Among the rarities included on the upcoming box set covering the Sammy Hagar era of Van Halen is an emotionally powerful song Hagar calls a "deep track on every level" - "Crossing Over". In the video above, Michael Anthony and Hagar talk about the song, initially written and demoed by Eddie Van Halen in 1983 under the title "David's Tune". He was honoring a friend who had … [Read more...]
Hear Diamond Dave Like Never Before In December 1984 Interview
Photo Credit: Neil Zlozower A never-published interview with Diamond David Lee Roth has arrived courtesy of the Tapes Archive! At the time of this interview in December 1984, Roth was just months away from being out of Van Halen. In the interview, Roth talks about the future of Van Halen, his need for attention, whether he’s a bad role model, and what he wants on his … [Read more...]
Former Van Halen Drum Tech Says Band Filmed Shows With Multi-Cameras [VIDEO]
On The Jeremy White Show, John Douglas - former Alex Van Halen drum tech and current drummer of Aerosmith - revealed that Van Halen did, in fact, record video of several shows with multiple cameras during his time with the band from 1997 to 2015. Douglas referred to the multi-cam pro-shot videos, along with accompanying multitrack audio, as a "treasure trove" of material. When … [Read more...]
‘Unchained’ Fan-Made Video Remix Re-Ignites The Fire Of Van Halen Classic
Just in case rock fans need a reminder that Van Halen's "Unchained" is among rock's red-hot classics, this video should light a fire under their collective asses. The folks at The Tapes Archive put together the video above by sourcing four separate videos of Van Halen performing "Unchained". Below is what they posted along with the remix video: This Van Halen fan-made … [Read more...]
Desmond Child Reveals How David Lee Roth Blocked Him From Writing Songs For Van Halen
Photo by Neil Zlozower For nearly three decades, songwriter/producer Desmond Child has reigned as one of music's most successful hitmakers for the biggest bands like Bon Jovi, KISS, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Ratt, and Joan Jett. According to Child, Van Halen could have been another band on his resume, but David Lee Roth prevented that from happening. Child, a recent guest … [Read more...]
How Wolfgang Van Halen Is Honoring Late Dad Eddie on New Album [VIDEO]
Wolfgang Van Halen recently appeared on “Extra" to promote the latest Mammoth WVH album Mammoth II, which includes the track "Take A Bow". As Wolfgang explains in the video above, it has a special connection to his late dad Eddie. Wolfgang also talks about his appearance on the soundtrack to the hit film Barbie, his current tour, and his upcoming wedding. … [Read more...]
‘Van Halen Breaks Up’ – The Fan-Made 1984 Documentary Episode 5
The final episode of 'The Van Halen Fan-Made 1984 Documentary' has arrived! After six albums and millions of concert tickets, David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen split. Did David Lee Roth quit? Was he fired, or neither? The original Van Halen lineup ended, and the band underwent significant changes with Hagar's arrival, signifying a new chapter in their music career. (This … [Read more...]
Unearthed 1995 Interview With Alex Van Halen Offers Insight Into Van Halen Past, Present & Future Expectations [AUDIO]
The Tapes Archives channel has unearthed another hidden gem - an exclusive audio interview with Alex Van Halen from 1995. The interview (above) was conducted by Canadian music journalist and author Steve Newton as Van Halen was preparing to perform in British Columbia, Canada. Alex talks about growing up and playing with his brother Eddie, the drummers he was a fan of early … [Read more...]
Dave Grohl, Gregg Bissonette & Chevy Metal Pay Homage with Electric Cover of Van Halen’s ‘Jamie’s Cryin’ [VIDEO]
Dave Grohl and David Lee Roth drummer Gregg Bissonette paid tribute to Van Halen at Rock & Roll Pizza in Simi Valley, California recently. Check out the video above featuring Grohl, and Bisonnette joining the band Chevy Metal performing "Jamie's Cryin'". Chevy Metal was formed by Grohl's long-time Foo Fighters bandmate Taylor Hawkins in 2013. Hawkins would routinely gig … [Read more...]
Andy Summers On Eddie Van Halen’s Unmatched Genius: ‘Nobody Did It Better Than Him’
Police guitarist Andy Summers says Eddie Van Halen was heavily copied but never duplicated. "I do think Eddie Van Halen was a great player. Wonderful. So musical. An absolutely one-off," Summers said during a recent appearance on Johnny Beane TV. "I never saw [Van Halen perform] but, of course, I was aware of [Eddie's] playing as they surfaced early on. Summers … [Read more...]
Unearthed Footage: Van Halen Castle Donington 1984! (UPDATED 2X)
Updated Aug 22nd: The original video has been pulled from YouTube. A new one popped up, embedded above. This is the most significant and important newly-unearthed Van Halen footage in many years. PURE GOLD. A truly Holy Grail gem. Watch a nearly-complete PRO SHOT concert from 1984, embedded above. Enjoy!! About this footage: This single-camera, … [Read more...]
Watch ‘The Van Halen 1984 Documentary’ Episode 4: The 1984 Tour!
The long-awaited fourth episode of 'The Van Halen Fan-Made 1984 Documentary' has arrived! It's the latest episode released by The Tapes Archive via YouTube. Watch and discuss in the comments below! The 1984 Van Halen tour marked the peak of their mainstream success, with the original lineup inching closer to their downfall. Despite grossing millions in ticket sales, the … [Read more...]