Part two of Van Halen author Greg Renoff's interview with legendary Van Halen engineer Donn Landee has arrived! Renoff shared part one of his interview for Tape Op magazine with VHND readers back in September. Now he's back to make good on his promise to deliver part two. Below is an excerpt from part two of Renoff's two-part interview posted to the Tape Op magazine … [Read more...]
Van Halen 1978 Archive
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...]
Photographer Neil Zlozower Shares Van Halen Stories & Photos
When it comes to Van Halen, he's seen it all and he has the photos to back up every story. Legendary Van Halen photographer Neil Zlozower was the recent subject of Gibson TV's "Through The Lens" series for a look back at his unparalleled body of work with the band! From Gibson TV: From the moment he first heard “Running with the Devil” in an office building in Los … [Read more...]
Van Halen Among Top Ten Bands Who Outshined The Headliner
Credit: Neil Zlozower It's not often an opening act leaves a bigger impression with fans than the headliner they came to see but that's just what happened back in 1978 when Van Halen opened for Black Sabbath. Their outshining of Sabbath recently put them on the list of greatest show openers. Here's an excerpt from Greg Prato's recent article for Ultimate-Guitar titled … [Read more...]
Eddie Van Halen Immortalized With 1978-Era Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure
Edward Van Halen scored a couple of unexpected number-one hits recently. Not with a new song, but with a couple of HOT new collectibles... the guitar god has been immortalized with his own Funko POP vinyl figure - not once, but twice! Wolfgang announced the original Eddie Van Halen Funko Pop two years ago. “Dad signed off on this Funko way back in 2019 and it's wonderful to … [Read more...]
Donn Landee Takes Us ‘Behind the Boards’ of Van Halen’s Legendary First Album Recording
Van Halen engineer Donn Landee's first interview in decades! Renowned engineer Donn Landee recently shared some "behind the boards" stories about the recording of Van Halen's classic first album at Hollywood's Sunset Sound Studios in 1978, in a conversation with author Greg Renoff. Below is an excerpt from part one of Renoff's two-part interview posted to the Tape Op … [Read more...]
The Fateful Encounter That Led To Edward Van Halen’s First Interview
Jas Obrecht, former Editor of Guitar Player Magazine (1978-1998), spoke in depth on Final Resonance TV's "Van Halen Stories Podcast" about his accidental meeting and first interview with Edward Van Halen in 1978 at The Day on The Green Festival Show. Edward himself referred to this interview as his "first interview." This fateful encounter captured a young Edward … [Read more...]
‘What Is He Doing?!’: When Brian May First Witnessed Eddie Van Halen Perform (VIDEO)
Recalling the time he first encountered Eddie Van Halen's "phenomenal" performance in 1978 as the opening act for Black Sabbath, Brian May shared his experience in a new video. In the clip above, May details how he had the opportunity to meet Eddie through Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. As a lead-up to the July 14th reissue of the three-song EP collection "Brian May … [Read more...]
Audio: Van Halen Live in Ipswich, England, May 28, 1978
On this day in 1978, Van Halen performed at the Gaumont Theatre in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. Luckily for us, an excellent-sounding audio recording exists! (Listen below) This was during Van Halen's first world tour. They were thrilled to be opening for the legendary Black Sabbath. "The Sabs," as they called them, were part of their musical youth. To share the stage with … [Read more...]
The History Of Rock & Roll Radio, More Early Van Halen Stories In Latest Roth Show Episode
From AM to FM, it's a trip around the dial and through radio history in the latest episode of The Roth Show. David Lee Roth returns with a new episode of his podcast and this time he shares his love of radio with a history of the medium from its early days through to the birth of FM rock radio in the late 60s. Along the way are vintage radio clips from various radio stations … [Read more...]
The Kinks’ Mick Avory Talks Van Halen’s Cover Of ‘You Really Got Me’
We've heard Dave and Ray Davies comment on Van Halen's cover of "You Really Got Me" but what about Kinks' drummer Mick Avory? Rock journalist Greg Prato recently interviewed Avory for Allmusic and asked him about the song originally recorded by the Kinks in 1964 (the year Avory joined The Kinks) and what he thought of Van Halen's 1978 version. Avory gave credit to Eddie and … [Read more...]
More Van Halen Road Stories In Latest Episode Of The Roth Show
When Van Halen shot up a Florida hotel pool with Japanese pellet rifles. That's what's on David Lee Roth's mind in episode six of The Roth Show. Dave takes us back to the time Van Halen stopped in Florida while on tour in 1978. After the show [which included Dave's 95-year old grandmother at the show], they checked into a Holiday Inn. While there, Dave, Eddie, Alex and Mike … [Read more...]