Eddie Van Halen, the co-founder of rock group Van Halen, has died after a long battle with cancer.
The Dutch-American artist was 65. He had been battling throat cancer for nearly twenty years.
His family said Eddie died at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica with his wife, Janie, was by his side, along with his son, Wolfgang, and his brother Alex.
"I can't believe I'm having to write this but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning," his son Wolfgang said in a tweet.
"He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I've shared with him on and off stage was a gift....My heart is broken and I don't think I will ever fully recover from this loss."
By the early 1980s, Van Halen was one of the most successful rock acts of the time.
Eddie's son, Wolfgang Van Halen, joined the band in 2006.
Tributes immediately flowed from some of rock's biggest names including KISS' Gene Simmons and the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea.
Simmons wrote: "My heart is broken. Eddie was not only a Guitar God, but a genuinely beautiful soul. Rest in peace, Eddie!"
Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler described Van Halen as "a true gent and true genius" and his bandmate Tony Iommi said he was "devastated" to hear of the death of a "really great friend".
Pop genius Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys remembered "how big Van Halen was, especially here in L.A".
Sammy Hagar, who replaced David Lee Roth as lead singer of Van Halen in 1985, said he was "heartbroken and speechless".
My heart is broken. Eddie was not only a Guitar God, but a genuinely beautiful soul. Rest in peace, Eddie! ...Eddie Van Halen Dead at 65 from Cancer https://t.co/gITtcndQVv
Oh man, bless his beautiful creative heart. I love you Eddie Van Halen, an LA boy, a true rocker. I hope you jam with Jimi tonight. Break through to the other side my brother. ❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/XpcTlPJq9A
Just when I thought 2020 couldn't get any worse, I hear Eddie Van Halen has passed. So shocking- One of the nicest, down to Earth men I have ever met and toured with. A true gent and true genius. RIP. So sad.Thoughts go out to his brother Alex, and his family. pic.twitter.com/fwIw040YMX
I’m just devastated to hear the news of the passing of my dear friend Eddie Van Halen. He fought a long and hard battle with his cancer right to the very end. Eddie was one of a very special kind of person, a really great friend. Rest In Peace my dear friend till we meet again. pic.twitter.com/Qs8tsLPANJ
I just heard about Eddie Van Halen and I feel terrible about it. Eddie was such a great guitarist and I remember how big Van Halen was, especially here in L.A. Love and Mercy to Eddie’s family & friends. pic.twitter.com/PY8fyrx1Lu
Others remembered Van Halen's wide-ranging talent, with Steven Hyden sharing an anecdote about how he been responsible for re-engineering the Michael Jackson hit Beat It after he recorded his famous solo for the classic track.
Eddie Van Halen not only played that famous solo on "Beat It," he also rearranged the song behind Michael Jackson's back. pic.twitter.com/ljIuH7GmiV
TMZ reported that Van Halen's health had gone into a sharp decline in the past 72 hours, the final chapter in a long battle against throat cancer.
The guitar hero was diagnosed nearly 20 years and had a series of procedures to fight the disease, including the removal of a third of his tongue in 2000.
Eddie Van Halen's guitar performances defined the era and inspired a generation. Photo / Getty
Van Halen once said he thinks he developed the cancer from putting a metal guitar pick in his mouth during performances, despite the fact he had smoked heavily.
He told Billboard in 2015: "I used metal picks – they're brass and copper – which I always held in my mouth, in the exact place where I got the tongue cancer.
"Plus, I basically live in a recording studio that's filled with electromagnetic energy. So that's one theory. I mean, I was smoking and doing a lot of drugs and a lot of everything. But at the same time, my lungs are totally clear. This is just my own theory, but the doctors say it's possible."
