On this day in 1984, Van Halen's colossal hit "Jump" began its four-week peak at #1 on the U.S. Billboard's Singles chart. "Jump" knocked out Culture Club's "Karma Chameleon" to hold the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks. "Jump" is the only Van Halen single ever to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song thereafter secured its place among rock music's most … [Read more...]
Archives for 2013
Van Halen #4 on Billboard’s 2013 Top 40 Money Makers List
Van Halen was listed as the fourth-highest-paid musical act in 2012 by trade publication Billboard for their phenomenal concert ticket, album, and merchandise sales. Its tour may have ended sooner than expected, with 32 of its shows ultimately canceled due to "exhaustion," but Van Halen nevertheless kicked a little tail on the road in 2012. Van Halen toured in support of A … [Read more...]
Sebastian Bach excited to open for Van Halen in Australia
On his Facebook yesterday, former Skid Row singer, Sebastian Bach expressed his excitement about being able to open for the Mighty Van Halen at the Stone Music festival in April. Bach is one of the vocalists for the classic rock supergroup "Kings of Chaos" that will be taking the stage before Van Halen. Here is what he had to say: Hey Australia! What can I say about @VanHalen … [Read more...]
VHND’s All Access Photo #1 (New weekly feature!)
Today marks the premiere of a new weekly feature at VHND.com - "All Access" Van Halen photos! Every Saturday we will be posting a photo which isn't just your typical live-in-concert Van Halen photo. Rather, these will be the type of photos that you would have to be a roadie, friend, or band insider to have taken. We're talking unique, candid pictures. And many will be … [Read more...]
Van Halen’s Split Personality
How a geek and a physique created thud rock's most successful oddsemble This story is from the June 21, 1984 issue of Rolling Stone. By Debbie Miller. Pictures from VHND. When the music was dredged up last year, Dave wrote the words the way he usually writes, cruising with the top down in his Mercury convertible through the canyons around L.A. He had jotted down a phrase one … [Read more...]
Van Halen ‘Why Can’t This Be Love’ – Rare Live Footage
Van Halen's first single with Sammy Hagar, "Why Can't This Be Love," peaked at Number 3 on The Hot 100 Billboard chart on this day in 1986. (May 17th). Watch rare live footage of the song, which never aired in the U.S., above. We've all seen Live Without a Net, filmed in 1986 in New Haven, CT, during Van Halen's first tour with Sammy Hagar. This is NOT from that … [Read more...]
Wolfgang Van Halen on Joining Tremonti, His Bass Influences & Why He Got Kicked Out of 5th Grade Choir
From Noisecreep: By Carlos Ramirez. Photo by Ashley malle. "I've always been a huge Alter Bridge fan and on the 2007 Van Halen tour we happened to be in the same city, so I went to go see them play and we met for the first time. We got along really well and kept in touch after that. I'm honored to be in his band now. Mark [Tremonti] is still one of my guitar … [Read more...]
Eric Singer Praises Alex Van Halen
KISS's Eric Singer contributed to the hardcover photo book, Van Halen: A Visual History, by Neil Zlozower. The Van Halen News Desk has the exclusive on what he had to say about the first time he saw Van Halen in concert: "Alex the Animal. The first time I heard Van Halen was “Runnin’ with the Devil” on the radio on WMMS in Cleveland. I remember thinking (along with everyone … [Read more...]
Wolfgang Van Halen Has Plenty of Musical Options
From The Oakland Press: Published: Monday, February 18, 2013 By Gary Graff Photo by Matthew Bruck Wolfgang Van Halen was Mark Tremonti’s first choice to play bass in the band that plays on his first solo album, 2012’s “All I Was.” But he certainly understood when Van Halen had to go on tour with his other band — Van Halen. “It’s not like you can compete with … [Read more...]
VAN HALEN TO PLAY AUSTRALIA IN APRIL!
We just confirmed with a contact within the Van Halen camp that this info is indeed TRUE. In just over two months, Van Halen will perform in Australia on April 20th! Tickets go on sale Thursday! Van Halen and Billy Joel will headline Australia's Stone Music Festival April 20th and 21st. This will be the first time Van Halen performed there since 1998, and the first time ever … [Read more...]
Dissecting David Lee Roth’s Rolling Stone Interview
"I know what you're thinkin' What you're thinkin' is easy to see I know what you're dreamin' I have those same dreams" -David Lee Roth, "Me Wise Magic" lyrics, 1996 Van Halen fans got something very unexpected Tuesday, when Rolling Stone released their new interview with David Lee Roth. Roth is uncharacteristically open and sheds light on the current state of Van Halen, … [Read more...]
David Lee Roth on Michael Anthony: “One of the Greatest High Tenor Voices Ever”
David Lee Roth praised ex-Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony Tuesday in an interview with Rolling Stone: "But Ed has his own vision, I’m assuming. We haven’t really been able to speak about it and it’s a disappointment, just as not having a chance for a reunion of the original band. Clearly, vocals are every bit as much a component of success as a rhythm section or a guitar … [Read more...]