Exclusive: Before Van Halen exploded in 1978 and started being featured in national music magazines, a small rock fanzine covering mostly local Los Angeles bands scored an interview with the lead singer of Van Halen. This interview took place backstage at the Whisky A Go-Go, in September of 1977, nearly half a year before Van Halen's first album hit the record stores! Raw … [Read more...]
Here’s When Eddie Van Halen Painted His Red/Black/White Guitar!
Legend has it that Eddie Van Halen painted his Frankenstrat guitar (also known as The Frankenstein) with the iconic red/black/white color scheme sometime in early 1979. We've just figured out that it was almost certainly the last week of March when he painted it. That makes it 35 years ago this week that the famous guitarist transformed his white guitar (with black stripes) … [Read more...]
VHND’a All Access Photo: Eddie Last Night At The L.A. Kings Game
Eddie Van Halen last night at the L.A. kings game. He went with Wolf and Eric Friedman of Tremonti. “All Access” Photos is a weekly feature at VHND.com. Every weekend we feature a photo from a roadie, friend, or band insider. Many are never-seen-before exclusives. Tune in every weekend for more! … [Read more...]
Van Halen: Intimate Pics of the Early Days
From Rolling Stone: Amazing vintage photos of Eddie and Co. through the lens of Mark Weiss Greetings From Asbury Park Mark Weiss was still in high school when he began sneaking into New Jersey concerts with his camera in the mid-Seventies. "I'd give the guy at the door three or four dollars," he says. "I'd stuff my camera under a baggy sweatshirt and between bands … [Read more...]
This Day in ’79: Van Halen Kicks Off First Headlining Tour! (Video)
Embed from Getty Images On March 25th 1979, two days after the release of their second album, Van Halen kicked off their very first headlining tour! On the first world tour a year earlier, Van Halen were like caged animals on stage, touring as the opening act for Black Sabbath and Journey. Limited to a brief 30 to 40 minute slot each night (often sabotaged by the … [Read more...]