The Johnny Beane Podcast

Today we’re diving into the brand-new Harley Benton ST-80 series – Superstrats with serious '80s shredder vibes! 🕶️🔥 We're reading up on these guitars and breaking down everything from the specs to the throwback style. With big nods to EVH, Charvel, and the golden era of shred, these new models – the ST-80FR MN and ST-80FR MN HH – are packed with performance-focused features, all for under $500!...

What happens when one guitar god pays tribute to another… and it backfires? In this episode, we dive deep into the surprising fallout between Eddie Van Halen and Eric Clapton — two of rock’s most legendary players. It all started with a jam session in 1983, featured on Brian May’s Star Fleet Project, where Eddie and Brian recorded a slow blues track called “Blues Breaker” — dedicated to Clapton hi...

Tonight on Exclusively Van Halen, we're back with Part 2 of our special 3-part series featuring two very special guests: Michael “Myko” Gutierrez and Robert Stoltz. They’re here to dive deep into the story of one of the rarest Van Halen guitars ever — a nearly unknown Kramer Baretta that was built and custom-painted in 1984 at 5150 by Eddie Van Halen himself and his then-guitar tech Rudy Leiren. T...

Van Halen – Balance (Expanded Edition) | Official 30th Anniversary Reissue Rhino celebrates 30 years of Balance with a deluxe Expanded Edition, arriving August 15. This limited-edition set features Van Halen’s 10th studio album fully remastered (from 2023’s The Collection II) and packed with rare audio/video content, wrapping up Rhino’s spotlight on the Sammy Hagar era. 📦 Deluxe 2LP / 2CD / Blu-r...

🎸🔥 On tonight’s Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV — we had a jam-packed episode full of guitar goodness! 🔥🎸 We kicked things off with some amazing news: guitar prodigy Matteo Mancuso recently visited the legendary Jason Becker! Such an inspiring moment — we talked all about it. 🙌 Then we dove into some breaking Van Halen news — Wolfgang Van Halen just announced he’s pulling out of the upcomi...

This episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV was PACKED with tone, tribute, and giveaways! 🔥 Bay Area Rich gifted me some wild new guitar picks —ATTAK PIK — and I gave them a spin live on my custom Taylor San Francisco Giants Edition acoustic! The sound? 💥 Aggressive, punchy, and super dynamic! We even gave a couple away at the end of the show — and YES, more giveaways are coming, so keep...

🎸🔥 Tonight’s Episode Was a Rockin’ Ride! 🔥🎸 We went all out on this one! Earlier today, I did a two-hour live stream — restringing my guitar, dialing in my pedalboard, and test-driving some killer guitars! If you missed it, you gotta check it out! Then Ron brought the 🔥 with a Buck Owens-style Firefly guitar, gifted to him by none other than Bay Area Rich! Red, white, and twangy cool — this t...

🎉🎸 Happy Birthday to the one and only MICHAEL ANTHONY! 🎸🎉 On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV, we’re turning it up to 11 to celebrate the legendary low-end thunder of Michael Anthony, the powerhouse bassist and vocal dynamo who helped shape the unmistakable sound of Van Halen! From the band’s explosive debut in 1978 to the platinum-packed years that followed, Michael An...

Our guests on "Exclusively Van Halen" tonight are Michael “Myko” Gutierrez and Robert Stoltz. They will talk about one of the rarest Van Halen guitars ever — a little-known-about Kramer Baretta built and painted in 1984 at 5150 by Ed and his then-guitar tech Rudy Leiren. This guitar was Ed’s personal studio-use-only guitar that he played at 5150. And it’s one of the only Kramers owned by Ed that’s...

🎸🔥 Tonight’s Episode Recap – Only on Johnny Beane TV! 🔥🎸 What. A. Ride. Here's everything that went down on the latest Talking Guitars livestream — your weekly backstage pass to the loud, legendary, and downright crazy world of guitars! 🎤🎸 We started off by honoring Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys 🌊 — last week’s heartfelt tribute sparked a deep dive: Do the Beach Boys still inspire today’s...

🔥 EVH Kill Switch – Unleash Your Inner Eddie! 🔥 💲 Only $24.95 ➡️ https://www.fu-tone.com/product/evh-kill-switch/ The wait is over — the official EVH Kill Switch is here! This is the same momentary switch used in the iconic EVH Wolfgang and 5150 guitars. Want that legendary Van Halen stutter effect? This is how you do it. 🎸 Plug It. Push It. Perform. This high-performance kill switch features:...

🚨 Released on This Day in 1991! 🚨 Van Halen ROARED back into the spotlight with their hard-hitting ninth studio album, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge — and it’s been blowing speakers ever since! This iconic record, powered by pure rock energy and Sammy Hagar’s firebrand vocals, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, holding the top spot for three straight weeks. 🤘🔥 🎉 To celebrate the anniversary,...

🔥 On this episode of Straturday Night, we hit up the Capitola Rod & Custom Classic Car Show in beautiful Capitola Village, California! ☀️🏁 Ran into our good friend Pete aka "88 Notes", grabbed a coffee, and cruised the show surrounded by stunning custom rides, vintage classics, and serious automotive eye candy. 😍🚗💨 🎥 We filmed some killer footage from the event — you won’t want to miss it!...

