The Johnny Beane Podcast

On this episode of Talking Guitars & Music News on JohnnyBeaneTV, we kick things off with a big announcement — we’re going LIVE from the Amigo California Guitar Show this Saturday, January 10th! 🎸🔥 Make sure you tune in early afternoon East Coast / late afternoon West Coast as we bring you the action straight from one of California’s coolest vintage guitar shows. Expect guitars, effects, amplifiers, friends, and great vibes. We were there last year, had an absolute blast, and we’re doing it again — live with you! After that, we dive into a real talk discussion about artists still performing today, including David Lee Roth. I share why seeing a show in person is a completely different experience than watching shaky cell phone clips online — and why so much of the negativity comes from people who weren’t even there. Concerts are about energy, connection, and being in the room… and that matters. Then it’s straight into the music news 📰 We head over to Guitar World, where 2026 is already shaping up to be one of the most exciting years in Fender history. Fender has announced a new CEO — so what does that mean for the future of this iconic brand? Guitar World sits down with Edward Bud Cole, and we break it all down. Fender’s new CEO is a true full-circle story. Edward “Bud” Cole — who once didn’t get a job at Fender out of college — has now been named CEO of Fender Music Corporation, replacing Andy Mooney after his 10-year run. Cole spent more than a decade leading Fender Asia Pacific, where he transformed Fender Japan into one of the most innovative and respected divisions of the company. He expanded Fender across 14 countries, launched the iconic Fender Tokyo flagship store, and helped redefine how guitar brands connect with players — not just through products, but through community and experience. He’s also a working musician, songwriter, and former touring artist, which gives him a player-first perspective. Cole says 2026 will be one of the most exciting years in Fender’s history, with major announcements, innovation, and global expansion ahead. The year also marks Fender’s 80th anniversary, plus 75 years of the Telecaster and Precision Bass, with special limited-edition models planned. Looking forward, Cole sees a bigger role for flagship stores, live music events, AI tools for learning and creativity, and pushing Fender Japan–style innovation into the global lineup — all while keeping guitars accessible to new players. Bottom line: Fender is betting on innovation, community, and the power of music, and Bud Cole believes it all starts with one thing — people picking up a guitar to express what’s in their hearts and heads. 🎸🤘 Finally, we hit the guitar workbench 🔧 I clean up a Squier guitar, throw on fresh strings, and get it ready for bigger changes. And this Friday, we take it even further — swapping pickup covers, possibly changing a pickup, and continuing the mod journey live. 🔥 Every Week on Johnny Beane TV — Your Ultimate Guitar Hangout! ⚡ Epic Guitar & Gear Unboxings 🔧 Mod Tips, Pro Tricks & DIY Hacks 🎤 Live Q&As with Players Worldwide 🚨 Breaking Gear News, Leaks & First Looks 🎸 Guitar Stories, Artist Access & Backstage Vibes 🎁 Surprise Giveaways You Don’t Want to Miss 👍 Smash that LIKE 🔔 Hit SUBSCRIBE 💬 Drop a comment — You’re part of the crew! 🎥 Want Your Stream to Look Pro? 👉 StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4906555367489536

David Lee Roth Announces 30-Date 2026 North American Tour David Lee Roth is officially back on the road. The former Van Halen frontman has announced a 30-date tour across the U.S. and Canada, kicking off April 16 in Airway Heights, Washington, and wrapping up August 7 in Sturgis, South Dakota. The announcement follows Roth’s return to the stage in May 2025, ending a five-year hiatus. That comeback debuted at the M3 Festival, where Roth introduced a new eight-piece backing band that included four dedicated backing vocalists. “We’ve reached the end of my first retirement,” Roth joked during the performance. “How many retirements did Rocky have — nine?” Ticket pre-sales begin Tuesday, January 6 at 10 a.m. local time, with general on-sale starting Friday, January 9 at 10 a.m. local time. While Roth has released several stand-alone singles over the years, it has been more than two decades since his last solo album. His most recent full-length release was 2012’s A Different Kind of Truth, recorded with Van Halen during their reunion. David Lee Roth – 2026 Tour Dates April 16 – Airway Heights, WA – Spokane Live April 18 – Grand Ronde, OR – Spirit Mountain Casino April 20 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues April 22 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre April 25 – Albuquerque, NM – Revel April 27 – Lubbock, TX – Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts April 29 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Live May 1 – Memphis, TN – Graceland Soundstage May 3 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live May 6 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium May 12 – Wilmington, NC – Wilson Center May 14 – Greensboro, NC – Steven Tanger Center May 16 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre May 19 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre May 21 – Niagara Falls, ON – OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino May 24 – Boston, MA – House of Blues May 26 – Schenectady, NY – Proctor’s May 29 – Hampton Beach, NH – Casino Ballroom May 31 – Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre June 3 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theatre June 5 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage June 7 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount June 9 – Huber Heights, OH – Rose Music Center June 11 – Fort Wayne, IN – Foellinger Theatre June 13 – Battle Creek, MI – FireKeepers Casino June 15 – Rapid City, SD – The Monument June 17 – Moorhead, MN – Bluestem Amphitheatre June 20 – Milwaukee, WI – BMO Pavilion August 7 – Sturgis, SD – Buffalo Chip #ExclusivelyVanHalen #davidleeroth #vanhalen #johnnybeaneTV

