Eddie Van Halen: Was He Near Death?

According to the National Enquirer, Eddie Van Halen almost died last month when his intestines exploded after he swallowed a cayenne-based diet concoction. The tabloid quotes a source who says, "[His wife] Janie was beside him the whole time and [his son] Wolf kept a constant vigil. They were sick with worry because he was in so much pain -- it really was touch and go. [His ex-wife] Valerie [Bertinelli] was scared to death Eddie was going to die... She was there for him the whole time.”

The Master Cleanse Diet is supposed to rid toxins from the body,  temporarily replacing food with a liquid consisting of water, fresh lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. It promises to bring about a rapid slim down, but the lack of nutrition and high spice levels cause concern among health professionals.

We reached out to Janie Van Halen, who referred us to the band's website. And that states, "Eddie Van Halen underwent an emergency surgery for a severe bout of diverticulitis. No further surgeries are needed and a full recovery is expected within four to six months. [As a result] Van Halen's scheduled November 2012 tour of Japan is currently being rescheduled and the band looks forward to seeing and playing for their fans in 2013."