The Mighty VH Podcast

13 Episodes
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By: Tommy London & Tor

This ain’t yer mom's podcast.This is a high-voltage, back-alley, nitro-burning, chrome-plated oral history of the loudest, proudest, most uncontainable rock band ever to plug in and blow the doors clean off the building.Every episode, your hosts Tommy London & Tor kick open the vault, flash a fake backstage pass and stroll past the velvet rope like they own the place. Albums get peeled apart track by track. Tours get relived night by night, bruise by bruise. Legends get mythologized, demystified, and then mythologized again.The Mighty VH Podcast is where the riffs sweat, the stories stretch, and the tr...

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Ep: 013 Van Halen News Round Up Summer 2026
#13
Last Friday at 7:00 PM

From David Lee Roth's surprising tour cancellations and his reunion with Alex Van Halen at TEDxFargo, to Alex's viral comments about Roth and his work with Steve Lukather on unreleased Van Halen recordings, there's no shortage of news surrounding the Van Halen camp.

Tommy & Tor cover all that plus, Sammy Hagar's invitation for Roth to join him in Las Vegas at his Best of All Worlds residency, one of the largest Van Halen memorabilia auctions ever assembled, Michael Anthony's upcoming appearance at the Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp and believe it or not...more!

Whether...


Ep: 012 Doing a Deep Dive with Dweezil
#12
07/24/2026

In this somewhat extended episode, Tommy and Tor welcome acclaimed guitarist, composer, producer, and life long Van Halen fan and friend, Dweezil Zappa, for a wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond the surface.

From growing up with and befriending some of the greatest musicians in rock history to forging his own path as one of today's most respected guitarists, Dweezil shares stories, perspectives, and insights only he can tell.

Together, Tommy, Tor, and Dweezil spend the episode exploring his relationship with Edward Van Halen, Eddie's revolutionary impact on guitar playing and  unforgettable personal memories. Along t...


Ep: 011 Ranking the Cover Songs
#11
07/18/2026

From hard rock staples to Motown classics and everything in between, Van Halen had an incredible ability to take someone else’s song and make it unmistakably their own. Some became radio staples, others remain hidden gems, but every officially released cover tells a unique story about the band’s influences and creativity.

In Episode 011 of The Mighty VH Podcast, Tommy London and Tor dive into every officially released Van Halen cover song, discussing the history behind each recording, what made each interpretation uniquely Van Halen, and how the band transformed familiar songs into something all their own...


Ep: 010 Mark Goodman of MTV & SiriusXM
#10
07/10/2026

Mark Goodman has been a pioneer in music broadcasting for more than four decades. From his beginnings in radio in the late 1970s to becoming one of MTV's original VJs, and later helping pioneer internet radio and satellite radio, Mark has remained one of the most respected voices in rock music. Today, he continues to connect music fans with the stories behind the songs as the host of SiriusXM's 80s on 8 and Classic Rewind, and as co-host of the podcast Sound Up with Alan Light.

This week, Tommy London and Tor welcome Mark to The Mighty VH...


Ep: 009 OU812 Album Focus
#9
07/03/2026

Released in the summer of 1988, OU812 proved that Van Halen’s successful reinvention with Sammy Hagar was no fluke. Debuting at No. 1, the album showcased a band that was growing both musically and lyrically, blending arena rock anthems with more melodic songwriting and impressive musicianship.

In this episode, Tommy London and Tor take a deep dive into Van Halen’s eighth studio album, examining every track, the stories behind the recording sessions, the standout performances, and where OU812 fits within the band’s legendary catalog. From chart-topping hits to overlooked gems, they break down what makes this album...


Ep: 008 Author & VH Expert Greg Renoff
#8
06/26/2026

Greg Renoff has become one of the most respected voices in Van Halen history. As the author of Van Halen Rising and Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life in Music, he has uncovered stories and firsthand accounts that have helped reshape what fans know about the band's remarkable journey.

In Episode 008 of The Mighty VH Podcast, Tommy London and Tor sit down with Greg for a wide-ranging conversation that spans nearly the entire Van Halen story. From the legendary Gene Simmons demos and the band's earliest club days to the arrival of Sammy Hagar, the making of...


