Jas Obrecht has released another rare interview. His latest is from 1988 and features Steve Vai sharing the creative process behind each track on David Leee Roth's Skyscraper album. "Taped on February 16, 1988, this in-depth interview for Guitar Player magazine was timed to coincide with the release of David Lee Roth’s second full-length post-Van Halen album, Skyscraper," … [Read more...]
Billy Sheehan On The Songwriting Process Of ‘Eat ‘Em & Smile’
During a recent podcast appearance, Billy Sheehan talked about the unpredictable yet always interesting songwriting sessions for David Lee Roth's Eat 'Em and Smile album. Below is an excerpt from Greg Prato's Ultimate Guitar article "10 Examples of Why Eddie Van Halen Was the Master of Rhythm Guitar and Riffs": For most readers of Ultimate Guitar, the top … [Read more...]
Which EVH Solos Deserve (Even) More Love?
Credit: Neil Zlozower Premier Guitar's 100 Guitarists Podcast devoted an episode to the epic guitar solos by Edward Van Halen, particularly the ones that deserve even more love than others. Here's what hosts Nick Millevoi and Jason Shadrick posted along with the video episode posted to Premier Guitar's YouTube channel: "Naturally, every recording Eddie Van Halen … [Read more...]
John 5 On Van Halen’s ’78 Debut: ‘Without These Four Guys, It Wouldn’t Be The Same’
John 5 recently recalled the "shock" of hearing Van Halen's 1978 debut album for the first time. "I bought [Van Halen I] from the cover alone, because it said 'Gene Simmons', and he worked on the record," said the Mötley Crüe guitarist during a recent appearance on AXS TV's Vinyl Obsession podcast. "And I remember putting this on, and I think maybe this record was the one … [Read more...]
Watch Alex Van Halen’s Only On Camera Interview From Home
Alex Van Halen has given a new interview, this time from his home! Alex was interviewed by the Bringing It Back To The Beatles YouTube channel. In the video above, he talks about the book Brothers, how when he and Edward Van Halen first transitioned from piano, David Lee Roth joining the band, his last words to Edward, and more. … [Read more...]
British Metal Veteran Nick Bowcott Shares Edward Van Halen Stories
Final Resonance TV's Van Halen Stories Podcast #48 recently featured an interview with Nick Bowcott of Grim Reaper, Marshall Amplification, EVH Gear, and Sweetwater. In his in-depth interview with the Van Halen News Desk's Jeff Goebel, Nick shares his personal experiences of not only seeing Van Halen in 1978 but also meeting them in a rather unique way in 1980. He also talks … [Read more...]
Alex Van Halen: There Is ‘Probably Three Or Four Records’ Worth Of Music In The Vault
Credit Neil Zlozower Just how much music lies within the 5150 vault? Probably enough to fill three or four records worth of music, according to Alex Van Halen. Alex addressed the possibility of future unreleased Van Halen material with Chris Jericho during an appearance on Talk Is Jericho. Below is an excerpt from that segment: What do you want to do now with … [Read more...]
Van Halen In The 90s: What Could Have Been
The decade couldn't have gotten to a better start for Van Halen when they returned in 1991. Another number-one album (For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge), more hit singles ("Poundcake", "Top Of The World", "Right Now"), and a lineup with a seemingly unbreakable bond. At least it seemed that way until internal tensions led to Sammy Hagar's departure in 1996. Looking back on the … [Read more...]
Dweezil Zappa Shares Edward Van Halen Guitar Lessons with Rick Beato
Dweezil Zappa appeared on Rick Beato's YouTube show to share his guitar lessons from Edward Van Halen. Dweezil first met Edward, who was good friends with his father Frank, when he was 12 years old. In the video above he recalled the moment he first met Edward, played some of his favorite Van Halen riffs, and explained the ease and joy in which Edward played the … [Read more...]
Thomas Dolby: Edward Van Halen’s Life Was Like ‘Spinal Tap’
Edward Van Halen saw This Is Spinal Tap. He also lived it. During a recent interview with Jeremy White, Dolby recalled a conversation with Edward when the topic of Spinal Tap came up. At the time, Edward was lending his guitar talents to a few tracks on Dolby's then-upcoming album Astronauts & Heretics - "Eastern Bloc" and "Close But No Cigar". "I went up to his … [Read more...]
Michael Anthony Expects Alex Van Halen’s Book To Focus On The Good Times
Credit: Neil Zlozower Michael Anthony doesn't know what's inside Alex Van Halen's upcoming book "Brothers" but he expects Alex will focus on the good times had rather than the dirt. "Alex, basically, like myself — I've never been one to wanna talk smack about the band or whatever, 'cause I choose to remember all the good stuff and all the good times that we had," said … [Read more...]
Mike Tramp Recalls One-On-One Career Advice From David Lee Roth
Mike Tramp with Van Halen Madrid, Spain 1981 (Credit: Mike Tramp/Facebook) During a recent appearance on The Paltrocast, Mike Tramp of White Lion recalled a one-on-one meeting with David Lee Roth that would eventually take him to New York in pursuit of rock stardom. The meeting occurred in 1981 when Van Halen was in Madrid, Spain. Tramp was fronting the band Studs, … [Read more...]