🎥 Exclusively Van Halen is your ultimate destination for everything Van Halen — from deep dives into the band’s history and music to rare stories, insider trivia, and special moments. Whether you’ve been rocking since the Roth era or jumped on board during the Hagar years, this is where fans come together to celebrate the sound, spirit, and innovation of Van Halen. 🎸 We talk ALL things Van Halen right here on Exclusively Van Halen — only on Johnny Beane TV! KISS bassist and co-founder Gene Simmons has revealed that Eddie Van Halen once seriously considered joining KISS during a volatile period in Van Halen’s history — and that Simmons himself talked the guitar icon out of it. Simmons, one of Van Halen’s earliest champions, played a pivotal role in the band’s rise. He famously discovered the group in 1976 after wandering into a show at Los Angeles’ Starwood club, an experience he later described as leaving him “incredulous.” Soon after, Simmons produced Van Halen’s legendary Zero demo, which featured early versions of future classics like “Runnin’ With the Devil” and “House of Pain.” Despite his enthusiasm, Simmons eventually stepped back from producing or managing the band due to resistance from Paul Stanley, manager Bill Aucoin, and his existing commitments to KISS. However, according to Simmons, the paths of KISS and Van Halen nearly intersected again in 1982, as KISS were recording Creatures of the Night following the departure of guitarist Ace Frehley. In a December 29 interview with MusicRadar, Simmons recalled receiving a call from Eddie Van Halen during the Diver Down era, when tensions with David Lee Roth were escalating. “Eddie told me, ‘Roth is driving me nuts. I can’t take it. I gotta leave. I know you’re looking for a lead guitar player. Do you want me in the band?’” Simmons said. Eddie soon drove over to the studio — a trip Simmons jokingly described as terrifying, thanks to Van Halen’s doorless Jeep and aggressive driving. After grabbing lunch, Eddie listened to KISS’s new material and reacted enthusiastically. “He heard some of the tracks and was like, ‘Oh, I really like that!’” Simmons recalled. Despite the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Simmons says he advised Eddie not to join KISS, believing Van Halen was fundamentally built around his guitar playing. “I told him, ‘A band is worse than a marriage,’” Simmons said. “‘But with Van Halen, everything begins and ends with you — it’s all about the guitar.’” Simmons compared Eddie’s role in Van Halen to Jimmy Page in Led Zeppelin and even to Jimi Hendrix, arguing that there simply wouldn’t be room for him in KISS. “It would be like putting Jeff Beck or Hendrix in AC/DC,” Simmons explained. “Eddie would have taken over.” Looking back, Simmons believes he made the right decision — even if it meant Van Halen eventually parting ways with Roth. The band went on to release 1984, their final album with Roth, before entering the Sammy Hagar era and reaching even greater commercial success. “I love Roth — that’s still my favorite era of Van Halen,” Simmons said. “But you can get another lead singer. When Hagar joined, they became a bigger band.” Simmons compared the situation to AC/DC’s rise after the loss of Bon Scott. “That idea that you can’t lose the lead singer?” he concluded. “Actually, you can.” #ExclusivelyVanHalen #JohnnyBeaneTV #EddieVanHalen #KISS #GeneSimmons

