Here’s a wonderful story about a teenager getting to meet the Van Halen brothers at the Rockline Radio Show studio on this day in 1991…
Cory Danziger writes, “I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 15, a goofball and obsessed with my guitar.
My mom’s friend owned the Rockline Radio Show and Eddie & Alex were on the show. She knew I loved VH and invited me to come to the broadcast.
My head instantly exploded!
After my parents picked up all of the pieces of my skull and carefully put them back into place, my mom drove me to the station on Ventura Blvd.
For an hour or two Eddie and Alex basically shot the shit with the great Bob Coburn and Eddie drank a lot of beer and smoked like a chimney. It was perfect. They laughed like crazy and I sat and watched. At the end of the show, our friend said, “Let’s go meet them.”
As opposed to shaking Eddie’s hand and saying “Hello”, I decided I needed to make an impact…something special had to be said. My mind quickly started formulating something powerful to say… something that would make Eddie want to take me on the road with him or maybe let me move into his house… or make me a guitar student “full time.” I pictured Christmas cards with me, Eddie and Val… I was 15 and had a big imagination.
Anyway, I remember I said to him, “Eddie you changed my life.”
I should have stopped there, but I kept going, “Without your music I would have been lost.”
Still not enough, I kept going. “You saved me.” I was waiting for a reaction…still nothing. I needed more…
I got kind of emotional with a little trembling vibrato as I sighed. I was a real ham.
Anyway, he looked at me and said something like, “Wow.”
He then gave me a hug and turned to Alex and said “Look what we’ve done.” I nailed it!
As I walked out of the studio, one of the Production Assistants walked up to me and said, “Hey kid, what did you say to Eddie? He seemed to really be moved.”
Best moment of my teenage years. Thank you.
And as you look at my face in this second photo, just know that I was thinking, ‘Mission accomplished.’”
Thanks to Cory Danziger for sharing his story!
