Van Halen

When their debut album was released in 1978, they skyrocketed to superstardom. Van Halen is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and they rank #7 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. With album sales totaling over 75 million, an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for the group with the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock List, and several Grammy nominations, Van Halen’s status as one of the world’s most successful rock bands is undeniable.

In 1974, Eddie Van Halen, Mark Stone, and Alex Van Halen formed Mammoth, which would eventually be changed to Van Halen. Mark Stone was replaced by Michael Anthony as the group’s bass player, and they developed a fan base playing in clubs in California’s famous Sunset Strip. When record producers Mo Ostin and Ted Templeman saw the act, they recognized their talent and offered them a contract with Warner Bros. Records. The group, with David Lee Roth as Van Halen’s lead vocalist, entered the studio and began recording their debut album.

In 1978, the debut, self-titled album hit the shelves, and the success was staggering. Featuring singles like “Eruption” and “Runnin’ With the Devil,” the album reached #19 on the Billboard Music Charts, and eventually came to be regarded as one of the most influential rock albums ever produced. Flying high on their initial success, the group continued to release albums including Women and Children First, Diver Down, and 1984, and played to sold out crowds of screaming fans. They also received their first Grammy nomination for their energetic and infectious single “Jump.” Although the band appeared unstoppable, behind the scenes conflicts were taking their toll on the group. Escalating tensions between Eddie and David Lee Roth led to the lead singer’s departure from the band in 1985.

Van Halen, however, was far from finished. They enlisted Sammy Hagar as their new lead vocalist, and quickly released their album 5150 in 1986. The first album of the Hagar era reached the top spot on the Billboard album charts, proving that the band could succeed without Roth. The next decade saw the release of four number one albums, two Grammy nominations, and the release of enduring singles like “I Can’t Drive 55” and “Why Can’t This Be Love.” As was the case with David Lee Roth, infighting between the Van Halen brothers and the new lead singer led to Hagar’s departure from the band in 1996. Whether he quit or was fired is still not clear.

After a brief reunion with Roth, tensions escalated again, leading the group to hire Gary Cherone as their new lead singer. The former lead singer of Extreme, along with the rest of the crew, released Van Halen III. Sales were not impressive, and the different sound did not appeal to Van Halen’s long time fans.

The poor performance of Van Halen III resulted in a four year hiatus for the group, and their long time producer Warner Bros. Records dropped the group from their label. Then, in 2004, the band announced that Sammy Hagar would rejoin the group for the release of a greatest hits album and a summer concert tour. The album was certified platinum, and the concert grossed over 50 million dollars, proving that Van Halen still had a loyal and substantial fan base.

After the tour, the group seemed to disappear again. Rumors persisted that they would seek a new lead singer on the reality television show Rockstar, hosted by Dave Navarro, but they proved to be unfounded. Supposedly, a reunion tour with David Lee Roth as their singer is planned for sometime in 2007, but no definite dates have been set. Loyal fans are crossing their fingers that the fighting can stop long enough for one more Van Halen tour.

YUDDY