Van Halen Sign to Interscope Records

[DSOP]

Van Halen has signed to Interscope Records, a source with knowledge of the talks tells Rolling Stone. The news was first reported by the Hollywood Reporter, which wrote that Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine was personally involved with the negotiations, and quoted an "insider" as saying, "He heard the band was available and wanted to work with them. It was decided at the eleventh hour." The deal reportedly includes touring, merchandising, marketing and recording.

Rumors were swirling a few months ago that the band was going to sign with Columbia, but supposedly Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth didn't want to sign with a label on the East Coast. "He was never on board [with Columbia]," the Hollywood Reporter's source said. "It was as complicated as anyone would imagine, when one side says black, the other says white. The label was pretty skeptical that things would work out."

Van Halen haven't released an album of new material since 1998's ill-fated Van Halen III, which featured Extreme's Gary Cherone on vocals. They reunited with Sammy Hagar in 2004 for a tour, but shortly afterwards parted ways with the Red Rocker and founding bassist Michael Anthony. They toured in 2007 and 2008 with David Lee Roth and Eddie's son teenage son Wolfgang Van Halen on bass. There have been numerous reports that the band was recording a new album over the past few years. It will be their first record with David Lee Roth since 1984.

On November 3rd, the Grammy Foundation posted a Tweet that strongly implied that Van Halen would perform at their nomination special on November 30th: "Who do you predict the reuniting band will be @GRAMMYnoms?. Does this hint make you wanna 'Jump' & 'Dance The Night Away?'" However, a source tells Rolling Stone that the band will not appear at the event. A spokesperson for the Grammys did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.



Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ ... z1dpmHFb2u

[Steve Holmes]

It's interesting how people being people can prevent them from making amazing music. All I know is Alex VH fucking OWNS it on a lot of cuts from 1984: Girl Gone Bad, House of Pain, hell even the guitar solo on Jump has me scratching my head. And it's not that folks can play it now, it's the fact that back then, that's what he played. I love that stuff. The roto toms on that record sound awesome, the huge kick, the unique snare sound...I mean how would you describe the snare sound on panama? Too bad he used simmons drums on the 1984 tour..wtf is that about? Anyways it would be great to thank Alex one day. I spent a lot of hours memorizing and drumming along to that cassette tape.

PS it sound like there's 2 drum tracks layered on the outro to Drop Dead Legs..I always wondered about the decision on the production for that. Who's idea was that? It's kind of out of the blue.

[DSOP]

"Outta Love Again" off of Van Halen II is some of the hippest rock drumming ever recorded. It's like a Tony Williams/John Bonham sandwich. And that Ludwig Supersensitive with black dot rules.

[nomsgmusic]

I really hope this is great news?!?! (but something tells me it will crumble, I really hope I'm wrong though!)

I L O V E Van Halen (no matter who is singing.) I have seen them live a bunch of times (Fair Warning, Diver Down, 1984, 5150, For Unlawful... tours.) Alex is one of the least talked about GREAT rock drummers EVER! I sort of consider him to be "my generation's" Ringo. I have been told that Al is also the real brains of the band as well. And whether or not you think Mike is "the luckiest man in Rock and Roll" or not, when Ed is skanking along playing rhythm, and Al and Mikey are hooked up, there is no better modern rock and roll rhythm section!

I hear what you are saying Steve. But I think the case that Ed and Al just play "duets" a lot, that might tend to explain for some of that "head scratching" stuff, that we have all heard. It sounds like when Ed cuts a phrase short or elasticizes an idea, Al just goes with him (time signature be damned!)

Yes Al's drum sounds (especially his snares) are classic (GREAT cymbal sounds too!) I still wonder about the Simmons sounds on 5150 (its the only thing about that record I don't LOVE.) That "Panama" snare sound sounds pretty similar to the "Fair Warning" snare sound to me. Snare cranked, wide snares loose, ultra consistent rim shots on a black dot (hittin' a little off center.)

I really hate all the soap opera stuff that has happened in the band, but Ed just seems like the typical "mad" genius artist type personality. Wait until Lukather lets some of his Van Halen "tales" out of the bag. I also really wish that they would release one of those "cash in on all the old live videos that we have in the vaults" type of box set (a la Led Zep, AC DC, etc....) That is one of the best trends in today's music culture! All the great bands should be REQUIRED to do that!

At college, along with all of the "jazz essential assigned listening," Fair Warning was (unofficial) essential student listening! I remember all of the 3am card games with a bunch of us jazz majors cranking Fair Warning (on repeat) while recovering from the day of singing Bird solos in ear training, b5#11's, arranging-transpositions, practicing piano, etc... I can almost taste the 151, smell the THC laden smoke, and feel the moist air of the Ramen cooking a few hours later.

Ahhh, good times!

"C'Mon Dave, gimme a beak.... One break, coming up...."

I know that record as well as any jazz or fusion record, or piece of classical music. It holds the same place in my heart (almost all of them do.)

CLASSIC!

Mark

[langmick]

We had a groove in one of our cadences that mimicked Little Guitars closely.

Needless to say, we were mostly huge AVH nuts so we hit it extra hard.




All these bands jumping around acting all hard and tough, they have nothing on the sound these guys produce live. Absolute balls. I saw them on the first reunion tour and it was the heaviest show I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of metal.

Women and Children First, I played the shit out of that when it came out. Back and forth went the cassette. Who hasn't tried to play the Everybody Wants Some intro? Do you need deadringers to get that tone or what?



I didn't see the show at the Civic Arena in 84, but people who did said DLR was totally wasted and couldn't sing.

[Randy Walker]

a more underrated record, and one of my VH favs is Fair Warning.

[Clint Hopkins]

'1984' is still as great as when I first heard it in 9th grade, in 1984. Alex's snare sound is another one of those enigmatic, deceptive drum sounds that challenges our ear in thinking we're hearing a highly tuned, snare-less sound when in fact it's just the opposite. I've always loved that 'knock' that he gets.

Eddie's ability to dazzle can be greatly attributed to Allan Holdsworth's influence which he has used to develop his own original thing.

Will Michael Anthony being rejoining? I enjoyed his backing vocals as much if not more than any of the front men.

[Randy Walker]

Michael Anthony will not be back, the line up is still Eddies son Wolfgang on bass along with Roth on vocals and of course Alex and Eddie

[DSOP]

I also really wish that they would release one of those "cash in on all the old live videos that we have in the vaults" type of box set (a la Led Zep, AC DC, etc....)

That would be a must have for sure!

[Old Pit Guy]

All I know is Alex VH fucking OWNS it on ... Girl Gone Bad, House of Pain ...

If those don't raise your blood pressure nothing will.