Keefer Madness

Kid Drummer A Viral Phenom With Van Halen’s ‘Hot For Teacher’

// April 4th, 2013 // 1 Comment » // Music, Van Halen, Video

A friend sent me this article/video yesterday, and just had to share it — both because of my obsession with all things Van Halen, but also cause my oldest son seems to share my enthusiasm.

This 6-year-old kid makes the drums in Hot for Teacher look so easy — which they aren’t. This kid total has the double-bass drum down too. Eat your heart out Alex (and Wolfgang) Van Halen. Pretty cool!

Kid Drummer A Viral Phenom With Van Halen’s ‘Hot For Teacher’

Awesome Van Halen Movie Tribute Video Compilation

// March 17th, 2013 // No Comments » // Film, Van Halen

I knew about a lot of these, but had no idea on some of these Van Halen references in film over the year. Some my favorite moments in film are in here from films like Back to the Future, Airheads, Superbad and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.

Pretty cool video compilation of them all. Love it!

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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

The Famous Van Halen Brown M&Ms Contract Rider Gets the Infographic Treatment

// January 4th, 2013 // No Comments » // Music, Van Halen

I love that the most famous contract rider out there got a nice infographic made up of the contract’s contents.

Van Halen’s “No Brown M&Ms” Concert Rider Infographic

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)

The David Lee Roth Show

// November 15th, 2012 // No Comments » // Music, Van Halen, Video

It’s no secret I’m a huge Van Halen fan, whether it’s Hagar or Roth era — always have been. Always will be. While Hagar is a better Musician and less of an ego-manic, Roth is the ultimate frontman.

And with that being said, with Van Halen on hiatus while Eddie recovers from surgery, Roth finds interesting ways to fill in time and entertain the masses. The latest is the online “Roth Show”, Roth’s self-produced piece available on YouTube, as well as through Podcast catches (including iTunes)

Watch any interview, and the guy is a mile-a-minute non sequitur after non sequitur. The Roth Show is no different. The most recent though was gem — talking about how he prepped for the latest tours, and then concludes with him giving a little retrospective on his career post-1984, analyzing the “Just a Gigolo” music video. I’ve watched it multiple times now, and found it really entertaining and humourous — more so than I usually do with a lot of his ramblings.

Great Songs: Hot for Teacher

// October 3rd, 2012 // No Comments » // Music, Van Halen

I’m quite the Van Halen fan to say the least — doesn’t matter: Dave, Sammy or even Gary. I’m pretty much a fan of everything this band does. I’ve got more useless trivia and information bouncing around in my head about the band, and its individual members.

Aside from the newest coming out of the current incarnation of the recent recording and touring of the “A Different Kind of Truth” album, it’s rare when I read anything new — stories that are anything more than rehash. But lately, there have been several little tidbits, including Van Halen interacting with The Wilson Sisters and Peter Framtpon.

Then came this writeup on the classic “1984″ cut, “Hot for Teacher,” which itself had some interesting stories regarding the recording of the track:

Great Songs: Hot for Teacher

Thanks to the Van Halen News Desk for continuing to unearth new and varied info on the band. A fanboy like myself really appreciates it, and hangs on every detail.

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

Van Halen Retrospective 1978-2012 Fan-Made Video

// July 27th, 2012 // 1 Comment » // Van Halen

Just came across this: a fan-made 30+ minute retrospective of the almost 35 year career of the band. Very well done, and obviously, the soundtrack is great.

I’m glad they didn’t skip out on Hagar (or Cherone). That’s all part of the band’s history too.

Van Halen Retrospective 1978-2012 Fan-Made Video

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Eddie Van Halen On ‘A Different Kind Of Truth’: “We Recorded Demos For 35 Songs”

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

I keep reading about Ed having such a back library of unrecorded tunes. Then, he says they recorded almost three dozen songs for A Different Kind of Truth.

While I don’t doubt it, I wonder about quality. After all, they considered re-recording a bunch of B-sides, and obviously used stuff that became other songs.

Regardless, I’m hopeful for more albums to come from my favorite band.

Eddie Van Halen On ‘A Different Kind Of Truth’: “We Recorded Demos For 35 Songs”