After years of being out of print, Van Halen’s A Different Kind of Truth is finally back!
Originally released on February 7, 2012, Van Halen’s twelfth and final studio album reunited David Lee Roth with Eddie and Alex Van Halen, with Wolfgang Van Halen on bass. It was the band’s first studio album with Roth in 28 years and the first Van Halen studio album since 1998.
Over the years, both the CD and vinyl editions went out of print, becoming increasingly difficult to find. Prices on the secondary market climbed considerably, especially for the vinyl. But as of today, October 23, 2026, the album is officially back in print on CD and double vinyl LP. (Order it directly from the Van Halen Store.)
The album was a major comeback for Van Halen, reaching #1 on Billboard’s Rock Albums chart and earning plenty of year-end recognition. Songs like “She’s the Woman,” “China Town,” “Blood and Fire,” “Stay Frosty,” and “Outta Space” gave fans a fresh dose of classic Van Halen energy.
To celebrate today’s re-release, we’re taking a trip back to the Sunset Strip in 2012, when anticipation for Van Halen’s first studio album with David Lee Roth in 28 years was reaching a fever pitch.
From posters outside the legendary Whisky a Go Go to a massive advertisement covering the side of the Andaz Hotel, Van Halen was everywhere. These photos capture some of the excitement surrounding the album’s original release.
And here’s a time-lapse video of the Van Halenized Andaz Hotel on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood. The legendary hotel, formerly known as the Continental Hyatt House and nicknamed the “Riot House,” was covered with a massive, building-sized advertisement promoting the new album.
So, VHND brethren, what were your first impressions of A Different Kind of Truth back in 2012? What was it like to hear all those new songs for the first time? And now that it’s been nearly 15 years, has your opinion of the album changed? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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