This "lost" Van Halen video of Van Halen lip-syncing "Mean Street" was aired this summer on Italian television channel Rai Storia. Luckily someone recorded it, giving us some of the clearest footage from the Roth-era. The recording was from 11/14/81. Enjoy! … [Read more...]
Archives for 2012
Eddie Van Halen Beach Towels
VanHalenStore.com is proud to announce new beach towels. High quality 100% cotton construction with a plush feel is the appeal of the new Frankenstein striped beach towel. Display it as a banner, use it as a bath towel, etc. Perfect for any outdoor occasion - beach, pool or picnic, there will be no mistaking whose colors you're loyal to. View all the new items at Van … [Read more...]
Gallery: Van Halen Live Gear 2012
When Premier Guitar caught up with Van Halen before their April 27, 2012, performance at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, the only thing more thrilling than getting a guided tour of Eddie’s and Wolfgang’s rigs from their techs, Craig DeFalco and Jim Survis, was getting to sit through soundcheck and hear Ed, Wolf, and Alex pound out flawless versions of classics such as … [Read more...]
The Summer of Van Halen
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...]
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...]
Wolfgang Van Halen Talks Bass
Yesterday we featured an excerpt from Guitar World's recent interview with Wolfgang Van Halen (August 2012 issue) where he describes the birth of the new Van Halen album, "A Different Kind Of Truth." The following is another excerpt where Wolfgang talks bass, influences, and more. Interview by Chris Gill. The current version of Van Halen is to music what a street rod is to … [Read more...]
Wolfgang Van Halen Describes the Birth of “A Different Kind of Truth”
The following is an excerpt from Guitar World’s recent interview with Wolfgang Van Halen. The full interview can be found in the August issue. As impressive as Wolfgang's playing and singing is, what's even more extraordinary is how his addition to the band has given Van Halen a new vitality. While it seems like a miracle that "A Different Kind Of Truth" was even made, what … [Read more...]