On this episode, we kick things off with a big announcement — we’re going LIVE from the Amigo Guitar Show in San Rafael, California! 🎸 That’s coming up earlier in the day, so make sure it’s on your calendar and don’t miss it. From there, the chat throws out a great question about Van Halen guitars, and we dive deep into the legendary Frankenstein, Wolfgangs, and what makes those guitars so iconic. That discussion leads perfectly into some live performance footage from a show I played back in 2010 at the Brava Theater in San Francisco, where I was rocking a very Van Halen–inspired guitar. I share some clips and memories from what was an incredible night. https://youtu.be/I2UeKJ8j16o?si=Sg7c1h6LfBhJCfpK Then we shift into some real-world music talk — playing in bands, gigs, and life as a musician — including a fun look back at a New Year’s party in Santa Cruz from just last week. Next up, we crack open the Steve Vai book Wire and Wood: The Guitars of Steve Vai, flipping through pages and talking about the instruments, the artistry, and why this book is such a must-have for guitar fans. We also dig into a timely conversation about AI and music, including Suno and its new deal with Warner Music Group — what it means, why it matters, and how AI could shape the future of music creation. And to wrap things up, I share live footage from a 2022 show in Oakland, California, with our friend Music Therapy LAZ in the house — great vibes, great music, and a perfect way to close out the episode. https://www.youtube.com/live/CGg5c7UbXUg?si=43sDQZeRdVeLJ3VH https://www.youtube.com/live/K3aktMJ6HNQ?si=ePTyvI-WAp51WNGM 👇 Jump in, hang out, and enjoy the ride! Great guitars, hands-on mods, gear talk, and a fun hang with the crew. Always a great time on Straturday Night! 😎 🎸🔥 Welcome to STRATURDAY NIGHT — Your Saturday Night Guitar Destination! Riffs, mods, tone & mayhem every week — live guitar builds, screaming demos, wild stories, and nonstop laughs. Whether you’re a shredder, gearhead, or weekend warrior, THIS is your Saturday night hang. 📌 Subscribe: 🔔 YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/user/johnnybeane?sub_confirmation=1 🌐 Website → http://johnnybeane.com 📲 Follow Johnny Beane TV: 📸 Instagram → https://instagram.com/johnnybeane 🐦 Twitter/X → https://twitter.com/johnnybeane 📘 Facebook → https://facebook.com/johnnybeane 💎 Extra Links: 👨‍💻 Stream like a Rockstar → https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4906555367489536 ⚡ Power up the stream while LIVE → !tip | !s | !merch | !sub | !thumbs 🛒 Gear Up & Support the Show: 🎸 Lock-It Guitar Strap → Sweetwater: http://sweetwater.sjv.io/GKBjEL | Amazon: https://amzn.to/4g5udJL 🛡️ Ernie Ball Rubber Strap Blocks → Sweetwater: http://sweetwater.sjv.io/nXgvmV | Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cX3Pjy 🌀 Dunlop EVH Tortex Frankenstein Picks (.60mm) → http://sweetwater.sjv.io/WyY0LA 🛠️ D’Addario Guitar Dock → Sweetwater: http://sweetwater.sjv.io/eKZGkQ | Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cHpZGu 🎸 D'Addario Brass Strap End Pins → http://sweetwater.sjv.io/BnLXdy 🎯 Stew Mac Pure Tone Stereo 1/4" Jack → https://amzn.to/46fLlrG #StraturdayNight #snl #JohnnyBeaneTV #TalkingGuitars #VanHalen #GuitarTalk #LiveMusic #SteveVai #WireAndWood #AIandMusic #Suno #MusicCommunity #GuitarLife #RockMusic 🤘🎸

On this episode of Talking Guitars & Music News, we kick things off with the latest buzz from the Metal Sticks Podcast / Modern Drummer, featuring Alex Van Halen talking about working with Steve Lukather on a brand-new album. We covered it on Exclusively Van Halen yesterday, and today we dive even deeper. Then it’s guitar time 🎸 I break out my Squier Telecaster Deluxe, plug in, play a bit, and put it through its paces. After that, we head straight to the workbench to fix a real-world issue—replacing a bad input jack and getting this guitar back in action. If you’re into guitars, rock music, Van Halen news, and hands-on repairs, hit subscribe, follow the channel, and drop a comment below. Right here on Johnny Beane TV 🤘 #TalkingGuitars #JohnnyBeaneTV #AlexVanHalen #GuitarWorkbench #RockMusicNews