Eddie Van Halen Dies At 65

• The world was stunned today to hear that guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen died Tuesday morning at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica after a lengthy battle with cancer, a rep confirmed to Variety. He was 65

Van Halen is survived by his second wife, Janie Liszewski, the band’s former publicist whom he married in 2009, his brother Alex, the band’s drummer, and Wolfgang, his son with his former wife, actress Valerie Bertinelli, who had been drafted as the band’s bass player in recent years, replacing Michael Anthony.

For his part, Wolfgang said of his father, “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. 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’ll ever fully recover from this loss. I love you so much, Pop.”

Our friend and former colleague Chris Morris of Variety has penned an excellent and extensive retrospective of Van Halen’s career that we invite you to read.