The Johnny Beane Podcast

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV, we’re talking about a very cool tribute to one of rock’s most legendary albums!

🔥 Billy Sheehan is celebrating the 40th anniversary of David Lee Roth’s Eat ’Em and Smile in a unique way:

🎸 Sheehan has reunited with Ray Luzier of Korn and other musicians to record 4–5 songs that were considered for the original album but never recorded.
🎶 The project is nearly finished and could be released within about a month.
🤘 Sheehan is also re-recording a couple of songs that appeared on the original Eat ’Em and Smile.
⭐ The original lineup featured David Lee Roth, Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan and Gregg Bissonette.
❤️ Sheehan describes his time with Roth as “the most amazing time of my life” and says the Eat ’Em and Smile tour was beyond anything they imagined.

Released in July 1986, Eat ’Em and Smile was Roth’s first solo album following his split from Van Halen—and it remains a landmark record for fans of guitar, bass and ’80s rock.

🎤 Would you like to hear Billy Sheehan’s new recordings of the unreleased Eat ’Em and Smile songs? Let us know!

#VanHalen #DavidLeeRoth #BillySheehan #EatEmAndSmile

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV, we dive into the incredible story of how Eddie Van Halen encouraged Lita Ford to get back to work and launch her solo career after The Runaways.

After The Runaways broke up in 1979, Ford stepped away from the rock world and even took a job at a department store. But Eddie wasn’t about to let her stay there for long!

🔥 Here’s what happened:

Lita Ford started her professional career at just 16 years old with The Runaways.
After the band split, she went through a period of isolation and stepped away from music.
Ford eventually began working at a department store while wearing her old Runaways gear.
Eddie Van Halen came over and called her out for not doing anything!
Eddie’s encouragement helped push Ford back into rehearsing and pursuing music again.
After struggling to find the right singer, Lita decided to sing herself—despite not considering herself a vocalist.
Her 1983 debut album, Out for Blood, wasn't the production she wanted, but she refused to give up.
Ford went on to become one of rock's most respected female guitarists and performers.

Lita Ford's story is a great reminder of how much Eddie Van Halen encouraged and inspired other musicians—sometimes simply by pushing them to believe in themselves.

🎸 Did you know Eddie Van Halen played a role in getting Lita Ford back into music?

#VanHalen #EddieVanHalen #LitaFord #TheRunaways

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV, we’re talking about Jacob Deraps, the Van Halen-obsessed guitarist who has become the face of the latest EVH Wolfgang Special guitars—and his uncanny ability to capture the spirit of Eddie Van Halen.

🎸 Why is Jacob Deraps getting so much attention?

🔥 Eddie’s influence is everywhere — Deraps has spent years obsessing over Eddie Van Halen’s playing, tone, feel, and technique.
⚡ The Eddie factor is REAL — His playing has impressed countless Van Halen fans, with some calling him one of the closest players they’ve ever heard to Eddie.
🎥 The new EVH Wolfgang Special promo — Deraps wrote, recorded, and performed the track featured in the guitar’s promotional video.
🤘 A dream come true — Deraps was flown to California to work with EVH Gear on the video and called the experience an absolute honor.
🎶 More than an Eddie clone — While you’ll hear unmistakable Van Halen-inspired touches—including tapping and Floyd Rose tremolo work—Deraps brings his own modern sound and songwriting into the spotlight.
🎸 The new Wolfgang Special — The guitar features a basswood body, arched top, quartersawn baked maple neck, Floyd Rose tremolo with EVH D-Tuna technology, and Alnico 2 humbuckers.
💥 Price: $1,499.

What makes Jacob Deraps especially interesting is that he isn’t simply trying to recreate Eddie Van Halen. He’s taking the influence of one of the greatest guitarists ever and using it as a foundation for his own identity and style.

And when it comes to honoring Eddie while still moving forward, that's a pretty impressive combination.

Is Jacob Deraps the closest guitarist you’ve ever heard to Eddie Van Halen? 🎸🔥

Let us know what you think in the comments!

#VanHalen #EddieVanHalen #EVHGear #JacobDeraps

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we pay tribute to Frank Beard, the legendary drummer and longtime backbone of ZZ Top, who has passed away at 77.

🥁 Frank Beard: The Beat Behind ZZ Top

Beard joined ZZ Top in the early 1970s and became an essential part of the band’s signature sound.
His rock-solid Texas shuffle helped drive classics like “La Grange,” “Tush,” and “Cheap Sunglasses.”
He was instrumental in bringing Dusty Hill into the band, completing the classic ZZ Top lineup with Billy Gibbons.
ZZ Top’s breakthrough came with albums like Tres Hombres, Fandango!, and later the massive Eliminator.
Beard remained behind the kit through more than five decades of recording, touring, and rock ’n’ roll history.
ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
After Dusty Hill’s passing in 2021, Beard and Billy Gibbons continued carrying the ZZ Top legacy forward.

Frank Beard may not have had the famous beard—but his drumming was every bit as recognizable as the band’s riffs, guitars, and Texas boogie.

🎸 RIP Frank Beard. Thank you for the groove, the music, and more than 50 years of ZZ Top history.

#ZZTop #FrankBeard #RockMusic #TalkingGuitars

Ritchie Blackmore’s Emotional Deep Purple Reunion: “Smoke on the Water” Brings It All Back!

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we dive into an incredible rock history moment: Ritchie Blackmore’s emotional reunion with Deep Purple! 🎸🔥

After more than 33 years, Blackmore stepped back onstage with his former bandmates to perform the legendary “Smoke on the Water” at Jones Beach near New York.

🎸 Why This Reunion Was So Special:
Ritchie Blackmore hadn’t performed with Deep Purple since 1993!
Blackmore says the idea was his, because he wanted to show fans that there were no hard feelings.
He told Guitar Player that he felt it could be the last time the band members might see each other.
His wife, Candice Night, helped connect him with Ian Gillan, who reportedly responded, “It made me smile.”
Blackmore returned to the stage with Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and Ian Paice.
He brought out a Stratocaster he had used in the 1980s and played through a 50-watt amp.
Blackmore admitted he hadn’t properly played a Strat in about 30 years!
He kept his playing simple, letting Simon McBride handle much of the main riff before Blackmore stepped in for his own fills and solo.
Blackmore described the moment as incredibly emotional, comparing it to old soldiers from the same army getting back together.
🤘 And Then There Was That Moment…

During the performance, Gillan put his hand on Blackmore’s shoulder while singing, and later Blackmore grabbed Gillan’s wrist and placed his hand on the guitar.

Afterward, Gillan welcomed Blackmore back, calling him “the founding member, the great legend, the immortal Ritchie Blackmore.”

That’s rock history.

From the classic Mark II lineup to decades of separation, clashes, reunions and everything in between, seeing Blackmore and Deep Purple sharing the stage again was something nobody knew if they would ever witness.

Was this the greatest Deep Purple reunion moment in decades? Would you like to see Ritchie Blackmore perform with Deep Purple again? Let us know in the comments!

🎸 Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV — guitars, rock history, gear, interviews and the stories behind the music!

#RitchieBlackmore #DeepPurple #SmokeOnTheWater #GuitarNews