Eddie Van Halen , considered one of the greatest guitarists in music history, spent his final days silently battling cancer and suffering from the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a conversation with host Anderson Cooper on CNN 's All There Is With Anderson Cooper , Alex Van Halen , his brother and bandmate, reflected on the end of Eddie's life.
Alex, drummer for Van Halen, revealed that his brother's death in October 2020 was a shock to everyone around him. Despite years battling health issues, including stage four lung cancer and complications from a brain tumor, Eddie always seemed resilient. "Nobody really thought he was going to die. He always bounced back," Alex said (via Blabbermouth ).
The musician highlighted his brother's impressive vigor. In recent months, pandemic restrictions exacerbated the physical distance between the two. "It was difficult because his immune system was very low. So, many times, we had to watch him from outside, through the window."
The farewell was made even harder by these barriers. He shared that Eddie suffered a severe stroke in his final moments, and family members who were present at the hospital were prevented from having closer contact due to health regulations.
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Eddie's struggle against pain and illness.
Over the years, Eddie faced a series of medical complications. To treat the cancer, he underwent a delicate operation called Gamma Knife, which, although effective in containing the disease, caused brain swelling. This procedure, combined with the use of high doses of steroids, led to a brief recovery period, described by Alex as a "transformation into Superman".
However, the persistent pain and physical deterioration were constant. "Most people have no idea what kind of pain he was experiencing—physical, emotional, mental."
At the hospital, the musician stayed by Eddie's side until his last breath. Despite it being a painful farewell, he describes the moment as profoundly silent. “There were no bells. There were no angels. Everything stopped. The room was empty.” For Alex, this absence of drama reinforced the philosophy that life goes on, even when prematurely interrupted.
Reflecting on his brother's impact on music and the world, the drummer laments not having had more time with him. “Ed still had so much to offer. Ed's whole life was a search for something. Maybe he intuitively knew it was the end.”
Alex Van Halen's grief manifests itself not only in the pain of loss, but also in the celebration of his brother's legacy. His memoir, Brothers , released in October, is a tribute to Eddie, but also an attempt to understand and accept an absence that, according to Alex, "still doesn't make sense."
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