"Excellent Rock music."
"Love this band forever."
"Fantastic musicians."
"The coolest band ever."
"Van Halen had so much pure energy."
"One of the best bands ever."
"They're the tops! Just brilliant!"
"Van Halen is legendary."
"Great live band."
"VH rocked my world."
This act, originally consisting of guitarist Eddie Van Halen, brother Alex on drums, bassist Michael Anthony and lead singer David Lee Roth, formed in 1972 in Pasadena, California. The Van Halen brothers, born in The Netherlands, were sons of classical musician Jan Van Halen. Anthony moved to Pasadena from Chicago, Illinois. Members of rival high school bands, all four attended Pasadena City College.
In 1962, the Van Halen family moved to Pasadena, and Eddie first studied classical piano. Within a few years, the brothers began playing together with their roles switched from those which we know them as--Eddie played drums and Alex played guitar. Reportedly, while Eddie was delivering newspapers, Alex would sneak play Eddie's drums. When Eddie found out about it, he said in frustration, "O.K., you play drums and I'll play your guitar."
In the early 1970's, the brothers formed the band the Broken Combs. Meanwhile Roth, who had moved to Pasadena from Indiana with his family in 1972, joined the Red Ball Jets. The brothers formed a new group called Genesis that included Mark Stone on bass, renting a sound system from David Lee Roth. Roth had auditioned as lead vocalist several times to no avail, but the group opted to save money on the rental by letting Roth into the group.
In 1974, the group replaced Stone with former Snake bassist Michael Anthony and soon changed its name to Mammoth after discovering that the British group Genesis already had that name. Later in the year, they permanently changed their name to Van Halen. The group began playing clubs in Pasadena and Hollywood and attracted a growing following. They got a big break when they landed a gig at Gazzarri's on the Sunset Strip. At Gazzarri's, Van Halen opened for groups such as Santana and UFO.
Van Halen recorded a demo tape, although nothing came of it at the time. Meanwhile, the group continued to grow in reputation, and they played at the famous Whisky a Go Go. In 1976, Gene Simmons of KISS saw the group at the Starwood club and produced another demo tape of them. But when Simmons took the demo to KISS management, he was told that "they had no chance of making it", and Simmons decided to drop the project.
"Fantastic musicians."
"The coolest band ever."
"Van Halen had so much pure energy."
"One of the best bands ever."
"They're the tops! Just brilliant!"
"Van Halen is legendary."
"Great live band."
"VH rocked my world."
In 1962, the Van Halen family moved to Pasadena, and Eddie first studied classical piano. Within a few years, the brothers began playing together with their roles switched from those which we know them as--Eddie played drums and Alex played guitar. Reportedly, while Eddie was delivering newspapers, Alex would sneak play Eddie's drums. When Eddie found out about it, he said in frustration, "O.K., you play drums and I'll play your guitar."
In the early 1970's, the brothers formed the band the Broken Combs. Meanwhile Roth, who had moved to Pasadena from Indiana with his family in 1972, joined the Red Ball Jets. The brothers formed a new group called Genesis that included Mark Stone on bass, renting a sound system from David Lee Roth. Roth had auditioned as lead vocalist several times to no avail, but the group opted to save money on the rental by letting Roth into the group.
Van Halen recorded a demo tape, although nothing came of it at the time. Meanwhile, the group continued to grow in reputation, and they played at the famous Whisky a Go Go. In 1976, Gene Simmons of KISS saw the group at the Starwood club and produced another demo tape of them. But when Simmons took the demo to KISS management, he was told that "they had no chance of making it", and Simmons decided to drop the project.
Van Halen's fortunes changed the next year when they played at the Starwood in Hollywood. Mo Ostin and Ted Templeman of Warner Brothers Records were in the audience and were so impressed that Van Halen had a recording contract within the week. The band recorded their debut album at Sunset Sound Recorders in Los Angeles.
