Jimmy Barnes claims he was once asked to join Van Halen – as he pays tribute to legendary guitarist Eddie after he died of throat cancer aged 65
- Eddie Van Halen died at the age of 65 in Santa Monica, California, on Tuesday with his wife, son and brother by his side
- The co-founder of ’80s heavy metal band Van Halen had been battling throat cancer and had been sick for over a decade
- The cancer had travelled to his brain and other organs and he had a sudden decline, according to reports
- Rolling Stone put Eddie Van Halen at No. 8 in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists
Scottish-Australian rocker Jimmy Barnes has paid tribute to Eddie Van Halen, after he lost his long battle with throat cancer at the age of 65.
Cold Chisel star Jimmy, 64, tweeted a picture of the legendary guitarist performing on stage when he revealed that he was once asked to join his band, Van Halen.
‘It’s an honour to have been asked to play with such a legendary rock band,’ Jimmy wrote in part of his post.
Australian rocker Jimmy Barnes (pictured) revealed on Wednesday that he was once asked to join Van Halen as he paid tribute to legendary guitarist Eddie after he died of throat cancer at age 65
‘I was lucky enough to meet Eddie in the mid 80s when he asked me if I was interested in joining Van Halen,’ he said.
‘I’d just started my solo career so the timing wasn’t right but still to this day, it’s an honour to have been asked to play with such a legendary rock band. RIP Eddie.’
Jimmy also previously wrote in his 2017 memoir, Working Class Man, that after releasing his second solo album of the same title in 1985, he was approached by Van Halen.
‘RIP Eddie’: Cold Chisel star Jimmy, 64, tweeted a picture of the legendary guitarist performing on stage when he revealed that he was once asked to join his band
Rocker: Jimmy is a member of rock band Cold Chisel and is pictured in the group second left
‘During that period I was asked to join Deep Purple, Van Halen and Little Feat, all within a few months; I was the flavour of the month,’ Jimmy wrote.
He added: ‘I told him I didn’t really want to join another band, I was just starting my solo career and I’d like it see that through. But I was really flattered, I really like Van Halen.’
Rockstar Eddie Van Halen died at the age of 65 on Tuesday.
The guitarist and co-founder of the Eighties band Van Halen had been battling throat cancer for over a decade. He passed away at at St. Johns Hospital in Santa Monica, California, with his wife Janie, his son Wolfgang and brother and drummer Alex next to him, according to TMZ.
‘I can’t believe I’m having to write this but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning,’ Wolfgang said in a tweet. He added: ‘He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage was a gift….My heart is broken and I don’t think I will ever fully recover from this loss.’
Tragic: Rockstar Eddie Van Halen died at the age of 65 on Tuesday. The guitarist and co-founder of the Eighties band Van Halen had been battling throat cancer for over a decade Pictured performing in Florida on October 15, 2015
Eddie, who never really learned to read music, had a sudden decline in health in the past ’72 hours’, according to TMZ. His throat cancer had reportedly gone to his brain as well as other parts of his body, it was added. The site added that he had been ‘in and out of the hospital over the past year.’
Van Halen is considered one of rock music’s greatest guitar players and Eddie was a founding member of the hugely successful rock band named after him and his drummer brother. The group was formed in 1972 along with Michael Anthony on bass and David Lee Roth singing. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
The guitar virtuoso also fueled the unmistakable fiery solo in Michael Jackson’s hit ‘Beat It’ and became elevated to the status of rock god. Van Halen is among the top 20 best-selling artists of all time and Rolling Stone magazine put Eddie Van Halen at No. 8 in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists.
Legendary: Van Halen is considered one of rock music’s greatest guitar players and Eddie was a founding member of the hugely successful rock band named after him and his drummer brother. Pictured in 1979