David Lee Roth drummer Francis Valentino says the most challenging of all DLR songs to perform is "Unchained". The reason? Nothing stays the same. Valentino, who was part of Roth's shows on KISS' End Of The Road World Tour in early 2020, was a recent guest on Paltrocast with Darren Paltrowitz. Paltrowitz asked Valentino to name the hardest DLR song to play. "That would be … [Read more...]
Van Halen News
Ray Luzier Performs Classic Van Halen on Alex’s Kit
Modern Drummer has released the second in a series of videos dedicated to their 2023 Hall-of-Fame inductee Alex Van Halen. Long-time David Lee Roth drummer Ray Luzier (currently with Korn) gets behind Alex's 2012 kit in the latest video to perform some Van Halen classics. From Modern Drummer: In the second episode of "Live from IronShore Studios: A Tribute to Alex Van … [Read more...]
Frank Hannon: Eddie Van Halen Is Forever Rock Guitar’s ‘Mozart’
Credit: Neil Zlozower Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon says Eddie Van Halen's smile and style places him forever among music's elite, calling him "the Mozart" of rock and roll guitarists. During a recent interview with Cassius Morris, Hannon explained why he believes that the passing of Eddie has had such a profound impact on rock music fans worldwide. "Eddie Van Halen … [Read more...]
Wolfgang: Reunion With Michael Anthony ‘Long Overdue’
Twenty years was too long. So said Wolfgang Van Halen of his recent reunion with Michael Anthony. The last time Wolfgang and Anthony spoke dates back to 2004 during the Van Halen reunion tour with Sammy Hagar. That all changed on December 8th when Wolfgang and Anthony met up after a Mammoth WVH show in Las Vegas. Here is what Wolfgang had to say about the moment during a … [Read more...]
Watch Van Halen ‘1984’ 40th Anniversary Livestream
The 5150 Show is livestreaming an episode devoted entirely to Van Halen's 1984 album, which was released 40 years ago this month. Joining the show are authors Greg Renoff (Van Halen Rising, Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer’s Life in Music) and Chris Gill (Eruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen), who will discuss the album's creation, reception and legacy. Catch … [Read more...]
The Devo Joke David Lee Roth ‘Didn’t Like’
Credit: Neil Zlozower Devo is known for its sense of humor. But not everyone is in on the joke. Devo's Gerald V. Casale was a recent guest on the Paltrocast and recalled the time an in-concert joke at the expense of David Lee Roth didn't sit well with the Van Halen frontman. I only met David Lee Roth in passing," Casale told Paltrowitz. "Back then I never met … [Read more...]
Steve Stevens Reminisces About Working with Van Halen Members
From his first meeting with Edward Van Halen at 5150 Studios in 1987, through his final 2013 interaction with Eddie and Wolfgang on Tour in Australia, Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens recently shared his career experiences with Edward and Van Halen band members. Stevens, who appeared on Final Resonance TV hosted by the Van Halen News Desk's Jeff Goebel, first met Eddie at … [Read more...]
Exclusive: In Conversation with Darren Paltrowitz, Author of ‘DLR Book’
The Van Halen News Desk had the chance to talk with Darren Paltrowitz, author of DLR Book: How David Lee Roth Changed the World. In the video above, Paltrowitz and the VHND's Eric Senich cover all things Diamond Dave including: DLR Book: How David Lee Roth Changed the World Now Available! It’s currently only in stock & shipping at Van Halen … [Read more...]
New 4k Transfers: Van Halen’s 1978 Niagara Concert
Credit: Neil Zlozower Speedy Films, in collaboration with The Genesis Museum, has released two new updated 4k versions of Van Halen performing in Niagara Falls, New York on September 8th 1978 from the original Super 8 Film! A short clips-based version with synced audio and a full-show version with audio and the video inserted as it was shot were released. The final … [Read more...]
A Very Merry Van Halen Christmas
It's time to bring the Van Halen fan family together, gather around the "On Fire"-place and enjoy some of the best holiday videos on the net! Santa Van Halen "Christmas Eruption" This video dates back to 2012 from Kevy Nova. Nova performed a very Eddie Van Halen-esque guitar solo adorned in a Santa suit with Eddie's iconic Frankenstein guitar strapped over his … [Read more...]
What Eddie Van Halen Said That Steve Hackett Is Grateful For
Credit: Neil Zlozower While Eddie Van Halen became the master of two-handed tapping, he often reminded the rock media that he wasn't the first to come up with the technique. One guitarist he'd often name-check was Steve Hackett, something Hackett is still grateful for. Below is an excerpt from Hackett's interview with Ultimate-Guitar's Greg Prato: Do you feel … [Read more...]
Video Series Celebrates Modern Drummer Hall-Of-Famer Alex Van Halen
Credit: Neil Zlozower Modern Drummer has rolled out the first of a series of videos dedicated to their 2023 Hall-of-Fame inductee Alex Van Halen! Alex, who has appeared on the cover of Modern Drummer four times: 1983, 1993, 2008, and most recently in March of 2021, was inducted back in September. This week, Modern Drummer's official YouTube channel released an Alex … [Read more...]