FILE - *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. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)

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. Added Lenny Kravitz: “Heaven will be electric tonight.”The members of Van Halen — the two Van Halen brothers, Eddie and Alex; vocalist David Lee Roth; and bassist Michael Anthony — formed in 1974 in Pasadena, California. “We showed up here with the equivalent of $50 and a piano,” Eddie Van Halen told The Associated Press in 2015. Van Halen, sober since 2008, lost one-third of his tongue to a cancer that eventually drifted into his esophagus.

Legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen has died after a battle with cancer, his son confirmed Tuesday. He was the founder and primary songwriter of the colossal rock band Van Halen. He formed the band with his brother Alex Van Halen (drums) in the early 1970s. The song “Jump," off of the wildly successful “1984” album, was Van Halen’s first and only No. Eddie gained the respect of musicians around the world for his fast, technical abilities with the electric guitar.