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Birth
Eddie Van Halen born in January 26, 1955 in Nijmegen, Netherlands -
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Eddie Van Halen
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Piano lessons
Van Halen and his older brother, Alex, learned to play the piano as children starting at the age of six.The brothers commuted from Pasadena to San Pedro to study with an elderly man, Stasys (Stanley) Kalvaitis[7] who taught them classical piano. Van Halen and brother Alex hated the commute, but continued as their mother would discipline them if they refused to go. -
Eddie formed Genesis
In 1972, Van Halen formed another band, originally called "Genesis." The name was changed to "Mammoth" when Van Halen became aware of the English progressive rock band Genesis. Mammoth consisted of Van Halen on guitar and lead vocals, his brother Alex on drums and bassist Mark Stone. -
Van halen (band) had formed
At one point, the group considered using the name "Rat Salad," after the Black Sabbath song of the same name, before settling on "Van Halen."The band originally began playing cover material, ranging from pop to disco, before settling on original material. In 1976, band supporter Rodney Bingenheimer invited Kiss bassist Gene Simmons to check out a Van Halen show. -
First album
Van Halen is the debut studio album by American rock band Van Halen. Released on February 10, 1978, the album peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album became widely recognized as the band's popularity grew, selling more than ten million copies in the United States by 1999 and achieving RIAA diamond status. -
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David Lee Roth era
Van Halen released a total of six albums with vocalist David Lee Roth: Van Halen (1978), Van Halen II (1979), Women and Children First (1980), Fair Warning (1981), Diver Down (1982), and 1984 (1984). -
Second Album released
Van Halen II is the second studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1979. It peaked at number 6 on the Billboard charts and spawned the singles "Dance the Night Away" and "Beautiful Girls". To date, it has sold over five million copies in the United States. -
Frankenstrat guitar
In 1979, Van Halen's original guitar was repainted red, with stripes left unpainted to reveal the original black and white underneath. He changed the neck, removed part of the pick guard and installed a Floyd Rose vibrato unit. The guitar is known as both a "frankenstrat" and the "Frankenstein." Fender issued a replica of the guitar in relic form at a retail price of $25,000 in 2007. A "new" (non-relicced) Frankenstrat was once available through the Charvel company for significantly less, but it -
Van halen's Beat it solo
In 1982, Van Halen was invited by producer Quincy Jones to contribute the guitar solo for Michael Jackson's single "Beat It." Van Halen reportedly declined any payment for the recording, deeming a credit on the album sufficient. -
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Sammy Hagar Era
Hagar appeared on four studio albums with the band, 5150 (1986), OU812 (1988), For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991), and Balance (1995), as well as one live album, Live: Right Here, Right Now (1993) -
5150 released
5150 (pronounced "fifty-one-fifty") is the seventh studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1986 on Warner Bros. Records. It was the first of four albums to be recorded with new lead singer Sammy Hagar, who replaced David Lee Roth. -
Balance album released
Balance is the tenth studio album by hard rock band Van Halen, released on January 24, 1995 through Warner Bros. Records. The album is the last of the band's four studio releases to feature Sammy Hagar as lead vocalist. Balance reached number 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 in February 1995 -
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Gary Cherone Era
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Van halen III released
Van Halen III is the eleventh studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released on March 17, 1998 on Warner Bros. Produced by Mike Post and Eddie Van Halen, it is the band's only studio album to feature lead vocalist Gary Cherone, and the last to feature bassist Michael Anthony before he left the band in 2006. Work on a follow-up album with Cherone commenced in 1999, but never advanced past a few demos. -
A different kind of truth released
A Different Kind of Truth is the twelfth studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen. Released on February 7, 2012, by Interscope Records, the record is Van Halen's first full-length album of studio material with former lead vocalist David Lee Roth since 1984. Likewise, it is Van Halen's first studio album since 1998's Van Halen III.
