Arise, Sir AVH: Alex Van Halen knighted in the Netherlands for his part in writing a “remarkable chapter in the history of rock music” Drummer received the award in the town of Nijmegen MusicRadar · Sep 3
“Eddie would say, ‘Can you hit this note?’ I’d hit it and everybody would go, ‘Wow!’ And from there I could just see Eddie opening up as a musician and a songwriter”: Sammy Hagar recalls the making of Van Halen’s classic album 5150 “The studio was a two-car garage turned into a control room and a room. It was really tight in there” MusicRadar · Sep 2
“On a couple of gigs we had Eddie Van Halen playing with us. He said, ‘I can't play on that!’ I said, ‘Yes, you can!’” Albert Lee is the legendary British picker who found his home in country music – and made guitar heroes quake in their boots The icon of rock and country guitar tells all: what it was like performing alongside Eric Clapton and George Harrison, how he inspired Jimmy Page and why he hates distortion Guitar World · Sep 2
The strange story of Brian May, Eddie Van Halen, a kids’ TV theme and the most unlikely collaboration of the 1980s: “It was like going down a really challenging ski run. I was very much conscious of his talent and his incredible aura” What happened when two of rock’s most famous guitarists teamed up in the studio Louder · Aug 30
There’s nothing ‘Mickey Mouse’ about my Van Halen thesis Letter: Asking specific questions about culture and answering them with care is what universities have been doing for a long time, writes Greg White The Guardian - UK · Aug 27
“He and Eddie Van Halen were the only two I really stayed in touch with”: Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi on collaborating with Queen guitarist and “best friend” Brian May for new solo album From The Dark May contributes to the song Death Wake on Iommi’s long-awaited solo comeback Metal Hammer · Aug 27
“Eddie Van Halen came over and yelled at me for not doing anything”: Lita Ford on how Eddie Van Halen encouraged her to kickstart her solo career after The Runaways The guitarist had taken a break from the rockstar life and started working at a department store when Van Halen came knocking Guitar World · Aug 20
No-one nails Eddie Van Halen’s playing quite like Jacob Deraps – now he’s the face of the new EVH Wolfgang: “This guy gets as close as I’ve ever heard anyone” The Van Halen-obsessed shredder has called working on the guitar's new promo video a “dream come true” Guitar World · Aug 18
“There’s a subtle slickness to what we do. We love session guys and have respect for Toto and the Wrecking Crew”: Meet Robert Jon and the Wreck, the rock fanatics who sound like they rolled out of Georgia in ’82 Eddie Van Halen, the Allmans, Tom Petty… The list of influences is long and it all goes into the Orange County rocker's ’70s-flavored stew Guitar World · Aug 18
Albert Lee reveals the guitar technique Eddie Van Halen was reluctant to try: “He said, ‘I can’t play on that!’ I said, ‘Yes, you can – you can do all that tapping!’” Lee looks back on his days in one of guitar’s all-time greatest secret supergroups Guitar World · Aug 12
“I’d love to go and see him but I probably wouldn't stay for the whole concert”: What Jeff Beck thought about Eddie Van Halen Beck shared his thoughts on the Van Halen school of guitar back in 1985 Guitar World · Aug 3
“A holy grail artifact from the peak of their stadium-rock dominance”: Eddie Van Halen’s old guitar tech and a superfan have helped put together ‘the ultimate Van Halen guitar auction’ A collection of studio and stage gear amassed over the years is going under the hammer Guitar World · Jul 27
“I wanna say from the bottom of my heart, I’m sorry. I hope you’re well”: Sammy Hagar sends David Lee Roth support after sudden tour cancellation Hagar has rallied behind Roth after the latter quietly cancelled a string of US dates Guitar World · Jul 24
“I hope you’re well. I hope there’s not a physical problem”: David Lee Roth has suddenly cancelled his US tour – and he’s got a surprising message of support from his nemesis Sammy Hagar “Come on, join us in Vegas, sing a couple of songs, MC the damn show” Louder · Jul 24
Guitar World · Jul 22 “I gave Eddie Van Halen the parts, and the next time I saw the guitar he had used a spray can to paint it white with black stripes”: How Charvel spawned a custom shop revolution – and became the premier guitar maker in the age of shredders Wayne Charvel's namesake brand started life as a small parts and repair facility and ended up building guitars played by the biggest virtuosos on the planet
MusicRadar · Jul 22 Remembering Wayne Charvel, the visionary luthier and Superstrat pioneer who built guitars for Deep Purple, ZZ Top and Eddie Van Halen – and started the hot-rod revolution that changed the world The Charvel founder and legendary custom builder for guitar's biggest names has died, aged 85
Guitar World · Jul 20 “His impact will live on for generations”: Wayne Charvel, legendary luthier who built guitars for Eddie Van Halen and gave rise to the Superstrat, dies aged 85 The revered guitar builder was one of the most influential modders and makers of his time, and sparked the custom shop revolution
Guitar World · Jul 20 “Ihad to make sure he had all the tones he needed – the intro to Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love is like taking a flint and stone to make a spark”: How a glam-metal guitarist built Joe Satriani an amp that captured Eddie Van Halen’s tone 3rd Power’s Dylana Nova Scott leaned on an impressive production background to design boutique amps for some of the biggest names in the biz
Guitar World · Jul 16 “When I first played Jump for the guys nobody wanted anything to do with it. Dave said I was a guitar hero and I shouldn’t be playing keyboards”: The story of Van Halen’s 1984, and the end of the David Lee Roth era Creative differences led to Roth’s departure the following year, but 1984 found the band firing on all cylinders, as Eddie Van Halen embraced his pop sensibilities while retaining the musical adventurism that made him the greatest of all time
Guitar World · Jul 13 “Dave had a beat-up, noisy cassette of Steve Vai. We listened together in some garage with the tape player on the fender of a car. I said to Dave, ‘That’s the guy’”: How David Lee Roth put Van Halen behind him with one of rock's greatest supergroups In late 1985, Diamond Dave's Hollywood dreams were dashed – but with some help from Vai, Billy Sheehan, and Gregg Bissonette, he firmly established himself as a superstar in his own right
MusicRadar · Jul 11 “What makes this album so interesting is the fact that there are guitars that are not totally in tune – but good luck trying to get a take as good as that!”: The creative genius and ‘insane’ methodology in Van Halen’s biggest selling album “Eddie and Alex jammed for hours and hours, day after day, until they hit upon something so unique that is so perfectly natural”
Guitar World · Jul 5 “We finished my solo record. Alex heard it, and he goes, ‘Hey, why didn't we put that on a Van Halen record!’” Sammy Hagar reveals the Eddie Van Halen-produced track that could have been on a Van Halen album Alex Van Halen largely preferred his brother Eddie to remain the band's chief songwriter – but couldn't resist this Hagar-penned track after it appeared on the frontman's solo album
Guitar World · Jul 2 “Roth came over to me – he was wearing this little vest, had a cane, and his hair was dyed like a skunk. He said, ‘How do you like my boys?’” How Michael Anthony went from playing backyard parties to sellout crowds with Van Halen From humble beginnings to one of rock’s biggest bands, Michael Anthony revisits the defining moments of his Van Halen story
Guitar World · Jun 25 “I said, ‘But Ed’s still alive. He’s still making amazing records. He’s still on tour. What guitar player would ever try to imitate him while he’s still working?’”: Joe Satriani recalls being approached by David Lee Roth for a Van Halen cover band Satch may be filling Van Halen’s shoes during the Sammy Hagar-led Best of All Worlds tour, but he was reluctant for decades to play the legendary guitarist’s parts
Metal Hammer · Jun 17 "I thought it was the lamest song I ever wrote in my life. It took me six months before I worked up the nerve to show the guys." The story of the Van Halen classic written to mock punk and embraced by the punk rockers Producer Ted Templeman says Van Halen's Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love is his favourite song from all those he's worked on