33 Years ago: Van Halen performed their very first concert with Sammy Hagar as frontman. Here's the little-known story about that concert and the days that led up to it. (Including some exclusive quotes from Sammy Hagar). All photos are from the opening night, March 27th, 1986. As the first scheduled concert with their new frontman drew near, Van Halen's new album wasn't … [Read more...]
Van Halen ‘Why Can’t This Be Love’ – Rare Live Footage
Van Halen's first single with Sammy Hagar, "Why Can't This Be Love," peaked at Number 3 on The Hot 100 Billboard chart on this day in 1986. (May 17th). Watch rare live footage of the song, which never aired in the U.S., above. We've all seen Live Without a Net, filmed in 1986 in New Haven, CT, during Van Halen's first tour with Sammy Hagar. This is NOT from that … [Read more...]
1986: EVH on “5150” vs. Vai on “Eat ‘Em And Smile”
From Premiere Guitar: How Van Halen's split broadened the musical landscape of the mid-'80s. I remember the days of running down to the mailbox to see if the latest of many guitar magazine subscriptions had arrived, always hoping for one of two players to be on the cover: Eddie Van Halen or Steve Vai. Nothing drove me to my room faster for a three-hour session with the … [Read more...]
Abom Goes “Inside” for 25th Anniversary of Van Halen’s 5150
From Ain't It Bale News: “Hello, bayyyyyy-beh!” Sammy Hagar was riffing on 1950s disc jockey-turned pop star Jiles “Big Bopper” Richardson when he let out the banshee wail kicking off one my favorite rock records of the 1980s. One of my favorite albums of any kind, of any time, period. And to think, 5150 was a record that almost didn’t happen—created by a band … [Read more...]
Interview with Les Paul and Eddie Van Halen from 1986
Back in 1986, Edward Van Halen and Les Paul had the pleasure of meeting each other at the opening of Guitar Center in Los Angeles. Thankfully, the long talk that they had together that night was recording and transcribed. Enjoy. From UltimateGuitar.com: Rock Chronicles. 1980s: Les Paul By Steven Rosen In 1986, Guitar Center opened the RockWalk, their version of … [Read more...]
The Van Halen Contract—A Photographer’s Van Halen Story
Here's a little Van Halen story from rock photographer Paul Natkin's blog: It was 1986 and Sammy Hagar had replaced David Lee Roth as the singer in Van Halen. Their tour started in the Midwest, and the hype was starting. I was assigned to photograph them at the second date of the tour, in suburban Chicago, for Rolling Stone Magazine. A friend of mine flew in to photograph … [Read more...]
Eddie at NAMM, 1987 (Rare Video)
Here's some little-seen footage of Eddie Van Halen playing at the Anaheim Convention Center during the NAMM show, January 30th, 1987. He's jamming with Steve Stevens, Michael Winslow, and others at the Kramer booth. This was just two months after the 5150 tour wrapped up, and just before he went into the studio to play bass on Sammy's I Never Said Goodbye album. Songs: … [Read more...]