Van Halen causes "Eruption"
Hard rock 'n roll gets a whole new image with four guys from California.
February 10, 1978
The world of hard rock n roll is hit by an earthquake when four kids from Pasadena, CA release their first album on this date. Van Halen, by the band of the same name, was recorded in just three weeks but its effects are still being felt today.
Bassist Michael Anthony summed up the process. "We didn't have a ton of material, so we basically just took our live show, all the songs we knew, and went for it.”
I think they got it right, and it seems all my friends did too. That album was everywhere when I was growing up, and in the age of posters the album cover was on bedroom everywhere. Even remember one hanging in the gym locker room for almost a month.
Van Halen was a smashing success, eventually selling over 10 million copies. The album includes some of the band’s finest work, including “Runnin’ with the Devil”, “Ain’t Talking ‘bout Love”, “Jamie’s Cryin’” and their cover of the Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.” The instrumental “Eruption”, which was written and performed by lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen, is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitar solos of all time.
Gene Simmons of the group KISS is credited with discovering the band. Simmons financed a three-song demo tape for distribution and tried to help the band get a record deal, but eventually had to leave L.A. to tour with KISS. Van Halen landed a record deal in his absence based on the power of their live shows, which had become legendary in southern California.
Van Halen were David Lee Roth – lead vocals, Eddie Van Halen – lead guitar, Michael Anthony – bass, and Alex Van Halen – drums.
Sadly, Eddie Van Halen passed away on October 6, 2020, from complications related to cancer.
Hard to believe that this was almost 50 years ago (47 to be exact). The Kansas song "Dust in the Wind" rolled across one of my Spotify playlist yesterday, and I already had this post queued up for this morning. Couldn't help reflecting on the changes that I've seen in my life. When this album came out my family did not have a push-button phone, microwave oven, or cable television. If you had a "record player" in your room that was a big deal!
Back in 1978, when I was just a vibrant 14-year-old stepping into the wild world of high school, my classmates' lockers were plastered with posters of the latest rock icons. While I wasn't exactly a hard rock fanatic, one of my closest friends was a die-hard Van Halen devotee. She practically lived and breathed the band, sporting all the coolest t-shirts and covering her walls with posters. All we ever heard from her was, “David, David, David!” — she was convinced she was destined to marry him! It was hard not to roll our eyes at her teenage antics.
Fast forward to a few years later, and guess who found me on Facebook? Yep, my old friend, still clinging onto her rock star dreams. She practically begged for an invitation to our cozy Northern cottage. I thought, “Why not?” Little did I know, it would turn into a weekend filled with her lamenting about her unfulfilled fantasies of becoming Mrs. Roth. Talk about a trip down memory lane! By the end of it, my Facebook account was locked tighter than ever—some things are better left in the past! 😂