The self-proclaimed "Other Half" of Van Halen - Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony have dished up another surprise for fans. Last night they uploaded previously unseen footage of the band performing "Feelin'" in Buffalo, NY in May of 1995. This was posted on their Van Halen/Other Half social media accounts. Sammy: "Wow, well that's a long-lost deep track that I have forgotten … [Read more...]
Exclusive Interview: ‘Van Halen: The Eruption and the Aftershock’ Author Michael Christopher
The Van Halen News Desk's Eric Senich talked with music journalist Michael Christopher about his new book Van Halen: The Eruption and the Aftershock! Below is the complete interview conducted by Senich for his podcast Booked On Rock. Christopher discusses a wide range of topics related to Van Halen including: The band's early days in Pasadena and original bassist Mark … [Read more...]
Sammy Hagar Says There Are A Few More Van Halen Jams In The Vaults
There may be a few more completed Sammy-era Van Halen songs left in the 5150 vaults, according to Sammy Hagar. During a recent interview with Ultimate Classic Rock's Matt Wardlaw, Hagar said, although there isn't much, there are still "a few jams" that remain from his time with the band. One of those songs Hagar cited was a demo recorded during the 5150 sessions titled … [Read more...]
Sammy Hagar On Adding Van Halen Songs To Upcoming Setlists, The Story Behind ‘Poundcake’
Sammy Hagar continues to promise a setlist heavy on Van Halen songs during his upcoming concerts. During a recent Instagram live chat with The Washington Post's Geoff Edgers, Hagar said he and Circle bandmate Michael Anthony have been adding more and more songs from Hagar's time in Van Halen to upcoming shows. "We're goin' heavy on Van Hagar lately," said Hagar. … [Read more...]
Sammy Hagar To Add ‘Balance’ Deep Track To Playlist, Posts Rare ’95 Live Clip
Sammy Hagar has another surprise in store for Van Halen fans. Shortly after revealing he will play the band's 1988 album OU812 in its entirety in Las Vegas, he has added an "almost forgotten" deep cut from Van Halen's 1995 album Balance. In a recent post to his and Michael Anthony's Van Halen/Other Half Facebook page, Hagar shared a live clip of Van Halen performing the song … [Read more...]
Photographer Darren Balch Recalls Career Inspiring Van Halen Concert 40 Years Later
From Aerosmith to ZZ Top and just about every classic rock band in between, photographer Darren Balch has seen and shot them all. It's a stellar career that all began forty years ago watching Van Halen at the Spokane Coliseum in Spokane, Washington - Section 19, three rows down the aisle to be exact. Balch recalled his personal "eureka moment" Van Halen story in a post to … [Read more...]
Unearthed: Eddie Van Halen Playing ‘Amsterdam’ At 5150, In 1987
Coming hot on the heels of the lost Van Halen 'dinosaur' video comes yet another unearthed gem! And this one is even better! We've all wanted to be a fly on the wall at 5150. Or a friend of Eddie Van Halen's who could get to hear amazing stuff that he's working on. Well, this video below is just that! The unknown videographer starts filming as he opens the studio … [Read more...]
Van Halen’s Hidden Gem ‘Crossing Over’ Released 26 Years Ago Today
Ask the average fan to describe Van Halen's music and they'd probably think of good times, backyard parties, reaching for the skies and achieving dreams. But there is, as die-hard VH fans know, a darker side to the band, one that can deliver every bit as much power and emotion as their most uplifting tunes. A prime example is the song released 26 years ago today - "Crossing … [Read more...]
Sammy Hagar On Singing Van Halen Songs Then & Now
No matter how hard they may be to sing all these years later, Sammy Hagar said there are certain Van Halen songs he has to keep singing. They're just too important not to. Hagar was a guest on the syndicated interview series Kyle Meredith With... to talk about his latest Sammy Hagar & The Circle release 'Lockdown 2020', which includes current recordings of the Van Halen … [Read more...]
Van Halen’s ‘Balance’ Released On This Day In 1995
Balance is Van Halen's fourth and final album with vocalist Sammy Hagar Released January 24th, 1995, Balance became Van Halen's fourth consecutive number 1 studio album. It quickly went double platinum— just two months after it's release—proving that this hard rock outfit could do just fine, thank you, during the new grunge era. It was later certified triple … [Read more...]
Guitarist Blues Saraceno On Why He Almost But Never Golfed With Eddie Van Halen
Guitarist Blues Saraceno appeared on the latest episode of Dweezil Zappa's podcast Runnin' With The Dweezil and shared a story of the time in the early 90s Eddie invited him to play a round of golf. "I don't remember exactly what year it was but at some point I got invited to one of these T.J. Martell celebrity golf charity things," said Saraceno. "And you don't really … [Read more...]
Loudersound Picks Out The Best Of Van Halen Album Catalogue
The staff at Loudersound has gone through their Van Halen album collection to highlight the ones they say are most worthy of a needle drop. "Van Halen albums have it all: One of the most innovative guitarists of all time, your choice of rock star frontmen, and some great tunes," writes Paul Elliott. "If ever a back catalogue epitomized the American Dream, it's the albums of … [Read more...]