Daily Express

Rock legend Van Halen dies at 65

Millionair­e’s ‘ crime gang links’

- By Christophe­r Bucktin US Editor

Cancer fight... Van Halen

ROCK star Eddie Van Halen has died after a decade- long battle with cancer.

The legendary guitarist and co- founder of Van Halen, who had a global hit with Jump, passed away yesterday at St Johns Hospital in Santa Monica, California.

His second wife Janie, who he married in 2009, was by his side.

Son Wolf wrote: “I can’t believe I’m having to write this, but my father,

A PROPERTY tycoon suspected of laundering “dirty money” for criminal gangs has agreed to pay £ 10million after being hit with an “unexplaine­d wealth order” by law enforcers.

Mansoor Hussain, 40, had led a luxurious lifestyle of fast cars and private jets and mixed with A- list celebritie­s, even being pictured with the Duchess of Sussex.

But he was forced to give it all up after a probe by the National Crime Agency.

Investigat­ors built a “compelling case” that Hussain had acted as a money launderer for organised crime gangs for nearly two decades.

The NCA decided on the civil action as they knew documents needed to secure a criminal conviction beyond reasonable doubt no longer existed.

The agency claimed Hussain associated with major gangland figures including Meggy Khan, a notorious drugs kingpin now serving life for murder.

Hussain was also said to be close to crime boss Dennis Slade, who was jailed in 2010 for mastermind­ing a series of armed robberies and plotting to kill a fellow criminal.

NCA officers claimed Slade once lived rent- free in Hussain’s seven- bedroom

Edward Lodewijk Van Halen has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer. He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him was a gift.”

Just days before his death, doctors discovered the 65- year- old’s throat cancer had moved to his brain and other organs. Considered one of the

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most influentia­l guitarists in the history of rock music, in 2012 he was voted number one in a Guitar World magazine readers’ poll for the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

He found fame with brother and drummer Alex, bassist Mark Stone, and singer David Lee Roth.

Although born in Amsterdam, Van Halen moved from the Netherland­s to the US in February 1962, settling in

Pasadena, California, where he and his older brother became naturalise­d US citizens. The brothers learned to play piano from the age of six.

He taught himself to play guitar by listening to Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. A band he and Alex formed in high school became Van Halen.

He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, as a member of Van Halen, in 2007.

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