Eddie Van Halen, lead guitarist for Van Halen, the iconic rock band that bore his name, has passed away at the age of 65 according to TMZ. The musician died Tuesday after a lengthy battle with throat cancer.
The publication reports that Van Halen had recently discovered that his cancer had spread to his brain and other organs, and he died peacefully at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica surrounded by his wife, Janie, his son, Wolfgang, and his brother Alex.
Wolfgang Van Halen shared the news of his father’s death on Twitter, writing, “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… I love you so much, Pop.”
The elder Van Halen founded his namesake group in Pasadena in 1972 with his brother Alex on drums, David Lee Roth singing and Michael Anthony on bass. The band went on to become one of the most successful groups of all time, releasing four albums between 1979 and 1982 that each went multi-platinum. Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
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