Van Halen holiday ornament
Van Halen caps

Happy Birthday, Eddie

Tuesday, 26 January 2010

Today, January 26, 2010, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen celebrates his 55th birthday. We thank him and the band for all the wonderful music they’ve given us (over 100 songs!) and for touring the world no less than 14 times to play it for us.

Here’s a soundboard recording of Eddie, Alex & Michael jamming. This was probably recorded during a full-stage rehearsal for Van Halen’s massive 1984 tour. (This full 10 minute clip hasn’t been on YouTube until now).

Here’s a two part soundboard recording of Eddie Van Halen jamming alone. This was probably recorded during a full-stage rehearsal for the 1984 tour. Never on YouTube until now!

Cabo Wabo Cantina’s 20th Anniversary Party (April 2010)

Monday, 25 January 2010

sam_ed_cabo_90Sammy Hagar posted the following message today.

The PHOTO & VIDEOS are from the Grand Opening of the Cabo Wabo Cantina in 1990.

Cantina Anniversary!!

Redheads,
Sure, I love my birthday, and you know I love the Birthday Bash, but this year let’s celebrate the Cantina’s birthday! That’s right, twenty years of the Cabo Wabo Cantina!

On April 22,23,24 we are having a 20th Anniversary Party in Cabo!! Come on down and party with me and my friends! I’m inviting everyone who has ever been there once to be there twice and make this the most fun we’ve ever had in Cabo!! That’s the why, where, when, so come on down and let’s Wabo!!

Peace, Sammy

VH reference on No Reservations

Monday, 25 January 2010

There was a unexpected Van Halen reference on a recent episode of No Reservations.

In 1989, Panama’s military dictator, Manuel Noriega, fled from US troops during the US’s invasion of Panama. A manhunt ensued. Eventually he was discovered hiding inside the Vatican embassy in Panama, and U.S. troops set up a perimeter outside the building. During the resulting stand-off, the U.S. forces tried to drive out Noriega by having their psychological warfare unit bombard the embassy with loud pop and rock music.

No Reservations host, Anthony Bourdain, mentions some of the music that was in the US troop’s playlist. This will answer the question of whether Bourdain prefers Dave or Sammy.

* * * * *

Note to our readers: Tomorrow, Jan. 26th, in celebration of Eddie Van Halen’s birthday, the Van Halen News Desk will feature a rare audio clip of Eddie Van Halen jamming that most of our devoted readers have never heard before. Stay tuned!

The Top 10 Classic Albums That Accidentally Ruined Music

Wednesday, 20 January 2010

From Spike.com:

Over the years, a select number of albums have changed music forever. These are the albums that affected listeners worldwide and completely flipped the game upside down. On the other hand, some of these same legendary works also unknowingly helped create some of the worst musical blunders we wish we could all forget.

10. Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
9. Appetite for Destruction - Guns N’ Roses
8. Legend — Bob Marley
7. Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols - Sex Pistols
6. Paul’s Boutique — Beastie Boys

image

Source: Fin Costello/Getty Images

5. Van Halen - Van Halen

We all know that Van Halen I is one of the most important and influential albums of all time and that it single-handedly helped usher in the glam metal/hair metal era that ruled the entire 1980s. Even though Halen destroys almost every single band of this genre, their undeniable influence helped create a buttload of trash that totally devolved rock.

One of biggest elements to blame in this situation is Eddie’s rapid guitar-playing chops and teeth metal attitude. His guitar-playing sent shockwaves through the world of rock ‘n’ roll and made a bazillion other guitarists/bands think they should try and follow suit. It would have been amazing if most of these acts were even half as good as Halen, but we all know now that this was very far from the truth. Hair metal/glam metal was more decadence than substance and almost ruined popular music in the process. Oh, and if anyone out there tries to say that the Bulletboys were awesome, my head might just go ahead and explode, y’all.

4. Nevermind — Nirvana
3. Straight Outta Compton — N.W.A.
2. Thriller — Michael Jackson
1. Frampton Comes Alive! — Peter Frampton

Chickenfoot update: More new album talk / soundboard recordings / new tablature book

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Some good news for ‘Foot fans today!