Van Halen's self-titled album featured the lead single "You Really Got Me", featured here with the prelude "Eruption", a guitar solo from Eddie which featured his mastery of a technique known as "finger-tapping". It was but one technique Eddie introduced to a legion of young guitarists. The song stalled at #36, and the single did not even include "Eruption", making it one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.
This is one of the group's best-loved songs--"Runnin' With The Devil".
The group toured for almost a year in support of the album, opening for Black Sabbath. Early on, fans were treated to the elite guitar wizardry of Eddie and Roth's wild stage antics. The efforts were rewarded as the group's debut has now been certified Diamond for over 10 million units sold. It is one of the biggest-selling debuts in music history, and loaded with great songs like "Jamie's Cryin'".
Roth shines on this Top Track*--"Ain't Talkin' Bout Love". Eddie also knew how to open a song with a great guitar riff too!
Eddie played an amazing solo on "I'm The One".
We also want to feature another great song on the album, "Feel Your Love Tonight".
In 1979, the band released Van Halen II, which included the #15 single "Dance The Night Away".
Roth was in fine form on this track--"Beautiful Girls".
The band played at the California Music Festival at Los Angeles' Memorial Coliseum before beginning a 10-month world tour that included over 22 tons of equipment. After some shows, Roth invited the entire audience to join the group backstage for parties.
Van Halen II has gone over five million in sales.
The band played at the California Music Festival at Los Angeles' Memorial Coliseum before beginning a 10-month world tour that included over 22 tons of equipment. After some shows, Roth invited the entire audience to join the group backstage for parties.
Van Halen II has gone over five million in sales.
The following year, Van Halen released the album Women and Children First, featuring the youth anthem "And The Cradle Will Rock".
"Everybody Wants Some" is another fan favorite.
In June, Roth broke his nose and suffered multiple contusions and a concussion while recording an Italian television special, colliding with hanging stage lights while jumping through the air.
The album has sold over three million units worldwide.
In June, Roth broke his nose and suffered multiple contusions and a concussion while recording an Italian television special, colliding with hanging stage lights while jumping through the air.
The album has sold over three million units worldwide.
But the competing interests of Eddie and Roth began to turn into a rivalry. For his part, Van Halen wanted the group to record more complex songs, while Roth, whose antics were displayed in full on the emerging MTV, liked a more popular sound. Roth gave way, for the time, on 1981's Fair Warning. "So This Is Love" is their best song on the album.
"Mean Street" is another song which got significant airplay.
Sales dipped to two million for the album, outstanding for most artists, but low for Van Halen.
Van Halen came back with the album Diver Down, with the remake of Roy Orbison's classic "(Oh) Pretty Woman" reaching #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #12 overall.
Diver Down has now sold over four million copies. Eddie's bouncy riff is highlighted on "Little Guitars".
Organizers at the US Festival paid Van Halen $1 million (the largest fee ever to that time) to perform at the second festival in San Bernardino, California. The Festival needed an audience of 750,000 to break even, but only 3000,000 attended.
Organizers at the US Festival paid Van Halen $1 million (the largest fee ever to that time) to perform at the second festival in San Bernardino, California. The Festival needed an audience of 750,000 to break even, but only 3000,000 attended.
The group released one of their best career albums with 1984, certainly the best since their debut, recorded at Eddie's new 5150 Studios. The single "Jump" paved the way, selling over one million copies and going all the way to #1 in the U.S. and Canada and hitting #2 in Australia and Ireland. It is one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.
The album peaked at #2, held off only by the all-time classic album Thriller by Michael Jackson. The follow-up single, "I'll Wait", stalled at #13, though it did sneak in at #2 on the Mainstream Rock chart.
1984 became the group's second album to be certified Diamond for over 10 million units sold. "Panama" had identical chart numbers to "I'll Wait", #2 Mainstream Rock and #13 Popular. It is one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.
Van Halen was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group at the American Music Awards and received another Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance (for "Donut City"). Alex is the star on "Hot For Teacher".
Join us for Part Two!
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