Van Halen

Van Halen is a group of Hard rock/heavy American metal founded in the middle of the Années 1970. The Guitarist of the group, Eddie Van Halen, quickly became famous for its technical prowesses and its musical sensitivity. It especially inspired a new current of " guitar heros" thanks to the popularization of the technique of the " tapping". Their first singer David Lee Roth asserted himself like a true show man.

1978 with 1998 the group left eleven albums, all sunken in Signal 20 of the Billboard 200. It sold more than 75 million albums throughout the world and receipt several nominations with the Grammy Awards. Van Halen is classified in the Guinness of the Records as the group having the greatest number of hits in the Billboard Mainstream Rock List.

Members of the group

Current composition

Former members

Biography of the group

(1972-1978) At the beginning

The family Van Halen emigrated at the end of the years 1960 of Nijmegen to the Netherlands with Pasadena in California. The father of Eddie and Alex, Jan Van Halen was a saxophonist and accomplished clarinettist. Jan and its Clarinette formed besides part in the song Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now) of the album Diver Down (1982). Jan very early encouraged the passion of its sons for the music, thus Alex the (oldest of the brothers Van Halen) and Eddie accepted both a traditional education of Piano during their childhood. When they became older, Alex started to take lessons of guitar flamenco and Eddie was interested in the battery. According to the legend, Eddie worked as deliveryman of newspapers to buy its battery. Whereas Eddie worked, Alex was involved with the battery. When Eddie intended his/her brother to play the solo of battery of the song Wipe Out , Eddie decided to give up the battery for the Guitare. The musician who influenced Eddie the most is Eric Clapton (group Cream) whereas Alex was influenced more by Ginger Baker (also of the group Cream) and John Bonham (of the group Led Zeppelin). At the elementary school and the college, Eddie and Alex formed at various times several groups with names such as The Trojan Rubber Company , The Broken Combs and The Space Brothers .

The group which evolved/moved later to become Van Halen, was made up at the beginning of a trio known under the name Mammoth making rounds in many places around Los Angeles. The group included/understood then Eddie with the Guitare and the Chant, Alex with the battery and Mark Stone with the low . In 1974, Michael Anthony replaced Mark Stone with low after having passed a hearing in front of the group. After that, Eddie Van Halen and Michael Anthony sang in turn. With the passing of years, Mike accepted the nickname of Canon Mouth (of English gun : gun and mouth : the mouth) because he sang more extremely than the singers. In 1973, David Lee Roth, a local contractor, and singer of a rival group of Los Angeles rented his material of wiring for sound to Mammoth . But Eddie and Alex was tired to pay the tax of wiring for sound to Diamond Dave (David Lee Roth), they thus inserted it in the group in 1974 as a singer. A little later they discovered that another group with Los Angeles was also called Mammoth . On a suggestion of Van Halen, they changed their name for Van Halen (while passing on the name Rat Salad ). Roth known as in its autobiography: " I found that the name Van Halen was like the name Santana , it gave an impression of puissance." The group became popular during the Sunset Trip in the middle of the years 1970, while playing in clubs as the Whiskey has Go Go . In 1976, Gene Simmons of the group of hard rock KIS noticed a concert of Van Halen and decided to finance their first cassette of demonstration. This cassette circulates with the title Zero and contains words unfinished or different from the first songs of Van Halen. However, the direction of KIS did not sign with the group. It is with Mo Ostin, an executive of Warner Bros, that the group signed. Ted Templeman, which had been previously the producer of several hits for The Doobie Brothers , became the first producer of the group, after a meeting in famous the Starwood Club in Los Angeles.

(1978-1985) The most powerful group of the USA

One evening of May 1977, Ted Templeman and Mo Ostin of Warner Bros discover the group and proposes to them to record a demonstration of 25 songs in which they will pick 9 of them which will be reproduced on their first album. Ted Templeman is behind the levers and the group records under conditions quasi-live with almost not of overdubs. In any event Eddie is allergic to this technique. The recording takes hardly three weeks but is a perfect summary of what Van Halen is musicalement. Eruption is included with the insistence of Ted Templeman which intended Eddie to play this continuation of vertiginous plans at the time of a repetition. One adds to it two recoveries, the You Really Got Me of The Kinks, even more suggestive than the original, and Ice Cream Man of John Brim, who seems to be written for David Lee Roth. One will not forget the rhythmic foundation assured by Alex and Michael, and it is besides the latter which begins the album by the intro alarming from Runnin' With The Devil . However one notes already the interaction between the howls of David Lee Roth and those of the guitar of Eddie. Thing which will be confirmed at the time of the dates of a round flash but not less crashing to pieces.

