This was the ritual: From my preteen years all the way through the end of high school, I would return home from school in the afternoon and head straight to the basement to shred. For reasons related to both love of music and social climbing, I spent countless hours attempting to emulate famous rock songs,…

Like Hendrix a decade earlier, Eddie Van Halen revolutionised the guitar. We salute the late, great six-string icon who changed rock’n’roll forever

Machine Head leader Robb Flynn pays emotional tribute to ‘G.O.A.T.’ Eddie Van Halen by covering the guitarist’s iconic solo showcase Eruption

Metallica, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Kiss and more pay tribute to Eddie Van Halen, who died yesterday aged 65

Eddie Van Halen, cofounder of the legendary arena-rock band Van Halen and widely considered the greatest guitarist of all time, died today at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer. The remembrances have been especially plentiful and passionate for obvious reasons, and they include tributes from several of Van Halen's former bandmates.