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Van Halen #6 | "Better Off Dead" (1985)

Van Halen #6 | "Better Off Dead" (1985)

Author: Jay R Smith March 21, 2024 Duration: 3:49:16
A History of Rock n' Roll in Film and Rock n' Roll
MusicFilmHistoryTvTV & Film

Hello and get ready for so much Van Halen once again! And Better Off Dead! So much good stuff that could have only happened in the 1980s converging in one place. Along with more 70s Van Halen history too, of course. We'll cover stuff like:

  • Savage Steve Holland's real life experiences that went into his script, and later work in children's cartoons
  • Michael Anthony's first meetup with Sammy Hagar
  • Eddie's challenges in early life as a shy kid would couldn't speak english in America
  • His challenges shaking off the controlling influence of David Lee Roth and Ted Templeman making "1984" the way HE and Alex and Donn Landee wanted to
  • John Cusack's initial hatred of "Better Off Dead" and his eventual backpedal
  • The Van Halen family's journey from The Netherlands to Pasadena by boat and by train
  • My shock at finding out Alex's drums on certain songs were actually an electric kit
  • Al, Mike, and Sammy's soundcheck routines and gear specs on the 1993 tour 
  • The AC/DC songs Eddie says inspired "Panama" and "Drop Dead Legs"
  • The making of Van Halen 2 and how it was intentionally different from the debut album
  • How "Fair Warning" influenced what happened on "Diver Down" which in turn influenced "1984"
  • Eddie's on-the-road-all-night-every-night initial fling with Valerie Bertinelli that morphed straight into their marriage
  • What happens when a couple of lucky young dudes from Pennsylvania get to party with Van Halen and MTV doesn't know how to keep up with it all 

AND SO MUCH MORE. Including lots of my musical interludes and suprise voices from throughout time and space! Even more than usual. 

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https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/eddie-van-halen-tribute-1081034/

https://youtu.be/7qviaKsnb5Q?si=SAqlSYo-TY3PQ0Ng

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/75810/13-better-facts-about-better-dead 

https://www.insidehook.com/film/director-steve-holland-cult-classic-better-off-dead-john-cusack 

https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/eddie-van-halen-looks-back-van-halen-1984-album-5150-studios


Hosted by Jay R Smith, A History of Rock n' Roll in Film and Rock n' Roll explores the deep and often surprising connections between the silver screen and the amplifier. This isn't just a series of movie reviews; it's a cultural excavation. Each episode uses films-from major biopics and concert documentaries to obscure B-movies and tangential appearances-as a starting point to unpack a much larger story. You'll hear about the artists whose lives were dramatized, the business deals negotiated in studio lots, and the technological innovations, like new sound recording methods, that were pioneered for these projects and went on to shape music itself. The podcast argues that rock's history isn't just in the grooves of a record, but also in the flickering light of a projector, examining how cinematic portrayals have influenced our perception of the genre's legends and myths. By looking at these cinematographic products, Jay traces the evolution of what he calls that "glorious cultural mutant," revealing how film hasn't just documented rock n' roll, but has actively participated in its creation and legacy. The conversation is as much about the music as it is about the movies that tried to capture its chaotic, revolutionary spirit.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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