The Johnny Beane Podcast

September 27, 2007 — Charlotte, North Carolina.

Nineteen years ago tonight, Van Halen officially hit the road with David Lee Roth for the first time since 1984! 🤘🔥

After more than two decades apart, Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen and 16-year-old Wolfgang Van Halen stepped onto the stage at Bobcats Arena in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 18,000 fans.

And Van Halen was BACK.

The 2007–2008 tour went on to become the highest-grossing tour in Van Halen history at the time, with more than $93 million in ticket sales and nearly one million fans attending shows across the U.S. and Canada.

🎸 Opening Night — Charlotte, NC
📅 September 27, 2007
📍 Bobcats Arena, Charlotte, North Carolina
👥 18,000+ — SOLD OUT
🎤 David Lee Roth returns
🎸 Eddie Van Halen
🥁 Alex Van Halen
🎸 Wolfgang Van Halen
🎶 75 arena shows across the U.S. and Canada
💰 More than $93 million in ticket sales

The crowd looked like it had stepped straight out of 1984 — classic rock shirts, baseball jerseys and generations of Van Halen fans packed into the arena.

But this wasn't just a nostalgia show.

⚡ The Setlist Hit HARD

The opening night featured a barrage of classic Roth-era Van Halen, including:

“Eruption” • “You Really Got Me” • “I’m the One” • “Everybody Wants Some!!” • “Hot for Teacher” • “Beautiful Girls” • “Little Guitars” • “Runnin’ with the Devil” • “Atomic Punk” • “Panama” • “Jump”

And Roth was back in full-on Roth mode — leather pants, high kicks, screams, attitude and plenty of stage presence.

One of the memorable moments came when Eddie slid across the stage on his knees during “Little Guitars”, coming to a stop right at Wolfgang's feet.

There were also touching moments between Eddie and Wolfgang, including a kiss after “Dance the Night Away.”

🤘 And Then There Was Wolfgang

At just 16 years old, Wolfgang wasn't simply standing in the background.

He handled bass and backing vocals, took his place at the front of the stage and quickly became part of the show — something that was especially remarkable considering the enormous shoes he was stepping into.

The absence of Michael Anthony was certainly noticed by longtime fans, but the young Wolfgang held his own.

🔥 The Moment Van Halen Fans Had Waited For

For fans who had spent years wondering whether Eddie and Roth would ever share a stage again, September 27, 2007 was a historic night.

As one concertgoer put it at the time, “Honestly, it was something I didn’t think I would see.”

After years of rumors, lineup changes and uncertainty, the original Van Halen frontman was standing onstage with Eddie and Alex again.

Van Halen was back.

And for those lucky enough to be inside Bobcats Arena that night, they were witnessing the beginning of a tour that nearly a million people would eventually experience.

🎸 September 27, 2007 — Charlotte, NC.

19 years ago tonight.

Van Halen. David Lee Roth. BACK ON THE ROAD. 🤘🔥

#VanHalen #DavidLeeRoth #EddieVanHalen #VanHalenFans

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we’re talking about a seriously unexpected guitar collaboration: John Mayer, PRS, and Land Rover Defender have teamed up for a new Silver Sky collection featuring actual Defender paint colors — and, finally, a factory black pickguard on the Silver Sky SE!

John Mayer tells Guitar World that this collaboration is about much more than putting a car logo on a guitar. It’s about color, design, accessibility, and pushing the Silver Sky in a new direction.

