Exclusively Van Halen: EVH Almost Joined KISS?! Gene Simmons Speaks + Rick Derringer Tribute 5/28/25

In this packed episode of Exclusively Van Halen, we dive deep into a pivotal moment in Van Halen history — the day Eddie Van Halen nearly left the band to join Kiss. Gene Simmons claims it happened on the same day Eddie played him a demo of “Jump,” a song that shocked the Kiss co-founders with its lack of guitar. “So you're going to add guitars?” Gene asked. “No, that’s it,” Eddie replied — marking a bold shift in his musical direction in 1983. We trace the history of Gene Simmons’ involvement with Van Halen, from the band’s early days at Gazzarri’s on the Sunset Strip to the now-famous Zero demo he produced. We also discuss the internal friction between Eddie and David Lee Roth that led Eddie to consider jumping ship and joining Kiss — a move Gene ultimately talked him out of. Then, we shift gears to honor the legacy of Rick Derringer, the American rock icon who passed away recently. Known for “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo,” Derringer played a surprising role in the Van Halen story. We talk about the early days when Van Halen covered Derringer’s songs live, and we revisit the unforgettable moment when Rick Derringer and Eddie Van Halen jammed together at NAMM, a rare and electrifying meeting of guitar heroes. It’s an episode full of deep cuts, rock history, and behind-the-scenes stories that link Van Halen, Kiss, and Rick Derringer in unexpected and unforgettable ways. I showed off some of my Van Halen striped guitars talked about each one a little bit.  And thank you to Bay Area Rich we unboxed a mystery “canned good item”.  📲 Follow Johnny Beane: 🌐 Website: www.johnnybeane.com 📘 Facebook: / johnnybeane 📸 Instagram: @johnnybeane 🐦 Twitter/X: @johnnybeane 🎵 TikTok: @johnnybeanetv 🎸 Join One of the Biggest Van Halen Groups on Facebook: / evhfanpage #VanHalen #EddieVanHalen #GeneSimmons #RickDerringer #DavidLeeRoth #KISS #NAMMShow #RockAndRollHoochieKoo #Jump #EVH #AlexVanHalen #ExclusivelyVanHalen #RockHistory #GuitarLegends #SunsetStrip #RodneyBingenheimer #KISSArmy #HowardSternShow #GuitarJam #VintageRock #GuitarHeroes #johnnybeaneTV