The Professor of Rock is back with a two-part episode on Van Halen, this time he takes us back to the year and album '1984'. Part 1: "It was a pivotal crossroads for America’s favorite party band to make the jump to becoming the world’s biggest rock band," said The Professor. "We break down Van Halen '1984' song by song including a great story about Eddie Van Halen from his … [Read more...]
Archives for April 2021
25 Years Later Van Halen’s ‘Humans Being’ Continues To Shine On
On this month in 1996 Van Halen released the single "Humans Being". Twenty five years later it stands out as a shining moment in what would soon become a dark period in Van Halen history. "Humans Being" was one of two tracks the band recorded for Twister - a film all about impending destructive windstorms. Little did Van Halen fans know at the time that there was a storm … [Read more...]
Mike Tramp On How Van Halen & David Lee Roth Inspired White Lion’s Look, Sound & Band Name
White Lion was among the many hit-making rock bands of the late 80s who were inspired by both the look and sound of classic David Lee Roth-era Van Halen. As it turns out, it's Roth who would also play a role in the band's name. In a recent interview with 519 Magazine, Mike Tramp, who was White Lion's singer from 1983 to 1992 and again (under the name The New White Lion) from … [Read more...]
Listen to Nancy Wilson’s Tribute to Eddie Van Halen
The short instrumental track, "4 Edward", will appear on Wilson's upcoming solo album. Co-founder, guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Nancy Wilson of Heart recently announced her first ever solo album, You and Me, due out on May 7, 2021 via Carry On Music. Today, she releases "4 EDWARD" a tender, heartfelt tribute to her friend, Eddie Van Halen. Featuring a … [Read more...]
Sammy Hagar Was ‘100 Percent On Board’ With Keeping Van Halen Band Name
Sammy Hagar said he would have been embarrassed to have had Van Halen change their name to Van Hagar in 1985, adding that he fully supported the band's decision to remain Van Halen. Hagar said it was Warner Bros. who suggested the name change. He recalled the moment during an interview with KLOS FM. "Yeah, we were all in a room. And I think [head of Warner … [Read more...]
David Lee Roth Recalls Adventurous Pasadena Bike Ride In Latest Illustrations [UPDATED]
In the words of David Lee Roth himself: "Every journey's got destinations which the traveler can't expect." Roth released a series of illustrations this week that tell the "true story" of an unexpected adventure while on a bike ride through Pasadena. Below is the story told through illustrations created by Roth and updated almost daily on his Twitter page: … [Read more...]
Van Halen’s ‘Diver Down’ Released 39 Years Ago Today
‘It’s not heavy metal and it’s not The Temptations, but it’s something in between.’—David Lee Roth Thirty nine years ago today (April 14th, 1982) Van Halen released their most unique, odd, and light-hearted album. Enjoy our tribute to Diver Down! Diver Down, Temperature Up By John Scanlan Before the making of Fair Warning, Roth had moved to an apartment … [Read more...]
The Story Behind The Iconic Eddie Van Halen & David Lee Roth ‘Under The McDonalds Arch’ Photo [VIDEO]
It's a photo Van Halen fans have seen many times over the years. Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth standing under the McDonald's arch grabbing a bite to eat on a cold, gray winter day. While many have seen it, few know just where that photo was taken. Until now. A brand new mini-documentary from the St. Louis Classic Rock YouTube channel has been released and in it is the … [Read more...]
Wolfgang Van Halen: ‘Music Is A Beautiful Thing’
If there's anything that can lift spirits up and bring people together it's music. Nobody knows that more than Wolfgang Van Halen. "I think music is a beautiful thing," said Wolfgang Van Halen during a recent interview with KaaosTV. "It's a universal language. You don't need to know how to speak it in order to enjoy it. It's a really important thing that everyone should … [Read more...]
Van Halen/Metallica Mashup: ‘Enter Panaman’
Hush, little baby, don't say a word, and never mind that noise you heard. It's just mom and dad rockin' out to the latest Van Halen mashup! Coming off the heels of mashups with Smokey Robinson & The Miracles ("Tears Of A Panama Clown") and Stevie Wonder ("Chained Uptight") is "Enter Panaman". YouTuber Mike from The-Art-of-Guitar combined Van Halen's "Panama" with … [Read more...]
WATCH: Drummer Brian Tichy Plays Along To Van Halen’s ‘I’m The One’
Photo from Brian Tichy's Official Website Drummer Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, Billy Idol, Ozzy Osbourne) has shown his love for Alex Van Halen with a play along video to "I'm The One"! Tichy posted the video along with the following comments on his YouTube page: Alex Van Halen rules! Always been in my top 3 favorite drummers! Always creative add always exciting and … [Read more...]
Sammy Hagar On ‘Blissful’ Ride With Van Halen, Regrets Over VH Comments In Autobiography
Sammy Hagar said the good times he had while in Van Halen were so good he doesn't give the bad ending any thought at all. "It was just eight, nine years of pure bliss," Hagar said during his appearance on Spotify's Rock This With Allison Hagendorf. "And then the tenth year it went sideways. But that’s alright. I don’t even care about the bad times." Hagar said the good … [Read more...]