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Eddie Van Halen: Music world pays tribute to rocker

Fans of Eddie Van Halen are still reeling from news of his death.

Those mourning the iconic guitarist are those who are also big names in the rock world.

Van Halen, the founder of the band with the same name, died this week of cancer. He was 65, The Associated Press reported.

Former wife, Valerie Bertinelli, said that Van Halen changed her life when they met.

Ozzy Osbourne spoke with Rolling Stone after news of Van Halen’s death broke.

The Black Sabbath frontman remembered touring with Van Halen.

Van Halen opened for Black Sabbath in 1978.

Osbourne called the guitarist “the master” when it came to the signature technique of finger tapping.

“Once you’ve seen the master do it, everyone else comes second. Anybody after Eddie Van Halen was in second, as far as I’m concerned,” Osbourne told Rolling Stone.

Osbourne said Van Halen made playing guitar look easy.

“Everybody else was trying to be Eddie Van Halen, but there is only one Eddie Van Halen. I thought he was brilliant. God only knows, what you have to do to get that good,” Osbourne told Rolling Stone.

Other members of Black Sabbath used social media to honor Van Halen.

Van Halen’s death has also affected Fall Out Boy guitarist, Joe Trohman, who called Van Halen a hero.

In a column for Variety, Trohman said:

“Not to be hyperbolic, but losing Eddie Van Halen feels akin to that of losing my own mother, just a mere six years ago. My mom’s influence on me, like Eddie’s, is ever-present. I don’t know if I would’ve played guitar or started Fall Out Boy without either of them. My mom’s support, and Eddie’s influence, partially drove me to where I am today — and I am eternally grateful for that.”

Former frontman for Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, said he was heartbroken.

While the band’s original frontman, David Lee Roth, said, “What a Long Great Trip It’s Been.”

Kiss frontman, Gene Simmons, called the guitarist “a genuinely beautiful soul.”

Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx called him “Mozart of rock guitar" in a tweet.

Other rock icons paid tribute via social media.

Just heard the news of Eddie Van Halen’s passing ..... this hit me hard. There are lots of great guitar players in the...

Posted by Keith Urban on Tuesday, October 6, 2020