Eddie Van Halen, legendary guitarist and co-founder of Van Halen, has died at the age of 65 from throat cancer.
He lost his battle with the illness on Tuesday at St John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California.
His wife of 11 years, Janie, was by his side as well as his brother and Van Halen drummer Alex and his son Wolfgang.
Doctors discovered that his throat cancer had moved to his brain and other organs in the last week.
Wolfgang, 29, shared a touching post and announced the news on social media of his father’s passing.
“He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage was a gift,” Wolfgang wrote as he was the bassist for Van Halen.
“My heart is broken and I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from this loss.
“I love you so much, Pop,” he wrote.
Eddie had been fighting throat cancer for more than a decade, after first confirming his initial diagnosis back in 2001.
In the last five years, he had been travelling between the US and Germany for radiation treatment.
Van Halen was formed by brothers Eddie and Alex in 1972 and quickly shot to fame by the early 1980s, with their album 1984 going five-times platinum.
Eddie also performed the legendary guitar solo in Michael Jackson’s hit Beat It, though at the time did it uncredited and as a favour to producer Quincy Jones.
“I did it as a favour”, Eddie later admitted. “I was a complete fool, according to the rest of the band, our manager and everyone else.
“I was not used. I knew what I was doing – I don’t do something unless I want to do it.”
