‘Van Halen: Story Of Their Songs’ To Premiere On Reelz
Van Halen: Story Of Their Songs will premiere on US television Sunday, June 5 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Reelz.
Van Halen are widely regarded as the band that changed the face of heavy rock and created a formula for a four-decade run as a legendary band. From their early days playing parties in Pasadena to becoming the biggest rock act in America, “Story Of Their Songs” explores six key songs that helped make them rock music titans.
After announcing their arrival on to the music scene with the bold and timeless Runnin’ With The Devil, they hit a commercial peak with synth-heavy chart-topper Jump before reinventing themselves not once but twice as singer David Lee Roth was replaced by Sammy Hagar, who then made way for Gary Cherone.
Despite the lineup changes, they still produced hit music, including Why Can’t This Be Love? and mainstream smashes When It’s Love and Can’t Stop Loving You along with the experimental Without You.
Elliot Gilbert, who created the cover art for the band’s debut album, recalls the photo session that left him deaf for a week. Jump music video producer Robert Lombard reveals the dilemma that eventually got him fired, and Dweezil Zappa, son of music legend Frank Zappa, remembers the time when Eddie Van Halen revealed some of his guitar playing secrets. Nuno Bettencourt quizzes his bandmate Gary Cherone about the former Extreme singer’s stint as Van Halen’s frontman while cinematographer Daniel Court explains the real reason for the band’s famed “no brown M&Ms” rider request.
Eddie Van Halen played his final concert with Van Halen on October 4, 2015 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. It was the last show of the band’s summer 2015 tour, which marked Van Halen’s third time hitting the road since Roth rejoined the group in 2007.
Eddie and drummer Alex Van Halen formed Van Halen in 1972 in Pasadena, California, with Roth on lead vocals and Michael Anthony on bass. The band was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.
Eddie Van Halen died in October 2020 at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, California. The iconic guitarist died at the age of 65 from complications due to cancer.