Credit: Neil Zlozower Van Halen at 50 author Martin Popoff calls Edward Van Halen is this era's "true Mozart" who had tools that no other guitarist had, including the ability to bring "personality" to the guitar. "He might even be the guitarist with the most personality ever on the guitar," said Popoff during a recent interview with the Van Halen News Desk's Eric … [Read more...]
Alex Van Halen’s ‘Brothers’: A Discussion With Authors Greg Renoff & Chris Gill
Credit: Neil Zlozower With the recent announcement of Alex Van Halen's upcoming autobiography Brothers, fans are wondering what we'll read inside the 384-page book due out in October. The Van Halen News Desk reached out to authors Greg Renoff & Chris Gill to get their thoughts on this highly anticipated book. Renoff is the author of Van Halen Rising: How A … [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: Dave's contributions to Van Halen on and off stage Did Dave really quit Van Halen in '85? The DLR movie we never got to see: Crazy From … [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’s Your Ultimate Van Halen Mixtape?
Credit: Neil Zlozower It's time for a throwback party. Forget streaming services, we're looking for someone with the ultimate Van Halen mixtape! The Van Halen News Desk's Eric Senich was a recent guest on the podcast My Weekly Mixtape to come up with the ultimate Van Halen mixtape. A good excuse to ask our VHND readers to get in on the fun. Tell us what your ultimate … [Read more...]
Reliving Van Halen’s Iconic 1983 US Festival Performance
Credit: Neil Zlozower Imagine what it was like being a teenager witnessing Van Halen for the first time. You're among an estimated 670,000 people packed into Glen Helen Regional Park on a hot summer day under the sun for the massive event known as the 1983 US Festival. The Van Halen News Desk spoke with two people who didn't have to imagine it. They lived through the … [Read more...]
A Closer Look At The EVH Guitar Gifted To Jason Becker
On December 14th, the guitar Eddie Van Halen gifted to his friend Jason Becker in 1996 will go up for auction. It was a special gesture from one friend to another. The Van Halen News Desk caught up with Becker's close friend and assistant Stephen Correa to get the story behind this one-of-a-kind guitar and share Becker's inspirational story. As you'll see Correa talk about … [Read more...]
On This Day In 2012: Van Halen Releases ‘A Different Kind Of Truth’ Album [POLL]
It was a day Van Halen fans thought would never come. At one point, Eddie Van Halen himself didn't think it would happen. Yet, there it was - the first Van Halen studio album since 1998 and it featured the return of David Lee Roth on lead vocals. On February 7th, 2012 Van Halen released its twelfth and ultimately final studio album A Different Kind of Truth. It was the … [Read more...]
POLL: ‘Me Wise Magic’ vs ‘Can’t Get This Stuff No More’
On this week in 1996, Van Halen released Best Of - Volume 1. Sure, the album promised to please the casual fans with the familiar hits from the Dave and Sammy eras but what would be a reason for the Van Halen die-hards to spend their hard-earned cash on an album with songs they already owned? The band answered that question with not just one but two reasons - "Me Wise Magic" … [Read more...]
Craig Parker Adams: Beyond The Notes
Credit: Maria Ramirez-Adams This article is a public service announcement to all Van Halen fans who frequent the VHND... Craig Parker Adams is a guitarist we've featured on the Van Halen News Desk multiple times, who's written guitar instrumentals very much influenced and inspired by Eddie Van Halen. We love his music. And a lot of VH fans have loved what they've heard … [Read more...]
Talkin’ ‘Bout Dave & Sammy Then, ‘Right Now’ & In The Future With Author Greg Renoff
The Van Halen News Desk is celebrating the careers of David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar this week as both celebrate birthdays. The VHND's Eric Senich and Van Halen historian Greg Renoff got together to talk the past, present and future of both singers. Renoff - author of "Van Halen Rising: How A Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal" and "Ted Templeman: A … [Read more...]
Happy Birthday Diamond David Lee Roth!
David Lee Roth's two-page spread inside the Fair Warning tour book. A real rock 'n' roll superhero! Happy Birthday, Diamond Dave! Born to Nathan and Sybil Roth on born October 10, 1954 in Bloomington, IN. Just a little over twenty years later, David Lee Roth would begin his reign as one of the world's most well-known rock frontmen and one of the best … [Read more...]