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December 31, 2004
Happy Holidays from Michael Anthony posted on his site:

"I'd like to wish everybody a happy & bashing holidays and all the best for the new year to come! It was great to be out on the road again rockin' everybody's asses off! I would like to personally thank everyone for coming out and supporting the tour. Van Halen fans are truely the best and you guys are on the beach!"

"I'm not sure what the future holds for Van Halen, but I can tell you Sammy and I will be out there rocking together with the Wabos in 2005. Stay tuned for further developments."

December 24, 2004
De lijst van de 2000 beste platen, gekozen door de luisteraars van Radio 2, staat sinds vandaag online.
Van Halen's Jump vinden we op nummer 348 en Runnin' With The Devil op nummer 352. Mooi close dus!
Vertel hier jouw persoonlijk verhaal bij 1 van deze platen.
Link: De Radio 2 Top 2000

December 22, 2004
Peavey parts with Edward Van Halen.

Peavey Int'l. Headquarters-Peavey announces it has parted with Edward Van Halen after a 13-year partnership. Peavey collaborated with the guitarist on his signature-model Peavey Wolfgang Series electric guitars and Peavey 5150 Series amplifiers.

According to the company, Van Halen retains the rights to the names 5150 and Wolfgang, as well as certain design elements of the Wolfgang guitar, but the 5150's circuitry and tone will remain in the Peavey family as the 6505 amplifier. Peavey will launch the new 6505-named in celebration of Peavey's first forty years, 1965 to 2005-at the Winter NAMM (International Music Products Association) Expo, Jan. 20-24, 2005, in Anaheim, Calif.

Peavey will also debut its Carina (Italian for "beautiful") guitars to replace the Wolfgang. Carina Series guitars highlight many of the Peavey innovations used in the Wolfgang and other Peavey guitars, including computer-shaped necks that ensure all Carina guitars exhibit a consistent, comfortable neck radius and superior playability.

The hugely successful 5150 Series guitar amplifiers and Wolfgang electric guitars, which launched in 1991 and 1995, respectively, have become staples of modern rock music. Endorsers ranging from Ted Nugent, 3 Doors Down and Default to underground metal heroes Atreyu, Darkest Hour and God Forbid, and even power-punkers such as Visqueen, have lauded the contributions these Peavey products have made to rock 'n' roll.

"I'm very proud of the work we accomplished with Edward," says Peavey founder and CEO Hartley Peavey. "The 5150 Series has earned its place as a rock guitar standard, and the Wolfgang is a staple in the pantheon of rock instrumentation. They're both well respected pieces, and I'm glad we could bring those to life."

"As we enter our fortieth year of building innovative instruments, amplifiers and sound equipment, we're more focused on the future than ever," he remarks. "We've pioneered a lot of firsts in this industry, including making guitars using computer-controlled machines, and even with more than 130 patents behind us, there's plenty of fertile ground ahead of us. It's an exciting time for Peavey."

Link: www.peavey.com

December 15, 2004
Thousands waited in line in near-freezing temperatures Tuesday night to pay tribute at a memorial service for slain rock star Darrell Abbott.

Among the musicians on hand to pay tribute were guitarists Zakk Wylde and Eddie Van Halen. "I'm here for the same reason as everyone else, to give some love back," said Van Halen, who, along with Wylde, reportedly downed shots of booze as he spoke.

"This guy was full of life. He lived and breathed rock and roll." Van Halen held his cell phone up to the microphone and played a profanity-laced message left by an excited Abbott after a concert he played with Van Halen.

"I just wanted to give you a... call to tell you thank you so... much, man, for the most awesome, uplifting, euphoric, spiritual rock and roll extravaganza ever," Abbott said in the message to Van Halen, according to reports.
Link: www.mtv.com

"We were very saddened and angered to hear of the shooting that took place in Columbus, OH last week that took the life of a friend and fellow musician, Dimebag Darrell Abbott.

It was only a few weeks ago that Dime and Vinnie Paul joined us backstage to do some Jack shots while we were in Wichita, KS on the last leg of the VH summer tour.

It flat-out sucks that something like this could happen to someone who just wanted to get up on stage and play guitar.

Our sincerest condolences to Dime's wife Rita, his brother Vinnie and all of the Abbott family. Darrell will be missed."

Michael Anthony & Kevin Dugan

December 14, 2004
Het is zover, er kan niet meer gestemd worden, de Veronica Top 1000 Allertijden is bekend! Meer dan 250.000 stemmen zijn uitgebracht en dit is het resultaat: de 1000 mooiste platen ooit gemaakt in de lijst die je zelf hebt samengesteld.

De lijst, samengesteld door de luisteraars van Radio Veronica wordt uitgezonden van 20 december tot en met 26 december. Het deel van de lijst dat overdag wordt uitgezonden, wordt 's nachts herhaald zodat niemand een plaat hoeft te missen.

Bekijk hier de complete lijst van de Veronica Top 1000 Allertijden. Je kunt de lijst met de beste popklassiekers natuurlijk ook downloaden en uitprinten. Van Halen komen we dit jaar drie keer tegen, op nummer 33 (81 plaatsen gestegen!), 404 en 828!

Van Halen's Jump vinden we dus als hoogst genoteerd op nummer 33.

| This was the first single from 1984 and the band's first #1 hit! The song was recorded on an Oberheim OBX-A keyboard and really introduced the world to Van Halen's keyboard-based songwriting. Sharp-eared listeners will note that the main riff from Top of the World (from F.U.C.K.) was written around the ending riff from Jump. Jump was certified Gold on 4/03/84 and remained at the top of the charts for five weeks. |

| Released: 1/14/84 | Peak Position US: 1 | Weeks on Chart US: 21 |

Van Halen's Why Can't This Be Love vinden we op nummer 404.

| This was the first single from 5150 and featured the band's then new vocalist, Sammy Hagar. The song became the band's second Top 10 hit! |

| Released: 2/26/86 | Peak Position US: 3 | Weeks on Chart US: 16 |

Van Halen's Runnin' With The Devil vinden we op nummer 828.

| This was Van Halen's second single. The horn sound at the beginning of the song was created by a collection of real car horns mounted in a box and powered by two car batteries. The horns were taken from an Opel owned by Alex, a Volvo owned by Edward along with horns from a Mercedes Benz and a Volkswagen. The horn sound was slowed down and recorded backwards. |

| Released: 3/29/78 | Peak Position US: 84 | Weeks on Chart US: 4 |

December 06, 2004
Eddie's On Fire! Dat er aan de overkant van de oceaan zo'n ophef over gemaakt is...
Oordeel zelf! (evh.mov <6,5 Mb.)

's Werelds beste gitarist die zijn gitaar aan het eind van de tour stuk slaat. So what?

December 01, 2004
Stem op De Lijst Der Lijsten!

Vanaf 20 december kun je zeven dagen lang naar de Veronica Top 1000 Allertijden luisteren en jij bepaalt welke platen er in staan! Breng je stem uit op jouw favoriete platen allertijden en bepaal zo welke duizend popklassiekers in de lijst komen.

Wacht dus niet, stem snel, en maak kans op mooie prijzen!

Ook het radio-evenement van het jaar, De Radio 2 Top 2000, komt er weer aan en wordt uitgezonden van 26 tot en met 31 december op Radio 2. Vergeet ook hier niet te stemmen en vergeet zeker Van Halen niet!

Een groep van voornamelijk Haagsche (semi-)professionele muzikanten hebben, puur voor de lol, het initiatief genomen om een aantal keren per jaar als een Van Halen tribute op te treden. Er spelen o.a. (ex-)leden mee van Billy The Kid, Anouk, Within Temptation, Hot For Teacher e.d. En alleen maar omdat zij allemaal knotsgek van Van Halen zijn. Het doel is een 10 keer per jaar, in de grotere locaties van Nederland, een topshow neer te zetten.

Het eerstvolgende optreden is 9 december a.s. in discotheek "t Teejater" in Naaldwijk met een capaciteit van ongeveer 1.000 man. Er zijn 100 vrijkaarten (t.w.v. € 10,-) beschikbaar als je mij per e-mail kan laten weten wat de naam is van de zanger van de ter ziele gegane Nederlandse Van Halen tribute Hot For Teacher. Zorg dat je dit niet mist!
Mail hier je antwoord o.v.v. naam en adres!