The Johnny Beane Podcast

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV, we take a deep dive into David Lee Roth’s controversial 1988 album Skyscraper—and why Billy Sheehan believes Roth could have been hailed as the “genius of the century” if the gamble had paid off.

After leaving Van Halen in 1985, Roth assembled an incredible lineup featuring Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan, and Gregg Bissonette. Their 1986 debut, Eat ’Em and Smile, was a massive success, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and establishing Roth as a major solo rock star.

Then came Skyscraper.

Instead of simply repeating the formula, Roth pushed toward synths, programmed beats, keyboards, and more dance-oriented sounds, while still featuring Steve Vai’s explosive guitar work.

🎸 Billy Sheehan on the Risk

Sheehan says Skyscraper may have been caught between two worlds:

🤘 Rock fans weren’t necessarily looking for dance-oriented sounds.
🕺 Dance fans weren’t necessarily interested in a rock band.
🎹 Roth was deliberately experimenting with a very different sound.
🚀 If it had completely worked, Sheehan believes Roth would have been celebrated as a musical genius.
🎲 Instead of playing it safe, Roth took a major creative risk.

And Sheehan respects him for it.

“If it would have been successful, then Dave would have ruled the world.”

🎧 Why Skyscraper Felt So Different

Sheehan also remembers the recording process being dramatically different from Eat ’Em and Smile. Instead of the band creating the record together, Skyscraper was assembled piece by piece, with more programmed and sequenced elements.

That difference is especially obvious on “Just Like Paradise,” one of Roth’s biggest solo hits.

Steve Vai later explained how the song was built around keyboards and sequencing, with his guitar parts added afterward—including a solo from an earlier demo that ultimately became the version used on the finished record.

🔥 The Big Question

Was Skyscraper a brilliant creative move that was simply ahead of its time—or did David Lee Roth alienate both the rock and dance audiences he was trying to reach?

And would you rather have seen Roth stick with the Eat ’Em and Smile formula, or are you glad he took the risk with Skyscraper?

#VanHalen #DavidLeeRoth #SteveVai #BillySheehan

Mike Dirnt Is Selling Green Day’s Most Iconic Tour-Worn Gear! 🔥🎸

Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt is selling a collection of iconic guitars, basses, amps, clothing, and stage-worn gear through his official Reverb shop — and some of these pieces have serious Green Day history behind them!

🎸 Highlights from Mike Dirnt’s Collection:
🔥 Basses that were actually burned on stage during Green Day’s Nimrod and Warning tours
🎸 American Idiot-era Fender Mike Dirnt Signature Precision basses
💥 An “unintentionally smashed” Gibson Grabber bass
🎶 A signed Fender bass used on the Nimrod album
🔊 One of the first Ampeg SVT-810 cabinets Dirnt bought with his first Green Day paycheck — and used on the Dookie tour
🎛️ Mesa/Boogie amps and speaker cabinets with thousands of touring miles
🎸 A 1962 Fender P-Bass in Fiesta Red from Dirnt’s personal studio collection
📺 Clothing worn in Green Day videos including “Wake Me Up When September Ends” and “Oh Yeah”
👕 Tour outfits from the American Idiot, 21st Century Breakdown and ¡UNO! eras

Dirnt says he’s collected countless guitars, basses and amps over the years because each instrument can inspire a song. Now, after years of recording and touring, he’s ready to pass some of that history on to the next generation of players and Green Day fans.

🔥 The Mike Dirnt Reverb shop goes live September 9!

Would you buy a Green Day bass that was actually burned on stage? 🎸🔥

#GreenDay #MikeDirnt #BassGuitar #GuitarCollecting

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we take a look at Charvel’s brand-new Pro Plus Dinky DK24 models—four metal-focused guitars loaded with serious firepower, including Seymour Duncan Nazgul pickups, Floyd Rose tremolos, stainless-steel frets, and killer new finishes like Zombie Fade.

Charvel has expanded the Pro Plus Dinky DK24 lineup with four new models designed for speed, precision, and heavy music. While these guitars are built for shredders, the pickup and hardware combinations make them especially interesting for modern metal players.

