I think if he'd been alive three hundred years ago he would have been a rock star on a harpsichord. An era is dying out. He was one of the best guitarists of the rock era. Steve Vai put it best yesterday: https://twitter.com/stevevai/status/1313626266747187200?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^tweet
Considering the complicated, strained and bumpy relationship between Dave and Eddie, Dave's tribute not pretending they were best buds but respectfully and warmly acknowledging their shared history and accomplishment in such a few words hit the perfect note. Unusually, especially for Dave, less really was more.
So long, EVH on your new journey. I was a fan back when Van Halen made their debut, and although their 80s output was not to my liking, they still have Van Halen (1978) and Van Halen II (1979) among the best back-to-back releases for a new band in rock history.