Eddie Van Halen, the iconic guitarist of Van Halen who inspired generations of players, has died. He was 65.

Van Halen’s death was confirmed by his son, Wolfgang, who wrote on social media, “I can’t believe I’m having to write this, but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning. He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off the stage was a gift. My heart is broken and I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from this loss. I love you so much, Pop.”

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Tribute To Legend Eddie Van Halen

• Van Halen Press Conference To Announce Their New Tour

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  LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 13: Guitar player Eddie Van Halen (L) and son Wolfgang hug at the Van Halen press conference announcing their new tour at the Four Seasons Hotel on August 13, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

• Van Halen Press Conference To Announce Their New Tour

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  LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 13: David Lee Roth (L) recieves a hug and a kiss from guitar player Eddie Van Halen at the Van Halen Press Conference announcing their new tour at the Four Season Hotel on August 13, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

• Van Halen Dress Rehearsal At The Forum

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  INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 08: Musicians Eddie Van Halen (L) and Wolfgang Van Halen of Van Halen perform at their dress rehearsal for family and friends at the Forum on February 8, 2012 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
• September 30: David Lee Roth says Van Halen is “Finished”

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  Van Halen, like AC/DC, had a wild 2019 filled with rumors of a massive tour, but allegedly issues around the health of Eddie Van Halen was the reason none of those plans came to be...or at least that’s what David Lee Roth said. On ‘Talkin’ Rock with Meltdown,’ Roth said of the rumored Van Halen tour, “Well, that's been canceled a number of times, and I think Van Halen's finished, and I think this is the next phase. I've been hearing in the band 'de facto,' whatever that means. I think it means, 'You've inherited it. Carry this proudly.' Van Halen isn't going to be coming back in the fashion that you know, and that being said, Eddie [Van Halen's] got his own story to tell. [It's] not mine to tell it.”

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  LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 17: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was processed using digital filters) Singer David Lee Roth (L) and guitarist Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen perform during the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

• 2015 Billboard Music Awards – Show

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  LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 17: Musician Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen performs onstage during the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
• GettyImages-76079461-e1495200420382

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  LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 13: Guitar player Eddie Van Halen (L) and singer David Lee Roth (L) pose for photographers at the Van Halen Press Conference announcing their new tour at the Four Season Hotel on August 13, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

• GALLERY: Eddie Van Halen and His Epic “Guitar Face”

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  LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 18: (Exclusive Coverage) Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen performs during their "A Different Kind of Truth" tour at KFC YUM! Center on February 18, 2012 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

• GALLERY: Eddie Van Halen and His Epic “Guitar Face”

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  INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 08: Musician Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen performs at their dress rehearsal for family and friends at the Forum on February 8, 2012 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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  LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 17: Guitarist Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen performs during the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada; CLEVELAND - APRIL 04: Jimmy Page performs onstage during the 24th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Hall on April 4, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio.

• Van Halen – ‘Van Halen’

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  Van Halen's self-titled debut helped set a new standard for budding guitarists and frontmen. Eddie Van Halen remains one of the biggest guitar heroes ever, and David Lee Roth is still cited as one of the greatest performers, and much of that is thanks to this iconic debut.

• Van Halen Dress Rehearsal At The Forum

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  INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 08: Musicians Wolfgang Van Halen (L) and Alex Van Halen of Van Halen perform at their dress rehearsal for family and friends at the Forum on February 8, 2012 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
• Van Halen Dress Rehearsal At The Forum

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  INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 08: Musician Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen performs at their dress rehearsal for family and friends at the Forum on February 8, 2012 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

• NASCAR – Nextel Series – Subway Fresh Fit 500 – April 21, 2007

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  Guitarist Eddie Van Halen onstage as a grand marshal before the NASCAR Subway Fresh Fit 500, at Phoenix International Speedway, April 20, 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/WireImage)

• Van Halen Dress Rehearsal At The Forum

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  INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 08: Musician Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen performs at their dress rehearsal for family and friends at the Forum on February 8, 2012 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
• 14th Annual Elton John Academy Awards Viewing Party – Arrivals

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  WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 05: Musician Eddie Van Halen arrives at the 14th Annual Elton John Academy Awards viewing party held at the Pacific Design Center on March 5, 2006 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)

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