Eddie Van Halen: Guitar Virtuoso Who Reinvented Rock Guitar Dies at 65

Eddie Van Halen was a Dutch-American guitarist, songwriter and producer, co-founder of the rock band Van Halen and one of the most influential guitarists in history. Born Edward Lodewijk Van Halen on January 26, 1955, in Amsterdam, he moved with his family to Pasadena, California, in 1962.

He formed the band with his brother Alex in 1972, and David Lee Roth joined as singer in 1974. The band's 1978 debut album featured the instrumental "Eruption," which showcased his two-handed tapping technique. In 1982 he played the solo on Michael Jackson's "Beat It," reportedly without payment, and the 1984 album 1984 included the band's only No. 1 hit, "Jump." Van Halen sold more than 100 million albums.

Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, and he held three guitar-related patents. He married actress Valerie Bertinelli in 1981 and Janie Liszewski in 2009, and his son Wolfgang later joined the band. He was treated for tongue cancer in 2000 and for throat cancer in later years. He died of a stroke in Santa Monica, California, on October 6, 2020, at age 65.

Achievements: Co-founded Van Halen (1972), "Eruption" (1978), solo on "Beat It" (1982), "Jump" reached No. 1 (1984), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2007).

Birth: January 26, 1955 - Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Profession: Guitarist, songwriter and producer.

Interesting Facts: He designed his own guitar, the Frankenstrat, by assembling parts. He began as a drummer while his brother Alex played guitar, and they switched.