Known As The World’s Most Authentic Tribute to Van Halen, FAN HALEN Chat With All Access About This Iconic Band and Being The Best Van Halen Tribute Band!

On February 24th, the Van Halen tribute band, Fan Halen performed at Katie Daryl’s AXS TV’s World’s Greatest Tribute Band Series in Los Angeles at Whiskey A Go Go. Learn more about this event in Katie’s interview here.

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Known as “The World’s Most Authentic Tribute to Van Halen”, FAN HALEN sets the stage for a night with Dave, Eddie, Alex and Michael with a true-to-life tribute to not only the band but the spirit of an era!

Based in Southern California, FAN HALEN has been together for 10 years playing to enthusiastic crowds all over the US as well as the globe including Japan, South America, Canada and Mexico.

Ernie Berru as David Lee Roth is so uncanny and convincing it’s got to be witnessed to be believed. From Diamond Dave’s unmistakable costumes to his signature scream and unique vocal delivery, Ernie delivers the swagger and bravado second only to Roth himself!

Photo Credit – Jon Schaeffer Photography

Derek Fuller as Edward Van Halen recreates Edward’s classic guitar tone, playing every riff and solo with as much fury and technique as Edward himself, while capturing all of the enthusiasm and flash of Eddie’s engaging live personality.

George DuBose as Michael Anthony looks strikingly like Michael and supplies the low-end bass groove, high-end energy, and most importantly the high harmony backing vocals, which is essential in delivering the quintessential signature sound of Van Halen.

Mike Russo as Alex Van Halen behind his amazing circa 1984 24-piece double-barreled quad bass drum Ludwig kit delivers the thunderous rhythms and heavy artillery with all the enthusiasm, energy and ear-to-ear grin that Alex brought to Van Halen every night.

Learn more about Fan Halen in the following All Access interview:

Hi there! Thanks for your time for this interview! You put on a stellar show at Whiskey A Go Go! What did you think of it?

We had a blast! The crowd was going nuts and were so loud we almost couldn’t hear ourselves playing! And to play at the World Famous Whisky a go-go where it all started for Van Halen was an extra thrill!

I got there a bit late and didn’t see when a woman threw her bra on stage! That’s crazy! Does stuff like that happen often?

Every show! That’s because our lead singer brings the bra with him to every show 🙂

What did it mean to you all to be able to be a part of Katie Daryl’s World’s Greatest Tribute Band series? How did you first hear about it all?

For a tribute band, it’s the pinnacle to be a part of Katie Daryl’s World’s Greatest Tribute Band series. You can’t get any better validation than being on her program, and for Fan Halen this was our second time so we’re doubly honored!

Have you ever been in touch with Van Halen? What would it mean to you all to be able to have them hear you perform?

We’ve had several encounters with Van Halen over the years. In fact, Mark Stone, Van Halen’s original bass player was in the audience at the show! What would it mean to have Van Halen hear us perform? I’m not sure what it would mean but it would sure be frightening.

Your show is incredibly high-energy and very physical for David Lee Roth’s role in particular. How do you warm up for these performances? And how do you come down from them?

We warm up by doing a few push-ups in the dressing room and then two hail marys.

In your extensive research on Van Halen, what’s been the most surprising think you learned about the band?

That it’s easier to copy their music than it is to copy their hair.

So, with all the shows you’ve done, you probably have an excellent idea of what a true Van Halen fan is like. Where have been some of your favorite crowds?

We always say that the crowd makes the show, if they’re into it, we’re into it. Our favorite compliment is when someone comes up to us after the shows and says, “that brought me back when I was a teenager and saw Van Halen the first time in 1984 at the…” It means we did our job.

Can you pick a couple of your Van Halen songs to perform? What songs really get the crowd going crazy?

Van Halen has some many great songs that get the crowd going. We can fill an entire 90 minute set of Van Halen hits that gets the crowd going crazy. But if I had to just pick one, I’d pick “Hot For Teacher.” It’s a barnburner boogie song that people just can’t help but move their feet to.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourselves and the band?

We always like to tell people, we don’t think we’re Van Halen, not for a second.  There’s only one Van Halen. We’re just “fans” (hence the name Fan Halen) and we “celebrate” the World’s Greatest American band, Van Halen! Oh and by the way, we’re having a really good time doing it.