Legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen passed away yesterday at the age of 65 following a long battle with cancer.
“I can’t believe I have to write this but my father Edward Lodewijk Van Halen has lost his long arduous battle with cancer this morning,” his son Wolfgang shared on social media. “He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage was a gift." He added, "My heart is broken and I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from this loss.” Wolfgang’s mother, and Eddie’s ex Valerie Bertinelli, simply replied to the post with broken heart emojis.
Bertinelli later paid tribute to Eddie writing, "40 years ago my life changed forever when I met you. You gave me the one true light of my life, our son Wolfgang." She added that through his cancer battle he was able to keep his "gorgeous smile and impish grin," noting, "I am so grateful Wolfie and I were able to hold you in your last moments. I will see you in our next life my love."
According to TMZ, Van Halen died at at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica and was surrounded by family including wife, Janie, Wolfgang, Bertinelli, and Eddie's brother and bandmate Alex. The site notes that Eddie's health went downhill in the past 72 hours, and his lung cancer spread to other organs, including his brain.
Source: Variety