Twenty years ago, when Ramses Rios sat down to play the video game Grand Theft Auto, he was a fourth grader raised on classical music. Rock and Roll music wasn't even on his radar. Then he heard David Lee Roth's music for the first time. "I became a fan when I heard 'Yankee Rose' for the very first time while playing a video game in 4th grade back in 2002," said Rios. … [Read more...]
The VHND ‘This Week In Van Halen History’ Trivia Challenge
Sammy's solo return, a Van Halen stomper blasts while the tires burn. Which monster band came first? Which 'Balance' single came last? We went back through the VH history books to come up with over a handful of moments that happened on this week. It's time to find out just how well you know your Van Halen history with the VHND "This Week In Van Halen History" Trivia … [Read more...]
Tone Chaser: One Man’s Pursuit Of The Classic Eddie Van Halen Sound
Capturing Eddie Van Halen's early-era tone is much like cracking a secret code. It's no easy task and it most definitely won't happen overnight. Take twenty-six year-old Cameron Brown for example. He's been chasing Eddie's classic "Eruption" tone since he was 11. It's only now that he feels he's ready to share it with the world. Brown is a second-generation Van Halen fan who … [Read more...]
What Are The Ten Best Van Halen Deep Cuts?
Just how deep will you go when it comes to your Van Halen fix? Of the 131 songs in Van Halen's catalogue, 56 of them were released as singles. That leaves another 75 songs that can be referred to as "album tracks" or "deep cuts". Just recently, Metal Injection's Andrew Kapper posted his own ten best Van Halen deep cut list, which included the tracks "Baluchitherium", … [Read more...]
Michael Anthony Says Van Halen Tribute Talks May Be Too Early, Alex ‘Still Healing’ [UPDATED WITH AUDIO]
Asked if a Van Halen tribute project will eventually happen, Michael Anthony says it's certainly possible but giving Alex Van Halen time to heal is the priority. During his appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk" this week (June 2nd), Anthony stated that he has spoken with Alex and David Lee Roth regarding a possible tribute to Eddie Van Halen but made it … [Read more...]
‘Diver Down’ 40th Anniversary Tribute!
‘It’s not heavy metal and it’s not The Temptations, but it’s something in between.’—David Lee Roth Forty years ago today, April 14th, 1982, Van Halen released their most unique, odd, and light-hearted album. Enjoy our tribute to Diver Down! Diver Down, Temperature Up By John Scanlan Before the making of Fair Warning, Roth had moved to an apartment block … [Read more...]
Everybody Still Wants Some ‘Women & Children First’! Van Halen’s Third Studio Album Released On This Day In 1980
Here's the Van Halen News Desk's extensive tribute to Van Halen's third studio album Women & Children First, which was released 42 years ago today... Release Date:March 26, 1980Recorded:December 1979 - February 1980Length:33:13Producer:Ted TemplemanPreceded By:Van Halen IISucceeded By:Fair Warning Track listing: 1. And The Cradle Will Rock...2. Everybody … [Read more...]
A Tribute To ‘Van Halen II’ – Released On This Day In 1979
Release Date:March 23, 1979Recorded:December 1978 - January 1979 at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, CALength:32:00Producer:Ted TemplemanPreceded By:Van HalenSucceeded By:Women and Children First Van Halen II: 1. You're No Good2. Dance The Night Away3. Somebody Get Me A Doctor4. Bottoms Up!5. Outta Love Again6. Light Up The Sky7. Spanish Fly8. D.O.A.9. Women … [Read more...]
The Story Of Kurt Jefferis’ ‘Lost Weekend’ With Van Halen
On this day in 1984, Kurt Jefferis won a “Lost Weekend With Van Halen” MTV contest out of more than 1 million entrants. This is his story! When MTV announced its "Lost Weekend With Van Halen" contest in early 1984, the network received over a million postcard entries for a chance to spend three days with the band during their 1984 tour. The lottery couldn't have … [Read more...]
LISTEN: ‘Unchained: The Eddie Van Halen Story’ Author Paul Brannigan Exclusive Interview
The VHND's Eric Senich talked with author Paul Brannigan to talk about his book Unchained: The Eddie Van Halen Story! Here's a rundown of the topics covered in the interview: Eddie's guitar and recorder always by his sideThe influence parents Jan and Eugenia had on EddieForget the Fab Four, Eddie's fire was lit by The Dave Clark Five!Eric Clapton was the Cream of the … [Read more...]
Should ‘Without You’ Have Been Left Out Of Van Halen’s ‘Best Of Both Worlds’ Compilation?
On this day in 1998 Van Halen released the single "Without You", the very first to feature Gary Cherone on lead vocals. The track debuted at number one on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Yet, when Van Halen released their Best Of Both Worlds compilation in 2004, "Without You" was not included among the 36 "best" Van Halen tracks. Should it have been? Let's first go … [Read more...]
‘Unchained’ Author Paul Brannigan Talks Eddie Van Halen On Chris Jericho Podcast
Author Paul Brannigan recently appeared on the Talk is Jericho podcast to share stories from his brand-new book "Unchained: The Eddie Van Halen Story". Here is a quick rundown of what Jericho and Brannigan cover in the interview, which you can listen to in its entirity below: Eddie's childhood yearsWhy wasn't Van Halen bigger in the UK?The rocky relationship between Eddie … [Read more...]