Tony Iommi pays tribute to Eddie Van Halen: “He created his own guitar world – and what a world it was“

EVH Iommi
(Image credit: Fin Costello/Redferns : Brill/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

I've got two really great friends in the music business – Brian May is one and Eddie Van Halen was the other. Ed was just fantastic, and his death is a terrible loss. I feel so sad for his wife Janie, brother Alex and his son Wolfgang. It’s such a loss for everybody, fans and musicians alike.  

He was a fabulously caring human being. Whenever I was in L.A., I’d call him and we’d go out for dinner with our wives, and it was lovely. He was so easy going and we’d just sit and chat about anything. I met Eddie in ’78 when Van Halen toured with Sabbath. It was the band’s first world tour and we were on the road together for several months. We had such a great relationship. 

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Guitar World Staff

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