Eddie Van Halen

Fri
19
Jun

EDDIE VAN HALEN Billboard June 19 Cover & Interview

Artist: 
Release Year: 
2015
Categories: 
News Feed
Billboard Cover Sneak Peek: 5 Ways Eddie Van Halen Breaks the Rock-Star Rules
By  | June 18, 2015 10:35 PM EDT
Van Halen is about to embark on a 40-plus-date North American tour. But when legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen takes the stage with the band (starting July in Seattle), fans won't be in the presence of a typical hell-raising rock star, even if his technique did inspire scores of hell-raising metal bands. He's been sober since 2008, but kicking alcohol is only the tip of the iceberg.
For Billboard's latest cover story, out Friday, June 19, we caught up with Eddie Van Halen, who wasn't shy about his atypical rock star ways. He hates touring (and doesn't have much of a relationship with flamboyant frontman David Lee Roth), but is hitting the road anyway. He continues to make new music (Van Halen released a the LP A Different Kind of Truth in 2012) but doesn't listen to anyone else's music, new or old. Here are five reasons there's no other rocker quite like Eddie Van Halen: 
1. He Partied in His Heyday, But Not Exactly Like a Rock Star
Like the rest of Van Halen, Eddie indulged in drugs and alcohol, but not while partying. Drug and alcohol-free since 2008, he told Billboard about how he would get drunk and snort cocaine alone at night in hotel rooms, just to experiment with the guitar: "The blow keeps you awake and the alcohol lowers your inhibitions," Van Halen says. "I'm sure there were musical things I would not have attempted were I not in that mental state." 
2. He Doesn't Listen to Any New Music 
Not only does he not listen to old Van Halen records, but the guitarist hasn't purchased new music since 1986. That special album was Peter Gabriel's So. And new music? Don't even think about it. "I couldn't make a contemporary record if I wanted to, because I don't know what contemporary music sounds like," he admitted to Billboard. He does occasionally listen to Yo-Yo Ma (because he love the sound of the cello), so there's that.
3. He Dresses Normcore
Okay, so there are punk and indie musicians who rock the regular Joe look, but few rock stars from Van Halen's era will say, "I'm a T-shirt and jeans guy." And he definitely didn't bond with former Van Halen singer Gary Cherone over clothing choices: "We were getting ready to go on tour, and all of a sudden I see this John Travolta outfit -- these big lapels and a crazy jacket. He's like, 'This is my stage outfit.' That's when I realized it wasn't going to work," says  
4. He Played on Michael Jackson's Iconic 'Beat It' -- But Doesn't Think It's a Big Deal
When asked about playing the guitar solo on Michael Jackson's "Beat It," Van Halen simply refers to it as "20 minutes of my life," and figures he probably should have gotten songwriting credit, but doesn't seem to care much for not making any money off it:
 "I literally thought to myself, 'Who is possibly going to know if I play on this kid's record?' So I went to the studio and listened to the song twice, and I didn't like the section they wanted me to solo over. They wanted me to solo over the breakdown. I asked [Thriller producer] Quincy Jones to edit the chords underneath the solo," he recalls. "Then I could play the solo in the key of E, but it was the chords underneath that made the solo interesting. So I guess I did rearrange it."
5. He Doesn't Remember His Own Band's Lyrics 
Aside from not being able to read music, Eddie admits he's also forgotten many of the lyrics to Van Halen's songs. And though he barely has a relationship with David Lee Roth, he soldiers on for the fans: "I think it's now built into people's DNA, that it just won't be Van Halen if it's not Roth's voice," he explains. "You make music for people. Otherwise, just play in your closet. And how do you reach the most people? By giving them the band that they know. To do it any other way would be selfish.”
Read Eddie Van Halen's Billboard cover story when it's out Friday, June 19.

 

 
Thu
07
May

VAN HALEN - Tokyo Dome In Concert (Review)

information persons: 
content: 
85%
Produced By: 
Van Halen
Release Date: 
2015
Released: 
Worldwide
Musical Style: 
Hard Rock
Label: 
Warner Bros.
Artist: 
Score: 
85
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Categories: 
Reviews
 
Is it at all possible to review this release without making the voice of frontman David Lee Roth an issue? Better for me if I don’t, as lunatic members of the DLR fanclub will certainly riot should anyone dare state the obvious.
But, at the risk of doing something I hate - sitting on the fence - it ain’t that bad. We are talking of course about the current (and recent) vocal abilities of the great Sir David Lee Of The Roth – a frontman so iconic in rock n roll circles that it is almost an 11th commandment to hold him in reverence.
 
