Found 28 posts tagged as "Van Halen"
Stupid drummer jokes may continue to flourish (scroll down for five whoppers) but plenty of rock and roll sticksmen are having the last laugh. Website Celebrity Net Worth has compiled a list of the 30 richest drummers and man oh man, the figures are staggering.
Topping the list – which was compiled using publicly available data like salaries, real estate holdings, divorces, record sales, royalties, endorsements and so on – is Beatles time-keeper Ringo Starr with an estimated worth of $300 million.
Those pesky Americans. They are poised to score mucho medals at the London Summer Olympics, and (tee hee) they cleaned up in a British poll aiming to discover the most popular song at sporting events.
Yup, Van Halen’s classic 1984 synth-goosed anthem “Jump” earned top honours among members of the UK’s Performing Rights Society, who put their collective stamp behind everyone from the Rolling Stones to the Beatles to Queen… but not in numbers great enough to beat the Yank rockers for top spot.
There are rock and roll marvels, and then there is Alex Chadwick of the Chicago Music Exchange who, for reasons at once unclear and inconsequential, offers 'A History of Rock and Roll in 100 Riffs,' played in one take – that’s one take - in about 12 minutes.
Chadwick begins with a riff from 1954’s “Mr. Sandman” by Chet Atkins, ends with “Cruel” by indie darlings St. Vincent and in-between chronologically touches on pretty much every essential rock guitarist/band of note, from the Rolling Stones to Soundgarden, the Beatles to Neil Young, REM to Bon Jovi, Led Zeppelin to the Ramones, Van Halen to U2, Pink Floyd to the Police.
Oh dear, is it trouble in paradise for a three-fourths reformed Van Halen? The rock gods, who this spring released their first studio album since 1984 with original lead singer David Lee Roth and who promptly hit the road supporting it, have abruptly postponed some 30 tour dates after their June 26th show in New Orleans with no explanation.
Let it not be said that Van Halen singer David Lee Roth suffers fools – or fist-fighters – gladly. In what is fast becoming a tradition among rock frontmen (and not a moment too soon given the exorbitant price of concert tickets), the singer halted a show last night in Manchester, New Hampshire to call out fans in the audience who were brawling and disturbing the good time of others.
Fan-filmed footage of the incident can be seen below; Roth's rant begins around the 48-second mark.
When not tearing up floorboards of arena stages worldwide belting out songs for Van Halen, David Lee Roth can be found… watching and filming as his dogs herd sheep and cattle? Yup, it’s true and somehow way more interesting than thinking about him chasing skirts and glugging booze.
Remember that classic, hilarious video for Van Halen’s 1984 hit, “Hot for Teacher?” Sure you do! It had everything: a nerdy, misfit kid named Waldo, a mini-me version of the band who later turn in a soft-shoe routine, David Lee Roth as a grumpy school bus driver and, oh yes, a smokin’ hot babe as the titular teacher making all the boys in class go ga-ga.
Just in time to capitalize on Van Halen’s return to the top of the charts and to stages worldwide, the model/actress who played teacher – one Lillian Müller – has resurfaced as if to show women of the world that hot doesn’t end at age 40…or 50…or even age 60.
With the release today of the new Van Halen record, A Different Kind of Truth – the band’s first studio album in 14 years and first with original singer David Lee Roth in nearly 30 - the full-frontal promotional onslaught has begun.
The group’s long and difficult history is apparently being featured this morning by DJ Howard Stern on his Sirius satellite radio show. Meantime, a fascinating Q&A with Eddie and Alex Van Halen conducted by DLR has hit the webiverse. Check it out below.
If you want to get the straight goods on the three-fourths reunited Van Halen featuring original singer David Lee Roth, the best course of action appears to be talking to the band’s outspoken former singer, Sammy Hagar.
Hope you tucked away that cheque Aunt Hilda sent for Christmas… you’re going to need the cash very soon. Even though a planned reunion tour by Black Sabbath is up in the air with news that guitarist Tony Iommi is suffering from lymphoma - and there’s still no confirmation of a Rolling Stones 50th anniversary jaunt - 2012 is poised to be a huge year for live music.
|
 |
|
