By Steve Newton Here's a special treat for all you Van Halen freaks out there--even the ones who liked the Sammy years. For the first time ever the entire audio of my 1995 interview with Alex Van Halen is being offered to the public for free, thanks to a partnership between Ear of Newt and … Continue reading Ear of Newt and the Tapes Archive present the Alex Van Halen 1995 interview
Tag: Alex Van Halen interview 1995
That time I asked Alex Van Halen how he thought Van Halen had evolved musically since Sammy Hagar joined
By Steve Newton When I interviewed Alex Van Halen back in 1995 his band was touring behind Balance, its fourth and final studio album with Sammy Hagar at the mike. At one point in the conversation I asked Alex how he would say the band had evolved musically since Sammy joined for 5150. Have a … Continue reading That time I asked Alex Van Halen how he thought Van Halen had evolved musically since Sammy Hagar joined
Alex Van Halen: the five best quotes I ever got from Van Halen’s drum legend
By Steve Newton I haven't interviewed that many drummers over the years, mainly because when I cover a band I shoot for the guitarist, since that's the instrument I'm most drawn to. But after interviewing Alex Van Halen on August 6, 1995, in advance of a Van Hagar show on the Balance tour, I should … Continue reading Alex Van Halen: the five best quotes I ever got from Van Halen’s drum legend
That time Alex Van Halen told me why his band chose “incredible guy” Bruce Fairbairn to produce Balance
By Steve Newton On January 24, 1995, Van Halen released Balance, its 10th studio album and the last of the four that featured Sammy Hagar on lead vocals. The LP--which hit #1 on the Billboard chart and sold over three-million copies in the U.S. alone--was produced by Vancouver's Bruce Fairbairn, who had previously helmed multiplatinum … Continue reading That time Alex Van Halen told me why his band chose “incredible guy” Bruce Fairbairn to produce Balance
That time Alex Van Halen told me that his band switched producers in ’94 because they didn’t want to make For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge Part 2
By Steve Newton When I interviewed Alex Van Halen on the phone from Boston back in August of 1995, Van Halen was touring behind its latest album, Balance, which hit #1 on the Billboard chart and sold more than three million copies in the U.S. alone. Balance had been produced by big-shot Vancouver knob-twiddler Bruce … Continue reading That time Alex Van Halen told me that his band switched producers in ’94 because they didn’t want to make For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge Part 2
That time I asked Alex Van Halen what the best thing was about being in Van Halen
By Steve Newton Here's the last excerpt I'm gonna post from my 1995 interview with Alex Van Halen. I'd like to thank author Greg Renoff for his help in getting these audio clips to the hardcore Van Halen fans. I highly recommend his book Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved … Continue reading That time I asked Alex Van Halen what the best thing was about being in Van Halen
That time Alex Van Halen told me which drummer first blew him away with style and feel
By Steve Newton Everybody has their favourite all-time rock drummer. Mine, for example, was the Who's Keith Moon, who won me over forever with his frenzied work on Quadrophenia. Many others point to the precise timekeeping of Led Zeppelin skinbasher John Bonham. When I interviewed Alex Van Halen back in 1995 he told me that Moon … Continue reading That time Alex Van Halen told me which drummer first blew him away with style and feel
That time Alex Van Halen told me how early on he and Eddie discovered the fascinating power of live music
By Steve Newton We've all heard the old joke before: "What do you call somebody who hangs around with musicians? A drummer." I think it's fair to say that drummers don't always get the credit they deserve. I haven't interviewed that many over the years--for the simple fact that I prefer talking to guitarists--but some … Continue reading That time Alex Van Halen told me how early on he and Eddie discovered the fascinating power of live music
That time I asked Alex Van Halen when he first knew that Eddie had the makings of a guitar legend
By Steve Newton Everybody remembers the first time they heard Eddie Van Halen. Or they should, anyway. For me it was sometime in early '78 when the band's first single, "You Really Got Me", scorched the airwaves. It was clear right away that the guy creating the six-string racket had the makings of a guitar … Continue reading That time I asked Alex Van Halen when he first knew that Eddie had the makings of a guitar legend
That time I asked Alex Van Halen which of Van Halen’s David Lee Roth-era albums was his fave
By Steve Newton If you asked me which of Van Halen's David Lee Roth-era albums was my fave, I'd probably have to say the first one. I mean, that album is pretty freakin' hard to beat. I liked Van Halen II a lot as well, but there was nothing like hearing Eddie for the first … Continue reading That time I asked Alex Van Halen which of Van Halen’s David Lee Roth-era albums was his fave
That time Alex Van Halen told me that Sammy Hagar was almost Van Halen’s first singer
By Steve Newton Everybody knows that David Lee Roth was Van Halen's first singer. But not everybody knows that he almost wasn't Van Halen's first singer. At least that's the "little dirt" that Alex Van Halen dished up for me when I interviewed him back in 1995. Have a listen: To hear my full 21-minute … Continue reading That time Alex Van Halen told me that Sammy Hagar was almost Van Halen’s first singer
That time I asked Alex Van Halen about his earliest memories of jamming with Eddie
By Steve Newton I haven't interviewed that many drummers over the years--mainly because I like talking to guitarists more--but when Van Hagar was heading to Vancouver for a show in 1995 and the opportunity came to chat with Alex Van Halen I didn't turn it down. And boy was I glad I didn't, because he … Continue reading That time I asked Alex Van Halen about his earliest memories of jamming with Eddie