Eddie Van Halen has died at the age of 65, his son shared on social media on Oct. 6.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGA4YQmlmSr/

The legendary guitarist from the rock group that bore his family name died following a long battle with cancer, his son announced.

"I can't believe I'm having to write this, but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning," Wolf Van Halen wrote in a message with a picture of the guitarist who was 65.

"He was the best father I could ever ask for," he added. "Every moment I've shared with him on and off stage was a gift.

"My heart is broken and I don't think I'll ever fully recover from this loss. I love you so much, Pop."

Eddie Van Halen was born in the Netherlands and raised in California.

Guitar virtuoso

Van Halen founded the rock group with his older brother Alex in the 1970s.

They went on to sell 75 million albums.

They are known for such classics as Jump, Panama, Runnin' with the Devil, and the guitar solo Eruption.

Jump was the band's only number one single, from Van Halen's 1984 album, 1984.

Eddie Van Halen and original frontman David Lee Roth fell out during the 1984 tour.

Roth left the band in April 1985.

One of Roth's gripes was reportedly Eddie Van Halen's outside work that included performing on Michael Jackson's 1983 single Beat It.

Reunion

However, Van Halen announced a reunion tour in 2007.

Roth performed with the group for the first time in 22 years.

Another tour planned in 2012 had to be cancelled after Eddie Van Halen had to undergo emergency surgery.

But the band reunited again in 2015 for an extensive North American tour.

Health problems

Eddie Van Halen was known to have health problems.

He underwent hip surgery in 1999.

In 2000, he had part of his tongue removed after being diagnosed with lung cancer, likely because of heavy smoking.

His drug abuse and heavy drinking contributed to his 2007 divorce from TV actress Valerie Bertinelli after 16 years of marriage.

Eddie Van Halen is survived by his second wife Janie Liszewski and his son.

Top photos via Van Halen YouTube & @wolfvanhalen Instagram