By Kevin Dodds, author of Edward Van Halen: A Definitive Biography Chances are you heard someone say it during the past few months: “It’s the Summer of Van Halen again!” The summer of 2012 was one of only a few true 'Summers of Van Halen' in the band’s history. I’ll explain that statement...but first, let’s take a look back at the band’s history. The summer of 1982 was … [Read more...]
Archives for August 2012
Van Halen 2012 Pittsburgh Concert Video
Fan-filmed multi-camera video footage of Van Halen's March 30th show at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is now online. Fans filmed this from rows 1 and 2 and 17, and audio was recorded separately with a Sony PCM M10 unit with external binaural microphones. This was an excellent show that showcased how tight the band were performing during the tour, and just … [Read more...]
Watch the Van Halen “Song To Soul” Japan TV Special
The entire 45 minute "Song To Soul" Van Halen Japan TV Special that aired yesterday on on BS-TBS can be viewed below. It contains exclusive interviews with David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen, Ted Templeman (producer of the first six Van Halen albums), Brad Tolinski (Guitar World Editor in Chief) and Margo Nahas (creator of 1984 album cover). The interview with … [Read more...]
The Art and Science of the World’s Most Legendary Electric Guitar Innovator
Guitar Center's new interview with EVH: Eddie Van Halen The art and science of the world's most legendary electric guitar innovator Van Halen burst onto the scene in 1978. Bombastic, high-energy and over-the-top, they were the ideal group to take hard rock from the late-seventies into the early-eighties and beyond. With radio-friendly hooks and harmonies, they merged … [Read more...]
Top Summertime Van Halen Songs
There's no time like the Summertime, and there's no music like Van Halen. The two go together like an ice cold Corona and a slice of lime. We think of Van Halen as kind of an American Led Zeppelin, but with an an added dose of humor and attitude. Another unique attribute which sets them apart from other rock bands is their almost Beach Boys-esque backing vocals, which helped … [Read more...]
1982 – The Year In Van Halen History
An Analysis of the Diver Down album and "Hide Your Sheep" Tour By Scott Essman This year marks the 30th anniversary of Diver Down, Van Halen's fifth album. Some are quick to criticize the album because it contains several covers. However, Diver Down had moments that matched the brilliance of nearly anything the band has released, and 1982 was one of the most spectacular … [Read more...]
Upcoming Japanese Van Halen TV Special to Contain New Interviews
We have some exclusive details about the upcoming Van Halen Japanese TV Special airing next week. Here's everything we know: *It will be broadcast in Japan, Tuesday, August 7th on BS-TBS. It is part of the SONG TO SOUL series. The entire show focuses on Van Halen's #1 hit, "Jump." *The show is nearly one hour long - much longer than other "Song to Soul" episodes. *All … [Read more...]