Hardly their first album it is certified platinum on October 10th, 1978, the day of the birthday of David, that the group returns in studio exactly two months to be harnessed later with the recording of the second!

The album entitled Van Halen II, rather not very different from the first, leaves on March 23rd, 1979 and, carried out by their first hit Dance The Night Away , only two months put to be certified platinum. During the four years which follow, Van Halen connects albums and turned passing by Europe and Japan. Their third album, Women and Children First , leaves on March 26th, 1980, certified platinum three months later. It is during this round that the group develops a barbarian attitude, putting at bag the majority hotels in which they go down. The clause not of M&M' S chestnuts is added to wrinkle to them. Even more acts of destruction follow when this clause was not read. In the middle of all that, Eddie notices all the same Valerie Bertinelli, actress of televised series since her more tender childhood, last to congratulate the group after one their concerts. They will marry a few months later in 1981.

It is in 1981 that Van Halen begins the writing of their next album, Fair Warning . But of the tensions occur between Eddie and David. Eddie wants to test, be directed towards more serious songs and more complex structures, which is with thousand miles of the pop considerations and the escapades of David, supported by Ted Templeman. Frustrated to be able to be expressed as it wishes it, Eddie thinks of leaving the group, is charmed and ends up re-recording certain parts of the album in the small hour, when only Gift Landee and are to him with the studio.

Reflection of these tensions, Fair Warning , album resolutely darker, leaves on April 29th, 1981. The following album, Diver Down , reflects this conflict between different interests well. This disc cash not less than five recoveries, is a heteroclite mixture of traditional enough songs for the group, Hang 'EM High , The Full Bug , of introspective and dark instrumental beaches, Cathedral , Intruder , Little Guitars (Intro) and of songs resolutely Pop, Pretty Woman , Dancing In The Streets and the delicious Secrets . Eddie, diplomat in his interviews, known as “to like all the songs on this album”, but, well defined not to arise this kind of disc more, is made build its own studio on its property. The 5150 is born in March 1983.

The month following Eddie plays two solos (to leave the choice), remballe its Frankie and from goes away. It has just recorded the solo of Beat It , the song will be number one of the charts. It did that free.

In May, the group plays US Festival, the multitude and the receipts are enormous, the performance of David is particularly soaked but the concert is worship.

The recording of 1984 proceeds to the 5150, Eddie hopes to take again the control which has escaped while being to him in its own studio. It rubs all the same with the opposition of almost all the group… it integrates synthetizers, much of synthetizers in the new compositions. Two of them are entirely interpreted with the keyboard. It does not matter, Eddie is at the house and it is him which carries to it fine word of the history. Jump and I' L Wait , both " keyboards songs" in question, are hits just like Panama and Hot For Teacher . The clips of Jump , Hot For Teacher and Panama pass in heavy rotation on a MTV still stammering and groups it reached a peak of popularity never yet reached in its career. The internal tensions also reach a peak. Dave is interested by the cinema and, whereas the group recovers its recent round, it records an mini-album solo of four titles, Crazy From The Heat . Eddie is aggravated more and more by the attitude of Dave and its character of drawing-animated, these " variations of conduite" are the water drop which makes overflow the vase. David leaves the group the first April 1985. The fans are under the shock, they take party, the world of Van Halen is divided.

