Van Halen Stories # 2 "Birmingham Invasion" Damon Johnson
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 3 авг 2021
- Damon Johnson Toured with Van Halen in 1995 while in Brother Cane. In this interview we discuss many Van Halen Stories, especially from 1995. But we center the discussion on his first live experience with Van Halen on August 4th 1980 in Birmingham, Alabama during Van Halen’s World Invasion Tour.
Inspired by this show Damon dedicated his life to music, eventually starting the band Brother Cane that would end up in the opening slot for Van Halen.
In the following years he would fill as the lead guitarist for mega rock acts like Alice Cooper, John Waite, Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders and many more!
Damon Johnson has a new album out called Battle Lessons.
You can check out all things Damon Johnson at www.damonjohnson.com
“Battle Lessons” Video
• Damon Johnson & The Ge...
“Talk Yourself Into Anything”Video
• Damon Johnson & The Ge...
Instagram: Officialdamonjohnson
Facebook: / officialdamonjohnson
RUclips: DamonJohnsonOfficial 
Видеоклипы
That 1st Brother Cane record was really important to me. Just what my 25yr old self needed. Incredible record, amazing lyrics, groove, and drive.
BC was a shining light in the horrible 90s!
"It was like meeting Jesus!" OMG! That got me! I was like HELLZ YEAH! :)
Right!! Me too!! Love that!!
Man, that was a fantastic interview. I had no idea Damon had such a VH connection. I don't know Damon personally, but I've admired that guy from a distance for decades. When Brother Cane was touring in the early 90's, my band got to open for them at a club in Knoxville, TN. We were all fans, so it was a cool experience. I remember them being nice guys too. The bass player even let my bassist play through his rig.
Great interview with Damon about the one and only, EVH!
Phenomenal Ed stories. I knew all about Damon from other musicians when I gigged in Birmingham back in 04-07. Amazing personal Ed stories. You know, I only got to talk guitars with Eddie on the VH II Tour stop in Logan, Utah. I felt, at the time, it was crazy, I was talking gear with Eddie. I knew, after that, if I ever had the chance to talk or hang with him, it would have to be while I was out doing my music thing or when I worked at West LA Music, which was a possibility. He had been in our store, several times, for some gear stuff or studio stuff but it never happened. After talking on some level, I would have felt weird if I had showed up at a signing or something. I had heard he would remember faces or things pretty well and I would have felt weird if he remembered me and I was at some fan experience. I did see the Balance tour at the Salt Lake City show. I can't remember if Brother Cane opened. I loved his Irvine Meadows story about Aint Talkin About Love. That was a gutsy move.
I love the van story hearing the 8track. It wasn't, "then Eruption came on," it was "Eruption HAPPENED."
Right fuxxing on. That says it all.
Loved every moment of the interview. Thanks so much guys. I’m just one of those millions of fan who loved Edward’s music. ❤️ rest in peace King Edward.
Awesome as usual!
@@TRACECHAS thanks!
Very enjoyable interview. Damon's experiences with EVH were definitely something he treasures and you hear it in the stories. I loved that Destroyer Eddie used to have. Then he modified it too far and ruined it with that "shark bite". He said the sound was never the same so he retired it. Damon does the same to his Ibanez by that routing job. I won't spoil the story, but it was fun hearing it. Thanks Geoff!
So awesome Jeff, and DJ!!! 🤘🏻🎸🇺🇸
I just had to pause it now at 21 minutes to comment. I’m hanging on every second of this interview.
Man! Anyway, like a lot of us, I had that same feeling after Eddie passed-to really nail some of his songs. And lime Damon mentioned, Hot for Teacher was A killer song, and one that I always wanted to learn the solo, just never did. And I’ve been playing Eruption for about 35 years, but never quite had it down either.
Finally, earlier this year I was getting to where I can hit every note of the first three songs, Van Halen one-including Eruption… and Hot for Teacher.
And what I could totally relate to is that he said he might have to tinker around a minute to get it, but there were 10 days when he had it, ha ha.
I’ve been trying to keep it. I think a few months ago I finally had all the songs down, every note in my head, and just about up to speed-still finishing Eruption at around 1:53 or so, haven’t gotten it to 1:44 yet. But if I don’t play it for even just a few days, I start second-guessing myself… trying to get it perfect. I even find myself looking back at Allen Garbers transcription every so often just to reinsure that I am getting that one upstroke just perfectly. Or even some of those cool little ‘mistakes’ that Allen actually transcribed as well. Some I never would have even noticed before, but really jump out at me when I listen to Eddie.
