VAN HALEN IN CONCERT:
In their rise stardom, the legendary rockers of Van Halen left an indelible mark on hard rock and heavy metal by challenging conventional notions of what was musically possible. From the hot-wired licks of guitarist Eddie Van Halen to the heart-pounding double bass drumming of his brother Alex, their supercharged sound never fails to excite audiences in concert. And with legendary frontman David Lee Roth bringing his charisma back to the fold, the group has recaptured the same energy that made them a must-see spectacle in the first place. Incendiary hits like “Hot for Teacher” and “Ain’t Talking ‘Bout Love” still sit perfectly beside catchy favorites like “Jump” and “Dance the Night Away”, and ticket buyers can’t help but sing along to all the classics every time Van Halen plays on tour.
BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:
Growing up in a musical household, brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen pushed each other to become instrumental virtuosos by their teens. They started playing with dynamic singer David Lee Roth and bassist Marc Anthony in 1974, settling on the eponymous Van Halen moniker later that year. Their self-titled 1978 debut went on to sell over 10 million copies thanks to Eddie’s game-changing guitar playing, Roth’s flamboyant persona, and their undeniably catchy songs. The band became a veritable hard rock institution with their masterstroke album 1984, which contained the number 1 hit “Jump” and helped them crossover from metal to mainstream. Unfortunately, conflicts between Roth and the rest of the band lead to a falling out, and the frontman was replaced by Sammy Hagar. The new Van Halen lineup scored more hits, while Roth concurrently enjoyed a successful solo career. Eventually Hagar split with the group as well, and they briefly hired former Extreme frontman Gary Cherone before announcing a hiatus in 1999. The band reunited with Hagar in 2003 for a reunion tour, but tensions in the band resulted in him leaving again. Tempers between David Lee Roth and the band had cooled by that point, and he rejoined Van Halen in 2006, while Eddie’s son Wolfgang took over on bass. Their fresh lineup still inspires the same pandemonium from their early days, while their 2012 album A Different Kind of Truth (their first record with Roth since 1984) continues to excite fans around the world.
