IN THIS ISSUE:
(32 pages)

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR (2 pages)
Band photos, letter from the editor

RIGHT NOW (2 pages)
Current VH News

MAILBAG (2 pages)
Letter from fans

FANPOLL RESULTS (2 pages)
The results of the biggest VH fanpoll ever conducted, counting over 1,000 entries for questions such as: Favorite VH songs, albums, tours, guitar solos, singers, etc.

SAM UPDATE (2 pages)
Sam plans for the Marching to Mars album and tour, and a review of the last Cabo Wabo Birthday Bash.

EDDIE VAN HALEN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW (6 pages)
Includes a description and floor plan of the 5150 Studios.

MICHAEL ANTHONY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW (4 pages)

KID EGO-LESS (2 pages)
Gary Cherone bio

DAVE WANTS HIS MTV (1/2 page)
A report on the MTV 1996 Video Music Awards appearance with David Lee Roth

LYRICS (1/2 page)
Lyrics to "Me Wise Magic" and "Can't Get This Stuff No More," plus new merchandise available.

VIDEOS (2 pages)
Video captions from 3 different newly-available video tapes: DAVID LEE ROTH (Video Compilation), LES PAUL AND FRIENDS (Eddie jams with Les Paul), and VH VIDEO HITS, VOL 1.

CENTERFOLD
2 band photos: one from the Dave era and one from the Sammy era.

BACK COVER
Hilarious photo of the band of the band dressed up for Christmas in 1979. Dave is dressed as an elf, Eddie as a Christmas tree, Alex as Santa Claus, and Michael as Baby New Year.

EDWARD INTERVIEW
Edward Interview by Jeff Hausman on October 18, 1996
Edited by Geoff Bell

First there was Dave. Then Sammy Hagar. Now Gary Cherone's at the microphone. To Edward Van Halen, each bit of change is just another part of the continuing evolution of Van Halen.

When you begin the long trip up Edward Van Halen's driveway to 5150 Studios, it's virtually impossible to think of yourself as anything beyond someone who clearly doesn't belong. The nerves, the tension, the anticipation - it's better than Disneyland!

I was told to be at the studio on Friday, October 18, at 12 noon. Kevin Dugan, Michael Anthony's longtime bass tech, was my escort, and he indicated that 12 noon meant we shouldn't get there early, and we certainly shouldn't get there late. The giant, gothic gate that blocks entry to the compound flew open instantly when we arrived. As you drive up the hill, Edwards's Tudor style home stands proudly, draped in decorative foliage and ornate landscaping. This is no ordinary house, and I knew at once that I was in the presence of serious greatness. Kevin likes to drive fast, so the trip up the drive barely registers in my memory. I did, however, spot a small fleet of exotic cars resting comfortablly in and around the Van Halen garage.

We skidded to a stop just short of one of the studio's many doors and wandered inside. Immediately, we were greeted by Scotty Ross, who was lounging next to the studio's computer. Without missing a beat, everyone in the place was trying to make me feel comfortable. It is the hang-out joint of hang-out joints - the type of laid back atmosphere you can't just create...you've got to live it. After helping myself to one of many Coors Cutter non-alcoholic beers I would drink throughout the day, Scotty asked Matt Bruck, Ed's beyond-friendy guitar tech, to take me upstairs and show me Eddie's guitar collection. As we wandered around the small but jam-packed room, Matt's utterances said it all. He's been hanging around the stuio for years and still acts like a kid in a candy store when he pops upstairs to pay homage to Ed's guitar. In a word - Amazing.

Later, as I was wandering back to the fridge, I ran into none other than Gary Cherone, fresh from his late-morning workout. Sporting a freshly-shorn head and an athletic build, he remarked that they should have cleaned up the place for my visit. We took a seat near the snack bar and discussed the future of Van halen. Among other things, I was struck by his enthusiasm. Cherone doesn't drip with the self-important hubris so common in Big Time Rock. As was apparent on each of Extreme's four albums, he's got vocal chops that could earn him a living in any number of genres. We're truly blessed he has decided to hang his hat with Van halen. He indicated that there are a number of classic Van Halen cuts he's dying to perform live - and has no problem singing anything from either of Van Halen's two eras. I started to sweat when he mentioned the old days and pressed him. "Like what?" I asked, hoping for an expansive list of song titles. He smiled and thought about it for several seconds. "Didn't Ed just play ten seconds of 'Mean Street' last tour?" he asked with a glimmer in his eye. I nodded and he smiled knowingly. We discussed some of the new material they were working on and Gary told me I couldn't leave the studio until I had heard some of the new music. Edward was running late, so we blew through several tracks on the studio's video racing game.

