Van Halen

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Country of origin: United States

Lists

93 votes

Greatest Male Rock Vocalists (30 items)
list by Adriano Lopes

Published 12 years ago

24 comments

63 votes

Bands I've seen live (478 items)
list by the giraffe

Published 11 years, 5 months ago

25 comments

54 votes

500 Greatest Album Sleeves! (307 items)
list by Happy Vader

Published 9 years, 9 months ago

7 comments

53 votes

80's Hot Hair Metal Videos (20 items)
list by Mass. Patriot

Published 8 years, 3 months ago

9 comments

43 votes

500 Greatest Songs of all time - Updated! (262 items)
list by Happy Vader

Published 9 years, 10 months ago

7 comments

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Van Halen Videos

Eddie Van Halen on Two and a Half Men (S07E01)

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Added 10 years ago

Van Halen Covers ZZ Top's (Beer Drinkers and Hellraisers)Rare&Live!

100 Views

Added 10 years ago

Eddie Van Halen Guitar Solo (10/03/07) Philadelphia, PA

66 Views

Added 10 years ago

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Description: Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, (1978). As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Van Halen is the 19th best-selling band/artist of all time with sales of over 56 million albums in the United States alone, and is one of five rock bands that have had two albums sell more than 10 million copies in the U.S. In 1999, the RIAA certified their debut album diamond for t Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, (1978). As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Van Halen is the 19th best-selling band/artist of all time with sales of over 56 million albums in the United States alone, and is one of five rock bands that have had two albums sell more than 10 million copies in the U.S. In 1999, the RIAA certified their debut album diamond for ten million in U.S. sales.

In addition to being recognized for success, the band is known for the drama surrounding the exits of former members. The multiple exits of lead singers David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone were surrounded in controversy and mass press coverage, including numerous conflicting press statements between the former singers and the band. Following their 2004 concert tour the band was on a hiatus from the public until September 2007, when new bassist Wolfgang Van Halen's place was confirmed and Roth reunion rumors began to re-surface, both events coinciding with the band's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction on March 12, 2007. After years of speculation, Van Halen began a tour with Roth across North America in 2007 and into 2008. On December 26, 2011, Van Halen announced a tour for 2012, and will release their first album in 14 years, A Different Kind of Truth, on February 7.

Formed in Pasadena, California in 1972, by the Dutch brothers Eddie Van Halen (guitar) and Alex Van Halen (drums), plus singer David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony. The band's discography consists of eleven studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, and fifty-three singles.

The band signed a contract with Warner Bros. Records in 1977, and in the following year released the album Van Halen. Over the next few years, the band alternated album releases one per year between 1979 and 1982 and touring to increasing commercial and critical acclaim and became one of the world's most successful and influential bands. In 1984, Van Halen released 1984, which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200 and had the band's sole number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, "Jump". After the tour promoting that album, Roth left the band due to artistic and personal tensions with Eddie.

To replace Roth, Eddie picked Sammy Hagar, formerly of Montrose and at that time a successful solo artist. Van Halen's first album with Hagar, 1986's 5150, was the band's first number one on the Billboard 200. The three studio albums that succeeded, OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge and Balance, also topped the charts. In 1996, Hagar left Van Halen amidst much tension with the rest of the band.

Roth rejoined briefly, and recorded two songs with the band for the 1996 compilation Best of Volume I, but Van Halen eventually settled on Gary Cherone, frontman of the then defunct Boston-based band Extreme. Cherone's sole release with the band was Van Halen III, released in 1998 to mixed reviews and diminishing sales, being the only Van Halen studio album not to get a Platinum RIAA certification. Van Halen's last release was the 2004 compilation Best of Both Worlds, which featured three new songs with Hagar. The band is currently prepping a 12th studio album, with Roth on the vocals and Eddie's son Wolfgang Van Halen on bass, due to release in 2012.

As of 2007, Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and have had the most number-one hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. During the 1980s they also had more Billboard Hot 100 hits than any other hard rock or heavy metal band. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Van Halen is the 19th best-selling band/artist of all time with sales of over 56 million albums in the U.S., and is one of five rock bands that have had two albums Van Halen and 1984 sell more than 10 million copies in the U.S. ... (more)