A rare interview with VAN HALEN guitarist Eddie Van Halen is featured in the May 2012 issue of Esquire magazine, out on newsstands now. You can also check out the magazine’s online feature on Eddie at Esquire.com.

Speaking about “the whole alcoholism thing,” Eddie said, “It wasn’t really the partying. It was like — I don’t mean to blame my dad, but when I started playing in front of people, I’d get so damn nervous. I asked him, ‘Dad, how do you do it?’ That’s when he handed me the cigarette and the drink. And I go, ‘Oh, this is good! It works!’ For so long, it really did work. And I certainly didn’t do it to party. I would do blow and I would drink, and then I would go to my room and write music.”

He added, “You know, people say with that twelve-step program you will succeed. I disagree. When they say, ‘You can’t say, I will never drink again,’ I can honestly say I will never drink again. It’s a whole new world. I’m fifty-seven years old and I know I’m not going to live to be 114, so I can’t say I’m halfway done. It’s a sullen truth, but this is the first record I’ve made sober. There’s a certain place that you have to get to where things just flow, and I have to say that when I drank and did blow, it might have created a false sense of getting there easier. I’m not comparing myself to all these famous artists in history, but you know, everybody, guys like Mozart, they were all alcoholics. And it does somehow enable you to lower your inhibitions. At the same time, it also gives you a false sense that what you’re doing is great. Now I’m so aware of everything that sometimes I’m afraid to pick up my guitar.”

VAN HALEN‘s new album, “A Different Kind Of Truth”, is the band’s first full-length offering with original singer David Lee Roth since “1984” was released in January 1984.

Roth exited the group in 1985, a year after its “1984” album was released.

VAN HALEN has added 18 concerts to its highly successful 2012 North American tour. The newly added dates begin July 7 with an encore performance at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Second shows have also been added in the Detroit and New York/New Jersey areas, as well as Philadelphia. Ky-mani Marley is the opening act for all added concerts. The full itinerary can be found below.

Tickets for the newly announced shows go on sale beginning April 20 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com. Tickets for all other shows are available now.

VAN HALEN‘s 2012 North American tour, produced by Live Nation, has confirmed a total of 61 stops throughout North America thus far with additional dates to be announced.

VIP packages will also be available through VIP Nation, including premium seats, exclusive merchandise and more.

For more information, visit www.VIPNation.com.

Newly added VAN HALEN tour dates:

Jul. 07 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
Jul. 09 – Hampton, VA – Hampton Coliseum
Jul. 11 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
Jul. 13 – E. Rutherford, NJ – IZOD Center
Jul. 15 – Baltimore, MD – 1st Mariner Arena
Jul. 17 – Rochester, NY – Blue Cross Arena
Jul. 19 – Detroit, MI – Joe Louis Arena
Jul. 21 – London, ON – John Labatt Centre
Jul. 24 – Toledo, OH – Huntington Center
Jul. 26 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena
Jul. 28 – Cleveland, OH – Quicken Loans Arena
Jul. 31 – Fort Wayne, IN – Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
Aug. 02 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center
Aug. 04 – Knoxville, TN – Thompson Boling Arena
Aug. 06 – Memphis, TN – FedExForum
Aug. 08 – Birmingham, AL – BJCC Arena
Aug. 10 – Greenville, SC – BI-LO Center
Aug. 12 – Cincinnati, OH – U.S. Bank Arena

Published by rbtaleman

Heavy metal (fiend/friend?) Writer, frustrat(or), frustrat(ee), decorated U.S. Navy veteran, Husband(twice), father(three times), grandfather(of seven), FM radio veteran, Concertgoer, music collector, muscle car aficianado. Grown up since five. Child since 45. View all posts by rbtaleman