ContestsEvents

LISTEN LIVE

Wolfgang Van Halen Sticks Up for ‘Van Hagar’ Era

Wolfgang Van Halen showed some love for the “Van Hagar” era of Van Halen in a new interview. Speaking to Oklahoma City’s KATT, Wolfgang is asked about the new Van…

Sammy Hagar and Wolfgang Van Halen
David Becker/Getty Images; Travis Shinn

Wolfgang Van Halen showed some love for the "Van Hagar" era of Van Halen in a new interview.

Speaking to Oklahoma City's KATT, Wolfgang is asked about the new Van Halen release set for Record Store Day. That title -- Live: Right Here, Right Now -- celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Also, its release on Record Store Day marks the first time the title is available on vinyl.

Wolfgang said, "That era [of Van Halen] doesn't get any respect, I don't think. There's a lot of amazing songs and just obviously brilliant guitar playing on a lot of that - on all of that stuff - and I think people don't give it a chance 'cause they fall into that just exhausting 'this singer is better, this singer is better' crap, when it's, like, just give it a chance. There's some really good stuff in there."

When asked how he factors into VH reissue decisions, he refers to his uncle -- Alex Van Halen -- as the "head honcho" on those matters. He adds, "But when it comes to decision-making or at least just kind of helping out, yeah, I am that sort of what would have been my dad's vote for stuff there with Al. So Al and I are kind of that team."

Wolfgang is currently on the road with Mammoth WVH. They have a gig tonight (March 17) in Houston followed by a show in Dallas tomorrow (March 18.) A full list of upcoming tour dates can be found at MammothWVH.com.

Van Halen: Their 30 Best Songs, Ranked

Eddie Van Halen was the most influential guitarist of our generation.

Of course, flashy, fleet-fingered guitarists were a dime a dozen in the late ‘70s and ‘80s. Eddie was better than all of them, but he was more than that. A songwriter, a keyboardist, a studio wizard, ¼ of Van Halen’s four-part harmony team and a band leader that was able to guide VH through losing the most distinctive frontman of the ‘80s and led them to four chart-topping albums with Sammy Hagar.

Here, we take on the tough task of ranking their top 30 songs. (It was really, really tough to cut any of the songs on the first six albums from this list.)

30. “Dirty Movies” - ‘Fair Warning’ (1981)

vh_fair-3.jpgWarner Bros.

29. “Happy Trails” - ‘Diver Down’ (1982)

vh_diver.jpgWarner Bros.

28. “Ice Cream Man” - ‘Van Halen’ (1978)

vh_vh.jpgWarner Bros.

27. “Right Now” - ‘For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge’ (1991)

vh_for.jpgWarner Bros.

26. “Intruder/(Oh) Pretty Woman” - ‘Diver Down’ (1982)

vh_diver-1.jpgWarner Bros.

25. “Finish What Ya Started” - OU812 (1988)

vh_ou812.jpgWarner Bros.

24. “Little Dreamer” - ‘Van Halen’ (1978)

vh_vh-1.jpgWarner Bros.

23. “Best Of Both Worlds” - ‘5150’ (1986)

vh_5150.jpgWarner Bros.

22. “Feel Your Love Tonight” - ‘Van Halen’ (1978)

vh_vh-2.jpgWarner Bros.

21. “Summer Nights” - ‘5150’ (1986)

vh_5150-1.jpgWarner Bros.

20. “Atomic Punk” - ‘Van Halen’ (1978)

vh_vh-3.jpgWarner Bros.

19. “Dreams” - ‘5150’ (1986)

vh_5150-2.jpgWarner Bros.

18. “So This Is Love?” - ‘Fair Warning’ (1981)

vh_fair.jpgWarner Bros.

17. “Jamie’s Cryin’” - ‘Van Halen’ (1978)

vh_vh-4.jpgWarner Bros.

16. “Dance The Night Away” - ‘Van Halen II’ (1979)

vh_vhII.jpgWarner Bros.

15. “Panama” - ‘1984’ (1984)

vh_1984.jpgWarner Bros.

14. “I’m The One” - ‘Van Halen’ (1978)

vh_vh-5.jpgWarner Bros.

13. “Somebody Get Me A Doctor” - ‘Van Halen II’ (1979)

vh_vhII-1.jpg

12. “Hot For Teacher” - ‘1984’ (1984)

vh_1984-1.jpgWarner Bros.

11. “Everybody Wants Some!!” - ‘Women And Children First’ (1980)

vh_women-1.jpgWarner Bros.

10. “Little Guitars (Intro)/Little Guitars” - ‘Diver Down’ (1982)

vh_diver-2.jpgWarner Bros.

9. “1984/Jump” - ‘1984’ (1984)

vh_1984-2.jpgWarner Bros.

8. “On Fire” - ‘Van Halen’ (1978)

vh_vh-6.jpgWarner Bros.

7. “Unchained” - ‘Fair Warning’ (1981)

vh_fair-1.jpgWarner Bros.

6. “You Really Got Me” - ‘Van Halen’ (1978)

vh_vh-7.jpgWarner Bros.

5. “Mean Street” - ‘Fair Warning’ (1981)

vh_fair-2.jpgWarner Bros.

4. “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” - ‘Van Halen’ (1978)

vh_vh-8.jpgWarner Bros.

3. “And The Cradle Will Rock…” - ‘Women And Children First’ (1980)

vh_women-2.jpgWarner Bros.

2. “Eruption” - ‘Van Halen’ (1978)

vh_vh-9.jpgWarner Bros.

1. “Runnin’ With The Devil” - ‘Van Halen’ (1978)

vh_vh-10.jpgWarner Bros.
Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights