5. Eddie Van Halen “I think the combination of his smile, hair, and licks made Eddie one likeable guy. While Eddie’s hair wasn’t the most outlandish, his stage moves and general demeanor added to his overall swagger, making his hair shine.”

4. Yngwie Malmsteen “Nothing says, ‘Look how good my hair is’ like wearing seven gold necklaces. Yngwie looks as suitable as an 18th-century European monarch as he does an ’80s shredder.”

3. Reb Beach “Reb seems to be crowned as one of the most underrated shredders of the ’80s, often forgotten for his excellent hair. You can talk about his tapping technique all day long, but the real question is, who was his hairdresser?”

2. Marty Friedman “I remember being 8 years old and seeing my brother’s tab book for Rust In Peace and thinking, This guy looks tough. Not much has changed. Still pouring out hot licks, Marty is still rocking the perm as proudly as he did in the ’80s.”

1. Paul Gilbert “I think I miss his hair the most. It had a certain buoyancy to it, which accentuated his alternate picking licks. I, one day, hope to achieve both. A man can dream.”

Guitar legend Eddie Van Halen has undergone an emergency surgery for a severe bout of diverticulitis, according to a post on the band’s official Facebook page.

The statement continues, “No further surgeries are needed and a full recovery is expected within 4 – 6 months.”

“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.”

Diverticulitis is a digestive disease that occurs when pouches of the inner lining of the intestine, most often in the colon, become inflamed or infected. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fever and cramping.

We’ll have more on this story as it develops.