The Latest Breaking News from Van Halen

“I don't think the term ‘Heavy Metal’ was used for Led Zeppelin”: So what was the first metal album to hit No 1 in the US?

Was it Randy Rhoads’ old band Quiet Riot that made history?

MusicRadar · Jan 13, 2025

“Jim Morrison was carried out. Jimi Hendrix was there. We were all getting drunk”: Ritchie Blackmore recalls the first time he saw two-hand tapping – at a wild show in 1968

Years before Eddie Van Halen put it in the early pages of the guitar textbook, Harvey Mandel was highlighting his performances with flourishes of two-hand tapping – grabbing the attention of onlookers in the process…

Guitar World · Jan 11, 2025

“We’re going to release an end-all-be-all amplifier with his name on it”: Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and Metallica are among the rock royalty who used José Arredondo’s legendary amps. Now Dave Friedman is honoring his legacy with a definitive model

With the blessing of Arredondo’s family, Friedman will build a highly limited amp that encompasses most of the late amp guru’s elusive mods

Guitar World · Jan 9, 2025

“It was fun. He was a great player”: Mike Rutherford on his surprise collaboration with Eddie Van Halen

The bad news? “I can’t find the tape!”

MusicRadar · Dec 18, 2024

“Joe Perry was running close to 15 cabs on stage, and he ended up asking Tony to turn down. The amp was only on 4”: From Eddie Van Halen’s amps to the art of boosting, here are Tony Iommi’s tone secrets – from the man who knows them best

Producer Mike Exeter has worked with Iommi for over three decades, and knows exactly what the Godfather of Heavy Metal wants from his sound – and just how to get it

Guitar World · Dec 17, 2024

“He goes, ‘There’s one condition. You have to come to my house, and I’ll stripe it for you personally’”: That time Eddie Van Halen promised Dimebag Darrell a collectible EVH inspired by his beloved Bumblebee – which he vowed to paint himself

Dimebag had designs on getting his name down for a limited-edition Charvel EVH Art Series guitar, but when Van Halen himself found out, he promised to go one step further

Guitar World · Dec 17, 2024

“He turned it up, and it was uncontrollable”: Eddie Van Halen on the time Billy Corgan played through his rig – and why his setup shocked the Smashing Pumpkins frontman

Finding EVH's rig almost impossible to wrangle, Corgan figured, mistakenly, that there was something he could quickly disable to tame it

Guitar World · Dec 13, 2024

“It blew my mind as a 12-year-old”: Dweezil Zappa shares the surprising beginner guitar lessons he learned from Eddie Van Halen

Zappa first met Van Halen when he was just 12 years old, and it wasn’t long before he was receiving lessons from the guitar god – on his legendary Frankenstein

Guitar World · Dec 12, 2024

“I was approached to join David Lee Roth’s band, initially… I didn’t want to be Eddie Van Halen part two”: Steve Stevens on laying down the Dirty Diana solo with Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones, recording Rebel Yell – and why Vai got it right with Roth

Billy Idol guitarist discusses the folk guitar lick he adapted for one of his boss’ biggest hits, his secret-weapon amp, and how his early work is echoed in Idol’s upcoming return-to-punk record

Guitar World · Dec 12, 2024

“I bought my ’54 Strat from the biggest dealer in Sweden – he was crying when I walked away with the guitar”: Brian May, Steve Vai and Neal Schon have all given Yngwie Malmsteen guitars – but nothing compares to his Fender Strats

Malmsteen descends from shred mountain to dispense wisdom on all matters gear, how to buy it, single coils vs humbuckers and to reminisce about some of his best gear purchases

Guitar World · Dec 6, 2024