Three days ago, a video surfaced which supposedly shows a young Eddie Van Halen playing football on a beach. The silent video is entitled, "Football in Newport Beach 1972". This is starting to circulate online, and some claim that one of the players is Eddie Van Halen. Naturally, some doubt the video's authenticity. But take it from us, it really is Eddie! This video was … [Read more...]
Eddie Van Halen Jamming at Friend’s Birthday Party, 1968
Van Halen Rising's Facebook page posted this gem of a photo today, above. Another amazing early Ed Van Halen photo, this one circa '68, from the Broderick family vault. Here we can see Edward jamming with Bill Maxwell at Rob Broderick's 14th Birthday Party. Edward is playing a Maestro 12 string Guitar but with only 6 strings on it. Guitar was purchased at Lafayette Radio on … [Read more...]
Never Seen Photos & Excerpts From ‘VAN HALEN RISING’ (Exclusive Preview)
It's an exciting time to be a Van Halen fan! This week, the people who pre-ordered Van Halen Rising are receiving their copies. And we're hearing nothing but praise for the book! For those who haven't ordered yet, here's our exclusive preview. Enjoy this look inside the book! You can get the book RIGHT NOW, only through VanHalenStore.com. (Other book retailers will get it … [Read more...]
‘VAN HALEN RISING’: The VHND Review
Greg Renoff’s Forthcoming Book on Van Halen's Formative Years a Mammoth Achievement Let us guess — you're one of those people who thinks they know everything about Van Halen, right? You don't. At least not until you've read "Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal," the forthcoming book by historian and self-proclaimed Van Halen … [Read more...]
The ‘VAN HALEN RISING’ Manifesto
This never before published photo of a 19-year-old Edward Van Halen was was taken by Elizabeth Wiley in her garage on Maiden Lane in Altadena around the spring of 1974. This is Van Halen pre-Michael Anthony. Mark Stone was still the bassist. VH was now a quartet, as their keyboard player had just left band. This photo captures the young band rehearsing, as they did four hours … [Read more...]
‘VAN HALEN RISING’ is Coming!
Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal is a new book coming this October that solely focuses on Van Halen’s incredible rise during the ‘70s. We have an advance copy, and trust us — this book is absolutely loaded with wild and interesting details on Van Halen’s beginnings that even the most knowledgeable fans have never heard. It's … [Read more...]
Eddie Van Halen Shares his Musical Journey at Smithsonian Event (Video)
Eight years ago today, the legendary Edward Van Halen appeared at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C., headlining an event that was part of the national “What It Means to Be American” program. The three-year initiative is aimed at engaging leading public thinkers and Americans in all walks of life to explore how the nation has become what it … [Read more...]
VHND’s All Access Photo: Young David Lee Roth
Young David Lee Roth. Does he realize what the future holds for him? “All Access” Van Halen photos is a weekly feature at VHND.com. Every weekend we will be posting a photo from a roadie, friend, or band insider. Many will be exclusives that have never been seen anywhere before. Tune in every weekend for more! Photo courtesy of The Roth Show. … [Read more...]
Photo of Young Alex Van Halen / Video of their Childhood Home
Below is a short 4-minute video which shows Eddie and Alex's childhood home in Nijmegen, Netherlands. The video is entirely in Dutch, so we sent this video to Eddie himself for verification. He really got a kick out of it, and said that it is indeed the building where he and Alex lived, and that the two women in the video lived in the flat below. Two very old Van Halen … [Read more...]
1962 Photo: The Van Halen Family On a Boat to America
This historic photo was taken on the very boat that carried the Van Halen family to America (Feb. 1962). It was a nine-day boat ride, and to help pay their fare, Jan, Edward, and Alex provided the ships musical entertainment. Special thanks to Jan and Eugenia for taking their two beautiful boys and risking everything by immigrating to America with their nothing but 75 Dutch … [Read more...]
Remembering Dick Dale: Without Surf Music, Would There Be a Van Halen?
Dick Dale, the "King of the Surf Guitar," died Saturday at age 81. RIP, maestro. As we honor his legacy, we ask ourselves this: Would Van Halen exist as we know it - or even exist at all - without young Eddie and Alex first being influenced by Southern California surf rock? Two Van Halen authors share their thoughts on the subject... Dick Dale is best known for … [Read more...]
Unearthed 1964 Photo: “The Broken Combs” Band, Featuring Eddie and Alex Van Halen
The historic photo above is one of the oldest Van Halen photos ever. Here's the story... In 1964, fourteen years before Van Halen's first album, Eddie and Alex Van Halen were young kids (age 9 & 11) who had immigrated to the United States just two short years earlier. Eddie Van Halen met fellow student Kevan Hill in their early morning music class at Hamilton Elementary … [Read more...]