Eddie Van Halen Dies at 65: Valerie Bertinelli, Gene Simmons and More Celebs React

It was not the most auspicious of wedding-day omens: The drunken groom regurgitated into a toilet as his bride held back his shoulder-length hair. Of course, in April 1981, guitar god Eddie Van Halen, then 26, and prime-time TV sweetheart Valerie Bertinelli were anything but your run-of-the mill couple.

died Tuesday of throat cancer.Bertinelli, who was married to Van Halen from 1981 to 2007 and shares their son, Wolfgang, decided to take a walk down memory lane in a series of photos from the early 1980s to the early 1990s.

NEW YORK -- 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 and became elevated to the status of rock god, has died. He was 65.A person close to Van Halen’s family confirmed the rocker died Tuesday due to cancer.

Following Eddie Van Halen‘s death on Tuesday, there has been an outpouring of condolences online in his honor, including many from those who knew him best.

Legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen has died, following several years of cancer treatment. He was 65.“I can’t believe I’m having to write this, but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning”, his son Wolfgang Van Halen wrote in a statement yesterday.

Eddie Van Halen’s former wife Valerie Bertinelli has shared a moving tribute to her ex-husband after he died aged 65.The couple’s son Wolfgang, 29, confirmed news of the rock legend’s death on Tuesday night, telling fans that his father had “lost his long and arduous battle with cancer.”Bertinelli, an actress, married the musician in 1981. The couple separated in 2001 and eventually divorced in 2007, but are thought to have remained on good terms following the split.

Valerie Bertinelli is remembering Eddie Van Halen, whom she was married to for 26 years.

Eddie Van Halen's family is in mourning. The rocker died at the age of 65 after a years-long battle with cancer.

Valerie Bertinelli is remembering Eddie Van Halen, whom she was married to for 26 years. On Tuesday, Oct. 6, Valerie and Eddie's 29-year-old son, Wolfgang Van Halen, revealed on social media that his father had died of cancer.

shared a photo of Eddie Van Halen attending a Tool concert at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.Born Edward Lodewijk van Halen in Amsterdam, Holland on 26th January 1955, Eddie Van Halen moved to Pasadena, California aged seven in 1962 alongside his older brother Alex and parents Jan and Eugenia.Eddie and Alex formed a band they dubbed Genesis in 1972 until they found out a certain British progressive rock band shared then name.

per The Washington Post. He was 65.The elder Van Halen was considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time, the Post notes, along with other legendary figures like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page.