This month's "Guitar World" issue (August '2004) includes an interview with Edward Van Halen, the first interview since the band reunited. Edward is on the cover of the magazine and is quoted "...the last 4 years of my life have been a helluva trip...", naturally referring to all the battles he faced.

The interview itself is titled "Resurrection" and starts with an introduction by Edward himself, where he tries to explain how he sees Van Halen as a band and also as a conjunction of personalities. A few pointers on Alex's importance (not only as a big brother and friend, but also as a band member and a big part of the team). Edward refers to him as being the key... needless to say more.

From "Guitar World", Brad Tolinski (with Greg Di Benedetto) conduct a serious a focused interview, addressing all the big issues regarding the band, the new record, the hiatus, the vocalist, the recording process... everything there is to mention on Van Halen today.

Incidently, after Ed's introcution, the focus is on Edward himself, his health (hip replacement and tongue cancer) and divorce. It leads to a personal view on his own position in life and how it reflects on the band. Eddie's words are "...I'm not out to prove jack shit. I just do what comes naturally, and it scares people..." and that's just a snapshot of the whole thing.

The band's pictures are recent (taken this year, for sure) but Edward's are not. They were taken a few years ago, when "Guitar World" interviewed him and had a cover full with guitar heroes from Jeff Beck to Jimmy Page, passing by Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield. Another curious thing is that no Van Halen song is transcribed.

Speaking of transcriptions, "Guitar Legends" digs once again into Van Halen's repertoire. Besides transcriptions of "Eruption", "Hot For Teacher", "Panama", "Finish Waht Ya Started", "Light Up The Sky" and "Ice Cream Man", there's a lot more to be found.

The main features include the story of how Eddie Van Halen revolutionized rock guitar (properly titled "Atomic Punk"), a 1978 interview with the man who would change rock guitar forever (titled "The New King of Heavy Metal"), a 1984 presentation of one of the first interviews from "5150", Edward's home studio and also a 1986 feature titled "On The Road", back in the time David Lee Roth was out, Sammy Hagar was in, and Guitar World was there with the inside scoop.

But there's more... "Unlawful Carnal Riffage" shows seven shining rhythm guitar moments from Van Halen's vast catalog of raucous riffs, "Feels So Good", where Eddie discussed "OU812" and his evolution as a guitar god, "The Monster of Rock", about the amn who sparked an Eruption and an aftershock of monumental proportions.

After that, "Sammy drills Eddie", a 1993 story where Hagar puts on his journalism cap and interviewed Eddie Van Halen on subjects ranging from guitar licks and tricks to the brown sound and songwriting inspiration. Finally, "Tapping Young Lad", which is a complete lesson on how to play "Eruption," Eddie's masterpiece of two-handed tapping.