🔥 Here's what's happening:
🎸 PRS + John Mayer + Land Rover Defender have created a new Silver Sky Color Collection.
🚙 The guitars use actual Land Rover Defender paint colors and paint codes.
🎨 The US Silver Sky gets four heritage Defender colors: Arles Blue, Willow Green, Portofino Red, and Sandglow Yellow.
🎸 The SE Silver Sky gets Petra Copper, Sedona Red, Carpathian Grey, and Woolstone Green.
🖤 The SE models introduce something Silver Sky fans have been asking for: a factory black pickguard.
🇺🇸 Only 500 of each US Silver Sky model will be produced.
The SE models aren't technically limited editions, but they're scheduled to be available through mid-2027.
Mayer says the black pickguard appearing on the SE was intentional — he wanted to give something special to the more accessible line.
Mayer also talks about how he learned that many players may choose to stay with an SE forever, rather than viewing it as simply a stepping stone to a Core model.
🎨 The collection continues Mayer's long-running obsession with guitar color and product design, inspired by everything from cars and watches to fashion and lifestyle brands.
🚗 Fender and Gibson have famously used automotive-inspired colors in the past — but this collaboration takes that idea in a new direction by using actual Defender paint.
🎯 John Mayer's bigger idea

Mayer says the guitars aren't supposed to look like they've been designed with four wheels attached. Instead, the collaboration is about telling a color story and bringing the heritage of Defender colors onto the Silver Sky.

And that makes this a pretty fascinating guitar-industry crossover.

So here's the question:

🤔 WOULD YOU BUY A PRS SILVER SKY IN A LAND ROVER DEFENDER COLOR?

Are these colors a great fit for the Silver Sky — and what do you think about PRS finally putting a black pickguard on the SE?

Let me know what you think in the comments!

Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV — Rock. Riffs. Real Talk.

#JohnMayer #PRSSilverSky #GuitarGear #ElectricGuitar

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we’re talking about one of the most unusual guitar moments in Nirvana history — the original guitar solo on “Heart-Shaped Box.”

Kurt Cobain’s “Heart-Shaped Box” guitar solo has a wild history. 🎸 On the original recording sessions, Steve Albini used a one-off handmade “Pedal X” effect—a bizarre ring-modulator/overdrive-style pedal—to create the song’s strange, warped guitar sound. The original Pedal X version was ultimately replaced on the standard album mix, making the effect a fascinating piece of In Utero recording history.

Krist Novoselic recently opened up about why he hated Kurt Cobain’s original guitar solo, even calling it something that was sabotaging an otherwise beautiful song.

🎸 What happened with “Heart-Shaped Box”?
Nirvana recorded In Utero with producer Steve Albini, intentionally going for a rawer, more abrasive sound after Nevermind.
Kurt Cobain and Albini apparently experimented with a bizarre guitar effect for the original “Heart-Shaped Box” solo.
Krist Novoselic strongly disliked the effect and questioned why Kurt was intentionally making the song sound less commercial.
Novoselic recalled asking Cobain: “Why are you sabotaging this beautiful song?”
Cobain reportedly responded that he thought the effect sounded cool.
Novoselic believes the approach may have been a statement against the polished, mainstream sound associated with Nevermind.
Nirvana eventually brought in Scott Litt to remix “Heart-Shaped Box” and “All Apologies.”
The version most fans know today features a substantially different treatment of the guitar and overall mix.
🔥 Why did Kurt want it that way?

That’s one of the fascinating things about In Utero. Nirvana wasn't simply trying to make another Nevermind. The band wanted something raw, strange, uncomfortable and less concerned with commercial expectations.

And Novoselic's comments give us another look at just how far that philosophy went — even when the band's own members disagreed about what belonged in the songs.

🎸 Krist Novoselic still loves In Utero

Despite his criticism of the original “Heart-Shaped Box” solo, Novoselic says In Utero is his favorite Nirvana album.

He has described the recording sessions as a period when the band was focused, creative and working extremely well together. For Novoselic, that chemistry is part of what makes the album so special.

So what do you think?

Was Kurt Cobain’s original “Heart-Shaped Box” guitar solo a brilliant artistic decision — or did Krist Novoselic have a point?

Let me know in the comments!

Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV — Rock. Riffs. Real Talk.

#Nirvana #KurtCobain #HeartShapedBox #InUtero

Seymour Duncan Distortion 50th Anniversary Set: A Classic Rock Pickup Gets the Custom Shop Treatment!

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we take a look at the new Seymour Duncan Duncan Distortion Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Custom Shop Set — a special release celebrating one of Seymour Duncan’s most iconic high-output humbucker designs.