🔥 What’s New?
🎸 Three HH models feature Seymour Duncan Nazgul bridge and Sentient neck humbuckers.
⚡ The HSS model uses a Seymour Duncan Full Shred TB-10 at the bridge with Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 single-coils.
🤘 Two HH models come equipped with Floyd Rose 1500 Series double-locking tremolos for dive bombs and extreme whammy-bar work.
🎯 The HH HT model features a Charvel HT6 string-through hardtail bridge.
🌳 The hardtail is the only model with an Ash Dinky body; the others use Basswood.
🏁 All four guitars feature 24 stainless-steel jumbo frets.
💀 New finishes include the seriously metal Zombie Fade, along with Amber Tiger Eye, Crimson Eclipse, black, white, and other options.
💰 Prices range from approximately $1,199 to $1,399, putting these models in an attractive mid-price range.

These are also significant as the first new Charvel models released since the death of company founder Wayne Charvel. His influence on the Superstrat and modern custom-guitar movement continues to be evident in guitars like these.

Which one would you choose—the Nazgul-loaded HH with a Floyd Rose, the hardtail, or the HSS model? And would YOU take the Zombie Fade finish? 👇

#Charvel #GuitarGear #MetalGuitar

Brad Gillis Recalls the Bizarre Scorpion Incident With ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we dive into one of the strangest backstage stories from Night Ranger’s early days on the road with ZZ Top.

After briefly joining Ozzy Osbourne’s band following the tragic death of Randy Rhoads, guitarist Brad Gillis returned to Night Ranger and immediately found himself touring with some of rock’s biggest names, including KISS and ZZ Top.

Gillis remembers how warmly both legendary bands treated Night Ranger—but one ZZ Top tour produced an unforgettable backstage incident involving bassist Jack Blades and a tiny scorpion.

🦂 The Scorpion Incident
Night Ranger was touring with ZZ Top during the band’s early years.
Billy Gibbons frequently hung out backstage with the younger band.
During one show, reportedly in New Mexico, Jack Blades left his coat or shirt on a chair.
A baby scorpion apparently crawled inside the clothing.
After the show, Blades put the garment back on—and was stung by the scorpion.
When Gibbons heard what happened, he reportedly asked if it was a small scorpion.
When Blades said yes, Gibbons warned: “Those are the most poisonous.”
Blades was taken to the hospital and successfully treated.
The scorpion was captured and eventually preserved in a glass display.
Billy Gibbons reportedly turned it into a bizarre souvenir for Blades, complete with a message wishing him mercy!
🎸 From Backstage Pranks to Rock History

What makes the story even more memorable is the friendship between the bands. Gillis says ZZ Top essentially took Night Ranger under their wing when they were still a new group riding the success of “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me.”

More than 40 years later, Night Ranger and ZZ Top are still sharing stages, making Gillis’s memories of the band—and especially the late Frank Beard—even more meaningful.

It’s one of those incredible rock-and-roll stories that sounds completely made up… until you hear it from someone who was actually there.

What would YOU do if you put on your jacket and got stung by a scorpion backstage? 🦂😂

#TalkingGuitars #JohnnyBeaneTV #BradGillis #NightRanger #ZZTop #BillyGibbons #JackBlades #FrankBeard #ElectricGuitar #GuitarPlayers #RockAndRoll #ClassicRock #GuitarHistory #RockHistory #OzzyOsbourne #RandyRhoads #KISS

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV, we take a look at an incredible Van Halen moment from the Guitar Center Drum-Off finale at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles!

On Thursday, August 20, Michael Anthony, legendary bassist of Van Halen, joined powerhouse guitarist Phil X and drummer Kenny Aronoff for a live performance of Van Halen material. The chemistry between these three musicians was absolutely electric—and hearing Michael Anthony back on stage delivering that unmistakable Van Halen sound is something fans won’t want to miss!

🔥 Michael Anthony + Phil X + Kenny Aronoff
🎸 Van Halen material LIVE
📍 Fonda Theatre — Los Angeles
🥁 Guitar Center Drum-Off Finale — August 20, 2026

Watch the performance, share your thoughts, and let us know: Would you have wanted to see this lineup perform a full Van Halen set?

#VanHalen #MichaelAnthony #PhilX #KennyAronoff