From Guitar World:

Nov 19, 2008
Van Halen: Like Father, Like Son
By Chris Gill

Originally printed in Guitar World, April 2008

Eddie Van Halen put the fire in the group that bears his name. It took his
son, Wolfgang, to rekindle the passion and get the group on the road for
one of the most anticipated reunion tours in rock history. In this world
exclusive interview, the father-and-son duo talks about working and
performing together in Van Halen.

Is musical talent genetically inherited? If your test sample is the Van
Halen family, the answer undoubtedly would be yes and the proof would be
the current Van Halen tour, which features the Van Halen brothers–Alex
and Ed–on drums and guitar respectively, as well as Ed’s 16-year-old son
Wolfgang on bass. Although Wolfgang picked up the bass less than two years
ago, his comfort on arena stages in front of crowds of 20,000 fans
suggests that it was always in his DNA to be a performer.

Wolfgang’s membership in the band may now seem like fate, but Ed was
careful from the beginning to let Wolfgang’s musical interests and talents
develop naturally, even though Ed often hinted that he hoped his kid would
follow in his footsteps. “I’m going to let Wolfgang be whatever he wants
to be,” he stated in 1995 when Wolfgang was only four. “I don’t see how he
won’t somehow be into music, being exposed to it all the time. But I’m not
going to force him to play piano or take music lessons like my parents did
to me.”

For the full article, click the “read the rest” link, below.

Here’s the final two segments of our exclusive interview with Michael Anthony, conducted last month in Cabo. Below are all 8 segments. We hope you enjoy the interview.

Part 1, Chickenfoot:

Part 2, VH Bootlegs & Unreleased footage:

Part 3, Van Halen:

Part 4, Van Halen, continued

Part 5, The internet, newest VH books, Michael’s basses:

Part 6, Hot Sauce, Mad Anthony Xpress

Part 7: Misc.:

Part 8: Rock bands & fans:

Post-interview photo - Michael Anthony with Beth & Jeff from VHND.com. October 2008.

Van Halen Store has a limited supply of this cool Mad Anthony Xpress shirt in L & XL.

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Here’s the next two parts of our exclusive interview with Michael Anthony, conducted last month in Cabo. Parts 1 & 2 were posted a couple weeks ago, here. Parts 3 & 4 were posted last week, here. The final two segments will be posted in a few days. Enjoy.

Part 5: The Internet, the Newest VH Books, Basses:

Part 6: Hot Sauce, Mad Anthony Xpress:

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Here’s the next two parts of our exclusive interview with Michael Anthony, conducted last month in Cabo. Parts 1 & 2 were posted a couple weeks ago, here. Parts 4 & 5 will be posted next week. Enjoy.

Part 3: Van Halen (9:35)

Part 4: Van Halen, continued (8:34)

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A few weeks ago, the Van Halen News Desk featured a story on a California guitarist, Craig Parker Adams, who likes to write instrumentals that sound like early Van Halen.

We recently noticed that he had an interesting video on Youtube that we just had to ask him about. So we did.

The music from the video is from an unrehearsed Van Halen medley that he and his friends jammed one night. Very cool!

The footage, however, is more than just home movies that he threw together. There are some very cool Van Halen-related historical artifacts in there.

First, the video.

Here’s what Craig told us about the video:

That video is about 60% home movie and 40% very cool VH-related things and places.

For the VH-related gear, I went over to my good friend and amp savior, Doug Anderson’s private shop, ” The Tone Zone.” Doug has what he calls the “VH Museum,” and every time I’m there I just soak it up like any true VH fan would. Doug has worked on my amps for quite a while now so when I show up with a camera he couldn’t care less…

So, what are the cool things to look for in this video? I’m holding an odd looking guitar that just might be Ed’s very first guitar! You’ll see the old photograph I’m holding of Ed & Al as little kids and Ed is holding what looks like the same guitar that I’m holding in the next segment. Doug’s collection is off the vintage charts, so there is no reason to doubt the authenticity of this guitar, but he does mention that this has not been officially confirmed by Ed, so that should be noted.

Next, the Red Destroyer that Ed used on some of Women and Children First. Chris Holmes from Wasp lent the guitar to Ed and Neil Zlozower took shots of them in the studio while recording at Sunset Sound. You can see from the original print that Doug got from Zloz that the guitar is leaning right next to Ed. Also, in the upper corner near the frame is a shot of Chris with the guitar. That thing is cool.

The striped shark guitar I’m playing is obviously a replica.

Another really cool piece of gear is one of Ed’s original 4 x12 cabs from Van Halen’s club days and their first world tour. You can see the original club days circa Van Halen logo on the back as well as a cuss word or two all torn up. I love it!

Then there are a few rare and cool old posters I included as well. Doug really has so many great pieces of vintage VH gear from pedal boards to variacs, pick up’s and on and on. A real treat to see and touch, for sure.

As for the two locations featured in the video, I went by the great “Sunset Sound” studio where Van Halen recorded a few of their first records, as well as “Western Exterminators” where they borrowed their mascot for use on the 1984 record, as well as for the tour. Besides using that logo as a mascot, they replicated his signature move live on stage during “House of Pain.” Some of their best choreography to date.

Other than that it’s various personal footage of people & photos from my life…

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