Photographer Ross Halfin has shot Van Halen numerous times over the years. His most recent shoot took place Wednesday (12/13), and his first-person account of that day—which he posted as a diary entry on his website—is definitely intriguing:
Head off to meet up with Edward Van Halen. It is hot today and I’m in black which doesn’t help my thumping head. I feel like I’m being cooked in the sun – tortured…
Edward is in a great mood, he’s easy to work with. And I’m not saying who or what I shot, but I will tell you Edward played a couple of cds which I thought were from 1978 (it was from two days ago) of Van Halen rehearsing with Wolfgang Van Halen on bass. It was jaw-droppingly amazing. They played On Fire, I’m The One, Atomic Punk. I’m not listing the rest, but I will tell you the band sounded untouchable. On Jamie’s Crying they did a long bass-lead jam on the intro – the band rocked. I don’t like that word (too American) but the band rock – really rock. It was as exciting as the first time I saw them. They will come back and destroy the world. One of the tightest, freshest sounding groups ever. I want to go and play the first album as soon as I get home. Had a blast listening to them, it made me remember why I liked music in the first place. Having Edward’s son on bass has rejuvenated them.
They were rehearsing later that afternoon. I was invited – I wish I was staying…
