Today's the 30th anniversary of Van Halen's 1984! Here's a tribute from The Village Voice. From The Village Voice Blogs: Today marks the 30th anniversary of Van Halen's 1984. Let's put that in perspective: Twice as much time has passed between today and the release of 1984 than between 1984's release and the moon landing (the 20th century's other crowning achievement). It … [Read more...]
‘1984’ 30th Anniversary Celebrated On ‘In The Studio’ (Audio)
Syndicated rock radio show "In The Studio" celebrates the 30th anniversary of Van Halen's colossal album, 1984! To truly comprehend just how massively popular this album was, it helps if you actually write it out numerically: 12,000,000 copies of Van Halen‘s sixth album, 1984, were sold in the U.S. alone in the three decades since it was released. Propelled by Van Halen’s … [Read more...]
29 Years Ago Today: “Jump” Goes #1
On this day in 1984, Van Halen's colossal hit "Jump" began its four-week peak at #1 on the U.S. Billboard's Singles chart. "Jump" knocked out Culture Club's "Karma Chameleon" to hold the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks. "Jump" is the only Van Halen single ever to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song thereafter secured its place among rock music's most … [Read more...]
VHND’s All Access Photo #1 (New weekly feature!)
Today marks the premiere of a new weekly feature at VHND.com - "All Access" Van Halen photos! Every Saturday we will be posting a photo which isn't just your typical live-in-concert Van Halen photo. Rather, these will be the type of photos that you would have to be a roadie, friend, or band insider to have taken. We're talking unique, candid pictures. And many will be … [Read more...]
Van Halen’s Split Personality
How a geek and a physique created thud rock's most successful oddsemble This story is from the June 21, 1984 issue of Rolling Stone. By Debbie Miller. Pictures from VHND. When the music was dredged up last year, Dave wrote the words the way he usually writes, cruising with the top down in his Mercury convertible through the canyons around L.A. He had jotted down a phrase one … [Read more...]
Van Halen’s Director of Security: “Ah, what these eyes have seen!”
Ed Anderson was director of security and David Lee Roth's bodyguard from 1980-1984. "Big Ed" contributed to the hardcover photo book, Van Halen, by Neil Zlozower. VHND.com has the exclusive on what he had to say about his amazing job: "Ah, what these eyes have seen! I was there, brother, for the insane ’round-the-world ride that was 1980 through 1984. Van Halen were kings . . … [Read more...]
MTV’s ‘Lost Weekend With Van Halen,’ Part Two
"Fear And Loathing in 1984", Part Two (Continued from Part One). The Detroit Van Halen show quickly came to a close and Kurt and Tom found themselves deep in the tunnels of the dungeonesque backstage. They were quickly served lobster and filet mignon while the band took a few minutes for some post-show relaxation. When the band returned, they spent time hanging out with the … [Read more...]
‘Lost Weekend With Van Halen’ Winner Tells His Story
This week in 1984, the winner of MTV's "Lost Weekend With Van Halen" suddenly found himself in the eye of the hurricane. This is his story! When MTV announced it's "Lost Weened With Van Halen" contest in early 1984, the network received over a million postcard entries for a chance to spend three days with the band during their 1984 tour. The lottery couldn't have found a more … [Read more...]
When Eddie Van Halen & Michael Jackson Performed “Beat It” Onstage (Video & Photos)
Eddie Van Halen once joined Michael Jackson onstage. Watch the video of the unrehearsed performance, above. It was this weekend in 1984, when two gigantic musical acts rolled through on Texas. Michael Jackson kicked off three nights at Texas Stadium, with Eddie Van Halen joining him onstage during the first night. Eddie was unable to join him on the next two nights, as Van … [Read more...]
Great Songs: “Hot for Teacher”
From MagicalYeti.com: By Mr. Kellison Song: Hot for Teacher Song performed by: Van Halen (Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen, Edward Van Halen) Album: 1984 One night a while ago I was at a dinner party and I struck up a conversation with another guy there. He was about my age, but unlike me was very clean cut, very well dressed. In our … [Read more...]
The First Video That Meant Something To Me: Van Halen’s ‘Panama’
Part of a series for the new Awl Music app. For a 12-year-old boy, this video had it all: a cool airplane, jumping, kicking, spandex, karate, cops, chest hair, head hair, hot chicks, motorcycles, booze, screaming fans, rhythm gymnastics. It was the perfect music video for the confused sexuality of puberty. My friend Sam and I would watch this video on his VCR and act it … [Read more...]
The Summer of Van Halen
By Kevin Dodds, author of Edward Van Halen: A Definitive Biography Chances are you heard someone say it during the past few months: “It’s the Summer of Van Halen again!” The summer of 2012 was one of only a few true 'Summers of Van Halen' in the band’s history. I’ll explain that statement...but first, let’s take a look back at the band’s history. The summer of 1982 was … [Read more...]