One of the greatest guitarists to ever live was Eddie Van Halen, the legendary member of the Southern California band Van Halen. He rocked our worlds with incredibly impressive and innovative ways of playing the guitar, which seemed less like an instrument and more like an extension of Van Halen himself. His talent was unparalleled, effortlessly blending technical skill with raw emotion, creating a sound that was uniquely his own.

The world lost an icon when news of his passing was shared in 2020. Let’s take a look back at Eddie Van Halen’s unbelievable rise to fame—and the ups and downs he had along the way.