From June 11-13th, 1981, Van Halen performed three shows in front of sold out crowds of 11,300 people each night at California's Oakland Coliseum. The Oakland '81 shows have become legendary, thanks to the band deciding to preserve some of their performance to film. The footage was edited into three videos which aired on MTV as promos for the Fair … [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...]
Unearthed: Eddie Van Halen Playing ‘Amsterdam’ At 5150, In 1987
"You're gonna dig this." Coming hot on the heels of the lost Van Halen 'dinosaur' video comes yet another unearthed gem! And this one is even better! We've all wanted to be a fly on the wall at 5150. Or a friend of Eddie Van Halen's who could get to hear amazing stuff that he's working on. Well, this video below is just that! The unknown videographer starts … [Read more...]
Unearthed: Lost Van Halen ‘Dinosaur’ Video Surfaces After 40 Years!
The story of the mysterious "lost" Van Halen "dinosaur" video begins back in 1995, one year before The Van Halen News Desk launched. At that time, Jeff Hausman (who would go on to run the VHND) got ahold of some strange photos of Van Halen playing their instruments outdoors, among life-size sculptures of dinosaurs(!). Knowing these photos were never published or seen … [Read more...]
Watch: Mammoth WVH: ‘Don’t Back Down’ Official Live Video
Wolfgang Van Halen has just given fans a chance to see and hear what Mammoth WVH will sound like when they hit the road this summer with Guns N' Roses. Check out the official live video for "Don't Back Down" above. It's one of the tracks included on the debut Mammoth WVH album which drops a week from today (June 11th). Go to the official Mammoth WVH website now to pre-order … [Read more...]
David Lee Roth Talks Origins Of Van Halen On Joe Rogan Podcast
What a ride it was. David Lee Roth returned to the Joe Rogan Experience podcast to take Rogan through more trips down Van Halen memory lane. Roth talked about the perfect musical chemistry Van Halen, which came out of the hard rock side of Eddie and Alex Van Halen and the funk and soul side of Roth. "[Eddie & Alex's] music was all Led Zeppelin, Stones, The Who, … [Read more...]
Disc Jockey Rodney Bingenheimer On Breaking Van Halen On KROQ Radio, Booking Band Gigs At The Starwood
Legendary American disc jockey Rodney Bingenheimer recently stopped by the Sunset Sound Studios to recall the time he helped Van Halen break into the big time. Bingenheimer was best known as a disc jockey at the Los Angeles rock station KROQ starting in the mid 70s. He helped several bands become successful in the American market including Blondie, the Ramones, The Sex … [Read more...]
Appolonia Says Prince Didn’t Want Her Dating David Lee Roth In Public While ‘Purple Rain’ Was In Theaters
Credit: Rudy Childs Actress/singer Apollonia said Prince didn't want the public to see her dating David Lee Roth while his film Purple Rain was making its run in theaters. In a recent interview with Sunset Sound Recorders, Apollonia said she had been dating Roth at the time the film Purple Rain (starring Prince and Apollonia) was released in July of 1984. Prince was … [Read more...]
Sammy Hagar & The Circle Return To The Stage, Perform Seven Van Halen Songs [VIDEO]
Sammy Hagar & the Circle made their return to the stage in Key West, Florida this week and played over a handful of Van Halen songs. Hagar was joined by his Circle bandmates - Michael Anthony (bass), Jason Bonham (drums) and Vic Johnson (guitar) for their performance at the Key West Ampitheater on Sunday night. Of the 18 songs performed, seven were from Hagar’s days … [Read more...]
Mammoth WVH ‘Mammoth’ Official Lyric Video
Wolfgang Van Halen has released another lyric video today - this time for the song "Mammoth". The track is the latest single from the debut Mammoth WVH album due out June 11th. Check out the official video above. "Mammoth" Lyrics: Wide awakeNow I'm homeRight awayHow we've grown Not okayto blame yourselfand lay down and die like everybody elseNot okayto just give up … [Read more...]
Absolutely EPIC Footage of Van Halen Live, 1979!
Amidst the screams of sweat-soaked teenaged fans, fists raised high in the air, comes the voice of Van Halen's toast master David Lee Roth giving his bandmate Alex Van Halen the cue: "Help 'em dance the night away Al!!!" And with that, the party raged on... It was on this night in 1979 that Van Halen brought their very first headlining tour into Rochester, New York for a … [Read more...]
Watch: ‘Panama’ Cover By Guitarist Sophie Burrell
Meet Sophie Burrell. She is currently Britain's rising star of the guitar and, as you're about to find out, well versed in Van Halen. Burrell releases a series of videos on YouTube featuring covers of classic guitar rock songs; among them are nearly a handful of Van Halen songs. Her most recent (above) is of "Panama". Burrell, now 21, has gone from launching her own … [Read more...]