UPDATE: This has already aired, and we're not sure if it will air again. Big thanks to AXS TV Host & Producer, Katie Daryl, for mentioning the Van Halen News Desk twice on the show! While Van Halen remains out of the limelight this year, fans might want to catch the popular VH Tribute band, FAN HALEN, performing LIVE on television tonight! (Tuesday, Oct 14th) That's … [Read more...]
Archives for 2014
6 Times David Lee Roth Dominated The Internet In Honor Of His 60th Birthday
From VH1.com: 60 years ago today, one of the greatest frontmen in the history of rock n’ roll let out his first cry and he’s been making noise ever since. David Lee Roth made his bones as a member of legendary Southern California band Van Halen who forever changed hard rock with their boisterous party anthems and the over the top personalities. Only an exhibitionist of epic … [Read more...]
Friends of the Boys: Visiting Jan Van Halen (35 Years Ago Today)
The home where Eddie and Alex Van Halen grew up in Pasadena, as it looked in 2013. (Photo: Karen Nuremberg Sonner) A very unique story from 35 years ago today, by VHND contributing writer, Doug Fox. Written for VHND and The Editing Room Floor: Click, snap, clack, pop, clink ... There's a lot of things that go through a teenager's mind while standing on a doorstep at … [Read more...]
Watch Eddie Van Halen Jam on ‘Saturday Night Live’
On this day in 1987, Eddie Van Halen finger-tapped and whammy-bar-dived his way through a bluesy rave-up alongside G. E. Smith and the Saturday Night Live band. Video of the performance is below, along with video of G.E. Smith reminiscing about the experience. The footage of the unique jam is constantly being taken down from YouTube, but we discovered a pristine … [Read more...]
When Van Halen’s Bass Tech’s Mother Gave David Lee Roth Advice
DLR in 1981 and Kevin Dugan's Mother Grace in 1989 This is a special story brought to us by Kevin Dugan. Some fans will know his name—he’s perhaps the most publicly well-known Van Halen crew member—he’s been Michael Anthony’s bass tech from 1981 through the present day. He was on Van Halen’s crew from ’81 to ’06 (25 years). Kevin’s mother passed away recently. In memory of … [Read more...]
Eddie Van Halen on How He Created His Signature Sound Using MXR’s Phase 90 and Flanger Pedals
From GuitarWorld.com: This is an excerpt from the all-new November 2014 issue of Guitar World. For the rest of this story, plus Guitar World's cover feature on Jeff Beck and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, not to mention features on Weezer, George Thorogood, the guitar pick revolution, Nita Strauss and Black Veil Brides, plus gear reviews (Epiphone, Zoom, Gretsch, TC-Helicon, Mesa and … [Read more...]
VHND’s All Access Photo: Dave Signing Child’s Cast
Here's some never seen shots from seven years ago today. This was Sept 28th, 2007, the beautiful morning after Van Halen's first reunion concert with David Lee Roth in Charlotte, NC. As David was leaving his hotel he was greeted by a group of fans who had been patiently waiting outside. He stopped, and was glad to say hi and sign a few things. He gave special attention to … [Read more...]
12 Years Ago: Van Halen Launches First Tour with David Lee Roth Since 1984!
Photos by ROBERT YEAGER Twelve years ago tonight, Van Halen launched their first tour with original singer David Lee Roth since 1984! The 2007-2008 tour was the highest grossing tour in the bands history, with arena sellouts all across the country, grossing more than $93 million. Nearly a million fans journeyed from all over the world to witness the landmark Van Halen tour, … [Read more...]
This Day in 1978: Van Halen Parachutes Into Anaheim Stadium? Eddie Meets Sammy Hagar!
On this day in 1978, (Sept 23rd), Van Halen stole the show at the huge outdoor concert of 56,000 at California’s Anaheim Stadium by hiring look-a-likes to parachute from an airplane into the stadium. It was also the day that Eddie met future Van Halen singer, Sammy Hagar. It was a brilliant stunt that—along with their over-the-top performance—enabled Van Halen to steal the … [Read more...]
Van Halen’s Cover of Wilson Pickett’s “In The Midnight Hour”
You can hear one minute of David Lee Roth sounding absolutely fantastic on a cover of "Mustang Sally" in the teaser video for The Roth Show below. The video was shot recently in his Pasadena home. We would love to hear the entire song some day! (The R&B song was written and first recorded by Mack Rice in 1965, named by Aretha Franklin, and gained greater popularity … [Read more...]
Top 5 Underrated Songs In Van Halen History
From: Stereo Embers Magazine. Written by: Michael Sandler Everyone knows a Van Halen song. Eddie Van Halen, the band’s guitarist and namesake, is one of the most celebrated musicians of the past half-century or so. From the innovative shred-fest “Eruption,” to synthesizer-heavy “Jump,” to the sing-along, classic rock of “Right Now,” Van Halen is the man behind some of the … [Read more...]
David Lee Roth’s Race Across America!
View image | gettyimages.com In early September of 1985, the MTV Video Music Awards were coming up, and David Lee Roth was planning on attending. After all, his Crazy From The Heat solo EP had come out in January, and his music videos for "California Girls" and "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" were in huge rotation on MTV that year. Van Halen and David Lee Roth producer … [Read more...]