Tag: van halen

Van Halen’s “1984” album cover almost featured chrome women

/ Dave Caolo

vh1984 is my favorite Van Halen album. Margo Nahas’ painting of the smoking cherub that graces its cover is no small part of its appeal. However, David Lee Roth initially requested “dancing chrome women” as the album’s artwork:

“When the art department at Warner Bros. Records asked Van Halen what they wanted for the cover of their sixth album, singer David Lee Roth said, ‘Dancing chrome women.’ (He didn’t say why.) The Warner Bros. art department brought in Margo Nahas, an airbrush artist and cover designer with a knack for photo-realism…but after a few weeks, she just couldn’t get the chrome women to look real enough to suit her.”

Find out how the band went from dancing chrome women to cigarette-smoking cherub at Neatorama. Then check out the sweet sneakers I got for Christmas.

The Van Halen Interview

/ Dave Caolo

Ed, Dave and Al talking about the old days and their craft. I could listen to this all day long. Plus, it’s Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth and Alex Van Halen talking in close proximity, and they’re not trying to kill each other. In fact, they’re actually laughing. That’s the most compelling part to me.

David Lee Roth interviews Eddie and Alex Van Halen

/ Dave Caolo

VH Interviews from Van Halen on Vimeo.

I’ve been a Van Halen fan since I first heard Diver Down as a 9-year-old while my friend Abe spray painted a huge “VH” on a neighbor’s garage.  In all that time, I’ve never seen this trio sit down for an honest discussion about their beginnings, influences and lives as musicians.

Whoever is in charge of marketing the new album, A Different Kind of Truth, is doing a fantastic job.