Keefer Madness

David Lee Roth Vents About Van Halen’s Future

// February 13th, 2013 // No Comments » // Music, Van Halen

Here’s a new interview from just the other day in Rolling Stone with Mr. Non Sequitur himself, making a lot of sense, and not pulling any punches.

I never thought I’d feel bad for David Lee Roth, but this new interview shows Roth wants to be making new music and touring in new places. As former members Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone have all alluded to, the Van Halen brothers — specifically Ed are strange and a bit of questionable to motivate to keep on music.

It’s really sad, as a fan of all incarnations of the band.

David Lee Roth Vents About Van Halen’s Future

Full Blast & Top Down: The Making of Van Halen’s 1984 (Part 1)

// December 18th, 2012 // No Comments » // Music, Van Halen

Nice multi-part article on the making of the great Van Halen album that brought us tracks like “Jump,” “Panama” and “Hot for Teacher.”

Love excerpts like this:

On the final run through, though, as Eddie was playing the last notes of the solo—which attain the whizz-bang of a firework—one of the studio monitors promptly blew up and caught fire.

Full Blast & Top Down: The Making of 1984 (Part 1)

Irreplaceable Replacements

// September 8th, 2012 // 1 Comment » // Music, Van Halen

Nice article over on the Van Halen News Desk. When is a band no longer the original band? Van Halen has always been at the forefront of this, cycling through three different lead singers and two bass players. They may get a pass a bit though when 3/4 of the current incarnation of the band all have the last name of “Van Halen.”

Love all the examples of other bands with changing members. I also had no clue that Phil Collins filled in for the late John Bonham during Farm Aid. To the YouTubes!

Irreplaceable Replacements

Soundcheck Video: “Unchained”, “Runnin’ With The Devil”, “She’s The Woman”, “Tattoo” (Soundboard Audio)

// July 13th, 2012 // 1 Comment » // Music, Van Halen

Love this, great audio from the soundcheck of the show my co-worker and I went to in Greensboro, NC back a few months ago. Wolfgang’s backing vocals are great. As many have alluded to over this tour, the Van Halen trio you’re hearing here are great — it’s Diamond Dave that’s the disappointment on this tour.

Soundcheck Video: “Unchained,” “Runnin’ With The Devil,” “She’s The Woman,” “Tattoo” (Soundboard Audio)

Van Halen Greensboro, NC 4/21/2012 Set List

// April 22nd, 2012 // No Comments » // Music, Van Halen

Really enjoyed the show last night with the Van Halen trio and Roth at the helm, even though Roth had some issues here and there. Expect a full review soon.

In the meantime, here’s the set list from last night.

Unchained
Runnin’ With the Devil
She’s the Woman
Romeo Delight
Tattoo
Everybody Wants Some
Somebody Get Me a Doctor
China Town
Hear About It Later
Pretty Woman
Drum Solo
You Really Got Me
The Trouble With Never
Dance the Night Away
I’ll Wait
Hot for Teacher
Women in Love
Outta Love Again
Beautiful Girls
Ice Cream Man
Panama
Ed Solo
Ain’t Talkin ‘Bout Love
Jump

Grammys Making Me Feel Old

// February 12th, 2012 // No Comments » // Music, Reviews

As Amanda and I are laying here watching the 64th Grammy Awards, my wife is feeling nostalgic with Jennifer Hudson’s performance of the now late Whitney Houston’s rendition of “I Will Always Love You.”

I’m just feeling old though. I didn’t recognize any of the best new artist nominees. I knew none of the rap songs (and only one of the artist combos in that category: Jay-Z and Kanye).

Out of all the performers tonight, I only cared about seeing the Foo Fighters and Kelly Clarkson — and Kelly Clarkson was only on to perform the duet with Jason Aldean, which she totally carries. I wish she had the opportunity to perform something from her Stronger album. I’m biased, but still.

I don’t get the Nicki Minaj thing. I think music should be about, well the music. Screw this performance art BS, and lip syncing crap. Both the Foos and Clarkson I can appreciate as true artists — whose albums and live performances rival each other.

I just feel old after tonight’s Grammy Awards. I’ll go back to my rotation of Foo Fighters, Kelly Clarkson and Van Halen now.

P.S. I did appreciate the end jam session with Sir Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl and others — that was real music and talent in my book.

A Look Back at Van Halen’s ’1984′

// December 12th, 2011 // No Comments » // Music, Van Halen

Came across this great article about the last album from the classic Van Halen lineup of Dave, Ed, Alex and Michael. Here’s to hoping the new year brings us a new album that has 3/4 of that classic lineup. In the meantime, here’s a good read about the album that spawned such great tracks as “Jump,” “Panama” and “Hot For Teacher.”

Also, I love the article’s stat about the classic lineup, “6 years, 6 albums, 60 songs and slightly over three hours of recorded music.”

A Look Back at Van Halen’s ’1984′

Roth Driving Force Behind Van Halen/Interscope Signing

// November 15th, 2011 // No Comments » // Music, Van Halen

Interesting insider/behind-the-scenes information about Van Halen getting a new record deal with Interscope.

It’s going to be weird to get a Van Halen album that’s not on Warner Bros. It’s been 35 years of Warner Bros./Van Halen music.

Roth Driving Force Behind Van Halen/Interscope Signing

Van Halen Turbo-Pop

// August 6th, 2011 // No Comments » // Music, Van Halen

The good ol’ Van Halen News Desk posted this Monday—an old and interesting story of late 70′s (and early Van Halen) rock n roll antics. Say what you like about David Lee Roth, but the guy knows a lot about putting on a good show for the fans.

Van Halen Turbo-Pop

New Van Halen Music Sounds Like Old School Van Halen

// July 2nd, 2011 // No Comments » // Music, Van Halen

Man, this is sounding promising. Maybe, just maybe my comment yesterday about vaporware will be shown unfounded. Guitarist Mark Tremonti, formerly of Creed (though sounds like there may be a reunion there at some point) and now Alter Bridge, got the chance to hear all the instrumentals from the forthcoming Van Halen album at 5150 studios. I’m jealous, and hoping the album is getting closer to having a release date. Let’s hope it’s a 2011 date.

He had a couple of interesting tidbits in that they tried to utilize unused bits from the original Roth-era run, so the music sounds like old school Van Halen. Can’t wait to hear it—good or bad, but it sure is sounding like it’s going to be good.

New Van Halen Music Sounds Like Old School Van Halen