Limited to just 500 sets worldwide, this anniversary edition brings back early-production details while preserving the aggressive Duncan Distortion sound that rock and metal guitarists have relied on for decades.

🔥 What Makes This 50th Anniversary Set Special?
Limited to only 500 sets worldwide
Hand-built by Seymour Duncan’s Custom Shop team
Led by legendary pickup builder Maricela “MJ” Juarez
Bridge pickup: Original high-output ceramic Duncan Distortion
Neck pickup: Seymourizer II, later renamed the Duncan Distortion Neck
Built to early original specifications
Features butyrate bobbins
Long-leg baseplates
Maple spacers
Lightly aged for a vintage character
Includes replica “Seymourized” and model-name stickers
Bottom plates are hand-signed by Seymour W. Duncan and MJ
Comes in exclusive 50th Anniversary packaging
Available in Black or Zebra finish
🎸 The Duncan Distortion Sound

The Duncan Distortion bridge pickup uses a large ceramic magnet and hot coil windings to deliver tight, percussive lows, searing highs and a powerful upper-midrange bite.

It's designed to retain clarity while pushing an amplifier harder, making it a longtime favorite for aggressive rock and metal tones.

The Duncan Distortion's sound has been associated with players including Randy Rhoads, George Lynch and Adam Jones.

🕰️ Back to the Original Specs

While the core Duncan Distortion design has remained consistent since production began in the late 1970s, Seymour Duncan made some changes over the years to improve consistency and manufacturing.

For this 50th Anniversary Custom Shop edition, the company went back to early details including butyrate bobbins, long-leg baseplates and maple spacers.

💰 Price

The Duncan Distortion Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Custom Shop Set has a street price of $375.

Only 500 sets are being produced worldwide, making this a particularly interesting release for Duncan Distortion fans, rock guitarists and pickup collectors.

What do you think — is the Duncan Distortion one of the greatest high-output rock pickups ever made?

#SeymourDuncan #DuncanDistortion #GuitarPickups #TalkingGuitars

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we take a look at the new Jackson Pro Series Signature Phil Collen PC1-E, a Mexican-made version of Phil Collen’s legendary Superstrat-style signature guitar.

The Def Leppard guitarist has been working with Jackson for nearly 40 years, and the PC1-E brings his unique combination of Strat-style design, high-powered pickups, Floyd Rose tremolo, and onboard sustainer technology to the Jackson Pro Series.

Phil says the PC1-E has “all the bells and whistles” and that you can get the sounds of a Strat, Les Paul, and more from a single guitar.

🎸 Jackson Pro Series Phil Collen PC1-E Highlights:
Phil Collen signature guitar from Def Leppard
Made in Ensenada, Mexico
Strat-style body with reverse headstock
Mahogany body
Caramelized maple neck
24-fret 12"-16" compound-radius ebony fingerboard
Luminlay side dots
Dual-action truss rod adjustment wheel
Gold Floyd Rose 1000 Series tremolo
Jackson die-cast tuners and locking nut
DiMarzio X2N DP102 humbucker in the bridge
DiMarzio Sugar Chakra DP427BK middle pickup
PC1 Sustainer Driver neck pickup
5-way pickup selector
Push-pull coil-split volume control
Sustainer Intensity control
Active Sustainer on/off switch
Fundamental/Harmonic/Blend switch
Pre-relic’d finish designed to reflect Collen’s well-used guitars

The PC1-E also includes design and tonal influences connected to two of Phil Collen’s biggest guitar heroes: Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen.

With its combination of high-output humbucker tones, single-coil sounds, Floyd Rose tremolo and built-in sustainer, Jackson and Collen are aiming to put a huge range of sounds into one instrument.

The Jackson Pro Series Signature Phil Collen PC1-E is priced at $2,199.99.

Would you actually need another guitar if you had a PC1-E?

#JacksonGuitars #PhilCollen #DefLeppard #ElectricGuitar