VAN HALEN NEWS DESK

Guitar World, Modern Drummer, 2008 Tour and more

Alex Van Halen on the cover of Modern Drummer

The latest communique from the Van Halen camp:

Van Halen

ED AND WOLFGANG VAN HALEN TALK SHOP WITH GUITAR WORLD
“I couldn’t wait for the day I’d be able to make music with my son.” – EDWARD VAN HALEN

(Los Angeles, CA) January 27, 2008 – As VAN HALEN prepared to kick off the second leg of their incredibly successful tour, EDDIE and WOLFGANG VAN HALEN recently sat down to talk to Guitar World in the magazine’s first ever father and son cover story.

Among the topics discussed are the ins and outs of playing VAN HALEN music live, how WOLFGANG came into the band, what it’s like for a 16-year old to play on some of the biggest stages in the world and much more!

New Van Halen books hitting the shelves

The Van Halen Saga, by Ian Christe

Two books we’re sure you guys are gonna want to know about: First up is “Everybody Wants Some: The Van Halen Saga,” by Ian Christe, a noted rock writer who also penned “Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal.” Pictured above, the book is a hardcover that tells the band’s story [...]

Van Halen’s Rock Hall induction is tonight

Those with VH1 Classic can watch tonight’s ceremony live starting at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Those without can watch it live online HERE. And those who want to wait can watch a two-hour edited version that premieres on VH1 this Saturday (3/17). As it stands now, it looks like Sammy and Mike are the only [...]

Band name: two words, starts with ‘V’ …

“And now, ladies and gentlemen, in honor of their induction tonight into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, please welcome to the stage … VVVVVVVaaaan … er, uh … ahem … I mean, VVVVVVelvet Revolver!” So here’s how next Monday’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony is shaping up: Sammy, Mike and Dave [...]

Ed and Al talk to Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone has posted some audio clips of an interview RS reporter Brian Hiatt conducted with Eddie and Alex a few weeks back, when the summer reunion tour with Dave was still “on.” Among the things the brothers discuss are: what they thought upon hearing that they’d been nominated to the Rock and Roll Hall [...]

Eddie gives Howard Stern a VH update

Howard Stern & Eddie Van Halen

Howard Stern & Eddie Van HalenEddie called in to Howard Stern’s SIRIUS Satellite Radio show last month and dished the latest dirt on Van Halen.

Highlights included:

  • announcing that he and a partner had discovered a cure for cancer.
  • speculating that his tongue cancer was caused not by his decades of cigarette smoking, but rather by electromagnetic energy emanating from his studio gear that was channeled to his tongue thanks to his habit of holding a metal guitar pick in his mouth while playing.
  • expressing displeasure about Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony touring as “The Other Half.”
  • claiming that he is still open to a reunion with David Lee Roth.
  • revealing that he and Alex have been in the studio working on new material that features Ed’s son, Wolfgang, on bass; that Wolfgang is now a member of Van Halen; and that Ed is also working on a solo album that will feature Wolfgang.

Ed also took some jabs at his band’s former singers and (apparently former) bassist, referring to Sammy as “The Little Red Rocker” and “The Little Red Worm” (the latter in reference to Sammy’s tequila business); Michael as “Sauce Sobolewski” (a reference to Mike’s new hot sauce venture coupled with the bassist’s real last name); and David Lee Roth as “Cubic Zirconia” (a.k.a. Diamond Dave).

Some worthwhile accounts of the interview are available online at HowardStern.com and RollingStone.com.

The bulk of the Rolling Stone article—which was written by Andy Greene and titled “Eddie Van Halen Goes Bananas on Howard Stern”—follows:

Sammy’s new album in stores next month

“Livin’ It Up,” Sammy’s first new studio album since 2002’s “Not 4 Sale,” will hit stores July 25 on Rhino Records. The full track listing for the set is as follows: 1. “Sam I Am” 2. “Livin’ On A Coastline” 3. “Mexico” 4. “The Way We Live” 5. “I Love This Bar” 6. “One Sip” [...]

Another Half

Ed & Al

The Van Halen brothers made a surprise appearance at the June 17 Kenny Chesney concert in Carson, CA—and by “appearance,” we mean that they actually got on stage and jammed with the country singer for two songs: “Jump” and “You Really Got Me.” Click HERE to see a picture of Ed and Chesney. Better yet, [...]

Sammy and Alex discuss reunion tour, best-of set

Sam & Al

From LiveDaily.com: Reinstated Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar and drummer Alex Van Halen talked to reporters on Thursday (5/27) about Hagar’s return to the group, the band’s upcoming summer tour and a forthcoming hits compilation that includes three new cuts. “The simple answer is: It just felt right,” Alex Van Halen said of the decision [...]