Van Halen are back in a big way this week with the Tuesday release of “A Different Kind Of Truth.”
What’s also back - on the band’s first album with David Lee Roth in 28 years – is the classic Van Halen sound, thanks to a combination of Roth’s voice, stellar playing by all and, the reworking of several tracks from the band’s early demos.
In a new interview with The Guardian, Roth defines the VH sound.
“The Van Halens went to Ridgemont High,” begins Dave. “Ever see the movie? That was their high school – 98% Jeff Spiccoli and home of the monster riff and every ending to every song should sound like world war nine or just the end of the world. Who does endings better than Van Halen live? I'll send you a ticket. I'm ready to argue this. Unarguably the best endings ever, right? They sound like the end of everything. Biblical.”
“And the guitar solo?,” continues Roth. “It is a religious icon, certainly on a par with some of our more popular professional sports, which I maintain are religions. Put the football down – I'm ready to argue." He laughs. "That's how we do the solo." And laughs again. "And you'll know when the solo's coming because there's a scream. There are moments. Combine the two and what you have is hard rock from the 70s. We enjoyed our fame in the 80s but we had nothing musically to do with it. And you can interpret that four different ways, depending on how I just said it."
Read more with Roth at The Guardian here.
Van Halen Van Halen – Hot For Teacher
Henson Studios – Los Angeles, CA – February 1, 2012
See also:
Van Halen tops the hennemusic Hot 10
VIDEO: Van Halen – A Different Kind Of Truth timelapse