Edie Van Halen, the legendary guitarist and founder of rock band, Van Halen, died after a lengthy battle with cancer on Tuesday morning. His son, Wolfgang, announced his passing on Twitter. The musician was 65.
Wolfgang wrote, “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.”
He emotionally recollected his time with his father both on stage and off it and described how deeply the death had affected him. He ended with “Love you so much, Pop.”
Eddie was born in the Netherlands in 1955 but was raised in Pasadena, California. He and his brother, Alex, founded the band Van Halen and the original band comprised Eddie, Alex, Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth.
However, the rising tensions between lead vocalist, David Lee Roth, and Eddie Van Halen led to the former quitting the band in 1985.
Eddie was well known amongst fans for his finger taps and for playing with both hands on the neck of the guitar and some of his most iconic hits include ‘Jump’, ‘Hot for Teacher’ and ‘Panama’.
The band was formed in 1972 and is still revered as one of the most famous rock bands ever. It was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
Eddie was also in ‘Beat It’ by Michael Jackson, which won two Grammy Awards and was ranked amongst the 500 greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stones. With singer Sammy Hagar, the band released four very successful No. 1 albums.
However, the band has had continued problems with replacements and feuds well into the 2000s until Eddie’s ill health in 2018 made touring almost impossible for the band. Fans have been left wondering about Van Halen’s future.
Eddie’s family, who he left behind, includes his wife, Janie Liszewski, whom he married in 2009, and his son, Wolfgang.
