The summer of 1986 was quite an interesting time for Van Halen fans wasn't it? It was hard not to come across something on the TV, radio or on a local newsstand with something related to either the band's new lineup with Sammy Hagar or the now solo David Lee Roth. This week SPIN magazine revisited an April 1986 cover story with Roth in honor of the 35th anniversary of his … [Read more...]
Mick Jones On ‘Intense But Very Special’ Experience Producing ‘5150’
Mick Jones said producing Van Halen's 1986 album 5150 may have been an exhausting experience but it was also equally as rewarding. "I was completely exhausted at the end of it,” Jones recently told Guitar World. "We were running a bit late -- and the band had a tour booked. So there was pressure…It was a pretty intense experience but we achieved something very … [Read more...]
Billy Gibbons On First Van Halen Concert: ‘That Blew My Mind’
ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons said seeing Van Halen perform for the first time lived up to all of the hype and then some. Gibbons was a guest on Eddie Trunk's SiriusXM show Trunk Nation recently. At one point in the interview the conversation steered towards Eddie Van Halen. Gibbons said he had heard all about Eddie's talents, even had Van Halen's 1978 debut album, but didn't get a … [Read more...]
Van Halen On ‘The Today Show’ – July 1986
It's time to revisit another moment in Van Halen history. We go back 35 summers for the band's July 1986 appearance on The Today Show. At the time of the interview, Van Halen had just kicked off the second leg of its North America tour to support the 5150 album. They were about to perform a show at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado on July 12th of '86. As expected, the … [Read more...]
Sammy Hagar Apologizes For Exposing Eddie Van Halen’s ‘Dark Side’ In Autobiography
Sammy Hagar said he is sorry for exposing "the dark side" of Eddie Van Halen in his 2011 autobiography Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock. "Because of the untimely and tragic death of Eddie Van Halen, I apologize from the bottom of my heart for exposing his dark side to where I don't think anyone wants to hear that now, and, unfortunately, it's in the book," Hagar said in … [Read more...]
LISTEN: Van Halen’s Never-Before-Heard ‘In The Studio’ 1991 Interview
For the 30th anniversary of Van Halen's For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge the syndicated radio show In The Studio with Redbeard has released "an ultra rare 'fly on the wall' listen" to the band's interview after performing a free concert on the streets of downtown Dallas in December of 1991. Here is what host Redbeard posted to the In The Studio website: The late Eddie Van … [Read more...]
Wolfgang Van Halen Thanks Fans For Billboard Success: ‘Words Can’t Express How Happy & Appreciative I Am’
Wolfgang Van Halen has thanked fans for placing his debut Mammoth WVH album at the top of the rock charts. "The response to the album, now that everyone has had a chance to hear it, has been more than I ever could've imagined," Wolfgang told Billboard's Kevin Rutherford. "Thanks so much to everyone who bought it, streamed it, watched a video or called a radio station in … [Read more...]
Wolfang Van Halen On ’07 Van Halen Reunion: ‘It Was Inevitably Going To Be Roth’
Wolfgang Van Halen said Van Halen's 2007 reunion with David Lee Roth was inevitable and an idea he initiated. Wolfgang told Rolling Stone's Andy Greene the seeds of the reunion began in 2006 when he, Eddie and Alex Van Halen started jamming together at 5150 Studios. Soon after, Wolfgang offered up the idea of bringing Roth back to the band. "Initially it was all for fun … [Read more...]
Guitar Tech Chet Haun Recalls “Whirlwind Of A Time” Working With Van Halen In 2007
It's a sunny afternoon in Los Angeles, summer of 2007. Godsmack guitar tech Chet Haun is enjoying a day off, sitting in an empty Sunset Bar & Grill with a couple of guys from the road crew. He's about to bite into a slice of pizza when his phone rings. "Hi Chet? This is Edward Van Halen's assistant Matt. Edward would like to know if he can speak with you." Haun's life was … [Read more...]
Wolf Van Halen Video Interview: ‘5150 Is Where I’ll Be Recording For The Rest Of My Life’
Wolfgang Van Halen is making sure his father's legendary 5150 Studios will never go silent. "Where we're sitting right now, this is where I'm gonna be recording all the music I will for the rest of my life," Wolfgang told People. He was speaking from inside the studios his father built in 1983 near his home in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. "It's … [Read more...]
Wolfgang Van Halen Tells The Stories Behind ‘Mammoth WVH’ & ‘A Different Kind Of Truth’ Songs
Wolfgang Van Halen shared the stories behind the songs from both his upcoming ‘Mammoth WVH’ album and the 2012 Van Halen album ‘A Different Kind Of Truth’ during a new interview with Songfacts. Here are excerpts from Greg Prato's interview: On 'Mammoth WVH' Songs Greg Prato (Songfacts): Let's discuss the lyrical meaning behind several of your tunes, starting with … [Read more...]
Wolfgang Van Halen: Holding Off New Music To Be With Ailing Dad Was ‘An Easy Decision’
Wolfgang Van Halen told SPIN magazine his decision to delay the release of his debut solo album to be with his father was an easy one to make. According to Wolfgang, the music that makes up the debut Mammoth WVH album was ready to launch as early as 2018. When Eddie’s health began to decline, however, he knew it would have to wait. Here are some excerpts from Daniel … [Read more...]