From links…

Concerning that inside 5150 rehearsal footage…

Videographer Andrew Bennett recorded them for weeks during band practice and crashed on the studio couch during that time, so maybe Eddie let him release it.

He also made a video in 2004 of It’s About Time and recorded that Dave video with the sword that was posted not too long ago.

Pretty sure it’s him releasing it.
Andrew filmed hundreds of hours of rehearsals and Eddie just soloing away.
Hopefully more will be released.

It is indeed Andrew’s film, but I would be surprised it was him selling it without permission. He is a true pro and not his style.
He made this Frankenstrat video too.

A guy emailed the seller…

The filmmaker was authorized to film everything at 5150.

There is no other way to have that access.
It is very legit, and everything included only shows EVH and company in the best light!!
All PayPal payments are secure and drives are delivered with written assurance from the seller that the footage is one of a kind.
This is being sold only because the project that was meant to be filmed was never finished, and is done with the utmost respect for VH.
From James at links…

Just got word that this is totally illegal and the lawyers are on it!

From James at links..
Default
Very strange. Just heard from Andrew himself…
Claims it IS official.
And that Eddie approves…
As does Matt Bruck and Wolf!
Then from Brett

Also just an FYI guys the band wanted that whole thread deleted I just removed the link. So I’m very confused why Ed would have a problem with the link being on here if he’s approved this video being sold.

Its a shame this footage wont see the day of light… It looks phenomenal…. I’d give anything to see it….. except $500.

Yes it is a shame Darren….Thing is there a VH fans who would pay this I wonder if any were bought last night when it was leaked ?

I would pay quite a bit for such footage; oh well.

Wow!

It’s been a while since I took an economics class, but I’m guessing the seller could make a lot more money selling these at $25 a pop instead of $500. At $25 a lot of us would be willing to jump in. At $500 I think most of us will just wait around for it to show up on YouTube or some torrent site. Is it legit or not? It will be interesting to see where this all ends up.

I contacted Janie on twitter yesterday and asked her if VH approved the release of this she replied..

“Nope definitely not”

An update from Ethan Gracie and Andrew Bennett sent by e-mail in the form of a letter:

TO: ALL VAN HALEN FANS AROUND THE WORLD

RE: THE 5150 VAULT

Hello, my name is Andrew Bennett, I am a film director from NYC.
I began directing in 2001 with a documentary I did on the rock band Deftones, which led to my directing music videos
for that band, and continuing on with artists ranging from Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry, Nickelback, Perry Farrell, Sammy Hagar
and dozens more for over the last decade.

I first met Eddie Van Halen in 2004 during a brief reunion with Sammy while they were recording two new tracks at 5150.
I made a piece for a song called “It’s About Time” that consisted of footage from that recording session at 5150.
The link is on my personal website, which is available below.

During that time in 2004, Ed and I formed a solid friendship, and to this day I have a profound respect not just for his obvious talent,
but for the amount of work he put in, day in and day out, to keep making music.
In turn, Ed had a desire to show that side of his life. He had enjoyed the rawness of my first film on Deftones,
but the tour in 2004 took priority over any ideas we had to continue documenting the work at 5150.

But, in 2006, my phone rang, and it was Ed.
He told me that he and Alex were just jamming a couple days a week at 5150, and asked me to start documenting it.
I was at 5150 the next day.
In what seemed like overnight, rehearsals began with just three Van Halen’s (Ed, Al, Wolf), twice a week at 5150.
At this point in my career I had been doing top 40 music videos and commercials and would have to put that on pause for a year,
but the chance to document rock and roll history was too much to pass up.
And it was Van Halen.
We set up a desk, a small area for camera equipment and began documenting from day 1, the new trio of Van Halen.
Since this was, to say the least a very private endeavor, no other cameras or people were allowed to join me.

For months, from Wolf’s first day up until the decision for a reunion with Dave was made, I filmed almost every rehearsal and moments in between.
I also never took any form of payment from Ed or the band.

Once the band went on the first reunion tour, the footage remained on a hard drive and stayed there for the last ten years.
Van Halen went on to do that tour and more, and I went on to start directing more mainstream projects in music videos and commercials.
Over the years, people have asked why I never released anything, and the answer has always been simple,…respect.
Eddie was focused on his family and the band, while I was focused on other projects, and I didn’t want to bother him.
I also needed time to go through the footage, as anything I release will only show him in the best light.
To this day I have reached out to everyone in the Van Halen camp in regards to this vault, and nobody has shown any interest in joining forces on it,
so at this point I have decided to release it on my own, but again, with the utmost respect.
Eddie and everyone in Van Halen are aware this is being sold.

A decade later, it simply felt right to let the fans see some of this, and I had the chance to oversee and decide what gets released.
I have had Ed’s personal feelings as well as his legacy and that of the band’s at the front of my mind at all times.
This footage is Eddie Van Halen at his purest.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Over the years I have had the chance to show this footage to a few friends and musicians, and the looks on their faces has always been one of sheer joy.
I hope everyone who has the chance to receive this vault is as blown away as they were.

Sincerely and Respectfully,

Andrew Bennett
NYC 1/11/18

It’s About Time video..

http://www.directedbyandrewbennett.com/vanhalenabouttimeweb.mov

Maybe Eddie will buy all 500 copies?

thank you Pete for the “it’s about time” video super cool footage to me it made my day.When i read him say:i have respect for the amount of work he put in, day in and day out, to keep making music,o.k but he keeps it almost to himself.

i went to this guy’s website and there’s a little bit more you can download.http://www.directedbyandrewbennett.com/