Eddie Van Halen’s legacy as a guitar virtuoso remains unmatched, but behind the rock star persona was a man who faced immense personal struggles. His battles with addiction, illness, and internal conflicts often weighed heavily on him. His emotional side found comfort in music.
Music That Helped Him Cope
Eddie struggled with addiction and health problems for years. Even after getting sober in 2008, he faced tongue and throat cancer. In his last moments in 2020, he was surrounded by his family, including Valerie Bertinelli.
One of the songs that meant a lot to eddie was Alanis Morissette’s ‘Thank U.’ Bertinelli recalled playing the song for Eddie to lift his spirits. “I wanted Ed to hear it because I wanted to pump him up and make him feel good and find the positive in life because there was a lot of stress in his life. And lots of hurts and pain that went on, he would cover up in ways that weren’t healthy for him. I was trying to give him a little motivation and this song. He loved it. He absolutely loved it.”
Their son Wolfgang chimed in, saying the song struck a chord with him, and he started crying.
A Song That Spoke to Him
Another song that moved Eddie was ‘Don’t Give Up’ by Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush. In the same interview, Wolfgang said it was a family favorite, and Bertinelli explained why it had such an impact. The lyrics ‘Don’t give up, you still have us’ meant home for Eddie.
“The first time she sings in the song ‘Don’t give up, you still have us.’ Again, it was on the same theme of me always trying to pump Ed up and make him feel good that he wasn’t alone anymore.,” Bertinelli said. “That right there always got me. Ed and I cried over this song multiple times together. And even in the video, they’re just hugging the entire time, and it’s just so much love. I wanted to push that into your dad.”
These songs gave Eddie comfort during hard times, reminding him he wasn’t alone. The guitarist passed away in 2020.
