As fans lament the potential conclusion of Van Halen, more news has come forward to explain these circumstances, with Eddie Van Halen reportedly undergoing surgery for throat cancer.
For some time now, fans have been wondering whether or not rock icons Van Halen would ever take to the stage again. While rumours of a US stadium tour were floated earlier this year, David Lee Roth let fans down last week by revealing that he thinks Van Halen is “finished”.
Understandably, this was undoubtedly a huge blow for longtime fans of the band who had been hoping that they would play their first gig since 2015, or even record their first album since 2012.
Last week though, Toto guitarist Steve Lukather appeared to give fans an insight into what was really going on behind the scenes, revealing that health issues had caused the group’s absence from the touring circuit and the recording studio.
“All I’m gonna say is I don’t think there’s any drama issues that are keeping them from working right now,” Lukather explained.
“There’s been some health issues that they’re dealing with and stuff like that. We’re older guys now, and to go on the road, and stuff like that, it requires a lot of extra effort in terms of as a human being.”
While fans soon began to wonder what these health issues could be, attention soon turned to Eddie Van Halen, who had previously battle tongue cancer back in 2000, causing him to have a third of his tongue removed to fight the disease.
Check out ‘Jump’ by Van Halen:
Now, as TMZ confirms, Eddie Van Halen is indeed in the midst of a health battle, having been flying between the United States and Germany for close to five years as he battles throat cancer.
Despite having been given the all-clear from his tongue cancer diagnosis, TMZ notes that the guitarist has been keeping the disease “in check” with radiation therapy, though doctors had removed cancerous cells from the rocker’s throat over the past two decades.
As The Mirror notes, Van Halen shared his own theory as to the cause of the disease while performing onstage with the band in 2015.
“I used metal [guitar] picks – they’re brass and copper – which I always held in my mouth, in the exact place where I got the tongue cancer,” he explained. “Plus, I basically live in a recording studio that’s filled with electromagnetic energy. So that’s one theory.”
“I mean, I was smoking and doing a lot of drugs and a lot of everything,” he continued, “but at the same time, my lungs are totally clear. This is just my own theory, but the doctors say it’s possible.”
Although there’s no timeline in regards to the health prospects of Eddie Van Halen and whether or not he’ll be hitting the stage with his band in the near future, our thoughts go out to him while he battles the disease.
Check out ‘Panama’ by Van Halen:
