Obviously, the music community was rocked by the death of EDDIE VAN HALEN yesterday. Edward Van Halen died at at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica and was surrounded by family including wife, Janie, Wolfgang, Bertinelli, and Eddie's brother and bandmate Alex. The site notes that Eddie's health went downhill in the past 72 hours, and his throat cancer spread to other organs, including his brain. He passed away at the age of 65.
Here are some of the tributes:
David Lee Roth: "What a long great trip it's been."
Former Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar: "Heartbroken and speechless. My love to the family."
Former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony: "No words . . . Heartbroken, my love to the family."
Valerie Bertinelli: "40 years ago my life changed forever when I met you. You gave me the one true light in my life, our son, Wolfgang. Through all your challenging treatments for lung cancer, you kept your gorgeous spirit and that impish grin. I’m so grateful Wolfie and I were able to hold you in your last moments. I will see you in our next life my love."
Gene Simmons: "My heart is broken. Eddie was not only a Guitar God, but a genuinely beautiful soul. Rest in peace, Eddie!"
(Gene was an early booster of Van Halen, and even helped them record a demo before they got signed.)
Nikki Sixx: "So [effing] crushed. RIP Eddie Van Halen. You changed our world. You were the Mozart of rock guitar."
Lenny Kravitz: "Heaven will be electric tonight."
Flea: "Oh man, bless his beautiful creative heart. I love you Eddie Van Halen, an LA boy, a true rocker."
Black Sabbath guitarist and cancer survivorTony Iommi: "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."
Queen guitaristBrian May: "This wonderful man was way too young to be taken. What a talent, what a legacy, probably the most original and dazzling rock guitarist in History."
Metallica: "We considered him an inspiration, an idol, and after spending a summer together on the road in '88, a friend."