Michael Anthony Opens Up About His One Big Regret: Van Halen Deserved a Thunderous Farewell, Not a Whimper For Michael Anthony, former Van Halen bassist, the ride with one of rock’s most electrifying bands was nothing short of a dream — until the ending, which still haunts him. In a recent episode of Get on the Bus, Anthony revealed his biggest career regret: how Van Halen's legendary run came to...

🎸 On this episode of Talking Guitars, we pay heartfelt tribute to the legendary Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, who has sadly passed away. 🌊🎶 We dive into the incredible legacy of one of music’s most innovative minds — from surf rock anthems to groundbreaking studio wizardry, Brian changed the sound of popular music forever. 🌴✨ Tune in as we explore his story, the rise of the Beach Boys, and...

🎸 What’s inside the latest Johnny Beane TV jam? 🎂 Honoring the legendary Les Paul on what would be his 110th birthday—thanks for inventing the solid‑body that started it all! 🥁 Big birthday shout‑out to drum powerhouse Greg Bissonette (David Lee Roth band) for keeping the groove alive. ⚡️ Michael J. Fox—the first guitar hero who lit my fire. Remember that epic Rolling Stone cover of MJF leapin...

"It was pure rock ‘n’ roll heaven." That’s how guitar legend Pat Travers describes the most unforgettable gig of his life—a scorching summer day in 1978 at Oakland Coliseum, sharing the bill with Aerosmith, AC/DC, Van Halen, Foreigner, and his own Pat Travers Band. Five powerhouse bands. One stage. Over 65,000 screaming fans. “It was the best show I ever played,” Travers told Rick Beato. “It start...

🔥 Tonight on #Straturday Night Live — we kicked things off with a caffeine-fueled recap of my day ☕😂 Took a scenic walk through Capitola, already had dinner (yep, early bird style), and was ready to rock! 🌊🍽️🎸 We looked back at last night’s explosive show with Pyro John Watkins, who dropped fiery stories that lit up the chat! 💥🔥 Then Ron unearthed his old lap steel guitar, and we dove deep...

🔥 Special Guest: John “Pyro John” Watkins – Rock & Roll’s Most Explosive Insider! 🔥 We're LIVE with John Watkins, legendary pyrotechnician known as “Pyro John,” who spent decades setting the stage (literally) on fire for bands like Van Halen, KISS, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, and many more! John joins us to share unbelievable, hilarious, and sometimes dangerous behind-the-scenes stori...

🎸 Larry DiMarzio vs. Eddie Van Halen – Who Did It First? 🔧 Guitar legend Eddie Van Halen was known for his revolutionary playing and his groundbreaking guitar mods – but what if someone else had the same ideas before him? In this video, we dive into a fascinating story from pickup pioneer Larry DiMarzio, who claims he made the exact same bridge mod Eddie later became famous for — reducing string...

🎸 On This Electrifying Episode of Exclusively Van Halen… 🤘 We go deep into Van Halen’s hometown legacy with an epic article from Van Halen News Desk—spotlighting the legendary Pasadena landmarks where rock ‘n’ roll history was born! 🔥 That took us straight to VisitPasadena . com, and from there, I shared exclusive footage from my live stream adventure, where I walked in the footsteps of the mig...

🎸🔥 TONIGHT on Talking Guitars – It's a Guitar Lover's Dream Episode! 🔥🎸 🎁 UNBOXING ALERT: Surprise Firefly Guitar Reveal – LIVE! Big shoutout to Bay Area Rich for the epic mystery box! We're cracking open a brand-new Firefly FFTL Classic Plus — ash body, bold dragon graphic, and vintage Page vibes all the way. This beast is a tribute to Jimmy Page’s hand-painted Dragon Telecaster, and it's br...

🔥 Tonight’s Straturday Night was a blast! We finally dropped that TEASE SBH-E neck onto the Tagima Sixsmart body—and it turned out AWESOME. Killer tone, killer vibes. 🎸⚡ 🎥 Rolled a vlog from sunny Capitola, CA—guitars, sunshine, and good times. 🎹 Shoutout to new homie 88keys (YouTube)—go show him some love! 💥 Like, comment & SUBSCRIBE if you love guitars, mods, and live laughs! 🎸 Straturday...

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen, we talk about Sammy Hagar's bold invitation to Wolfgang Van Halen to join him for a special Van Halen-themed residency, the dream that inspired his emotional tribute to Eddie, and why he still holds out hope for more musical magic—even without Alex Van Halen. Sammy Hagar is turning up the heat again—and this time, he’s calling out to Eddie Van Halen’s son,...

In this episode of Exclusively Van Halen, we take a trip back in time to May 29, 1983, the day Van Halen headlined Heavy Metal Day at the iconic US Festival in San Bernardino, California. This legendary performance drew over 300,000 fans and solidified Van Halen's status as a dominant force in rock history. 🔥 Setlist Highlights: Get the full rundown of Van Halen's electrifying set, including clas...