Guide Note

Van Halen is a popular Hard Rock band that is known for the virtuosic lead guitar playing of Eddie Van Halen and the theatricality of original vocalist David Lee Roth. The band has sold more than 80 million units in their career and have released some of the best-selling albums of all time.

Fast Facts

1. Formed: 1974
2. Origin: Pasadena, CA
3. Studio Albums: 11
4. Albums Sold: 80 Million
5. Eddie's son Wolfgang Van Halen replaced Michael Anthony as the band's Bass player

Van Halen helped return Rock to the forefront of music in the 1980s with their raw intensity and musical virtuosity. Their self-titled debut album shot them to the forefront of the LA rock scene and earned them an opening slot for Black Sabbath. Although tensions between Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth were beginning to set in, the band's album 1984 became a commercial smash and spawned the #1 hit "Jump".

After Roth left the group in 1985, the band turned to singer Sammy Hagar to take over. The band recorded a number of highly successful albums with Hagar but parted ways in 1996. The band has since re-united with Roth for a 2008 tour.

• Eddie Van Halen - Guitar
• Alex Van Halen - Drums
• David Lee Roth - Vocals
• Michael Anthony - Bass
• Sammy Hagar - Vocals (ex-member)

• 1978: Van Halen
• 1979: Van Halen II
• 1980: Women and Children First
• 1981: Fair Warning
• 1982: Diver Down
• 1984: 1984
• 1986: 5150
• 1988: OU812
• 1991: For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
• 1995: Balance
• 1998: Van Halen III