Some Things You May Not Have Known About Van Halen
The 1980s were a decade of new wave, dance, ballads, and even hair bands; however, a while before the decade came one of the most prominent hard rock bands next to KISS or Aerosmith.
Van Halen
From the early 1970s existed a massive heavy metal band that began literally as a power trio until Diamond Dave joined in 1977. Here, for your reading pleasure, are ten little things you didn't know about Van Halen
1. They Were Originally Called Genesis
Yup! The Van Halen brothers formed a band called Genesis that played a mix of acoustic and electric rock. After Mike Anthony joined, they were forced to change their name because, as we know, there was ANOTHER Genesis. Their intermin name was Mammoth.
2. Their name means "get it."
Translators list "van" meaning as from and "halen" meaning enterance, but the combined meaning of Van Halen is "get it."
3. The name was David Lee Roth's idea.
Playing with the Van Halen brothers, Roth liked the idea of how Santana named his band after his surname. As such, he decided on the name "Van Halen," because it seemed to be a name with power. The name, contrary to fan opinions, does not merely come from the Van Halen brothers.
4. They've made a TON of covers!
I kid you not. Some of these you may have heard some you haven't. In fact there are two on their 1978 self-titled debut alone: The Kinks' 1964 hit You Really Got Me and Chicago blues singer John Brim' Ice Cream Man which features Diamond Dave on acoustic guitar!
It was their 1982 album, Diver Down that featured 80% covers. Some popular songs they have covered include Roy Orbison's Oh! Pretty Woman, Martha and Vandall's Dancing in The Streets, and Linda Ronstadt's You're no Good, among others.
5. They wrote a song with Michael McDonald!
On their 1984 album, I'll Wait has Eddie Van Halen and Michael McDonald credited. The song was actually intended for McDonald himself, but of course he wouln't have sung it as well as Roth - c'mon!
6. Eddie Van Halen played the guitar solo on Michael Jackson's Beat It
Arguably Jackson's signature song, Eddie Van Halen's guitar should be easily recognizable on this track.
7. The Hagar Era gave the band some "sub-names."
Eddie Van Halen brought on Sammy Hagar after hearing his hit I Can't Drive 55, and was moved by his voice. Between 1985 and 1996, Van Halen fans referred to the band as Van Hagar and Sam Halen.
8. They had an (offstage) keyboardist
Alan Fitzgerald of Night Ranger fame assisted on keyboards on tour. This was beneficial as Eddie was also doubling on keyboards in the studio; however, at some times, Eddie's keyboard/synth parts were prerecorded.
9. They actually auditioned a few keyboardists
In their early years, Van Halen auditioned for a few keyboard players, but really had no luck finding a perfect fit, and, at the advice of Diamond Dave, agreed that Eddie would double on keyboards being the virtuoso that he was.
10. They are from Amsterdam (but not a Dutch band)
Contrary to popular belief, Van Halen were formed in the Los Angeles suburb of Pasadena. The Van Halen brothers were born in Amsterdam, and the family relocated to Pasadena in 1962.
Well, that's pretty much it for the big Van Halen facts. Feel free to comment any of your Van Halen memories and the like.
Van Halen
From the early 1970s existed a massive heavy metal band that began literally as a power trio until Diamond Dave joined in 1977. Here, for your reading pleasure, are ten little things you didn't know about Van Halen
1. They Were Originally Called Genesis
Yup! The Van Halen brothers formed a band called Genesis that played a mix of acoustic and electric rock. After Mike Anthony joined, they were forced to change their name because, as we know, there was ANOTHER Genesis. Their intermin name was Mammoth.
2. Their name means "get it."
Translators list "van" meaning as from and "halen" meaning enterance, but the combined meaning of Van Halen is "get it."
3. The name was David Lee Roth's idea.
Playing with the Van Halen brothers, Roth liked the idea of how Santana named his band after his surname. As such, he decided on the name "Van Halen," because it seemed to be a name with power. The name, contrary to fan opinions, does not merely come from the Van Halen brothers.
4. They've made a TON of covers!
I kid you not. Some of these you may have heard some you haven't. In fact there are two on their 1978 self-titled debut alone: The Kinks' 1964 hit You Really Got Me and Chicago blues singer John Brim' Ice Cream Man which features Diamond Dave on acoustic guitar!
It was their 1982 album, Diver Down that featured 80% covers. Some popular songs they have covered include Roy Orbison's Oh! Pretty Woman, Martha and Vandall's Dancing in The Streets, and Linda Ronstadt's You're no Good, among others.
5. They wrote a song with Michael McDonald!
On their 1984 album, I'll Wait has Eddie Van Halen and Michael McDonald credited. The song was actually intended for McDonald himself, but of course he wouln't have sung it as well as Roth - c'mon!
6. Eddie Van Halen played the guitar solo on Michael Jackson's Beat It
Arguably Jackson's signature song, Eddie Van Halen's guitar should be easily recognizable on this track.
7. The Hagar Era gave the band some "sub-names."
Eddie Van Halen brought on Sammy Hagar after hearing his hit I Can't Drive 55, and was moved by his voice. Between 1985 and 1996, Van Halen fans referred to the band as Van Hagar and Sam Halen.
8. They had an (offstage) keyboardist
Alan Fitzgerald of Night Ranger fame assisted on keyboards on tour. This was beneficial as Eddie was also doubling on keyboards in the studio; however, at some times, Eddie's keyboard/synth parts were prerecorded.
9. They actually auditioned a few keyboardists
In their early years, Van Halen auditioned for a few keyboard players, but really had no luck finding a perfect fit, and, at the advice of Diamond Dave, agreed that Eddie would double on keyboards being the virtuoso that he was.
10. They are from Amsterdam (but not a Dutch band)
Contrary to popular belief, Van Halen were formed in the Los Angeles suburb of Pasadena. The Van Halen brothers were born in Amsterdam, and the family relocated to Pasadena in 1962.
Well, that's pretty much it for the big Van Halen facts. Feel free to comment any of your Van Halen memories and the like.
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