DEATH OF EDDIE VAN HALEN FOUNDER

FROM THE EPONYME HARD ROCK GROUP

He was the guitarist and founder of the legendary 1980s hard rock band Van Halen.

Hard rock figure from the 1980s.

The Van Halen group was founded in Pasadena, near Los Angeles by Eddie and his older brother Alex (drums), with singer David Lee Roth.

The group was made popular by their hit "Jump" which sold millions of copies worldwide.

The track had finally appeared on their best-selling album, "1984", and had remained at the top of the American charts for five consecutive weeks.

A mythical guitar solo on "Beat It"

Eddie Van Halen was born in the Netherlands but grew up in Pasadena.

He was considered a virtuoso guitarist and was particularly distinguished by a legendary guitar solo on Michael Jackson's "Beat It" in 1983.

“He was the best father you could dream of.

Every moment I shared with him on and off stage was a gift, ”added Wolfgang“ Wolf ”Van Halen.

The latter had replaced the original bassist of the group (Michael Anthony) in 2007, when David Lee Roth had reunited with Van Halen for a tour, after a separation of more than twenty years.

After the departure of David Lee Roth, Van Halen had continued to release albums and perform with singers Sammy Hagar and then Gary Cherone. He had never regained the popularity of the first period, however.

Long-standing addictions

In 2012, the group had to cancel concerts in Japan due to an emergency operation by Eddie Van Halen. Three years later, Van Halen's musicians were back on the road for a long tour of the United States and Canada.

Heavy smoker, drug user, Eddie Van Halen has long had to fight against cancer of the digestive tract.

In 2000, doctors had to remove part of his tongue because of a tumor.

Decades of smoking probably hadn't helped her health.

He said he had been drinking and smoking since the age of twelve, but had not spent his career partying.

“I don't drink for fun,” he said.

“Alcohol and cocaine are things I use in private, for work” and for creativity.

By dint of excess, he had become "alcoholic", which had precipitated his divorce from actress Valerie Bertinelli in 2007, after sixteen years of marriage. He said he had become sober the following year.