RIP Eddie Van Halen

Posted on by Chrissy Mauck

 

Legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen passed away this morning at the age of 65, following a hard-fought battle with cancer.

“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,” wrote his son, Wolf Van Halen, in a social media post. “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.”

The revolutionary and trailblazing guitarist was a longtime valued business partner, innovative collaborator and treasured friend to those of us at EVH and FMIC.

“We are heartbroken by this devastating loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family,” said VP Jeff Cary. “We will miss his warm hugs, double-cheek kisses, his humor, the videos or photos he would proudly share of his son, Wolfie, and his tendency to call it like it was. Eddie, thank you for the otherworldly musical legacy you have left behind. We will cherish it, and our memories of you forever. RIP.”

Fender Musical Instruments Corp. CEO Andy Mooney also shared his personal thoughts of the one-of-a-kind guitarist:

“The news of Eddie Van Halen’s passing today still seems unreal. Eddie was gracious enough to spend time with me at the studio in his home in L.A. in 2015, not long after I joined Fender. Eddie was prepping for Van Halen’s tour that year. I was in awe. We talked for hours. I watched him play in Arizona on the 2015 tour. Eddie was at the top of his game.

“Eddie’s singularly inventive style inspired an entire generation of players. He innovated not only in how he played but what he played and what he played through. He created some of the greatest guitars and amps the world has seen and heard.

“Eddie will be sorely missed by his legion of fans, as well as the many people at Fender and FMIC he worked with over the years and inspired in so many ways, myself included. Personally, I’ll miss his Christmas cards.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Eddie’s family and friends at this time.”

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RIP #EddieVanHalen

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Legendary guitar and musical innovator Edward Van Halen. 1955-2020. Heaven will be electric tonight.

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Rest in peace guitar legend Eddie Van Halen. 💔 We will miss you. #fuckcancer #eddievanhalen @eddievanhalen

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What a Long Great Trip It’s Been..

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Just heard the news of Eddie Van Halen’s passing ….. this hit me hard. There are lots of great guitar players in the world, but very VERY few true innovators. Players who seem to have arrived from a far distant planet , and who bring a completely new color to the rainbow. Eddie Van Halen was this and so much more. Even without the finger tapping, you had a player with extraordinary touch, tone, and a rhythmic pocket and bounce that floated like Ali in the ring. He was a master of complex solos that spoke to non musicians…THAT IS HARD TO DO. The reason was the exquisite melody in his heart, and the joy in his soul of playing FOR people – and it came through like a ray of sun we ALL felt. I say a prayer today for his family and friends. – and from players like me , all over the world who never got to meet him, I say THANK YOU EDDIE. WE LOVE YOU !!!!!!!

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Where do I even begin.. Today we lost one of the most amazingly talented, influential and iconic musicians of our generation.. Edward Van Halen lost his valiant battle with cancer.. While I’ll most certainly always remember the incredible music and concerts Van Halen produced, it will be his friendship that’s irreplaceable.. I first met Ed in 2010 and for 10 years I was incredibly blessed to call him friend.. His generosity was unmatched.. We had the best conversations, he was so funny and had the biggest heart of anyone I know.. How lucky am I to have gotten to know the man who made me want to play guitar and be onstage.. My first concert was Van Halen in 1984.. It was life changing.. And so is this.. I will miss those hugs, the kisses on the cheek and the “Love you’s” we exchanged.. He was one of the sweetest souls I ever met..Rest easy sweet Ed.. Love and miss you so much already.. Prayers and condolences go out to @wolfvanhalen Alex, Janie, and rest of the family..❤️ RIP EVH..

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Very sad to hear about the passing of @eddievanhalen. You will be missed. #RIPEddieVanHalen “I saw Van Halen destroy Sabbath at the Sheffield City Hall in 1977 … Eddie was a big part of that, having essentially reinvented guitar playing just like Jimi Hendrix had done a generation earlier …. I had the pleasure of being on the same bill as Van Halen 7 years ago when Kings Of Chaos were on the same bill at the Stone Music Festival in Australia. I’m happy to say that his playing that night was as good as it’s ever been, he certainly shook things up when he came on the scene …. Rest In Peace Eddie” – Joe Elliott "I distinctly remember the first moment I heard Eddie play. A good friend, also a guitarist, had just bought the first Van Halen album and came by my house and told me that I urgently needed to hear this. He wasn't wrong; it was a moment that redefined everything that I thought was possible about playing the guitar. The goalposts had just been moved. I stayed up all that night trying to learn from Eddie. Many, many decades later, and I'm still learning from Eddie." – Vivian Campbell “Eddie had a profound impact and influence on generations of musicians and music fans including myself and literally wrote a brand new chapter on how a guitar should sound, look and feel. I met Eddie on Van Halen’s first headline U.K. tour at London’s Rainbow theatre and he said to me “you know you’re never going to get that sound you’re after until you change that pickup, right?”so I promptly went and got it fixed. The master had spoken and my Fender Strat had never sounded so good. It was the main guitar used on the Hysteria album. He was absolutely right.” – Phil Collen Photo Credit: @markweissguy #EddieVanHalen @vanhalen

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Eddie Van Halen Updates