Images: Guitar legend Eddie Van Halen dies at the age of 65
Eddie Van Halen, the guitar virtuoso whose blinding speed, control and innovation propelled his band Van Halen into one of hard rock's biggest groups, fueled the unmistakable fiery solo in Michael Jackson's hit "Beat It" and became elevated to the status of rock god, has died. He was 65.
In this Aug. 5, 2004 file photo, Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen performs in Phoenix. Van Halen, who had battled cancer, died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. He was 65.
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Van Halen is seen in Los Angeles, Jan. 17, 1993. Members of Van Halen, from left, left, Michael Anthony, bass guitar, Sammy Hagar, lead singer, Alex Van Halen, drums, and Eddie Van Halen, lead guitar appear in Los Angeles on Jan. 17, 1993. Eddie Van Halen, who had battled cancer, died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. He was 65.
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Guitarist Eddie Van Halen, left, makes a guest appearance during Michael Jackson's Victory Tour concert in Irving, Texas, on Friday night, July 14, 1984. Van Halen, who is in town for his own concert Saturday night, joins in during Jackson's hit "Beat It."
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Members of the rock group Van Halen, clockwise from left, Alex Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar, are shown in Los Angeles, Ca., on Aug. 15, 1988.]
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Rock star Eddie Van Halen, second from right, gets checked out by other members of the band, Alex Van Halen, Sammy Hager and Michael Anthony, right to left, as they joke around during rehearsal on Thursday, April 21, 1988 in Los Angeles for their upcoming tour. It was Eddie's first day back at rehearsals after being released from the hospital Wednesday for an infection caught while in Fiji recently. The rock band "Van Halen" will make a 25 cities tour starting May 27 in East Troy, Wis., and ending on the west coast July 30th.
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Rocker Eddie Van Halen is shown with wife Valerie Bertinelli in Los Angeles, Jan. 13, 1993. ]
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David Lee Roth, left, and Eddie Van Halen perform their song "Runnin' With The Devil" during Van Halen's concert Thursday Sept. 27, 2007, at Charlotte Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, N.C.
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David Lee Roth, left and Eddie Van Halen perform on Friday, Nov. 23, 2007, in Glendale, Ariz.
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David Lee Roth, left, and Eddie Van Halen perform with Van Halen at Madison Square Garden Friday, May 23, 2008 in New York.
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Eddie Van Halen accepts the award for guitar god at the Spike TV "Guys Choice" awards in Culver City, Calif., on Saturday May 30, 2009.
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Van Halen members Eddie Van Halen, left, and David Lee Roth perform at Cafe Wha? in New York, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012.
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Van Halen members David Lee Roth, left, and Eddie Van Halen perform at Cafe Wha? in New York, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012.
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Van Halen member Eddie Van Halen performs at Cafe Wha? in New York, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012.
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Guitarist Eddie Van Halen of the band Van Halen performs on Friday June 1, 2012 in Los Angeles.
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This June 1, 2012 file photo shows guitarist Eddie Van Halen of the band Van Halen performing in Los Angeles. Van Halen underwent an emergency surgery for the digestive disease diverticulitis and is canceling his tour in Japan to recover. His representative said Thursday, Aug. 30, that Van Halen had "a severe bout of diverticulitis" and is expected to recover in four to six months. Diverticulitis is a painful condition that involves the formation of pouches on the outside of the colon.
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Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen performs at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre on Tuesday, July 14, 2015, in Irvine, Calif.
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Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen performs at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, in Wantagh, N.Y.
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David Lee Roth, left, and Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen perform at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, in Wantagh, N.Y.
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Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen performs at the KFC Yum! Center on the opening night of the "A Different Kind of Truth" tour on February 18, 2012, in Louisville, Kentucky.
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Valerie Bertinelli, left, arrives at the premiere of the film "America's Sweethearts" with husband Eddie Van Halen in Los Angeles on July 17, 2001.
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Musician Eddie Van Halen and his wife Janie Liszewski attend the Esquire 80th Anniversary and Network Launch Event in New York on Sept. 17, 2013.
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Members of the rock group Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen, foreground, and Sammy Hagar perform in this Aug. 19, 2004, file photo, in Los Angeles.
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