Modern Drummer has released the second in a series of videos dedicated to their 2023 Hall-of-Fame inductee Alex Van Halen. Long-time David Lee Roth drummer Ray Luzier (currently with Korn) gets behind Alex's 2012 kit in the latest video to perform some Van Halen classics. From Modern Drummer: In the second episode of "Live from IronShore Studios: A Tribute to Alex Van … [Read more...]
Wolfgang: Reunion With Michael Anthony ‘Long Overdue’
Twenty years was too long. So said Wolfgang Van Halen of his recent reunion with Michael Anthony. The last time Wolfgang and Anthony spoke dates back to 2004 during the Van Halen reunion tour with Sammy Hagar. That all changed on December 8th when Wolfgang and Anthony met up after a Mammoth WVH show in Las Vegas. Here is what Wolfgang had to say about the moment during a … [Read more...]
Watch Van Halen ‘1984’ 40th Anniversary Livestream
The 5150 Show is livestreaming an episode devoted entirely to Van Halen's 1984 album, which was released 40 years ago this month. Joining the show are authors Greg Renoff (Van Halen Rising, Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer’s Life in Music) and Chris Gill (Eruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen), who will discuss the album's creation, reception and legacy. Catch … [Read more...]
Sammy & Mike: The Story Behind Van Halen’s ‘Cabo Wabo’
Another video to mark the release of The Collection II box set has been released! This time, Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony tell the story behind the making of Van Halen's "Cabo Wabo" from the OU812 album. Hagar posted the video (above) along with a few additional comments: "When lightning strikes!" - Michael "Yes it did and in this band, lightning struck all the … [Read more...]
What Eddie Van Halen Said That Steve Hackett Is Grateful For
Credit: Neil Zlozower While Eddie Van Halen became the master of two-handed tapping, he often reminded the rock media that he wasn't the first to come up with the technique. One guitarist he'd often name-check was Steve Hackett, something Hackett is still grateful for. Below is an excerpt from Hackett's interview with Ultimate-Guitar's Greg Prato: Do you feel … [Read more...]
Faith No More’s Midsong Van Halen Crisis
Credit: Neil Zlozower As a co-founder of legendary band Faith No More, bassist Bill Gould first found international success when the 1987 single “We Care A Lot” took off. Faith No More would go on to mainstream success just a few years later when 1989’s The Real Thing took off and the group became an MTV staple. The band would eventually go on hiatus in 1998, remaining … [Read more...]
‘DLR Book: How David Lee Roth Changed the World’ Available Now
Backbeat Books has set a January 1, 2024 release date for DLR Book: How David Lee Roth Changed The World by Darren Paltrowitz. However, Van Halen Store has permission from the publisher to start shipping the book NOW, so if you place your order now, you could have your hands on it a bit early. It’s currently only in stock & shipping at Van Halen Store. Book … [Read more...]
When Eddie Van Halen Gave The Socks Off His Feet
Credit: Neil Zlozower Some people are willing to give the shirt off their back to help another person. Eddie Van Halen would give the socks off his feet. During a recent appearance on the "Life In The Stocks" podcast, Ugly Kid Joe singer Whitfield Crane recalled the time he had the rare opportunity to walk in Eddie's socks: "We were on the road in Europe in 1995, … [Read more...]
Is YOSHIKI A Van Halen Fan? Yes!
Credit: YouTube YOSHIKI is a composer, classically-trained pianist, rock drummer, and leader of the rock groups X Japan and The Last Rockstars. He has sold over 30 million albums and singles, and is reportedly the first Japanese artist to have headlined Japan's Tokyo Garden Theater, England's Royal Albert Hall, Los Angeles' Dolby Theatre, and New York's Carnegie Hall. … [Read more...]
‘The Four-Headed Monster!’
Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony looked back on Van Halen's 1988 album OU812 in a new video. Hagar posted the video (above) along with a few additional comments from himself and Anthony: "At this point we were firing on all cylinders!! We called ourselves “The 4 Headed Monster!” Keyboards, hard hitting, straight ahead rock, and even doing a cover of Little Feat’s, “A … [Read more...]
Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s Van Halen/Bertinelli Family Ties
Rock and roll can be a small world indeed. Who knew Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli may have never met if not for Kenny Wayne Shepherd's dad? Valerie and Eddie first met in 1980. At the time, she was staying at her parents’ home in Shreveport, Louisiana due to an actors strike and scored backstage passes to see Van Halen perform in the area. Those passes were … [Read more...]
Wolfgang: ‘Love Ya Mikey’
Wolfgang Van Halen met up with Michael Anthony in Las Vegas last night and shared a few photos! Below are the shots Wolfgang posted to X along with a comment: "Ran into an old friend at the @mammothwvh show in Vegas tonight. (Love ya, Mikey)" Ran into an old friend at the @mammothwvh show in Vegas tonight. (Love ya, Mikey ??) pic.twitter.com/RsqupeQnCN— … [Read more...]