It was known Eddie Van Halen had been battling cancer on and off for years. Still, his passing comes as one hell of a shock. The year 2020 just keeps on getting better.
I can't help but think of other guitarist legends who tragically left us far too soon. Jimi Hendrix. Randy Rhoades. Stevie Ray Vaughan. It was horrible Dimebag Darrell Abbott was murdered on stage. His funeral attracted great players like Zakk Wylde, Jerry Cantrell and Eddie Van Halen. Sometime before his death Dimebag Darrell asked Eddie Van Halen for a replica of his '79 Charvel "Bumblebee" guitar, pictured on the Van Halen II album. Eddie had the original buried with Dimebag Darrell, saying, "Dime was an original and only an original deserves the original." Eddie Van Halen enjoyed jamming with other great players, such as Brian May from Queen. I'd like to think Eddie is now in a monster jam session in Heaven with Hendrix, Rhoades, Dimebag and other long passed greats.