It was exactly 40 years ago today that Eddie Van Halen recorded the wildly innovative instrumental, "Eruption." The date of Sept. 8th, 1977 was uncovered by Van Halen biographer, Greg Renoff, during his extensive interviews with Van Halen producer Ted Templeman. Here's an exclusive excerpt about the day "Eruption" was recorded, from the pages of Renoff's Van … [Read more...]
Van Halen News
Van Halen’s ‘A Different Kind of Truth’ Returning to CD & Vinyl!
It's official: Van Halen's final studio album, A Different Kind of Truth, is finally coming back into print! Rhino will re-release the album on October 23, 2026, on CD and as a 2LP set pressed on 180-gram black vinyl. The vinyl edition comes in a double gatefold package, with new lacquers cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering. A limited-edition clear vinyl … [Read more...]
Alex Van Halen Knighted in the Netherlands
Alex Van Halen has received one of his native country's highest honors. The legendary Van Halen drummer was appointed Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion (Ridder in de Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw) Tuesday in Nijmegen, the Dutch city where Alex and his brother Eddie spent much of their childhood before their family moved to America. Nijmegen mayor Hubert Bruls … [Read more...]
40 Years Ago Tonight: Live Without A Net is Recorded
On August 27, 1986, Van Halen took the stage at the New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Connecticut for a show that would become one of the most iconic concert videos in rock history: Live Without a Net. It was the band's second night in New Haven during the massive 5150 tour — and fortunately so. The first night's filming had audio problems, … [Read more...]
VIDEO: The Hilarious ‘True Story’ of How Van Halen Landed Ted Templeman
Here's some classic Van Halen humor that's well worth revisiting. Back in 2006, the cult comedy web series Yacht Rock turned its attention to Van Halen with Episode #9, "Runnin' with the Devil" — offering a completely fictional (and hilarious) account of how the young band convinced producer Ted Templeman to produce their debut album. For those unfamiliar with Yacht Rock, … [Read more...]
40 Years Ago Today: My First Van Halen Concert
Forty years ago today, on August 12, 1986, longtime Van Halen fan and drummer Kurt Ekstrom attended his first Van Halen concert — a night he still remembers vividly four decades later. Kurt has written numerous articles for Not So Modern Drummer and has appeared on the Drum History Podcast to discuss Alex Van Halen's drums and gear. With the 40th anniversary of that first … [Read more...]
David Lee Roth Added to Alex Van Halen’s TEDxFargo Appearance This Thursday
UPDATE from Robert Vargas: The complete video will be posted on YouTube/TedxFargo platforms in a few weeks for the public to view. Three icons. One stage. One conversation you won't want to miss. David Lee Roth has been added to this Thursday's TEDxFargo event, where he'll join Alex Van Halen and artist Robert Vargas on stage. The event has been on fans' radar since … [Read more...]
Sammy Hagar Has A Message For David Lee Roth After Tour Date Cancellations [Updated Twice]
UPDATE AGAIN: Only ONE David Lee Roth has not been cancelled. That is August 7th at STURGIS. Original article: David Lee Roth's remaining summer tour dates have been canceled, with the exception of one scheduled appearance in Sturgis, South Dakota. Sammy Hagar has reached out with a message for his fellow former Van Halen frontman. News of the cancellations … [Read more...]
David Lee Roth on Eat ‘Em and Smile, the Van Halen Split, and the New Van Halen with Sammy Hagar (1986 Interview)
Forty years ago, just weeks after the release of Eat 'Em and Smile, David Lee Roth sat down with CREEM magazine for one of the most revealing interviews of his early solo career. With the Van Halen split still fresh, Roth had just assembled his powerhouse new band featuring Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan, and Gregg Bissonette, while Van Halen was riding high with Sammy Hagar and … [Read more...]
David Lee Roth’s ‘Eat ‘Em and Smile’ Turns 40
And so the adventure continues...! Forty years ago today, David Lee Roth released his debut full-length studio album Eat ‘Em and Smile. Released on July 7th, 1986, the album peaked at #4 on the US Billboard 200 while eventually achieving platinum status for a million sales. For his first full-length release, Roth worked with long-time Van Halen producer Ted Templeman … [Read more...]
Sammy Hagar Brings the Best of All Worlds to MGM National Harbor
By Tom Prather I started my career photographing Van Halen back in '95. It was a dream come true then, and I never could have guessed I'd still be in the photo pit chasing those same songs three decades later. So when I walked into The Theater at MGM National Harbor on June 26 to shoot Sammy Hagar on The Best of All Worlds Tour, it felt like the whole thing had come full … [Read more...]
The Mystery Behind Alex Van Halen’s “Hot For Teacher” Drum Intro
For 42 years, drummers have debated one of rock's greatest mysteries: What exactly is happening during the opening moments of Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher"? Was it a Lamborghini engine? A hot rod? Electronic drums? Four bass drums? Layered parts? Or was it simply Alex being Alex? In a new Drumeo video titled "Alex Van Halen Fooled Everyone With This Drum Intro," drummer … [Read more...]