took him about 20 minutes.
He is regarded as one of rock's best guitarists.
RIP Eddie Van Halen.
