It’s a sad day for rock and roll and the whole guitar-loving community as news of the death of Eddie Van Halen came trickling on Wednesday morning October 7 as the internet began to blow up as the world began to wake up to the fact that another legend is gone all too soon.

Born Edward Lodewijk Van Halen in January 26, 1955 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Eddie was the driving force behind the band that also carried his name. Van Halen broke into the scene in 1978 with a self-titled album and alongside his brother Alex Van Halen on drums, bassist Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth on vocals, changed the course and sound of rock and roll in the late 70’s and onto the 80’s. Their ‘78 debut included landmark tracks “Ain’t Talking About Love” and “Running With The Devil.” But it was Eddie’s solo track “Eruption,” – an incendiary six-string instrumental that featured all the tricks and styles of modern rock guitar playing, including his mastery of the ‘two-hand tapping’ or ‘finger-tapping’ technique that cemented his reputation as a guitar hero and eventually influenced a whole generation of guitar players from then on.

Eddie’s innovative guitar playing became the standard of excellence as the instrument once again became the focal point instrument in rock and even launched a whole sub-genre of music in instrumental rock guitar that had its own legends and stars. Most of them acknowledging that Eddie Van Halen is a major influence.

His impact on the guitar even became a tad more pronounced when in 1982, he recorded the guitar solo to “Beat It,” that went on to become one of Michael Jackson’s signature songs from his 1983 album “Thriller.” Unknowingly, music fans across the globe was schooled by a master how a proper guitar solo should be.

Some of Eddie’s most memorable moments on guitar was still ahead of him when Van Halen released their “1984” album that included “Hot For Teacher” and “Panama” – the latter track boasting his signature guitar tone that he called “brown sound.” But that particular album will still be remembered for the song “Jump,” that not only had a fine guitar solo that featured all his techniques: pick squeal harmonics, smooth legato runs, and finger-tapping, but also his prodigious command of the synthesizer keyboard that marked the track’s signature riff.

In 1986, a new era of Van Halen started when singer Sammy Hagar replaced Roth. This era was highlighted by a series of number one album hits at the Billboard 200 for their albums “5150” that now featured synth-heavy songs (as well as VH vaunted rock sound) of sings such “Why Can’t This Be Love,” “Dreams” and “Love Walks In.” Then the subsequent albums “OU812” (oh you ate one too) and “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge” came, the latter brought the hits “Poundcake” and the MTV staple “Right Now” that thrust the band once again on the world stage.

Eventually, that era also closed with the acrimonious split with Hagar that played out on media. But the band Van Halen soldiered on and had even had recruited Gary Cherone of Extreme (of “More Than Words” fame) to front “Van Halen III.” Come the early aughts, reunions with their former singers saw a revitalized Van Halen—now with Eddie’s son Wolfgang Van Halen (with actress Valerie Bertinelli) as part of the band replacing Michael Anthony.

But those tours were cut short as the years of alcohol abuse and heavy smoking caught up with the guitarist. He was diagnosed in 2000 with Tongue Cancer but overcame it with surgery and therapy. Over the succeeding years though, Eddie battled with throat cancer. Eddie Van Halen’s last show was back in 2015 at the Hollywood Bowl.

Fellow guitar heroes paid their respects through their social media. His friend Steve Lukather of Grammy-winning TOTO wrote: “Sometimes there are no words…I will miss my brother for 40+ years, More than words…My heartfelt condolences and hugs go to Wolf – (wife) Janie and Alex and the whole family. This one hurts bad…Love you Ed…always will. Xxxx.”

Grammy Award-winning guitarist Eric Johnson meanwhile was terse when he posted, “Respect.”

Guitar instrumentalist Steve Vai likewise wrote: “Feeling deep sadness and overwhelming appreciation.” He underscored Eddie’s influence and impact when he added: “the appreciation and love for him is bigger though. Let’s take a minute and try to imagine our world if he never showed up. It’s unthinkable. Thank you King Edward. You are deeply loved and will be missed.”

On another post, Vai put up a photo of Eddie Van Halen’s trademark black and white stripes on red colored Converse shoes and said: “Never to be filled.”

Eddie Van Halen is survived by his son Wolfgang, wife Janie, and brother Alex.

Rest In Peace Guitar Hero.