I’ll roll out the cliché that Dave was always more frontman and circus ring leader than styled vocalist, but his charisma and charm (plus fronting the best band on the planet) made him a household name.
I like Dave – I like his energy, I like his intelligence and wit and I like (most) of his recorded output over the years.
Yes, his voice is kinda rough, even for an old guy, but his fitness and stage aura is unquestionable and it is that factor that gets him a pass on all concert appearances and therefore this live document of the band’s 2013 tour.
 
I’d probably rather hear Dave then watch Dave, his antics are a bit much sometimes, so the lack of DVD here is not an issue for me.
There is also at least a dozen other Van Halen live concerts that fans rank higher in demand than this outing, but this is both the first appearance of Dave and Wolfgang on any official live release.
Any archival live release would have to involve Michael Anthony (I had to mention him, didn’t I?) and that would just be awkward…right?
 
So, Tokyo Dome - In Concert is here and you know what, I may have a far more enthusiastic love of the Sammy Hagar era (yes, I had to mention him too), but you cannot deny the band is on fire here and Eddie Van Halen – wow. It’s one of life’s joys to hear him play any riff at all, let alone those to the iconic Hot For Teacher, Panama, Unchained, Mean Street and Running With The Devil.
Yes, there are vocals that make you cringe occasionally and yes, they miss that Mike Anthony wail, but this is a pretty nice raw, 100% live on the night recording.
And I’m especially enthusiastic about the new inclusions – China Town, She’s The Woman and Tattoo (ok, maybe a little less so on that one…), but A Different Kind Of Truth was a fricken awesome album and deserves to be part of the classic set list of songs.


I love Van Halen. They frustrate the shit out of me though. I’d much prefer a new/old/anything studio release. C’mon guys, time waits for no man, get on with it! 
But in the meantime this will do for a while, or at least every time it gets warm enough for a BBQ.
 
 
Wed
25
Mar

VAN HALEN To Tour North America Summer/Fall 2015

Artist: 
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Categories: 
Tour News
 
VAN HALEN to Perform March 30 on Hollywood Boulevard for ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ In Rare Television Concert Appearance
Songs from the Concert to be Aired March 30-March 31
 
In celebration of a 2015 Summer/Fall North American Tour, VAN HALEN will perform a special concert for Jimmy Kimmel LiveMarch 30 on Hollywood Boulevard. Featuring some of the band’s essential rock and roll classics, the concert will be broadcast over two nights, March 30 and March 31, on the late night talk show and marks VAN HALEN's first U.S. television performance with original lead singer David Lee Roth. Jimmy Kimmel Live airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. / 10:35 p.m. Central time on ABC.

VAN HALEN is touring North America beginning July 5 in Seattle, Washington at the White River Amphitheatre, with concerts scheduled through October 2 in Los Angeles, California at the legendary Hollywood Bowl. Special guest Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band will support all dates along the tour. Tickets for the Live Nation-promoted tour go on sale beginning April 4 at www.ticketmaster.com and www.livenation.com with special pre-sale information being announced locally. A complete list of tour dates can be found below.

The special Hollywood Boulevard concert will be a hit-heavy set of songs featured on TOKYO DOME LIVE IN CONCERT, the first-ever live album to feature original singer David Lee Roth. Recorded on June 21, 2013 in Tokyo, Japan, TOKYO DOME LIVE IN CONCERT includes 23 songs spanning all seven of the band’s albums with Roth. It is being released as a double CD, four-LP set on 180-gram vinyl and digitally beginning March 31, 2015. Fans who pre-order TOKYO DOME LIVE IN CONCERT before its March 31 release date through Amazon and digitally at iTunes will instantly receive downloads of “Panama,” “Runnin’ With The Devil,” “Jump”and “Hot For Teacher.”

Also being released beginning March 31 are remastered versions of Van Halen and 1984, with remastered versions of Diver Down, Women and Children First, Van Halen II and Fair Warning due out later this spring. Each album has been cut straight from the quarter-inch tapes for CD, 180-gram vinyl and for the digital version by mastering engineer Chris Bellman, who remastered the original albums for Bernie Grundman Studios, Hollywood, CA. These albums are being released beginning March 31 with pre-orders available now through Amazon and iTunes now.

