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Five years ago this week, on October 6th, 2020, we lost Eddie Van Halen, one of rock’s most innovative and influential guitarists. Eddie passed away at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 65, after a long battle with cancer. His son, Wolfgang Van Halen, broke the news on Twitter, writing, “He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I've shared with him off and on stage was a gift.” The heartfelt message was met with an outpouring of love, including a powerful response from Eddie’s ex-wife and Wolfgang’s mother, Valerie Bertinelli, who tweeted 20 broken heart emojis.
In 2024, Eddie’s brother and longtime bandmate Alex Van Halen released a memoir titled Brothers, offering the band’s fans a deeper look into their lives and legacy. When asked how Eddie felt about his career near the end, Alex shared, “Ed did not like that one bit at all.” He explained that while music was their life, the industry’s shift from creativity to business weighed heavily on Eddie. The routine of recording, touring, and repeating had become more about commerce than passion, and that wasn’t what Eddie signed up for.
Brothers is more than just a look back—it’s a tribute. In the book’s “Overture,” Alex remembers Eddie with warmth and honesty, and the audiobook includes the last song they recorded together, “Unfinished.”
[Source: Premiere]