SECOND ALBUM MENTION: First, at the 2010 NAMM show last weekend, Michael Anthony confirmed that Chickenfoot will indeed record another album:

SOUNDBOARD GEMS: Here are two very special SOUNDBOARD recordings that most ‘Foot fans have never heard - Chickenfoot covering “Going Down” and “Dear Mr. Fantasy.” Soundboard recordings are very rarely leaked and these are the only recordings that we know of that are floating around (other than the live songs that are on the Deluxe Limited Edition CD/DVD).

Another reason why these recordings are special is that these were from a February 2008 Sammy Hagar concert at The Palms in Las Vegas, where Chad Smith & Joe Satriani joined Sammy & Mike on stage. These unrehearsed covers were the VERY FIRST TIME that Sammy, Mike, Joe & Chad ever jammed together onstage!

NEW GUITAR TABLATURE BOOK: There is finally an official guitar tablature book for Chickenfoot’s first album!

Chickenfoot Guitar Tablature BookChickenfoot Guitar Tablature Book
$22.95

Note-for-note official transcriptions with tab for all 11 tunes from Chickenfoot’s debut album. Featuring Joe Satriani, Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony and Chad Smith! 160 pages.

Songs:

Avenida Revolucion, Soap on a Rope, Sexy Little Thing, Oh Yeah, Runnin’ Out, Get It Up, Down the Drain, My Kinda Girl, Learning to Fall, Turnin’ Left, Future in the Past

In stock now at Van Halen Store.

Eddie Van Halen at NAMM; New EVH products coming in 2010

Monday, 18 January 2010

Eddie at NAMM, Jan. 14th 2010, with Scott Ian from Anthrax:

evh_ian_namm

From PremierGuitar.com:

EVH Now Offering Wolfgang Pickups & Low-Friction Pots, Plus New Finishes

Anaheim, CA (January 14, 2010) — EVH is proud to introduce a pair of new products for 2010 and new finish options for the Wolfgang guitar model.

New this year are EVH Wolfgang pickups, which capitalize on the success of the EVH Wolfgang guitar and give guitarists the ability to use the same pickups Eddie Van Halen himself uses. Available in neck and bridge versions, both are humbucking pickups with four-conductor wire that deliver amazing tone and response—all the product of torturous stage testing and recording tests.

Also debuting this year are EVH Low-Friction Potentiometers, which provide very fast, smooth control response with little resistance for the ultimate in volume and tone control. Available in 250k and 500k versions.

Further, the distinctive high-performance Wolfgang guitar now enjoys three stylish new finish options—Trans Purple, Trans Cherry and Trans Amber. All three have quilt maple tops.

The VHND will have more info on these new products when available.

DJ condemned for playing Van Halen’s “Jump” as woman leaps from bridge

Monday, 18 January 2010

From Dailymail.co.uk:

A Radio DJ has been condemned by mental health charities after he played the song “Jump” as police were trying to talk down a suicidal woman from a motorway bridge.

Steve Penk received a request from a listener for the hit Van Halen track after four lanes of the M60 were closed while police attempted to deal resolve the situation.

The controversial presenter told listeners on his breakfast show he was playing the song to ‘empathize’ with frustrated drivers, but moments later the woman jumped from the 30ft bridge.

Steve Penk

The 30-year-old woman suffered minor injuries, but mental heath charities branded his behaviour on 96.2FM The Revolution ‘in very poor taste’.

Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, said: ‘Given the distressing circumstances, the decision to play “Jump” was highly insensitive and in very poor taste. Media have a responsibility for their audience and jovialising such a situation could be fatal. People that experience mental distress should be encouraged to speak out and seek help. Yet the huge stigma that surrounds mental health means that many feel they have to cope on their own, with potentially tragic consequences.’

A spokesman for The Samaritans added: ‘It shows a lack of compassion and understanding.’

Some listeners also voiced their anger at Mr Penk.

Lorna Guinn, 42, said: “It’s irresponsible - this woman could have overheard it on someone’s car stereo. I found it pathetic and nasty.”

Mr Penk, who owns the radio station in the north west, has become renowned for making prank calls live on air.

He told The Sun: “The entire area had been thrown into total chaos by a single troubled woman. I was very sorry to hear that the lady had subsequently jumped from the bridge, but relieved that her injuries were minor.

‘If, as has been suggested, the woman jumped because she heard it from a passing car radio that’s unfortunate. But I don’t regret playing it for a minute.”