Georgia-based rock hitmakers Collective Soul have released a new documentary, “Give Me A Word: The Collective Soul Story.” The film highlights the band’s many achievements, setbacks and overall story for more than three decades.
One early highlight for Collective Soul was touring with the legendary Van Halen. Bassist Will Turpin spoke with Web Is Jericho via Youngstown Studio about the doc and shared what it was like touring with rock royalty so early in their career.
“I can tell you their kinsmanship and the way they treated us was the most special thing that we’ve ever experienced especially in that era of our lives,” Turpin said. “That was the summer that the second record was released. Eddie Van Halen was in our dressing room every day man. He’d basically walk us to soundcheck every day because he knew we would get into the dressing room prior to soundcheck. He would be there with a guitar around his neck, cigarette either in his mouth or on the headstock. In that era he wasn’t drinking, and he always had a non-alcoholic beer with him.”
Around the same time, despite excellent sales of their first two albums, Collective Soul were barely getting by financially due in part to an unscrupulous manager. Turpin revealed that Edward Van Halen actually advised the band on what to do to get the situation resolved.
“Eddie Van Halen was the one that we confided in when we first realized something wasn’t happening proper on the financial side of things,” Turpin explained. “Eddie was like, ‘Yeah man, y’all are right. I’m gonna get you guys a meeting with one lawyer, and I want you all to ask some other friends and get a couple other meetings and then pick a lawyer to go with. You’re gonna have to lawyer up and do your thing. He was literally the first one to help us get through that hurdle.”
Watch Turpin’s full interview below.
