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John 5 on Van Halen: “They are writing right now at 5150. Eddie is on fire.”

May 28, 2010 132 Comments

Shredding mastermind John 5 recently joined the Hard Rock Nights radio program to talk about his new solo record, The Art Of Malice, and working with Rob Zombie, David Lee Roth, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rob Halford, Lita Ford, etc.

John talks about working with David Lee Roth on his DLR Band CD at 1:59 into the interview. Then at 5:06 they ask him about Eddie…

Q: “Now Dave, of course, is back in Van Halen, last we heard…”

A: “Yes.”

Q: “Have you met Eddie? Have you gotten to sit down and talk with him any?”

A: “Oh yeah me and Eddie are good friends. He’s a great guy, you know, he’s doing great, playing great and looks great. He’s on fire right now. They’re writing right now, at Eddie’s place – at 5150 – and he is on fire right now.”

Hard Rock Nights is a weekly syndicated radio program broadcast on a number of rock and metal stations across the internet and the FM dial.

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Filed Under: David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Van Halen
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  • Ryan

    What does it matter? They will just keep breaking up anyway.

  • Guitar Zero

    Pete has it right.

    How many times have we all heard this before?

  • Vanicionado

    Right wit’cha Pete.

    When I’m pulling the plastic off of the new album early someday on a Tuesday, then I’ll be convinced.

    Until then, I hope that Dave isn’t sitting idly by, afraid he’s not allowed to throw out any new music himself. I mean, my Gods, Velvet Revolver is looking for a new singer. I’d rather have Dave go out kicking ass then rotting away waiting for something that ain’t going to happen.

    I’m still keeping the faith for new VH, but I’m not holding my breath. This band has already beaten me black and blue!

  • Hollywood AJM

    Well i hope this is true and that new music is released soon. Lets keep the faith, we all have hope. I firmly believe as Americans, rock fans, and as human beings. We need this.

    The Mighty Van Halens music is long over due. It is time to put the smile BACK in STYLE and may the sunshine yet again.

  • jim

    “how many times have we heard this before?”

    I’ve heard this before every time they released a new album and no times in between.

  • Davey-Kicks

    The only thing that will put smiles on our faces again is hearing new VH music with Dave screaming like a banshee while Eddie unleashes a killer riff…….other than that, we’re all just settling for the mediocre (ie, Chickenfoot).

  • Van Foot

    I’ll buy any Chickenfoot album to support the fans, but with EVH’s shitty attitude towards the record industry and fans (Guitar World), maybe people will rip and burn to keep the album’s sales below 500k. ;)

  • jim

    Van Foot,
    Thinking like yours years ago provided inspiration for the saying; “Cutting off the nose to spite the face”

  • Remember Us???

    3 years since “the reunion” and nothing??? remember when you could put out a cd in a year??? I hate to be “Debbie Downer”, but, something’s not right or we would have heard some new music by now…

  • lucky

    I don’t find the silence all that surprising. Back in the pre-interwebz days you were lucky to get a little blurb in Hit Parader, Circus, or Rollingstone. Probably just keeping their heads down and writing music to see what happens.

    If dave is back for sure and Wolfgang is the permanent bassist, then it would take some time to work up some material. Does Ed have a bunch of old stuff he’s been writing? Probably, but as an artist myself I’d rather start all over for a fresh feel and sound.

  • ClubfootKolby

    SURFTHIS, I GUESS I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT BALANCE WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CDS THAT THEY PUT OUT, I ALSO LIKE SOME OF THE STUFF FROM VAN HALEN 3, ALL THE CDS HAD SOME GREAT MUSIC ON THEM, VH 2 WAS PROBABLY THE BEST OF THE DAVE YEARS. FUCK OR BALANCE WERE MY FAVORITE VAN HAGAR CDS. WOULD LOVE TO SAMMY SING YEAR TO THE DAY, GREAT GUITAR STUFF ON THAT SONG

  • Lupercal

    I don’t see why Van Halen don’t at least embrace the digital age. Put something on the website, release and EP or something online for free…

    Wolf should know about these things more than anyone else!

    So many artists nowadays release videos, tracks, EPs or LPs on their websites for very little or nothing.

    For example, “How To Destroy Angels” (Trent Reznor’s new band) have just released a new EP and it was free, but there was the option to buy it for $2 for higher quality tracks, or buy a t-shirt and the high quality EP for $20.

    I think if Van Halen did something like that, it would be great. Why does it always have to be about money? Just the interest generated off new music would drive more people to see them on a new tour I think. Eddie can’t complain about people ripping, torrenting albums if he doesn’t release them. The way to combat ripping and torrenting is:

    1) Do what Chickenfoot did – make the album affordable and hype it up. If they can make a Gold record then VH can too.

    2) Release some teaser stuff on the web to generate interest. If there are some nice CVH instrumentals of Ed/Al/Wolf, put them up. Do something like that, make it available for all those guys who have heard the talk but not the music.

    Another sad thing, Van Halen’s Myspace page says “Discography” but only has the first 6 albums. Man oh man.

