One of my guitar idols and Van Halen co-founder Eddie Van Halen has died at age 65 after a long battle with throat cancer. He passed away at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California, this morning with his wife Janie Liszewski at his side.
According to the report on TMZ, Van Halen's health began to deteriorate over the last couple of days and that's when doctors discovered that the musician's throat cancer had spread to his brain and other organs. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer battled throat cancer for more than a decade, and often traveled between the U.S. and Germany for treatment.
Reports that Eddie's condition was worsening started circulating last summer when a potential Van Halen stadium tour was talked about but never happened. And then last fall the guitarist was briefly hospitalized with complications from his chemotherapy.
Rest in peace, Edward. You will be missed. And as my little girl at home said when she heard the news, "if there's a Rock N' Roll flag, they should lower it today."