Writer and filmmaker Andrew Bennett has released a new compilation album featuring rehearsal recordings from 2006 and 2007. The album, titled *The 5150 Sessions*, showcases Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, and Wolfgang Van Halen playing without a vocalist. These recordings were made at 5150 Studios between November 2006 and January 2007.
The 10-track LP includes instrumental versions of several classic songs. It is available on vinyl for $50, and you can listen to samples of each track online. Bennett captured these sessions while filming jam sessions at the studio, and he obtained uncompressed audio files from the soundboard. He expressed his excitement about the project, saying, “I had the honor to film numerous jam sessions at 5150. These tracks are a new way to hear the genius details of the band. I hope that when you drop the needle on this record player, your reaction is, ‘Holy shit! I have never heard Van Halen like this.’”
These recordings were made as the band prepared for their 2007 reunion tour, which was significant because it was the first tour featuring Wolfgang on bass after Michael Anthony left the group. During this time, Eddie, Alex, and Wolfgang practiced full set lists twice a week, before David Lee Roth rejoined the band.
*The 5150 Sessions* offers fans a chance to enjoy the incredible musicianship of Van Halen without vocals, steering clear of the debates between fans of David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar. Last year, Alex Van Halen mentioned he was open to using AI to turn unfinished riffs from Eddie into complete songs. This album is a must-listen for any Van Halen fan!
