# TMZ says Eddie VanHalen dead at 65 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [October 6, 2020, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361 "2020-10-06T19:39:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/21 "2020-10-06T21:57:42Z")
My mother had the same oral surgeon he did, according to what she was told when she at the clinic prior to her surgery. (Of course, she only vaguely knew who Eddie Van Halen was.) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/22 "2020-10-06T21:57:44Z")
This sucks. Fuck 2020 with a rusty chainsaw. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/23 "2020-10-06T22:35:22Z")
Well, Les Paul considered him the best guitarist of his genre, so there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/24 "2020-10-07T00:26:48Z")
Man, the first Van Halen album was the soundtrack to one of the best summers of my life. Livin’ with my first real girlfriend, working second shift (with her) , hanging out at the pool at our apartment complex every day before work, plenty of weed, plenty of beer, a bitchin’ under dash cassette player/power booster in my 66 GTO! Rocking that first VH album. Runnin’ With The Devil, indeed! RIP Eddy! ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/25 "2020-10-07T00:36:14Z")
I’m glad to see his ex-wife Valerie and his son Wolfie were at his side, as well as his wife Janie and his brother Alex. He went surrounded by so much love. Damn, the tears are starting to come. Only one year older than me. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/26 "2020-10-07T00:39:00Z")
Don’t think I ever owned one of the VH albums, but quite sure I never changed the station when one of their songs came on the radio. Quite sure I never turned the volume _down_ at that point, either. RIP, Eddie. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/27 "2020-10-07T01:25:34Z")
Truly one of the greats; an innovator and great entertainer. RIP, Eddie. This is how I’ll remember Eddie…with that huge grin on his face, wailing away, and having the time of his life with his boys: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SwYN7mTi6HM/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AGMBYAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgWyhGMA8=&rs=AOn4CLBEkugRjhHZQYhWieNk8VKu6pK7zA "Van Halen - Jump (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwYN7mTi6HM) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/28 "2020-10-07T01:31:01Z")
Did he smoke and this caused his cancer or is that unknown? I know he is considered one of the best, but was he as good as those guys in Dragon Force who do that “into the flames” song, which I’ve always seen as an absolutely amazing set of guitar solos? I don’t know much of his work, actually. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/29 "2020-10-07T01:38:52Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Did he smoke and this caused his cancer or is that unknown? He was a heavy smoker (and heavy drinker and drug user) for many years, but he blamed holding metal guitar picks in his mouth for the oral cancer with which he was first diagnosed in 2000. As quoted in [his Wikipedia entry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Van_Halen#Health_and_death): > [@](#): > > “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. … 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.” Oh, and even if you didn’t really listen to Van Halen, you probably still know one of his signature pieces: he did the guitar solo on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/30 "2020-10-07T01:50:57Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I know he is considered one of the best, but was he as good as those guys in Dragon Force who do that “into the flames” song, which I’ve always seen as an absolutely amazing set of guitar solos? > > I don’t know much of his work, actually. Well, Dragon Force certainly knew of his work. From their twitter feed today: > Rest in peace\* > [@eddievanhalen](https://twitter.com/eddievanhalen)\* > You have inspired our music so much through out the years. You are the best!\* ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/31 "2020-10-07T03:55:33Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > He went surrounded by so much love. What more can you ask for at the end? The measure of your life isn’t how many gold records you had. It’s how many people loved you. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/32 "2020-10-07T04:27:19Z")
