Alex Van Halen was one of the most interesting and enlightening interview subjects I've come across in nearly 40 years of rock writing.
Tag: Alex Van Halen
Remembering the godawful album cover that was nearly Van Halen’s debut
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 19, 2015 By Steve Newton In a story posted on the Ultimate Classic Rock website today, rock historian Greg Renoff—who has a book on Van Halen coming out this year—writes about the artwork that almost became the cover of the band's monumental debut album of 1978. Apparently, the powers-that-be at the group's label, Warner Bros., … Continue reading Remembering the godawful album cover that was nearly Van Halen’s debut
Van Halen kicks Vancouver’s ass before new singer Sammy Hagar channels Hugh Hefner backstage
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 31, 1986 By Steve Newton Things started off pretty bad at Van Halen's B.C. Place concert last Thursday (October 23). But they got progressively better as the night wore on. And by the end of the show there were no complaints at all. The reason for the poor start was the reincarnation of Vancouver's … Continue reading Van Halen kicks Vancouver’s ass before new singer Sammy Hagar channels Hugh Hefner backstage
Alex Van Halen on Hagar and Roth, the magic of Eddie, and finding Balance with Bruce Fairbairn
Sometimes it seems as if there are two kinds of people in the world: David Lee Roth folks and Sammy Hagar folks.
Van Halen still brings the dynamite in both hands
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 28, 2004 By Steve Newton Much has been made of the Sam & Dave controversy in regard to American hard-rock legends Van Halen. There are those who scoff at the idea of the band existing without original vocalist David Lee Roth, while others feel that his replacement, Sammy Hagar, has … Continue reading Van Halen still brings the dynamite in both hands
Van Halen’s Vancouver show reveals its glory days are fading fast
photo by rebecca blissett ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 8, 2012 Some rock bands from the '70s can still bring the dynamite in both hands. The last time I saw Aerosmith—at Rogers Arena in 2010—they overcame rumours of a pending breakup by delivering a flawless, electrifying set. And two years before that, AC/DC roared through … Continue reading Van Halen’s Vancouver show reveals its glory days are fading fast