And now when I record myself, I hear I’m getting a lot more of those little nuances, and the phrasing better and better.
Anyway, I was just watching your brown sound video again too, I’m still always working on that tone.
I’m almost hoping I hear something about PJ’s Alley, or jamming with big Pat in the band. What was it called, Counterpoint!?
And what a coincidence that I was in Alabama in the mid 90s, and got to see that brother Cane - Van Halen show in Birmingham…. and that I actually know where Monroeville is, Geraldine, and Guntersville, of course!
🤘🏻🇺🇸🎸😎😝
Great stuff!!!
Brilliant video Geoff ( apologies as I called you Gregg in the last video ) , this is superb .I think Damon could write a book about his exposure to Van Halen and time with Eddie. Well done , really enjoyed this. Thanks.
Thanks Rich!! I really appreciate it!
LOVE DAMON! Such great stories. Saw Brother Cane in Seattle warm up for Slash's Snakepit at RCKCANDY! I was immediately a fan of Brother Cane! Going to try and catch their current tour as they are not coming to the NW.....Jeff - this series is very cool!
If you go to my Musical Journeys Interviews, there is an amazing deep dive with Damon!
I wish Brother Cane DID make a follow up to Wishpool and were still a band to this day. I loved that band. Still do. Great interview. ✌️
That’s right, had to pause again. I’ll keep this one short(er). 😝
I read online just recently that Damon went to Snead, there in Boaz. And he just mentioned his junior college being right in the middle of Huntsville and Birmingham. So that was it!
I went to Sneed for a year around 1995. So cool that he went there too.
It was a great location for going down the hill to Birmingham, or up the hill to Huntsville, ha ha.
Shoot, that just reminds me of another coincidence with DJ and Eddie. I’m sure I told you that I went to PCC, where the guys went here, Pasadena City College. And then years later, Sneed.
I just love any kind of connection with Van Halen, and the fun times I had in the great state of Alabama!!! 👍🏻🇺🇸😎
Just finished the interview, I better get back to work now, ha ha.
That was totally awesome Jeff. Great pictures and graphics too. All the way down to the quote at the very end. 🤘🏻🇺🇸🎸
Thanks buddy!
Awesome!!!!
Thanks Mike! Thanks for getting me off on the right foot!
❤
I have photos that I took of the 1980 Invasion Van Halen tour in Birmingham. I was about 20 or 30 feet from Damon. I was on a floor seat, center end of the isle.
It was an amazing concert that can never be matched. It definitely influenced me into becoming a musician and then into a world class illusionist.
If you’re on Facebook, I’ll share some. I need to get with my buddy Tony Kurre to forward some pics to Damon.
Yes I am! Jeff Goebel look me up! Would love to see!
I was on the floor of the Birmingham concert in August 1980 when I was 14 years old. I’d love to see pictures.
@@FinalResonanceTVI sent a Facebook request. I am David Merlin, a pretty famous illusionist out of Alabama but live out of state now. In the movie industry.
@@FinalResonanceTVI sent a Facebook request. I am David Merlin, a pretty famous illusionist out of Alabama but live out of state now. In the movie industry.
This is great Jeff! Thanks Damon for doing the interview and sharing your stories!
Thanks buddy!!
"Theres Coltrain....and theres, uh....uh.... I forget who the other guy, the trumpet player ummm (LOL), and then theres Edward Van Halen!"
Charlie Parker, I think.
I also learned "I'm the One" but I would really have to practice to do it again ruclips.net/video/52pgHaY5pz4/видео.html
You can't play and sing I'm The One at the same time? Check out Jacob Deraps:ruclips.net/video/ZoG5AG9idhE/видео.html
"They found a dirty faced kid in a garbage can."
This guy thinks he is a legend in his own mind
He did share the stage with Sting, Steven Tyler and Jeff Beck all at the same time, right after he taught them all how to play “Sweet Emotion” look it up..I heart radio Steven Tyler Jeff Beck Sting and Damon Johnson
Well here In Birmingham Ala.
He is a Legend 🤘
actually, I think he's humble and grounded. not a hint of arrogance thankfully.