  • ImTheOne

    Ryan & Van Foot runner up for the donk of the week awards, Van Foot looking like the winner…

  • Fred Gruber

    I’m just trying to envision what a new VH record is going to sound like. Will they try to duplicate the sound of the first two albums or make it a more modern sound?

    Will this effort be a total collaboration of a team effort or will they do like the did for “Me wise magic” and “Can’t get this stuff no more” where they put Dave in to sing to pre-made music?

    Will they do any covers? And if so, what songs? I had a dream that they did a cover of “Disco Inferno”, I don’t know why, but it sounded great.

    I figure that the first song will be a jumping front kick to the face knockout, to set the tone and the rest would have different tempos and moods. A little bluesy feel and maybe a hit single type of song, in the style of “Jump”.

    These are just a few questions that ran through my mind.

    What do you think?

  • http://vhnd.com surfthis!!

    VH 4 will be a good album if its half as good 1984 or as good as balance the last good album.

  • real fan

    1. van halen cant try to sell us another best of cd with one or two new tunes on it.. 2. they just did a tour with no new music. , and cant do that again so…their only option is to make an album ..thats not an opinion. thats common sense..

  • vanhalendlrband

    Van Foot, the record industry is shitty to everyone, never care about fans always about the money.

    As for hearing this all before, the only other time was 2000 and they broke up, which means they WERE working.

    Now we have confirmation from Zappa, and Lowery that they’re writing and recording.

  • Herb

    I’m a little chapped you’re giving out my donk award!

  • Van Foot

    Dork award. Thx, at least I’ll show up to receive such a prestigious award, unlike EVH and the RNR Hall of Fame. He was too busy curing cancer or making porn music I guess.

    You’re on fire I’mTheOne, keep it coming.

  • Van Foot

    Jim

    How long ago are you referring to? VH hasn’t put out a good album since FUCK. Cut my nose to spite my face…have another panama red.

  • andy

    @Lupercal : “Another sad thing, Van Halen’s Myspace page says “Discography” but only has the first 6 albums. Man oh man.” Damn! You’re right…That’s so weird…and their web-site only refers to the first 6 albums as well.

  • bsc

    All I know is I hope that they have a kick ass engineer.. Pop in balance in your car and turn it up on the first track. When that first hit comes in on seventh seal it’s unreal how that album sounds. It has to be the best sound quality of any album ever made. I’ve still never heard anything like it. Please let them make a great sounding Rock record. VH III could have been great.. just needed direction. Maybe that’s what is taking so long? Maybe they want to get it right this time. If that’s the reason for the wait, I can be patient. Just let us know we are actually waiting on SOMETHING, not just wasting our time.

  • Matteau23

    bsc, I think you make a great point. I think Van Halen’s peak as far as sound quality was 1991-1996. We can all debate lead singers, old vs. new VH, etc., but strictly from a production and sound quality standpoint F.U.C.K and Balance were the best in your face sounding albums. I’d even take it a step further in include Humans Being and Me Wise and CGTSNM in that equation.

    I thought the recordings sounded the best in this time period, and thought Eddie had taken his playing to a new level both in tone and ability over this time period. That I think is the biggest reason my VH3 was such a dissapointment. It was a huge step down in production level and pure sound.

    I’d love to see Eddie get back to that growl that his playing had in the late-mid 90′s.

  • Shyboy

    I feel all giddy inside!!

  • T-Con

    Considering that Orianthi is the premiere guitarist on the scene right now, I’d say it’s high time for Eddie and the boys to get something out. Never thought I’d see the guitar world dominated by a 25 year old Aussie chick. (She is pretty frickin good.)

  • Van Foot

    Orianthi is a great player that’s easy on the eyes. EVH with titties!

  • T-Con

    In the last week alone, I’ve seen two of EVH’s BFF’s on Directv concert series: Steve Lukather with Toto and Brian May of Queen (with Paul Rodgers) performing live. I wish one or both of them would call the 5150 studios and tell Ed it’s time already. Both are great.

  • Let’s Rock

    These guys are professional musicians, right??
    What do professional musicians do?
    Produce and play music.
    Get it done!!!
    “I know EVH and he is hard at work in 5150″, Blah, Blah, Blah.
    Let’s hear some new tunes and cut the BS!!!
    The nation is still waiting after 12 years!!!

  • ringostore

    Alright! Keep the match lit Eddie, practice practice, time to kick Joe’s butt! Love you man!

  • skutch

    I’ve been moving cross country for a week, so I’ve missed all the action. Gotta agree with Dirty Duck. If the boys want to make real money, they will release the album themselves. Labels are a lose/lose situation in this day and age and the artist is finally getting his/her due.

  • halenhagar

    Balance has to be the best produced CD ever, yes Humans being and Me Wise Magic, and CGTSNM are just as superb, but with the lessining of production VHIII BofBWGH 3 songs (That rocked but poor production) Van Halen has no place to go. It’s been too long a wait after the 2007 tour for them to have gas to do anything half way decent. Warner Brothers dropped them, no label no big name Producers.

  • magic man

    So is Dave recording with VH or John 5???

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