Before turning the page to close the old chapter and start a new one with hopes of a better year, let's take a moment to remember some of those celebrities who have left us this year.
- December 31, 2020
AceShowbiz - Eddie Van Halen wasn't just a rock star. The main songwriter and guitarist of the rock band Van Halen, which he co-founded in 1972, is regarded as one of the all-time greatest guitar players in rock history, who was recognized for his massive impact on guitar playing. He was well known for popularizing the tapping guitar solo technique, allowing rapid arpeggios to be played with two hands on the fretboard.
Van Halen died of a stroke at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California on October 6 after battling throat cancer for years. He was saluted by his peers during the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame virtual induction ceremony in November, with fellow guitarist Slash gushing about the late musician, "Eddie Van Halen was a tremendously gifted musician. His style and his sound were completely unique to him." In the same month, his bandmates announced that Van Halen would not continue as a band, saying, "You can't have Van Halen without Eddie Van Halen."
