Remembering the Legendary Eddie Van Halen

Legendary musician Eddie Van Halen passed away at the age of 65. Van Halen, who had been battling throat cancer for most of the last decade, took a turn for the worse over the weekend as the cancer spread into his brain, according to TMZ. 

Raised in a musical family—his father Jan was a musician—Van Halen started a band with his brother Alex in 1972. Shortly thereafter their band took the family’s name and burst onto the Los Angeles music scene and, well, you know the rest. 

If you’ve ever held a guitar in your hands for more than 15 seconds, chances are that you have attempted to emulate Eddie Van Halen. Every cocky teenage guitar player thinks they can play “Eruption.” But they can’t. There was only one man who could do the solo justice and he is no longer with us. 

The entertainment world was quick to react to Van Halen’s passing as they shared memories of the iconic guitarist. 

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— Wolf Van Halen (@WolfVanHalen) October 6, 2020

There have been many big losses in the music world but few that just stop you in your tracks, leave you speechless and basically unable to function #RIPEddieVanHalen
https://t.co/GgBYB3R2fu pic.twitter.com/4VB6hLb4Lx

— Alex Skolnick (@AlexSkolnick) October 6, 2020

Today, it's not just Jamie Cryin'#RIPEddieVanHalen pic.twitter.com/R25yYOajOT

— David Wild (@Wildaboutmusic) October 6, 2020

Rest in peace guitar legend Eddie Van Halen. 💔 We will miss you. #fuckcancer @eddievanhalen #eddievanhalen pic.twitter.com/S4vnN3tyWc

— Billy Idol (@BillyIdol) October 6, 2020

RIP Eddie Van Halen. Van Halen were a tremendous influence on both Vinnie & Dime & Pantera. Hopefully they are all rocking out together now! pic.twitter.com/XtnL33aGsd

— Pantera (@Pantera) October 6, 2020

Eddie Van Halen was unquestionably one of the greatest guitarists to ever live and he will be sorely missed. Before we share our gallery of Van Halen tattoos with you, let us leave you with some words of wisdom from two universally respected rock historians—Bill S. Preston Esq. and Ted Theodore Logan: