Dave & Dave Unchained Van Halen podcast

EPISODE #76 - Back in the late ‘80s, Eddie Van Halen produced a pair of albums from a female fronted band called Private Life. At the helm of that band was Kelly Breznik McLeod who sang and co-wrote all the material. The Daves do an exclusive interview with her for their 6th anniversary episode. Plus, a special look back at Eddie’s 1987 performance on “Saturday Night Live” with guitarist G.E. Smit...

EPISODE #75 - Before Sammy Hagar stepped foot in Van Halen, he geared up with a three album stint at Geffen Records after his ‘70s run at Capital Records. This trio of albums commercialized his sound making it more radio friendly and digestible for listeners. The first of this hat-trick was 1982’s “Standing Hampton,” which went platinum and set up his path to VH. The Daves conduct a deep dive disc...

EPISODE #74 - It’s been 10 years since the release of “A Different Kind of Truth” and the Daves dig deep into the origin of Van Halen’s last studio album from 2012 showing the true roots of the songs and how they were developed. Additionally, the dynamic duo interviews Julie Kimura and Randa Schmalfeld from Pasadena 4 Van Halen about their efforts to celebrate Eddie Van Halen and his band in their...

EPISODE #73 - Welcome to 2022 where Van Halen is no longer a band but its legacy and spirit lives on! This month Dave & Dave have an extensive conversation with legendary rock journalist Steve Rosen who is announcing his upcoming 500-page book on his years reporting on and being friends with Eddie Van Halen. Additionally, there’s tons of VH News and some fresh Mailbag letters to kick off the new y...

EPISODE #72 - It’s the end of the year, but things are just heating up as Dave & Dave go head-to-head with Paul Brannigan, author of the new book,  “Unchained: The Eddie Van Halen Story,” for an extensive interview. Plus there’s a stocking full of VH News and Mailbag letters hanging above the fireplace. Download the podcast for free on Spreaker, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Spotify or iTunes. Connect wit...

EPISODE #71 - It’s Thanksgiving time and the Daves are not serving turkey this year but rather Chickenfoot! The dynamic duo sink their fangs into a deep dive on 2011’s “Chickenfoot III.” Additionally Loud Dave does an exclusive interview with Chickenfoot guitarist Joe Satriani about his days in the Foot, the influence of Eddie Van Halen and his latest album, “Shapeshifting.” Plus, there’s a horn o...

EPISODE #70 - Taking on the entire Van Halen history is quite a task, just ask author Michael Christopher who does so in his new book, “Van Halen: The Eruption and The Aftershock.” The Daves go hard with Christopher for over 90-minutes in this detailed VH conversation filled with enough minutia to even make Mid-West Ron’s head spin. Plus there’s plenty of VH News and Mailbag to chew on for this Ha...

EPISODE #69 - Imagine if things went a different way in 1996. What if Eddie Van Halen chose Mitch Malloy to front Van Halen instead of Gary Cherone…that’s the premise of “Mitch Malloy’s Van Halen Experience,” a new concert taking place in Destin, Florida on October 9 featuring Malloy and accomplished guitarist Pete Thorn (Chris Cornell, Melissa Etheridge, Don Henley). Malloy and Thorn talk with th...

EPISODE #68 - Many books have been written on Eddie Van Halen, however, nothing is quite like “Eruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen” by Brad Tolinski and Chris Gill. These two veterans writers/editors of Guitar World have interviewed EVH throughout the decades at 5150 making their new book pure gold. This duo has a lengthy roundtable discussion with the Daves that goes deep into Van Halen...

EPISODE #67 - Imagine the journey it is to work as David Lee Roth’s publicist for over a decade. Master publicist Mitch Schneider talks about his wild ride with Diamond Dave. Meanwhile former DLR guitarist Steve Vai takes us back to his teenage days gigging on Long Island and gives an update on what he is currently working on. Plus, plenty of VH News and mailbag letters complete this July episode....

EPISODE #66 - It’s been a three year wait for Wolfgang Van Halen’s debut but the self-titled Mammoth WVH album has arrived! The Daves do a full song-by-song breakdown of the 14-track release. Then Loud Dave does a one-on-one interview with famous rock photographer Neil Zlozower about his years shooting VH. Massive amounts of VH News plus a mid-size mailbag segment round out this June episode. Down...

EPISODE #65 - What happens when you get let go by Van Halen? Dave & Dave investigate this proposition in regards to both Sammy Hagar’s 1997 album, “Marching to Mars” and Gary Cherone’s band Tribe of Judah’s 2002 album, “Exit Elvis.” The dynamic duo does a deep dive on both albums in a full detailed throwdown. The Daves also conduct a very heartfelt interview with Talas bassist Billy Sheehan, forme...

EPISODE #64 - Dave & Dave celebrate the 5th anniversary of the podcast with two killer back-to-back interviews. The first is with California artist Robert Vargas who painted the giant Eddie Van Halen mural on the back wall of Guitar Center in Hollywood. The second interview marks the return of guitarist Dweezil Zappa who recently launched his own VH podcast, “Runnin’ With the Dweezil.” Then the dy...

EPISODE #63 - Rewind to 1996 when the fate of Van Halen was in limbo as the VH brothers and Michael Anthony were searching for a new singer. Mitch Malloy was offered the position prior to Gary Cherone but passed. This situation was recently discussed in a lengthy Rolling Stone article, which Malloy dishes about as well as his new band Malloy and fronting Great White. Additionally, the Daves crank...

EPISODE #62 - You wanted him, you got him! Michael Anthony’s bass tech Kevin “Dugie” Dugan talks about his time working for Van Halen, Chickenfoot and The Circle. Then record producer Fader Istheman discusses “The Long Island Van Halen Tribute Album,” which is dedicated to the late Edward Van Halen with all proceeds going to The Lung Cancer Research Foundation of New York in EVH’s honor. The Daves...

EPISODE #61 - We’ve reached 2021 and who better to kick off the new year than the original ass-kicker Diamond David Lee Roth with a special episode celebrating the 30th anniversary of his 1991 album, “A Little Ain’t Enough.” The Daves do a deep-dive discussion breaking down the album song-by-song plus all the controversies that surrounded it. The dynamic duo then reads an internet Q&A they did wit...

EPISODE #60 - It’s the end of the year and more Van Halen goodness is HERE! This holiday season features an interview with Martin Popoff, author of the new coffee table book, “Van Halen: A Visual Biography.” Then the Daves talk with author Bud Hathaway about his rock & roll memoir, “What About the Fans?” which goes into deep detail on the backstage shenanigans of Dave, Ed, Al and Mike. VH News and...

EPISODE #59 - Wolfgang Van Halen has emerged as a solo artist, under the moniker Mammoth WVH, offering a tribute song and video to his pop - Eddie Van Halen called “Distance.” The Daves do a full breakdown of Wolf’s new music and week-long media tour culminating and discussing all the information that came out during his whirlwind of promotion. The dynamic duo also interviews blues rock singer Sas...

EPISODE #58 - Edward Van Halen may have played his last note however his legacy only continues to grow. Dave & Dave go hard on this 4 and 1/2 hour bonanza on “Everything Eddie” where they each discuss their Top 10 EVH Moments. Plus, the dynamic duo interviews Jake C. Miller of VH tribute band Completely Unchained and master keyboardist Derek Sherinian of Sons of Apollo and Black Country Communion...

EPISODE #57A - The amount of love and joy that radiated from Eddie Van Halen’s guitar intoxicated an entire generation. You didn’t just hear his music, you felt it. Granted he was a musical genius, but there was more to the man. He was very human and humble with a warm smile that beamed from within. Even though Ed was a massive rock star, he carried himself like just a dude who loved to play music...

EPISODE #57 - There’s no more famous cover band than The Atomic Punks. This furious foursome has become the most decorated Van Halen tribute in the land. The Daves go in-depth during back-to-back interviews with lead singer Brian Geller and guitarist Lance Turner. Hefty portions of VH News and Mailbag are included in this episode as well. Download the podcast for free on Spreaker, YouTube, iHeartR...

EPISODE #56 - There was no photographer wedged deeper into the ‘80s rock scene than Mark “Weissguy” Weiss. His new book, “The Decade That Rocked,” is chock full of Van Halen pictures and stories (plus Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Ozzy Osbourne, Skid Row, Twisted Sister and more) all of which he shares in this deep dive interview with Dave & Dave. Plus, tons of VH News and Mailbag to wash your pandemic b...

EPISODE #55 - It’s summer so it’s hot - “RED” hot. The Daves delve deep into Sammy Hagar’s 2011 tell-all memoir, “Red” for a detailed discussion of dirt. Then the boys interview “Red” co-author Joel Selvin in an interestingly edgy conversation with a surprise conclusion. VH News and Mailbag complete this July 2020 episode. Download the podcast for free on Spreaker, YouTube, iHeartRadio, Spotify or...

EPISODE #54 - Look back at Van Halen members’ escapades on the air along the FM dial. Dave & Dave interview Al Dukes producer of the ill-fated “David Lee Roth Show” on K-Rock in 2006 about Diamond Dave’s wild radio antics. Then listen as the dynamic duo gets crazy with comedian/broadcaster Stuttering John Melendez, formerly of “The Howard Stern Show,” about his dealings with the members of VH. Fin...

EPISODE #53 - Get in the DeLorean and head back to the summer of 2002 when Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth teamed up to go on tour. The Daves dissect every element of this strange union from the tour press conference to “The Howard Stern Show” interview to the backstage battles to the awkward MTV Video Music Awards appearance. Then the dynamic duo interviews Roth’s former guitarist Brian Young (200...