My Van Halen tribute series

I've been a die-hard Van Halen fan since middle school. I'm a fan of the original lineup and the VH mach-2. My preference was and still is Sammy Hagar. He was the frontman when I got into the band.

I was heartbroken in 1996 when Eddie fired Sammy. The band was never the same, but Sammy flourished! I've held a grudge against Eddie ever since.

However, when he passed away in 2020 I was crestfallen. My love of the band came flooding back, because now there will never be a Van Halen. A few months after his death (I was already in a deep depression before Eddie Van Halen's death and stopped making art for about 9 months total), I started my tribute series of the band. For the most part, my drawings and paintings depict all 4 members: Eddie, Sammy, Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony. I focus on the lineup I grew up with (and I don't like David Lee Roth. His contribution to the success of the band can't hinder my distaste for his personality). 

I wanted to show each tour, whether they are performing or posing. I still have a few more I want to do. 

 

Finished What I Started!

 It's been a slow process, but I finished the 35"x24" graphite drawing of Van Halen circa 1995! 

This is the latest addition to my Van Halen tribute series. Not the best photo of it, but I'll get a better one before it gets framed.

Slow Progression

 I posted January 29th a photo of my recent drawing for my Van Halen Tribute series. That photo is here:

This is where that drawing is as of March 24th:

It's been a SLOW drawing. It's a 36"x24"ish graphite drawing. I'm using an HB mechanical pencil (#2 mechanical pencil). 

Now, I don't work on it every day, but I work on it a few days a week for 1-4 hours a day. 

I've done a drawing or painting for each tour with Sammy Hagar except the OU812 tour. That's the next project, though. I'm trying to do full band images to celebrate what I always loved about the band: teamwork and camaraderie. 

'95 Van Halen tour

 I've started on a new piece for my Van Halen tribute series. This one is focused on the 1995 Balance tour (I'm creating at least 1 piece from each tour or time frame between 1986 and 1995, the Sammy Hagar years). It's 36"x24", also known as 3ftx2ft, and graphite pencil.  

I got to see them twice that tour in 1995, 2 nights in a row. These were the 2nd and 3rd times seeing Van Halen live. The first was in 1993 at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan. The 1995 BALANCE tour was at the Palace of Auburn Hills (no longer around). 

5150 Time!!

This is my Van Halen tribute series, Which I began a few months after Eddie Van Halen died in 2020. I'm focusing on the Sammy Hagar era, as that is the time I got into music and the band (and I'm obsessed with Sammy because of VH). I'm not knocking the original lineup; I love Van Halen from 1977 to 1996, I just prefer Sammy. Some of the artwork here has been sold, but most I still have. 

 

New Art for a New Year (EXCLUSIVE)

 I've been drawing and painting tributes to Van Halen since Eddie Van Halen died in 2020. I'm focusing on the Sammy Hagar years, as that's the era I got into music and am obsessed with Sammy Hagar because of it. 

This is the most recent, which I finished today (I think it's done). This is a 36"x24" charcoal drawing based on Van Halen's -fated reunion tour with Sammy Hagar in 2004. I've posted videos and photos of the progress on my TikTok and Instagram, but this is the ONLY place I'm posting the finished product, at least for now. 

Let me know what you think, and maybe share with people who might appreciate it.

Happy New Year.