Guitarist Jason Becker posted something amazing today; private, home video footage from the day that Eddie Van Halen visited him at his home, back in 1996. You can watch the two guitar legends spending time together in this previously unseen footage. But first, Jason Becker sets it up: "An amazing meeting took place on August 31, 1996. That’s when Eddie Van Halen spent … [Read more...]
Hear Unearthed Version Of Eddie Van Halen Performing Jimi Hendrix’s ‘If 6 Was 9’
An extended version of Eddie Van Halen performing Jimi Hendrix's "If 6 Was 9" has just been released. The track (above) has been included on a new EP released by keyboardist David Garfield called 'Guitar Heroes OTB, Vol. 1'. The original version of the song appeared on the 1997 Garfield album "Tribute to Jeff". Both the original and extended version features singer and … [Read more...]
Valerie Bertinelli Shares Family Photos In Tribute To Eddie Van Halen
Valerie Bertinelli has shared some rare family photos of herself, Eddie and Wolfgang Van Halen during happy times together over the years. She posted this photo video on her Instagram page yesterday. It's set to the music of the Eddie Van Halen instrumental "316", titled in honor of Wolfgang's date of birth - 3/16/91: View this post on Instagram A … [Read more...]
Nerf Herder’s Ode to Van Halen Becomes a Hit, Angers Sammy Hagar
More than twenty years ago, suburban pop-punk rockers Nerf Herder earned a hit with their song "Van Halen." The "pop-punk, pro-Dave, anti-Sammy" ode to their favorite band piled lavish praise on that group's early work, while lamenting its Sammy Hagar-era material. The song enjoyed widespread radio circulation and garnered the group a record deal with Arista and a top-40 hit … [Read more...]
UPDATED: FULL INTERVIEW – Michael Anthony Talks Van Halen on Eddie Trunk
UPDATED: Now we have the FULL interview. Listen above. Eddie Trunk spoke to Michael Anthony about Van Halen Friday, Oct 21st, and it sure is a great listen! Enjoy! More on Eddie Trunk's NEW show: This week marked the premiere of TRUNK NATION - Eddie Trunk's NEW show on SiriusXM channel Volume (106). It airs live 6 days a week from 2-4P ET and replays each night 9-11P ET. … [Read more...]
Van Halen’s VMA D-Day (‘Dave & Dave Unchained’ Podcast)
Embed from Getty Images Twenty years ago Van Halen reunited with David Lee Roth at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards after being apart for 12 years. But the reunion was short-lived as the band’s temporary bonding moment imploded after 5 minutes on stage and some uncomfortable exchanges in the Press Room. In episode 6, “Dave & Dave Unchained – A Van Halen Podcast” … [Read more...]
Van Halen & Sammy Hagar Part Ways 20 Years Ago Today
20 years ago today, Van Halen and Sammy Hagar parted ways. (It was Father's Day, June 16th, 1996) "I remember nine-and-a-half great years, and one horrible year. But it’s so much easier remembering rolling out of the limo, the four of us, laughing so hard that we couldn’t even walk into the show half the time because we were having such a good time. And I can remember songs … [Read more...]
Unearthed: Van Halen Demo with Mitch Malloy – “It’s The Right Time”
Today we can hear a Van Halen song we've never heard before! Above, listen to a newly unearthed Van Halen demo from 1996 with Mitch Malloy singing. But is this a true "unreleased song" from Van Halen? Not really. Eddie gave Mitch an instrumental demo, and then later, after they parted ways, Mitch ended up putting his own lyrics and background vocals on it, turing it into a … [Read more...]
Unearthed: Van Halen ‘Can’t Get This Stuff No More’ Instrumental
Today enjoy Van Halen's 'Can't Get This Stuff No More' - without vocals for the first time! We’ll release a new instrumental every Monday and Thursday for the next several weeks. Some fans are wondering why we're featuring these now. These are not official releases of any sort. Now, no doubt that most people prefer their rock and roll with someone singing. Vocals and … [Read more...]
This Day in 1996: Eddie Van Halen, Billy Sheehan & Steve Lukather Perform at the ALS Benefit Concert
Something very special happened on this day in 1996. 18 years before the "Ice Bucket Challenge" went viral and drew attention to ALS, Eddie Van Halen assembled a band for an eight-hour benefit concert for his good friend Jason Becker—the guitar wunderkind diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease one week after joining David Lee Roth's band in 1989. We've got video and photos from … [Read more...]
When Van Halen’s Original Lineup Reunited on MTV
In the summer of 1996, Van Halen parted ways with Sammy Hagar, leaving Eddie, Alex, and Michael without a frontman as the band reached out to original singer David Lee Roth to record two new tracks (“Me Wise Magic” and “Can’t Get This Stuff No More") for the band's first greatest hits compilation. Even though Roth wasn't officially back in the band, it seemed … [Read more...]
How Mitch Malloy Almost Became Van Halen’s Third Singer (Video)
For the first time on camera, Mitch Malloy shares his story of how he was offered the singer position in Van Halen in 1996. And for the first time, listen to a sample of Mitch Malloy singing over an unreleased Van Halen instrumental. The legacy of Van Halen has never had a shortage of drama or die-hard fans...and rocker Mitch Malloy (official website) has a unique place … [Read more...]