For this weekend, here's a rare photo of Eddie on his 1977 Yamaha YZ-80, previously published only in The Inside magazine. “All Access” Photos is a weekly feature at VHND.com. Every weekend we feature a photo from a roadie, friend, or band insider. Many are never-seen-before exclusives. Tune in every weekend for more! … [Read more...]
Archives for May 2014
Van Halen’s ‘US Festival’ Concert Revisited
The footage embedded above is an upgraded segment of Van Halen's appearance at the US FESTIVAL in 1983. Rock stars Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth “drop in” by helicopter at the venue ahead of US Festival '83. Acclaimed inventor Steve Wozniak, the organizer of the festival, comments on preparations and bemoans record-high fees for artists' performances. Includes video of … [Read more...]
The Early Days Of Van Halen, David Lee Roth’s Entrepreneurial Streak And Why Every Creative Team Needs An Entrepreneur
From Forbes.com: By Ruth Blatt Entrepreneurial skills aren’t crucial just for starting companies. They are crucial for initiating any creative commercial endeavor. A new biography argues that without the entrepreneurial skills of David Lee Roth, none of us would have heard of Van Halen. Histories of Van Halen invariably begin in 1978, when the band released their debut … [Read more...]
The Roth Show: Ice Cream Man
David Lee Roth and Jeff Falkowski perform an acoustic version of Ice Cream Man at Onkio Haus in Tokyo, Japan. … [Read more...]
VHND’s All Access Photo: OU812 Anniversary
On this day in 1988, Van Halen's fantastic OU812 ("Oh, You Ate One Too!") was released! Their second album with Sammy Hagar reached #1, sold over 4 million copies in the US and featured six songs that landed on the Billboard Hot 100 and/or the Mainstream Rock Tracks. Here's a super rare photo of Eddie, Michael, Alex and Sammy from that year. Track list: Mine All … [Read more...]
Van Halen: A Musical And Visual Tsunami
Pete Angelus, Van Halen's lighting director and creative consultant from 1977-1985, shares his story of meeting the band at the Whisky a Go Go, and riding the wave of The Mighty Van Halen... In the Beginning... It was approximately 1977 when I first met Van Halen at the Whisky a Go Go. This was before they had a record deal or any actual fans other than the … [Read more...]
Earliest Van Halen Photos From Iconic Music Photographer Ross Halfin
Legendary rock photographer Ross Halfin has shot Van Halen many times over the years. Here's some of his incredible shots from Van Halen's very first world tour, along with his story witnessing Van Halen live in concert that year... "The mighty Van Halen. I first saw them open for Black Sabbath at the Hammersmith Odeon, 1978. They had a PR gal with them who was a complete … [Read more...]
VHND’s All Access Photo: “Money can’t buy you happiness…”
"Money can't buy you happiness, but it can buy you a yacht big enough to pull up right alongside it." — David Lee Roth It's another never-before-seen photo this weekend! “All Access” Photos is a weekly feature at VHND.com. Every weekend we feature a photo from a roadie, friend, or band insider. Many are never-seen-before exclusives. Tune in every weekend for more! … [Read more...]
Eddie Trunk Compares Van Halen’s Dave and Sammy Eras
Radio personality Eddie Trunk has called Van Halen "America's Led Zeppelin." He specifically praised early Van Halen, saying the David Lee Roth-era Van Halen recordings sound as fresh and groundbreaking today as they ever did. And now, from his book Eddie Trunk’s Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, we feature his thoughts comparing Van Halen's Dave Era to their Sammy … [Read more...]
VHND’s All Access Photo: Eddie Van Halen & Mini Eddie
Eddie Van Halen with mini Eddie on the set of one of the most classic music videos of all time, "Hot For Teacher." “All Access” Photos is a weekly feature at VHND.com. Every weekend we feature a photo from a roadie, friend, or band insider. Many are never-seen-before exclusives. Tune in every weekend for more! … [Read more...]
The Roth Show: David’s Version of “Happy”
David Lee Roth explains the process behind his mostly a cappella recording of Pharrell Williams' Happy which can be heard in this episode of The Roth Show. … [Read more...]
Let’s Make a Deal!—Alex Van Halen’s Crazy Cash for Locks Program
Happy Birthday, Alex Van Halen! For his birthday today, we've got a never-seen photo and never-heard crazy story from the band's 5150 tour! Many people don't realize that Alex Van Halen has always been the biggest prankster in the band. He was arguably the most wild and out of control during the band's 1986 5150 tour—he even shaved his head, as seen in the photo … [Read more...]