In Memoriam: Remembering Eddie Van Halen

By Brent Furdyk. 6 Oct 2020 6:33 PM

Rock fans are mourning the loss of a legend after Eddie Van Halen lost his battle with cancer at age 65.

The iconic guitar virtuoso leaves behind a musical legacy spanning decades and a signature guitar style that many have attempted to replicate but none could reproduce. Take a look back at the life and career at the late musician behind hitmaking rock band Van Halen.

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Early Years
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Even as a child, Eddie Van Halen was a musical prodigy — not as a guitarist, but initially as a classical pianist. In their teens, Eddie switched to guitar while his brother Alex learned how to play drums. They formed their band Van Halen in 1974, enlisting the talents of bassist Michael Anthony and flamboyant frontman David Lee Roth.
Helping Hand From A KISS Star
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In 1977, KISS bass player Gene Simmons caught Van Halen at an L.A. club. So impressed was he with Eddie’s fiery fretwork and Roth’s onstage antics that he brought the band into a recording studio, producing their first recording session and even paying for it out of his own pocket.
Record Deal
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Those Gene Simmons-produced tapes opened a lot of doors, and Van Halen was signed to Warner Bros. In 1978, the band released its self-titled debut album. That album would go on to sell 10 million copies, reaching diamond certification, and got the band its first big radio hit, “Runnin’ with the Devil”.
Work in Progress
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Van Halen proved to be one of the hardest-working bands in the business. The next few years saw the release of a string of multiplatinum albums while the band toured relentlessly. Following the band’s debut came 1979's Van Halen II, 1980's Women and Children First, 1981's Fair Warning and 1982's Diver Down.
Eddie To The Altar
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In 1981, Eddie Van Halen married actress Valerie Bertinelli, then starring in hit TV sitcom “One Day At a Time”. Their son, Wolfgang, was born in 1990.
A Thriller Of A Crossover
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In 1982, Eddie Van Halen accepted an invitation to sit in on Michael Jackson’s sessions for an album he was working on, Thriller. Eddie laid down a blistering solo for “Beat It”, with both the song and the album going on to become massive mega-hits.
Superstar Status With ‘1984’ & MTV
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It was MTV that transformed Van Halen from hard-working rock band to superstars, thanks to the release of the 1984 album and a gaggle of hits, including “Jump”, “Panama” and “Hot for Teacher”, which all earned heavy rotation on MTV.
Tensions In The Band
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Coinciding with the success of Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth’s 1985 solo album Crazy From the Heat, ongoing tensions between the Van Halen brothers and Roth boiled over. Roth left the band at the peak of their fame to embark on a solo career, leaving one of the world’s biggest rock bands without a singer.
The 'Van Hagar' Years
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After Diamond Dave’s departure, the band tapped Sammy Hagar to be new frontman. Any fears of fan reaction were quelled by the success that followed, with hit albums including 1986's 5150 and 1991's For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.
Reunited… For Awhile
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Eddie Van Halen’s alcohol abuse escalated throughout the ‘80s, but he’d gotten sober by the mid-‘90s. Clear-headed and determined, Eddie reportedly clashed with Sammy Hagar, who exited after the 1995 album Balance. The band then reunited with David Lee Roth for a tour, recording two new songs for a greatest hits album. Once again, tempers rose and Roth was out.
A Bad Choice
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Left singer-less yet again, Van Halen hired singer Gary Cherone of the band Extreme to be their new frontman. Poor sales and lousy reviews of the album Cherone recorded with the band, 1998’s Van Halen III, led to his departure soon after.
Cancer Diagnosis
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In 2001, Eddie Van Halen confirmed rumours that he was being treated for cancer. "I was examined by three oncologists and three head and neck surgeons at Cedars Sinai [Medical Center in Los Angeles] just before spring break and I was told that I'm healthier than ever and beating cancer," he wrote in a statement. "Although it's hard to say when, there's a good chance I will be cancer free in the near future. I just want to thank all of you for your concern and support.” He was declared cancer-free in 2002.
Divorce
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In 2002, Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli announced they were separating. Four years later they were officially divorced. In 2009, Eddie wed again, marrying his longtime girlfriend Janie Liszewski.
The Touring Years
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Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Van Halen reunited and un-reunited with David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar to hit the road for various tours, including one tour in which both singers performed their respective hits during their years with the band. While no longer top-40 staples, Van Halen continued to be a money-making touring act, with Eddie’s guitar virtuosity as powerful as ever. His son Wolfgang was now playing bass with the band, having replaced Michael Anthony.
A Shocking Revelation
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In 2019, Eddie Van Halen Revealed he’d been battling throat cancer for five years. That November, he was hospitalized for an adverse reaction he had from cancer drugs he was taking. In early 2020, David Lee Roth shot down an interview question about another reunion tour by revealing that “Ed’s not doing well.”
Death At 65
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On Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020, Wolfgang Van Halen confirmed the sad news that his father had passed away. “He was the best father I could ever ask for,” he wrote on social media. “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."

In Memoriam: Remembering Eddie Van Halen

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