Fans attending David Lee Roth's show last night in Glenside, Pennsylvania, got something far deeper than a typical concert introduction. Before performing Van Halen's "Ice Cream Man," Roth delivered a heartfelt and often funny six-minute story about writing songs with Eddie Van Halen — recalling the tiny Pasadena space where the earliest Van Halen songs were born. "Almost … [Read more...]
Van Halen Trail 2026: Historic Pasadena Locations [Video]
Photo by Zeil Zlozower Pasadena played a critical role in the early lives of the Van Halen brothers, David Lee Roth, Michael Anthony, and original Van Halen bassist Mark Stone. The Van Halen Trail 2026 video, filmed this week by VHND contributing writer, Jeff Goebel, documents the real locations connected to the band's history — from childhood homes and rehearsal spaces to … [Read more...]
In Memory of Mark Stone
A special article today. Greg Renoff, author of Van Halen Rising, has been asked by the widow of original Van Halen bassist, Mark Stone, to post something about Mark on social media. We're sharing it here on VHND, so that she can read the comments, thoughts, and memories posted online about her dear, late husband... "Darlene Stone -- the wife of the late Mark Stone, who was … [Read more...]
Alex Van Halen Talks Life and Death with Anderson Cooper
In an emotional interview, Alex Van Halen talks with Anderson Cooper about Eddie’s life and death and the communication he feels he still has with him. This is probably the most touching (and heartbreaking) Van Halen interview this year. About the series: Grief can feel so lonely, but talking about it, and listening to others share their grief experiences helps. In … [Read more...]
Edward Van Halen Mini-Documentary: The Early Guitars In His Own Words
A brand-new mini-documentary on the creation of Edward Van Halen's iconic Frankenstein guitar has been released and it's a must-see! The video, produced by Simon Alkin and posted on his YouTube channel Icons Remembered, is narrated by Edward himself, telling his own story of the path that led him to create Frankenstein between 1967 and 1977. Alkin said, "Edward Van Halen … [Read more...]
Gene Simmons: ‘Paul Stanley Should’ve Taken My Advice And Signed Van Halen’
Regrets. Gene Simmons has had a few. One he often talks about is his missed opportunity getting a then-unknown Van Halen signed. Here's an excerpt from a recent article by Ultimate-Guitar's Greg Prato: Throughout the history of rock music, there have certainly been quite a few close calls and "What if?" scenarios. And high on the list would be when Gene Simmons spotted a … [Read more...]
Sunset Strip Veteran Shares Front-Row Tales Of Van Halen’s Rise
Former Sunset Strip veteran musician Loren Molinare recently appeared on Final Resonance TV’s Van Halen Stories Podcast to discuss his front-row seat to the rise of Van Halen as the guitarist/vocalist for Detroit Rockers The Dogs. During the mid to late 1970s, The Dogs opened for Van Halen often, including a gig at The Pasadena Civic Auditorium, just after Van Halen signed … [Read more...]
Great White’s Mark Kendall: Van Halen’s Secret? Cold Calling
Credit: Neil Zlozower Eddie had his guitar, Dave had his mic. They also had a phone, which they put to very good use back in the day. During a recent appearance on the Booked On Rock podcast with the VHND's Eric Senich, Great White guitarist Mark Kendall shared a conversation he once had with David Lee Roth. It was at a time when Van Halen was a constant presence on … [Read more...]
A Look Inside: ‘Van Halen at 50’
'Van Halen at 50' is the new hardcover coffee table book by rock 'n' roll author Martin Popoff, coming May 28th, 2024. Here's an exclusive look inside! But do you need to wait until May 28th to get it? Not if you order it directly from Van Halen Store. They're shipping the book NOW, so it could be in your hands within a few days! 'Van Halen at 50' is a gorgeously crafted … [Read more...]
Could A ‘Van Halen Rising’ Movie Be Coming?
News broke today about the possibility of a movie based on the highly acclaimed book by Greg Renoff - Van Halen Rising - the book that charts the iconic band's journey from Pasadena locals to rock legends. What the chances are it'll happen, we don't know yet. But it's possible. Renoff has posted an update to Facebook: Some exciting news broke today, about me and my book … [Read more...]
Exclusive: Childhood Friend Recalls Eddie Van Halen’s Early Years
In an exclusive interview with the Van Halen News Desk's Jeff Goebel, Eddie Van Halen’s childhood friend Tom Broderick revealed private moments with Eddie and Van Halen from 1968 to 2019. Tom’s older brothers Rob and Rick were the first to meet Eddie doing paper routes in the Pasadena area they lived at. Rob, a drummer, even jammed with Eddie in the summer of 1968. The rare … [Read more...]
George Lynch Recalls Early Van Halen Memories
Credit: Neil Zlozower George Lynch opened up about his earliest memories of a "hungry", "on fire", and "vicious" club-era Van Halen in a recent interview. Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob) told the Van Halen New Desk's Jeff Goebel he saw Van Halen for the first time at The Golden West Ballroom in Norwalk, California. Lynch said it was the best show he had ever seen by the … [Read more...]