Ep: 007 The Genius of Michael Anthony
#7
06/19/2026

Michael Anthony’s fingerprints are all over the Van Halen sound, even if his contributions have not always received the recognition they deserve.

When people talk about Van Halen, the conversation usually begins with Eddie Van Halen’s groundbreaking guitar work, David Lee Roth’s charisma, Sammy Hagar’s powerhouse vocals, or Alex Van Halen’s incredible drumming. Yet throughout it all, Michael Anthony was the steady force that helped hold the band together. From his signature high harmonies that became an essential part of the Van Halen sound to his dependable bass playing and infectious energy on stage...


Ep: 006 Guitarist Richie Kotzen Gets to the Soul of VH
#6
06/12/2026

Richie Kotzen, acclaimed guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer known for his solo career, Mr. Big, Poison, and The Winery Dogs, joins Tommy London and Tor for a fascinating conversation about the deeper musical roots of Van Halen.

Richie reflects on meeting Eddie Van Halen for the first time and shares stories about his friendship with Eddie’s longtime guitar technician, Zeke Clark. Together, they explore what made Eddie such a singular creative force, not only as a revolutionary guitarist, but as a songwriter whose sense of melody, groove, and emotion helped define Van Halen’s sound.

...


Ep: 005 Remembering Donn Landee, the man behind the sound of Van Halen
#5
06/05/2026

When fans talk about the sound of Van Halen, the conversation usually starts with Eddie, David, Alex, and Michael. But behind the board was a man whose fingerprints were on every classic Van Halen record: Don Landee.


In Episode 005 of The Mighty VH Podcast, Tommy and Tor explore the career of the engineer and producer who helped capture one of rock’s most recognizable sounds. From Van Halen I through OU812, Landee helped shape the band’s biggest recordings, from Eddie’s guitar tone to the energy that defined their albums.

The guys a...


Ep: 004 Eat 'Em & Smile VS. 5150
05/29/2026

What happens when the two most anticipated albums in Van Halen history arrive just months apart?

In Episode 004 of The Mighty Van Halen Podcast, hosts Tommy London and Tor dive headfirst into the ultimate 1986 showdown: David Lee Roth’s Eat ’Em and Smile versus Van Halen’s 5150. Following one of rock’s most dramatic breakups, both camps had something to prove and neither disappointed.

From the musicians and producers involved to the songs, tours, sales, videos, and cultural impact, Tommy and Tor compare these landmark releases and discuss how each album helped shape the future of the V...


Ep: 003 What Happened at the Legendary US Festival?
05/22/2026

If you’re like us, you can’t hear the words, “Memorial Day Weekend” without thinking of Van Halen playing the US Festival in 1983. 

Between the epic tour they had just come off of, the music they were in the middle of creating for their next album (1984) and their massive pay day, amongst many other things, the band had their hands full when they hit the stage on that faithful day. 

Would they rise to the occasion and make rock history or … forget “the f**king words!” 

The answer is, both. 

Tune in to Episode...


Ep: 002 Viral Sensation VANAMA and creator, Ryan Richardson
05/15/2026

Jump back, it’s Episode 002 of the Mighty VH Podcast. Tommy London and Tor keep the moving parts clean and see what makes viral sensation VANAMA run. From the paint job to what’s really powering this thing under the hood, the guys take a ride straight into one of the most creative and unexpected VH inspired creations to hit the internet in a long time.

The episode also touches on the new Walgreens commercial featuring Van Halen’s “Right Now,” proving that “right now” the music of Van Halen still finds new ways to roar through pop culture de...


Ep: 001 "Always Meet Your Heroes... (Especially if they're in Van Halen)"
05/03/2026

Co-hosts, Tommy London & Tor share their stories of how they came to met the members of Van Halen over the years. From a 3 hour conversation with David Lee Roth to dinner with Sammy Hagar and a chance meeting of Alex Van Halen in a supermarket. All of that and more in this, the very first episode of The Mighty VH Podcast.

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Email: themightyvanhalenpodcast@gmail.com