Eddie Van Halen: The 1991 "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" Interview

This is the world debut of one of Eddie Van Halen's happiest interviews. On the day it took place he was celebrating the recent birth of his son Wolfgang, his relationship with Valerie was going strong, and he'd just finished mixing the new Van Halen album. This interview took place on the morning of May 20, 1991, in the control room of Eddie's spacious home studio. Cigarettes, tools, bottlecaps, a bowl of guitar slides, and Motley Crue and Led Zeppelin CDs littered the console. “Before we do the interview,” Eddie said, “I want you to hear the new album.” He cued up an advance reference CD of "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge," the first Van Halen album in three years, and showed me the slider to control the volume. “Hope ya like it,” he said with a smile before disappearing out the door. As the album finished playing, Eddie returned and flipped a switch that lit up two large rooms on the other side of the control room window. The first contained his instruments and amps, the other his brother Alex’s drum rig. We went right into the wide-ranging interview you’re about to hear. As I listened back to it for the first time in 34 years, I was struck by how joyful and relaxed Eddie sounds--this is how I like to remember him. I hope you enjoy our conversation. B&W Eddie Van Halen photo by Jon Sievert. Portions of this interview were transcribed and printed in the August 1991 issue of "Guitar Player" magazine. And if you're into hard rock/heavy metal guitar, be sure to check out my other "Talking Guitar" interviews with Eddie Van Halen, as well as my conversations with AC/DC's Angus and Malcom Young, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker, Joe Satriani, Vivian Campbell, Ratt's Warren DeMartini and Robbin Crosby, and others. And subscribe--there are lots more interviews to come! Thanks to engineer/producer Nik Hunt for filming the intro and enhancing the sound of the 34-year-old master tape. For more than 230 other blues-, rock-, and guitar-intensive podcasts, interview transcripts, and articles, visit the online magazine version of "Talking Guitar" at https://jasobrecht.substack.com/. #vanhalen #eddievanhalen #edwardvanhalen #jasobrecht #talkingguitar #nikhunt #guitarplayermagazine This podcast is copyright 2025 by Jas Obrecht. All rights reserved.