Jimmy Kimmel Live is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format. Jimmy Kimmel and Jill Leiderman serve as executive producers. Jason Schrift, Douglas DeLuca and Erin Irwin serve as co-executive producers. Emmy Award®-winning Jimmy Kimmel Live is shot live in front of a studio audience and produced by Jackhole Industries in association with ABC Studios. (CLOSED-CAPTIONED)

Enjoy Jimmy Kimmel Live on the web at www.abc.com/JimmyKimmeLive and at www.youtube/JimmyKimmelLive. Artwork is available on www.abcmedianet.com and on Facebook.com/JimmyKimmelLive; Twitter @JimmyKimmel #Kimmel

Formed in Los Angeles in 1974, VAN HALENchanged the rock and roll landscape forever with the release of their self-titled, 1978 debut album and subsequently produced a repertoire of hits that remain some of the strongest and most influential rock songs ever written that fans will admire for decades to come. With more than 75 million albums sold worldwide, and more No. 1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart than any other artist, the band's record of achievement is hard to top. The eponymous debut album and 1984were both certified Diamond, for U.S. sales in excess of 10 million, placing them on an elite short list of double RIAA-certified Diamond Award honorees. VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
 
VAN HALEN 2015 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
Sunday July 5, Seattle, WA, White River Amphitheatre
Tuesday July 7, Portland, OR, Amphitheater Northwest
Thursday July 9, Concord, CA, Concord Pavilion
Saturday July 11, San Bernardino, CA, San Manuel Amphitheater
Tuesday July 14, Irvine, CA, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Thursday July 16, Mountain View, CA, Shoreline Amphitheatre
Saturday July 18, Salt Lake City, UT, USANA Amphitheatre
Monday July 20, Morrison, CO, Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Wednesday July 22, Kansas City, MO, Cricket Wireless Amphitheater
Friday July 24, Chicago, IL, First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Sunday July 26, St. Louis, MO, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Tuesday July 28, Pittsburgh, PA, First Niagra Pavilion
Thursday July 30, Bangor, ME, Darling'sWaterfront Pavilion
Saturday August 1, Boston, MA, Xfinity Center
Monday August 3, Cleveland, OH, Blossom Music Center
Wednesday August 5, London, ON, Western Fair District
Friday August 7, Toronto, ON, Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Sunday August 9, Holmdel, NJ, PNC Bank Arts Center
Tuesday August 11, Hartford, CT, Xfinity Center
Thursday August 13, Wantagh, NY, Nikon At Jones Beach Theater
Sunday August 23, Hershey, PA, Hershey Park
Tuesday August 25, Darien Center, NY, Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Thursday August 27, Camden, NJ, Susquehanna Bank Center
Saturday August 29, Washington DC, Jiffy Lube Live
Monday August 31, Cincinnati, OH, Riverbend Music Center
Wednesday September 2, Indianapolis, IN, Klipsch Amphitheatre
Friday September 4, Detroit, MI, DTE Energy Music Theater
Sunday September 6, Bethel, NY, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Wednesday September 9, Raleigh, NC, Walnut Creek Amphitheater
Friday September 11, Charlotte, NC, PNC Music Pavilion
Sunday September 13, Tampa, FL, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Tuesday September 15, West Palm Beach, FL, Coral Sky Amphitheatre
Thursday September 17, Birmingham, AL, Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
Monday September 21, Austin, TX, Austin360 Amphitheater
Wednesday September 23, Dallas, TX, Gexa Energy Pavilion
Friday September 25, Houston, TX, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Monday September 28, Phoenix, AZ, Ak-Chin Pavilion
Wednesday September 30, San Diego, CA, Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Friday October 2, Hollywood, CA, Hollywood Bowl
 
 
Thu
06
Nov

VAN HALEN Rumored To Be In Mixing Stage For New Album

Artist: 
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Categories: 
News Feed
 
As has been the case in the past, everything concerning VAN HALEN this year has been shrouded in mystery and secrecy.
 
But it’s getting close to "go" time again.
 
I have heard from one of my reliable sources that recording of the new VAN HALEN album is complete and the songs recorded are now in the mixing stage with a well-known big name mixer (more on that soon...).
 
I’m told that Eddie and Alex Van Halen are the only members present for the mixing stage.
 
This news ties in with a very similar time frame from 2011, when the band went public in November of that year about their new album A Different Kind Of Truth, which was released in February 2012.
 
Stay tuned for more!
 
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