(1985-1996) Van Halen leaves the place to Sammy Hagar

Dave left towards a career solo, the remaining trio is not long in seeking a substitute to him. Eddie thinks that it could perhaps invite various singers like Joe Cocker, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Pete Townshend. But Alex points out to him that such a thing would be very difficult to set up, would be this only for the timetables, and that could not go, with the limit, that for an album. Patty Smyth of the group Scandal (not to be confused with Patti Smith) and Jimmy Barnes are initially considered by Eddie, before this one is not contacted by Sammy Hagar, ex- Montrose and holder of a very imposing career solo already. It is Claudio Zampolli, their mutual mechanic, who suggested in Sammy calling Van Halen. One finds oneself for a jam which still includes versions in building site of Summer Nights and Good Enough , Sammy improvises the words and twenty minutes later the business is made. Sammy Hagar is the new singer of Van Halen. The news is made public at the time of MTV Awards in September 1985. November 11th, Eddie puts the print of its hands on the Walk Rock'n'roll of Hollywood. The recording of the first album with Sammy starts, one thinks of calling it Best Of Both Worlds but this title can appear misleading or to have certain religious connotations. Sammy suggests 5150 . The album presents a new sound, the synthetizers are very present, Alex added electronic pads in its kit of battery, the album today sounds 80 very ' S but is stuffed of hits: Why Can' T This Be Coils , Dreams , Best Of Both Worlds and Love Walks In . 5150 , the album, leaves on March 24th, 1986 and is propelled number one of the US charts, henceforth each album with Sammy Hagar will know the same fate. After the album was certified triple platinum on October 10th, Van Halen leaves its first live official, Live Without has Net . The selected concert is that of August 27th, 1986 to the Veterans Coliseum Memorial of New Haven (Connecticut), renamed for the occasion “New Halen”. The group having refused to turn the least clip so that the public has an idea of this new group in live condition, in fact extracts in this concert will be selected to mitigate this lack. In December, Jan, the father of Eddie and Alex die at 66 years. The very same day, the brothers are locked up in the 5150 and play during nearly 10 hours of at a stretch. The next album of the group will be dedicated to him. Eddie suggests that one calls the new album Rock “Roll , Sammy proposes Source Off Infection . One retains finally OU812 , acronym of “Oh You Hate One Too”, answer to the Eat 'EM and Smile , first album solo of David Lee Roth. According to other theories, this title refers to the telephone jokes that the group had taken the practice to make during the recording of the album; one called restaurants on their premises to complain to have been sick after having eaten. These gastric jokes do not prevent the group from leaving OU812 on May 24th, 1988. In addition to the title itself, the artwork of the album is rather cryptic, a strange statue of monkey representing the evolution of the man by Charles Darwin, and a formed sign of two hands which carries to confusion: some see the symbol of the female sex there, of other think that it is a message with the fans saying to them: “ we coils you ”. This sign was however introduced by Michael Anthony. Two days after having played Monsters Off Rock'n'roll, the album is number one of the charts, on May 25th. The year 1989 and 1990 sees Van Halen collecting the fruits of their years of labor, 5150 is certified quadruple platinum, OU812 triple platinizes, Van Halen , the first album, just like 1984 six times platinizes and Van Halen II four times platinizes.

April 22nd, 1990, the group, according to the suggestion of Sammy opens first Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Van Halen turns two publicities and MTV films the event for a retransmission on line. The group repeats in front of some privileged people then is joined, at the time of the principal concert by a crowd of guests: Steve Lukather, Lita Ford, Dweezil Zappa, Brad Delp of the group Boston, Kip Winger, Robin Zander of Cheap Trick and Robin Crosby of Ratt.

In January 1991, studio 5150 is reorganized, a new console is installed and its size is doubled in order to add to it a cabin entirely dedicated to the battery. After a station-wagon of almost one year, Eddie states to have touched its guitar only on very rare occasions. The group decides to find a producer first of all, Andy Johns is selected for its work with Led Zeppelin. Arrived quickly on the spot, it takes the group by surprised: they virtually do not have any outline of idea of song. However, well quickly it is necessary to make the sorting in the middle of a musical material easily which can fill an double album. After having thought of recording in another studio, the group remains finally in this good old man 5150 and records methodically, supplementing a song after the other. FUCK is proposed like titrates to the great displeasure of Alex, always good adviser titles small pockets of album. Ray " Boom" boom; Mancini, a friend boxer of Sammy, teaches him that this word is in fact an acronym of “ For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge ”. That will be thus the title of the album which will however commonly be called FUCK by the fans.

Four days before the exit of For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge , the group presents its new album in preview on the American radios. June 17th, 1991, the album leaves and the following day, Alex adds the print of his hands to those of his brother to the Walk Rock'n'roll. The album, with the overall hard sound and sinks, is certified gold and platinum on August 22nd. In September 1992, the group gains three rewards in MTV Video Music Awards for " Best Editing" , " Best Direction" and " Video Off The Year".

January 23rd the group leaves its second live, Live: Right Young stag, Right Now on audio and video supports. Although recorded April 14th and 15th 1992 in Selland Arena of Fresno (California), this album includes also certain performances of preceding rounds. Alex, Eddie and Jon Ostrin mix the album to the 5150. The group seizes the occasion of this new exit to assemble a European round more than waited, it is the first time besides until Van Halen with Sammy Hagar play the United Kingdom.

May 25th, 1994, the sessions of Balance begin. The sound of the album is enormous, polished and also slightly more commercial than its predecessor. The small pocket showing of the Siamese twins represents, according to Alex, the duality, the good and the evil that there is in each being and the balance which must be found. It is transformed Eddie which leaves these sessions, the short hair, a thick beard and finally removed from its problems with alcohol. Balance leaves on January 24th and Van Halen begins its promotion in France. Four days later, the brothers Van Halen join again with their native Holland, turn there the clip of Amsterdam where Eddie is made tattoo the logo of Van Halen decorated with the name of his/her son, Wolfgang. The following day, the album is certified in turn gold, platinum and double platinum! The video of Amsterdam being refused by MTV due to allusion to drug, Sammy rewrites the words. Without more success but Europe is less prudish. October 6th, it is all the group which poses its hands in Guitar Center located on the Walk Rock'n'roll.

(1996-1997) David Lee Roth is of return in the group!

At the beginning of 1996, occurs a discord between Sammy and Eddie. Sammy does not approve the participation of the group in the original soundtrack of the film Twister , it would prefer with the rigor floor on a new album. The new management of the goupe, held by Ray Danniels, supports the participation of the group, Sammy yields but the tensions remain. The causes of the departure are fuzzy and varied and can be discussed with the envi, it does not remain about it less than, on June 26th, the management of the group publishes an official statement informing of the departure of Sammy, it also mentions that the original line up is in studio. And it is well with David Lee Roth that Van Halen records two new songs intended to be included on first Best Of of the group. August 2nd, Me Wise Magic is finalized, the following day Can' T Get This Stuff No More is in the box. These two songs were presented to David in the middle of a score of others. One thought initially of a double Best Of, CD for each singer, the idea was given up and Alex, in great majority, chooses the songs to be included. Before the album did not leave in October, Van Halen and David Lee Roth appear at the beginning of September in MTV Video Music Awards in order to give the award of the best clip to Beck. The group is received by ovations of the public but at the time of the press conference in backstage, the tension goes up. With the reporters, David lets gleam the idea of a reformation and a round of meeting what Eddie hastens to rectify by affirming that only collaboration between Van Halen and David is summarized in Best Of and with the two new songs. At the beginning of November, David publishes an open letter where he says to have been the toy of a trickery letting accept in him and the fans, who a meeting was moving. The following day, Eddie, Alex and Michael answer by another open letter which repeats that no mention of reformation had been made, their appearance with David was an appearance for promotion of the best off, as the group with the practice to do it at each exit of album. This letter also mentions that the group has worked for two weeks with a person who could belong well to the future of Van Halen.

(1997-2006) 3 singers in 9 years: Gary Cherone, David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar follow one another in turn

In 1996, Van Halen records a demonstration 9 titles with the singer Mitch Malloy, without much success.

