Dave & Dave Unchained Van Halen podcast

EPISODE #101 - Author extraordinaire Martin Popoff has released his third Van Halen book, “Van Halen at 50.” This 190-page hardcover coffee table book takes the readers through VH’s 50 biggest moments from 1974 through 2024. The Daves grill Popoff about his views on the band’s colorful yet dramatic history. Tons of juicy VH News and a strong mailbag segment fill up this May 2024 episode. Download...

EPISODE #100 - This summer the spotlight will be focused on guitarist Joe Satriani who is set to play a boatload of Van Halen music on Sammy Hagar’s “The Best of All Worlds Tour.” The Daves do an in-depth interview with Satch about how the tour came about, what’s involved in the set list construction, the botched VH project with Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth as well as his new tour and upcomin...

EPISODE #99 - Guitarist Derek Fuller has the massive challenge of portraying Eddie Van Halen in Fan Halen, which has grown into the biggest VH tribute band on the planet running for 20 years. The band has recently released its first album covering material from 1978-1984. The Daves have an in-depth talk with Fuller about the making of the album as well as the growth of his tribute band and the imp...

EPISODE #98 - Author Jim Serger tells the story of how he and his buddies all attended a Van Halen concert on March 9, 1984 and the impact it had on their youth. The Daves have an in-depth talk with Serger as well as his buddy Chris Berger, who went backstage and met the band. A fresh mailbag segment and a ton of VH News round out this February episode. Download the podcast for free on Spreaker, Y...

EPISODE #97 - Irish documentarian Simon Alkin from Denmark has launched a new docuseries called “Edward Van Halen: A Musician” on YouTube and the Daves do a behind-the-scenes interview with him about how the project came together. A new mailbag segment kicks off the new year as well as some saucy VH News complete this January episode. Download the podcast for free on Spreaker, YouTube, iHeartRadio...

EPISODE #96 - Author and podcaster Darren Paltrowitz (The DLR Cast, Paltrocast) mixes it up with the Daves for a full on deep dive discussion about David Lee Roth in promotion for his new book, “DLR Book: How David Lee Roth Changed the World.” Another sweet 16 mailbag and year-end VH News segment complete this December episode. Download the podcast for free on Spreaker, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Spoti...

EPISODE #95 - Legendary songwriter Desmond Child, who has penned songs for Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, KISS, Joan Jett and many others, chats with the Daves about his new autobiography, “Livin’ on a Prayer: Big Songs Big Life.” The conversation goes deep into his botched collaborations with David Lee Roth and Van Halen. A sweet 16 mailbag and some interesting VH News complete this November episode. Downl...

EPISODE #94 - Roctober has been quite a month in Van Halen land as two box sets appeared on the scene - one legit and one bootlegged. The Daves do a deep dive into both collections. A massive mailbag and tons of VH News complete this pumpkin-spiced fall episode. Download the podcast for free on Spreaker, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Google podcasts, Amazon Music, Podvine or iTunes. Connect with...

EPISODE #93 - For years Brian May & Friends’ “Star Fleet Project” was this elusive rare EP that floated about in used record store bins flying under the radar. But this three-song, 27-minute gem had precious cargo as it featured the one time union of two guitar gods: Brian May of Queen and Edward Van Halen of Van Halen, who played together side-by-side backed by bassist Phil Chen (Jeff Beck, R...

EPISODE #92 - Mammoth WVH has returned with a killer sequel to their 2021 self-titled debut. “Mammoth II” dropped this month and it’s massive. The Daves do a full deep dive breakdown on the album discussing all 10-tracks in full detail. A jam packed VH News segment and a sweet 16 mailbag rounds out this August 2023 episode. Download the podcast for free on Spreaker, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Spotify,...

EPISODE #91 - Since we last left filmmaker Alan Berry, writer/director of “The Van Halen 1984 Documentary Series,” he has been through quite a wild ride with Warner Brothers Records, Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth. Berry returns to the podcast to give the Daves the full scoop on what happened when his series got taken down, put back up by Roth and so forth. Drummer Jason Bonham of The Circle di...

EPISODE #90 - Guitarist Steve Stevens (Billy Idol, Vince Neil) has a lot of Van Halen ties. He was the first choice to be David Lee Roth’s guitarist in the Eat’em & Smile Band and in 1987, Stevens jammed and bonded with Eddie Van Halen at NAMM. When he played guitar for Vince Neil, the band opened for VH on the “Live: Right Here, Right Now” Tour in 1993. He discusses all of this and more in a...

EPISODE #89 - The wishes of Van Halen fans have come true as a documentary on the band has been made. Alan Berry, who was the man behind 2022’s Steve Vai documentary, has put together a 5-part documentary series on VH’s 1984 album. Here over two and a half hours is dedicated to the lead up to the historic album, the making of the record, the 1984 tour and the fallout. The Daves got a sneak preview...

EPISODE #88 - It’s been 7 years that the Daves have been dishin’ on Van Halen and they still don’t feel tardy. For this massive 7th anniversary special the Dynamic Duo brings back rock journalist Steve Rosen, author of “Tonechaser - Understanding Edward: My 26-Year Journey with Edward Van Halen.” After reading the 500-plus page book, Dave & Dave flood Rosen with detailed questions about massiv...

EPISODE #87 - Back in 1979, lead singer David Lee Roth and drummer Alex Van Halen headed out on a promotional trip to South Africa plugging the band’s new album, “Van Halen II.” The man who served as their guide for the week was none other than Benjy Mudie, A&R and Promotions rep for WEA Records. In an exclusive interview from South Africa, Mudie reveals what happened on that legendary excursi...

EPISODE #86 - After seven years, bassist Billy Sheehan is back barking with The Winery Dogs as the supergroup power trio just dropped its third studio album, “III.” The Daves go deep in a new interview with Sheehan discussing everything from the Winery Dogs to Talas to Mr. Big to Sons of Apollo to his days in David Lee Roth’s original solo band to playing with Eddie Van Halen. Plus, there’s plenty...

EPISODE #85 - Midway through the “1984” tour, Eddie Van Halen scored the teen comedy flick, “The Wild Life” from Cameron Crowe. This over 15-piece instrumental set of recordings has never been officially released. However, in honor of King Edward’s posthumous 68th birthday, the Daves breakdown each track in a full deep-dive discussion on this EVH project. Van Halen News and a solid mailbag full of...

EPISODE #84 - Back in the mid-1980s keyboardist Jesse Harms joined Sammy Hagar’s solo band, then went on to perform on David Lee Roth’s “Eat’em & Smile” album. He even played on the Red Rocker’s 1987 album, “I Never Said Goodbye” as well as Hagar’s post-VH albums plus the infamous Sam & Dave Tour of 2002. The Daves speak to Harms about all his Van Halen ties in full detail. A healthy helpi...

EPISODE #83 - Two massive new albums recently dropped in the VH sphere - Sammy Hagar & The Circle’s “Crazy Times” and Talas’ “1985.” The Daves do a deep dive analysis on these two brand new releases. Tons of Van Halen News and a massive mailbag complete this late fall episode. Download the podcast for free on Spreaker, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Spotify or iTunes. Connect with the Daves on Twitter: @dd...

EPISODE #82 - Neil Zlozower - the world’s greatest rock photographer - has dropped his new book, “Ed By Zloz.” This 384-page book with over 300 unseen photos was curated by art designer Daniel Gray, who hand selected each picture from Zlozower’s personal archives. Gray talks to the Daves about the entire odyssey of compiling the book with Zloz and how he helped build it while keeping Van Halen fan...

EPISODE #81 - Back in the ‘80s, photographer Steve Roney used to sneak his full-size camera into arenas to snap photos of his favorite bands like Van Halen. He has taken his collection of photos and compiled them into a new book, “Pictures: Alive,” featuring over 300 pages including a large amount of VH shots plus Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth solo years. Roney and art designer Scott Davis speak...

EPISODE #80 - Back in 1978, Larry White went on the road with Van Halen to create a promotional radio special called “Runnin’ with Van Halen” for Warner Brothers Records. Fast forward 10 years, White returned on the road with VH for 1988’s Monster of Rock tour. White talks to the Daves about his experiences working during both eras of the band. The interview is followed by a collage of backstage i...

EPISODE #79 - Rolling Stone reporter Blair R. Fischer recently released a revealing 6,000 word article about his secret friendship with guitarist Eddie Van Halen. The Daves do an extensive interview with Fischer about his groundbreaking story that shook the Van Halen community and how it all came about. A wealth of VH News opens the episode paired with a rock solid mailbag segment. Download the po...

EPISODE #78 - Every band has complicated inner workings and Van Halen was no exception. This month the Daves go deep undercover and speak to a mystery guest who declined to have their name, job or gender revealed. In fact, even their voice couldn’t be used. However, the Dynamic Duo has harnessed the information from the interview and has now presented it to their Unchained faithful listeners as Va...

EPISODE #77 - When it comes to capturing Eddie Van Halen’s tone, licks and swagger, guitarist Caleb Rapoport has got it down. Meanwhile singer Hal Sparks embodies the vocal stylings and charisma of both David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar. Together with bassist Victor Broden and drummer Jeff Page this hard rock quartet makes up Nerd Halen, California’s only Van Halen tribute band with a nerdy twist. Th...