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Today I take a look at Sass Jordan and some of her memorable stories from her career including a possible audition for Van Halen. Podcast on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rock-n-roll-true-stories-podcast/id1876614383 My second YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@RockNRollTrueStories2 Sass Jordan sang with Eddie and Alex Van Halen, believed she was being considered as their next singer, and reportedly decided working with the brothers would never work. But was it really an audition? Eddie disputed that interpretation, leaving behind one of the strangest stories from Van Halen’s search for a replacement for Sammy Hagar. This video explores that encounter and the remarkable career surrounding it. Following Jordan’s passing on October 2, 2026, we look back at a Canadian rock singer whose story connects with some of the biggest names in music. From her early ambitions to her unexpected opportunities, Jordan’s career was much more than a collection of famous acquaintances. It was a journey filled with determination, missed chances, unlikely friendships, and moments that came full circle. Long before she walked into Eddie Van Halen’s 5150 studio, Jordan found inspiration in The Partridge Family. Watching David Cassidy’s Keith Partridge helped her realize she wanted to be the singer out front. At fifteen, she reportedly ran away from home to join Sweet Thunder, taking her musical ambitions far beyond something she simply watched on television. Her early years also brought an unlikely connection with Simon Fuller. Before the Idol franchise made him internationally known, the young manager reportedly spent two weeks living in her Montreal basement. Years later, Jordan became a judge on Canadian Idol, giving that early encounter a surprising connection to her television career. We also explore the low-budget trick behind her “Tell Somebody” video. A skateboard helped create camera movements that made the production look more expensive, while MuchMusic exposure helped introduce her to Canadian audiences. It’s a small detail with a big place in her breakthrough story. Then there’s Kevin Costner, who heard Jordan on the radio and helped bring her voice to “Trust in Me,” her Joe Cocker duet on The Bodyguard soundtrack. Because their vocals were recorded separately, Cocker apparently didn’t know she was his duet partner until someone explained it to him. Despite Canadian success and high-profile opportunities, Jordan’s American breakthrough never quite matched her expectations. We examine her account of label mistakes, changing rock-radio tastes, and the barriers she felt she faced as a woman singing bluesy rock during the rise of grunge. Her unexpected role in Love, Janis brought another challenge. Although she said she wasn’t a Janis Joplin fan, performing Joplin’s music helped her develop valuable skills for sustaining her own voice. Finally, we revisit her relationship with Taylor Hawkins. Before Alanis Morissette and Foo Fighters, Hawkins played drums in Jordan’s band. He credited her with teaching him how to work in a rock band and giving him his first rock-and-roll paycheque. Their story came full circle when she joined Foo Fighters in Toronto in 2015, and Dave Grohl publicly acknowledged her importance to Hawkins’ career. Subscribe to Rock N’ Roll True Stories for more rock documentaries, band conflicts, forgotten careers, and surprising connections behind the music. What do you think Van Halen would have sounded like with Sass Jordan singing? Leave your thoughts below. Have a video request or a topic you'd like to see us cover? Comment below or send in your idea: https://bit.ly/3stnXlN CONNECT ON SOCIAL TIKOK:https://www.tiktok.com/@rocknrolltruestory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rnrtruestories/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RNRTrueStories Twitter: https://twitter.com/rocktruestories Blog: www.rockandrolltruestories.com #sassjordan #vanhalen #taylorhawkins These videos are for entertainment purposes only. DISCLAIMER https://rockandrolltruestories.com/youtube-disclaimer/