Van Halen

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Somebody Finally Reads Website's Privacy Policy, and It Pays Off

Nonprofit put Van Halen's idea into its oft-ignored text

(Newser) - In a "childish protest that all businesses have to have a privacy policy and no one reads it," the head of a UK nonprofit slipped in wording out of left field to see whether anyone would notice. "We'll send a bottle of good wine to the...

Showbiz Luminaries Mourn Eddie Van Halen

Tributes are pouring in for the rock legend

(Newser) - Eddie Van Halen, who died Tuesday at age 65 of cancer , is being mourned across the world of entertainment. The AP and other outlets round up reactions to the Van Halen guitarist's death:
  • “Heartbroken and speechless. My love to the family," tweeted Sammy Hagar.
  • “Sad to
...

Eddie Van Halen Dead at 65
Guitar Legend
Eddie Van Halen
Dead at 65
OBITUARY

Guitar Legend Eddie Van Halen Dead at 65

He was the 'most influential guitarist of his generation'

(Newser) - One of the greatest rock guitarists of all time died Tuesday morning after a long battle with cancer. Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen's son and bandmate, confirmed his father's death in a tweet . "He was the best father I could ask for," he wrote. "...

Here's What Van Halen's Son Thinks of Billie Eilish's Ignorance of Van Halen

No big deal, he says: 'Music is supposed to bring us together, not divide us'

(Newser) - Billie Eilish had apparently never heard of Van Halen before Jimmy Kimmel brought up the iconic band during his interview of the singer, who is not quite 18, last month, and on Monday, Eddie Van Halen's son expressed his opinion on that. "If you haven’t heard of...

Van Halen Member Has Cancer—and a Theory

Eddie Van Halen has been flying to Germany for treatments

(Newser) - Legendary rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen has traveled to Germany for years to treat his throat cancer—for which he has an unusual explanation, TMZ reports. "I used metal picks—they're brass and copper—which I always held in my mouth, in the exact place where I got...

7 Musicians Who Quit Their Bands

One Direction fans are far from the first to mourn

(Newser) - With tween girls all aflutter at the news that Zayn Malik has left One Direction , ETOnline has put together a slideshow of a dozen other popular bands that have also lost original members:
  • Backstreet Boys: Kevin Richardson exited the boy band in 2006, and the other four Boys released two
...

David Lee Roth: From Rocker to EMT ... and Back

Van Halen's frontman grapples with the new zeitgeist

(Newser) - Remember David Lee Roth? The wild Van Halen lead singer had quite a bumpy ride once the band broke up and his solo career ran its course in the 1980s, writes Steve Kandell in BuzzFeed . Starting over, Roth worked as an EMT on ambulance calls in New York City. "...

Eddie Van Halen Has Emergency Surgery

Band forced to postpone tour of Japan

(Newser) - Guitar great Eddie Van Halen has had emergency surgery for a digestive problem, and could be out of action for up to six months, reports People . The 57-year-old rocker suffered from a severe bout of diverticulitis, which involves an inflammation of the colon. His band Van Halen, which recently released...

Van Halen Touring, With Roth Singing

Band ready to rock again after Eddie's stint in rehab

(Newser) - Van Halen is back: The iconic rock band announced a tour yesterday featuring original members Eddie and Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth. (Eddie’s son, Wolfgang Van Halen, replaced original bassist Michael Anthony in 2007.) The band has had its problems—the Los Angeles Times cites “...

Van Halen's Sammy Hagar: Aliens Uploaded My Brain

Has he ever been abducted by aliens? 'I think I have'

(Newser) - Sammy Hagar has had his brain "uploaded" by aliens in a "download situation," and he wants to talk about it. The former Van Halen frontman describes his close encounters in his new autobiography, Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock, and expounds upon them in an interview with...

Evil Needs Playlists, Too
 Evil Needs Playlists, Too 
OSAMA'S FAVE: B-52s

Evil Needs Playlists, Too

What bin Laden, Ahmadinejad, Mugabe rock out to

(Newser) - When they’re not plotting to kill you or thousands of others, the world’s most evil men like to kick back with some tunes, too. The Guardian gives us an idea of what’s on their playlists:
  • Osama bin Laden: The al-Qaeda chief has the perfect soundtrack for hiding
...

Rock's Worst Comebacks
 Rock's Worst Comebacks 
OPINION

Rock's Worst Comebacks

(Newser) - Some bands just shouldn’t—or couldn’t successfully—get back together. The Independent takes a look at the 10 most ill-conceived rock reunions.
  • The Sex Pistols: Sure, the punk progenitors honestly named their 1994 comeback tour "Filthy Lucre," but still "tarnished their own lawless chapter in
...

Supergroup Chickenfoot Revives Classic Rock

Supergroup is having fun, getting serious

(Newser) - Rock’s newest wave-makers aren’t so new, reports USA Today. Chickenfoot is a supergroup, but “not a pre-fab one. This all really grew out of friendships,” says bassist Michael Anthony. Anthony, along with fellow Van Halen alum Sammy Hagar, has been jamming with guitarist Joe Satriani and...

Van Halen: Roth Reunion Solid, New Music on Way
Van Halen: Roth Reunion Solid, New Music on Way
GLOSSIES

Van Halen: Roth Reunion Solid, New Music on Way

(Newser) - After grossing $93 million on tour with former frontman David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen tells Rolling Stone he wants the band back together permanently: “Dave was a blast. And next time we go out, we’re going to have some new stuff, too.” He plans a summer...

Top Albums, Tours of 2008
 Top Albums, Tours of 2008

Top Albums, Tours of 2008

At midway point, Lil Wayne, Bon Jovi lead respective categories

(Newser) - A tough economy may be sending album sales toward a fourth straight year of decline, but tour sales are keeping pace with last year at the midway point, reports Rolling Stone. Here's a look at both categories. The top-selling albums so far:
  1. Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III, 1.52 million
...

Rolling Stone's Top Guitar Classics

The greatest riffs, from Bill Haley to Metallica

(Newser) - There are those tunes driven by the rhythm section, but nothing lights a fire in the blood quite like the power of the perfect guitar riff. Thus, Rolling Stone suggests its favorite guitar anthems, hitting all stops between BB King and King Crimson. The top five:
  1. Johnny B. Goode: Chuck
...

Sibling Rivalry Still Driving Van Halen

Eddie and Alex started young, and still finding ways to hold it together on tour

(Newser) - Eddie Van Halen took time out from touring to ruminate on the band and his guitar virtuosity with Rolling Stone. Turns out, the Van Halen brothers actually started out on opposite instruments: “I bought myself a drum kit, and my mom convinced my brother Alex to take flamenco-guitar lessons....

Van Halen, Roth to Reunite
Van Halen, Roth to Reunite

Van Halen, Roth to Reunite

Rock legends to kick off comeback tour; former frontman back after 22 years

(Newser) - The iconic 80's Rock group Van Halen will set off on a comeback tour this fall—this time with original frontman David Lee Roth. Roth hasn't performed live with his former bandmates since leaving in a huff in 1985, but stresses it's a new era for the group. "This...

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