Bizarrely, I woke up this morning and my first thoughts upon waking were about Eddie and his tongue cancer. He’s a god, but I don’t normally think on him most days, much less first thing in the morning. Later in the day I find out he’s died. I should probably take that as a sign to quit smoking pronto, since I’ve blown by all the others. Either way, we can’t properly eulogize the man without the intro that put him on the map. Eruption: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/M4Czx8EWXb0/maxresdefault.jpg "Eruption (2015 Remaster)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4Czx8EWXb0) I can play parts of it, but I sound silly when I even try, So completely over the top and somehow tasteful. A master’s work. And just because I love the riff, Hot for Teacher (though, it’s really an Alex showpiece): [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bMPlPJP2brw/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgWShOMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCqUNNt47hwQqb85_lyZlx1ccyeDw "Van Halen - Hot For Teacher") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMPlPJP2brw) ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/33 "2020-10-07T05:34:09Z")
I remember reading, on my internet wanderings, a story about the making of the EVH Frankenstrat replica guitar. The luthier/s were frustrated. They were careful and meticulous about duplicating his famous red, black and white guitar, but it just didn’t sound right to them. They met with Eddie again and showed them what they had so far. He plugged it in and tore into some classic riffs, and it sounded perfect. Eddie’s guitar wasn’t gonna sound the same without Eddie playing it. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/34 "2020-10-07T09:31:47Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > I never fully made up my mind which of Jeff Beck or EVH was the better guitarist. EVH asked for lessons from Glen Campbell (an often overlooked crazy good guitar player). > “Eddie Van Halen asked one time, he said, ‘Could you get me a guitar lesson with Glen?’ Most rockers would go, ‘What?’ That’s the kind of guitar player he was. [Campbell] was considered one of the five best guitar players out there.” ~ Alice Cooper [SOURCE](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/alice-cooper-on-unlikely-bond-with-glen-campbell-we-were-survivors-204267/) That’s not to say EVH wasn’t fantastic. He really was one of the all-time best rock guitar players ever. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/35 "2020-10-07T11:09:01Z")
This is really too much to take. I got the news while at a funeral yesterday. I am one of the biggest VH fans you’ll ever meet. I’ve listened to them since the 1st album, learned his riffs and solos, bought his signature guitar, and effects pedals, loved the Van Hagar albums, …and even listen to Van Halen III occasionally. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends and the millions of admirers around the world. It’s such a sad ending to his story… ---
**Author:** ![GreaterZamboni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@GreaterZamboni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreaterZamboni)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/36 "2020-10-07T20:22:25Z")
What a coincidence. I was envious of Eddie because of Valerie .😉 RIP EVH ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/37 "2020-10-07T20:23:30Z")
Well of course. They were the cutest couple ever. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2020, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/38 "2020-10-08T00:43:40Z")
It’s amazing that Eddie survived the glory days of Van Halen. The band’s cocaine & alcohol use was legendary. I admired Eddie’s playing. He took the electric guitar to another level. RIP Eddie and keep on rocking with Hendrix and Janis in another place. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2020, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361/39 "2020-10-09T15:54:57Z")
Eddie’s patent illustration has to be one of the coolest ever: [https://www.google.com/search?tbs=simg:CAQSqgIJi6YdOlmIz8sangILELCMpwgaYgpgCAMSKNAT0RPME8sTzhPEE9Ud1B3TE8MTtiysI4gu6CS\_1IIcunCPMJNokrSMaMNHtwls8dimKiIOHo2rx2PJ2JeUqyP2iLi8B\_1ODKrAb6IGjzKtcCCwHiZke7aBX77yAEDAsQjq7-CBoKCggIARIEOmqwxAwLEJ3twQkalgEKGwoIbGluZSBhcnTapYj2AwsKCS9tLzA5MTlyeAoZCgZza2V0Y2japYj2AwsKCS9tLzA3Z2x6cQobCgdhcnR3b3Jr2qWI9gMMCgovbS8wZGdzbXE4Ch4KDWFzc2F1bHQgcmlmbGXapYj2AwkKBy9tLzBqYjMKHwoMaWxsdXN0cmF0aW9u2qWI9gMLCgkvbS8wMWtyOGYM&q=eddie%2Bvan%2Bhalen%2Bguitar%2Bdrawing&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj14rbU7qfsAhVGIDQIHZm7CFoQ2A4oAXoECA4QKw#imgrc=U7odkAnt3viYPM](https://www.google.com/search?tbs=simg:CAQSqgIJi6YdOlmIz8sangILELCMpwgaYgpgCAMSKNAT0RPME8sTzhPEE9Ud1B3TE8MTtiysI4gu6CS_1IIcunCPMJNokrSMaMNHtwls8dimKiIOHo2rx2PJ2JeUqyP2iLi8B_1ODKrAb6IGjzKtcCCwHiZke7aBX77yAEDAsQjq7-CBoKCggIARIEOmqwxAwLEJ3twQkalgEKGwoIbGluZSBhcnTapYj2AwsKCS9tLzA5MTlyeAoZCgZza2V0Y2japYj2AwsKCS9tLzA3Z2x6cQobCgdhcnR3b3Jr2qWI9gMMCgovbS8wZGdzbXE4Ch4KDWFzc2F1bHQgcmlmbGXapYj2AwkKBy9tLzBqYjMKHwoMaWxsdXN0cmF0aW9u2qWI9gMLCgkvbS8wMWtyOGYM&q=eddie%2Bvan%2Bhalen%2Bguitar%2Bdrawing&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj14rbU7qfsAhVGIDQIHZm7CFoQ2A4oAXoECA4QKw#imgrc=U7odkAnt3viYPM) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-says-eddie-vanhalen-dead-at-65/922361.md?page=1)