The music community is mourning the loss of Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Eddie Van Halen. The iconic Van Halen guitarist died of throat cancer on Tuesday (Oct. 6) at the age of 65 years old.
According to TMZ, Sources close to the rock icon said he died at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica on October 6. His wife, Janie along with his son Wolfgang and Van Halen’s brother and drummer Alex were by his side.
Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Lindsay Ell, Kenny Chesney remembered the late guitarist with emotion-filled social media tributes.
“Just heard the news of Eddie Van Halen’s passing ….. this hit me hard.” said Urban. “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!”
“A true legend in his own right…to change the course of the future of guitar forever,” said Ell. “Your music, your spirit and your legacy will live on. Thank you for everything you taught us, EVH.”
“I am so sad to hear we lost @eddievanhalen today,” Paisley said. “I loved everything about the fire and style he brought to the guitar. I studied him, heck everybody did, we all wanted to play just like him. But no one did it quite like him. Thank you Eddie for being a pioneer. It’s unimaginable what the guitar would be without you.”
“I am devastated at the news of the passing of my friend @eddievanhalen,” Chesney said. “He was a friend and a hero to anyone who has ever picked up a guitar and had a dream. Eddie and his brother Alex joined us on stage at one of our stadium shows in Los Angeles and it was one of the highlights of my touring life in all my summers on the road. I will never forget that night and how happy we both were that our musical paths crossed that night on stage. Rest In Peace to the best guitar player that ever lived. We will miss you Eddie Van Halen. Your music will live forever!!”
Other stars, including Phil Vassar, A Thousand Horses, Clay Cook, Travis Denning, Big & Rich and many others.
See what they had to say below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGBDvT7H2Ff/