October 4th, during a radio interview, Eddie and Alex announce that Gary Cherone forms almost part of the group. The following day, the two brothers and Michael see themselves decreeing the award " Outstanding Contribution to Music" in Foundations Forum, they also receive a special reward to have exceeded 10 million units sold of their first album. A plate commemorating this figure is installed with the Whiskey has GoGo. Starting from October 17th at November 4th the album leaves in various countries. January 4th, 1997, the group, expenses and dispos after a station-wagon, begins the writing and the recording of the new album with Gary Cherone. This last is proposed with the group by Ray Danniels, which sees a formidable opportunity when Extreme, the group of Gary, splitte. Alex, Eddie, Michael and Gary play for the first time together, it is a revelation, one writes Without You the very same day and as from this moment, the songs are written themselves. Eddie is inspired by this new musical brother, it feels freedom to test as well in the field of the writing as in that of the sound. It uses dozen guitars, as many configurations and hundreds in ways of recording different. It comes out from it an album… experimental and different from all that Van Halen could do before. It is Alex, as with his practice, which chooses the small pocket that it finds laughing. The album, under the crook of Mike Post, is finished on September 30th, 1997 and, on October 15th, it is announced that the group gave the bands to Warner Brothers. February 19th, 1998, Without You is diffused on the waves and the album leaves ahead first world to Japan, on March 10th then one week later in the USA. However, the sales of album and tickets are not in correlation with the performances of a group to the found harmony. It is with a mutual respect that the group and Gary decide to separate, officially on November 5th, 1999.

One turbid period follows where, after being itself made operate hip, Eddie an official statement emits declaring that it fights against a cancer of the language of which it will cure completely in 2002. It separates from his wife in 2001 and appears only punctually with tournaments of golf of charity or for the NAMM of 2003.

In spite of a fallen through attempt at reformation with David Lee Roth in 2001, they is alone which the brothers Van Halen spend the hours in studio to write music.

It is via Michael that Sammy joins again the bonds with Alex in 2003. The latter are found, discussed and arrive at the conclusion which a reformation would be perhaps possible. In March 2004, it is announced that the group is reformed for Best Of and an estival US round. Three new titles are written for the occasion. However, It' S Butt Time , Learning To See and Up For Breakfast knows a hard writing, Eddie and Sammy has evil to communicate like before. Moreover, Michael is isolated of her sessions, it will also state to be himself beaten to take part in this reformation. The round starts all the same but ends on a bitter note. Sammy does not appreciate the control of Eddie and this last does not appreciate those of Sammy and Michael. No the official divorce but the hatchet is unearthed although Eddie remains quiet during long months. Sammy, takes again to him its career solo accompanied by Michael. Against any waiting, Eddie seems to make the same while taking part in the B.O of a film for adults.

(2007) The return of Van Halen

They have beautiful being in their around fifty and to have exchanged their long hair for quite clear cuts, Van Halen are back and ensure being greener than ever.

" Usually, when a group announces a return like ours, they rather have the air of hikers that of rockers" , the singer David Lee Roth, 53 years joked, at the time of a press conference. " But with us, it will be very safe ça" , he promised.

The group announced a round of 25 dates which will begin on September 25th with Charlotte (North Carolina). The new formation counts in fact three members of the original formation: Roth, the guitarist Eddie Van Halen and its beater of brother Alex Van Halen. There is a newcomer with low, the proper son of Eddie, Wolfgang, just 16 years old, which replaces Michael Anthony.

" It is not a reformation, it is a new whole groupe" , David Lee Roth ensured. " One will break the hut, one is better than one forever été" , Eddie, 52 years added.

With its singer with the blazing style called " Diamond Dave" , Van Halen was one of the most popular groups of heavy-metal of the Eighties. Its original members not produced together since the departure of Roth in 1985.

The group promised that this new departure would be followed other rounds to North America, Asia and Australia. Van Halen should then record a new album, because the group has " full with dreams and ambition".

As for the young person Wolfgang Van Halen, who incarnates " energy and the jeunesse" group, it is him which chose the titles which will be played during the round and which correspond to " 25 of (their) the largest succès".

Discography

Van Halen - February 1978

Van Halen II - March 1979

Women And Children First - March 1980

Fair Warning - April 1981

Diver Down - April 1982

1984 - January 1984

5150 - March 1986

OU812 - May 1988

For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge - June 1991

Right Young stag, Right Now - February 1993

Balance - January 1995

Best Off Vol.1 - October 1996

Van Halen III - March 1998

The Best Off Both World - July 2004

Van Halen IV - Envisaged for current 2008

Videotex

  • Live Without has Net (1986)
  • Live: Right Young stag, Right Now (1993)
  • Video Hits - Volume 1 (1998)

External bonds

  • the official site of Van Halen
  • VH FRANCE not-official French Site
  • VH FRANCE Forum
  • Category Dmoz Van Halen
  • Van Halen news desk

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