Eddie Van Halen, whose pressing inventiveness lofted him among the all-time elite guitarists and whose life epitomized both the aspirational American dream and the rough-and-tumble of rock ’n’ roll, died Tuesday after battling cancer. He was 65 years old. A self-taught musician, Mr. Van Halen popularized the two-handed tapping technique of playing with both hands on the neck of the guitar. The style, which showcased how blindingly fast he could pick out a melody, helped make “Eruption” what is widely considered among the...

Source: Wall Street Journal October 06, 2020 20:21 UTC