American Heavy Metal Band: Van Halen

This American heavy metal band was widely popular in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, distinguished by the innovative electric-guitar playing of Eddie Van Halen. The original members were Eddie Van Halen [b. Jan. 26, 1957, Nijmegen, Neth.], Alex Van Halen [b. May 8, 1955, Nijmegen], Michael Anthony [b. June 20, 1955, Chicago, Ill., U.S.], and David Lee Roth [b. Oct. 10, 1955, Bloomington, Ind., U.S.]. Later members were Sammy Hagar [b. Oct. 13, 1947, Monterey, Calif., U.S.] and Gary Cherone [b. July 26, 1961, Malden, Mass., U.S.].

Exposed to music early by their father, a jazz musician, and classically trained, Eddie and Alex Van Halen turned to rock music soon after their family emigrated from The Netherlands to southern California in the 1960s. In time Eddie, a drummer, and Alex, a guitarist, switched instruments. A demo financed by Gene Simmons of Kiss led to their band's critically acclaimed debut album, Van Halen [1978], which sold more than six million copies. Featuring the hits “Jump” and “Panama,” 1984 [1984] made megastars of the Los Angeles-based band. Soon after, flamboyant lead singer Roth left Van Halen to pursue a solo career. With his replacement, Hagar, the band produced three chart-topping albums between 1986 and 1991. Hagar departed in 1996, and Roth returned briefly but was replaced by Gary Cherone. What endured was Eddie's virtuoso technique—notably his masterful use of the “whammy” [vibrato] bar and string bending and his adaptation of baroque music stylings—which influenced countless heavy metal guitarists in the 1980s.

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