Just about an hour after I arrived, Eddie strolled in, ever the Casual Cat in glasses, jeans and a comfortable blue sweater. I thanked him for the opportunity to lurk around the studio for a while and let him know that it was a dream come true. He said, "No, Gary's a dream come true," and gave Gary a giant bear hug. Eddie explained to me that he had to pick up Wolfgang in 20 minutes, but wanted to "blow me away with the new stuff" first. Like a zombie, I followed Ed in to he control room where he pulled a chair to the middle fo the giant console and offered me a seat. Without hesitation, he pulled out a couple of DATs, tossed one into the player and dimmed the lights. For the love of God - the man likes it loud! A torrential flood of sound flattened me as the newest Van Halen incarnation introduced itself. Ed closed his eyes and tapped his feet to the beat, occasionally calling my attention to a certain lick or section with which he was particularly happy. After several songs, he spent a moment explaining that these were extremely rough demos, several of which had already undergone changes. The he bounded out the door, jumped into some sort of luxury sedan, strapped on his seat-belt and raced away to pick up Wolfgang at school. I stood in the doorway, under the California sun, trying to mentally process what had just happened. Everything had blown by so fast. With every secnd, each note of those precious demos was slowly slipping from my brain.

But there's no time for that kind of reflective activity at 5150, where new and exciting treats are always on the horizon. A streak of light and the smell of burning rubber shook me out of my daze and I was face to face with Alex Van Halen and his neck brace, both behind the wheel of a silver Porsche. He flashed a grin and sped around to the back of the studio and out of sight. I thought about following him and studying his habits, but he quickly reappeared, in reverse, slowing only to announce that he was "going the other way, now." he was gone before he ever arrived. Left on my own, I shot baskets and waited for further instructions.

A bit later, Edward and Alex returned with a copy of their appearance on MTVs "The Week in Rock," which thay had shot four days earlier on these very grounds. Young Wolfgang Van Halen was also in on the fun, energized from a rough day of scholastics. Gary joined us and we watched the interview in the lounge. Few experiences could be as surreal - watching Ed and Al watch themselves on MTV. They were amused by MTVs choice of footage and laughed aloud at the flashy video techniques used to spice up the interview.

Before long, I was back in my chair in the console room, this time with both Van Halen brothers, sampling more new material. Ed joined me behind the console, while Alex stood ominously at the front of the room, wearing a black T-shirt with a peace symbol prominently stamped across the chest. They showed me lyrics to a piano song and a song tentatively titled, "Candyman." With each note, Alex leaned closer and closer to the console, listening intently. During one particularly vibrant solo break, Alex hopped behind the console and grooved with his brother on imaginary instruments. They were clearly happy with the direction the band is moving. Six of the seven tunes I heard were what could be classified as "hard rock." It was what I wanted to hear, but not necessarily what I had expected. The biggest twist was a piano song that was, for the most part, laced with a tapestry of fine melodies, save for the random moment when Eddie would beat the shit out of the piano keys. Two songs, which were among my favorites, Eddie knew only as "The Blues Song" and "The Funk Tune." Yet another began with only bass, and had the makings of another classic VH song intro. The songs were different, but had he flavor of more recent VH fare. The sonic fabric was filled to the brim with cymbals, squeals, and the funky rhythms of these fabulous new tunes.

At last, it was time to sit down and talk to Edward. Alex and Gary retreated to the lounge for yet another video game workout. During the interview, I occasionally heard their competitive howls. We set up behind the console and let the tape roll. Save for a few interruptions, we talked for over an hour about Gary, Sammy, Dave and anything else that came to mind.

When we finsiehd, Gary and Alex bounded into the room, eager to begin that evening's session [Mike was vacationing in Lake Havasu and would be returning on the following Monday]. Ed led me to the back of the studio, behind the drum room, where he stores his "work tapes." In his words, "This is everthing, man." It was an awesome sight - the man and his music, in his studio.

It was approaching five-thirty in the evening. I had been there for five and a half hours! As all good things must come to an end, it was time for me to go. Like a kid forced to stop playing kickball when recess is over, I prepared to leave. Ed realized I had to catch a flight back to Omaha and said, "Man, you came all the way out here for this? We could have just done a phoner." I laughed it off and said that I appreciated their hospitality and that a phone interview wouldn't have quite been the same. He smiled and disappeared into the studio, primed and raring to go.

Please note, this above portion is only the interview's intro. The full EVH interview follows this intro.