Not sure if this is just me, but ever since Crash came out I can see such a stark change in his confidence and I can tell how much more authentically he's living his life. Goddamn I love that for him!
Fun fact, before the band recorded VH 1. Manager Ted Templeman wanted to get rid of David Lee Roth (because he thought he was a bad singer), and Replace him...with Sammy Hagar.
How funny is that? That is similar to Bon Scott AC DC opening for the band Geordie who Brian Johnson is a part of that at the time and he later on would join the band once Scott sadly died of alcohol poisoning. Sometimes life has funny coincidences
Man, the fact that the “keyboard album” was a controversy is so funny to me. I mean, when Jump opens with literally one of the most iconic keyboard riffs of all time, it’s hard to imagine a world where they just never went that route.
I watched the Rush episodes to legitimately learn about Rush, now a huge fan, but I’ll be watching this one to see someone else’s opinion on Van Halen a band I’ve loved since 6th grade.
I'm the exact opposite, I've always loved Rush and just watched the rush episode to sort of see how crash ranked their albums, but as far as van halen goes, I like a few of their songs but outside of that, I don't know much
Bands like Van Halen, Rush, and even Weezer probably fall under that category. Keep in mind, Gen X are parenting Gen Z. I mean, my parents were in college in the "grunge era".
Some of my very favorite moments of this video (a field that was EXTREMELY tough to narrow down): - The new wall setup (that Joey Ramone Funko Pop!! I LOVE!). Have you thought about rotating records in the cubes to fit with the theme of the video? I love it regardless but still. - Defense of Van Hagar. "Dreams" and "Why Can't This Be Love" are two of my very favorite Van Halen songs, and it makes me happy to see someone give them their due! Also the arm flailing before you finally got it out that Van Hagar is more of a dad band was priceless 😂 - Claiming "Beautiful Girls" for the gays. I, a fellow gay, embrace this action on behalf of the community. - "Right Now". Just..... "Right Now". That was the first song I played when I heard that Eddie had passed away. Car windows rolled down, radio turned to maximum volume, tears streaming down face. He'll always be missed ❤️. Another damn masterpiece, Mr. Thompson!
He was the Eddie Van Halen of drums. It really sucks that we lost two of the best all time musicians of their craft in the beginning of the year and the end..
As someone who kind of went straight from being into post-punk, grunge and '80s/'90s college rock as a kid to really gnarly heavy stuff as I got older-the trajectory was literally from R.E.M. and They Might Be Giants to Swans and Pig Destroyer within a few years (and I still love them all)-I never really got into more traditional hard rock and early heavy metal, so Van Halen kind of passed me by. So this video, much like your Rush vid, feels like something of an education in an area which I'd love to know better, even if it isn't 100% my thing much of the time. (Women and Children First, in particular, seems like a damned good time.) In fewer words, thank you.
I mentioned this in the chat, but EVH was one of my dad's heroes, so he was understandably CRUSHED by his passing. So in his honor, he's making a cigar box guitar based on one of Eddie's actual guitars.
I really only like Van Hagar for 2 reasons. 1. A talk the local radio station had 2 years ago. Sammy is more a better vocalist and singer. Roth is the better showman and frontman. 2. As you said Crash. It was a dad rock band. My dad loved Sammy and really only listened to the Sammy era. So it was pretty much that reason. It takes me back to the days when I was young going for a drive with the family listening to F.U.C.K or 5150 and even the Red Collection. It makes me happier thinking of better times.
I am brewing with excitement! I flipped when you announced this on the last Rock Colosseum. sooooo happy you chose this band for your next "How To Get Into". Cheers Crash.
This video was literally made for me. I grew up only hearing the radio classic singles and have never wanted to go any deeper. So thanks a heap Crash. Now I can finally break through that hesitation wall and dive in to Van Halen.
I'm 22 and I'm a huge Van Halen fan. They're first six albums are must hears for me. 5150 is also cool as well. Everything else is OK. Best compliment you can give Van Halen I is that even with all the imitators it sounds fresh and revolutionary still
I'd call them Pop Metal. They've got a lot of the set up and execution of a metal band but also a lot of fun, polish and hooks. Basically proto-Glam Metal.
I found this video again recently and decided to do a full discog listen because of it. I was genuinely pleased with how much good stuff I found. Thank you Crash, keep doing your thing.
My comment will probably be almost as long as Crash's videos, but hell why not... Van Halen was my very first musical love. I saved up my allowance & had my mother take my impressionable 13yr old self to the local record store with the intention of buying Prince's 1999, Michael Jackson's Thriller, & VH's 1984. Unfortunately because of the overnight popularity of "Jump" the store was completely sold out of 1984 (as well as Thriller). Thankfully the clerk talked me into buying VH1 & VH2 in their stead... and I was never the same again lol. THANKS DUDE! 😃 And as much as I loved all three vinyls (1999 was great!) it was Van Halen 2 that ended up being my favorite of the haul. Still to this very day VH2 is pretty much my all-time favorite rock album. DOA, Beautiful Girls, You're No Good... I'm sorry but that album just slaps! In hindsight as an adult VH1 was technically the better album overall, but VH2 gives me the feels to this very day. By the time Sammy came along I was a superfan of the original lineup and I wasn't really feeling the new vibe (although I did catch them live supporting 5150 and it was pretty damn great). I honestly think that had they literally renamed the band "Van Hagar" it would've gone down a little easier for me. Petty? Absolutely. But in my mind the "real" Van Halen ended with 1984.
Great video, Crash! Thanks again for the shout-out--and yeah, as I was saying on the live chat, Van Cherone (or Van Horrible, as it would be known) probably would have been better if they had just toured with Gary first to get to know his high points and low point before hopping straight in with an album. H.E.A.T did that when they added Erik Grönwall as a lead singer, and the resulting album was better off for it, and other bands have done the same. It just sucks that it went down the way that it did. Also, I'mma have to agree about _WACF_ being better all around than _Fair Warning._ Great stuff on that one. But yeah, Eddie's legacy is so monumental that even albums like _VHIII_ can't take away from all the good he and Van Halen did for rock as a whole.
I'm already a huge fan of Van Halen but hey given this videos nightmare development and all the least I can do give a watch and hear your takes. Especially sense the previous how to get intos made those bands some of my favorite bands ever (hell Rush is my favorite band now.) So yeah great video, good takes and dig the new layout. I want to see it in the next one if possible.
Thank you for this one. Yeah. 2020 sucks. One good thing happened in early November though. Neil Peart also died this year. VH was the band that got me all in on Rock music. And Eddie dying was a gut punch. The fact that he died on my birthday made it sting even more.
People that know me know that I'm always first in line to defend hair metal (you certainly should know) when I feel a band(s) get unfairly slighted. My fascination with the guitar work and tone of that music is rooted in Van Halen. As tired as I am of "Jump" and "Runnin with the Devil", to say that Eddie left a major impact on me as a music-head and musician would be an understatement. So much of my favorite music and favorite musicians wouldn't exist without him. I'm not the hugest fan of the Hagar era personally. His solo work's ok, but I always found him to be kinda typical for hard rock and I never really felt his voice worked well with Van Halen. Those early Roth albums though left the blueprint for how mainstream metal in the 80's would sound with all those bands wanting their own Eddie, hence why I have them grouped under glam metal since there really isn't much separating their sound from it when you get down to it. Good to see also some nods to Extreme, one of my favorite bands of all time. Cherone's awesome, but like how I feel about Hagar, his voice doesn't work with Van Halen the way it does with Extreme. Hence why no one, not even Extreme fans, come to its defense. Glad also Wolfgang's involvement with Tremonti (one of my music senpais) got a mention. Also, I saw Van Halen live on the Different Kind of Truth tour, so it's hard for me to forget its existence. Great senior year of high school memory, so glad I caught it. Rest in peace, Eddie.
I tend to prefer the Van Hagar era myself. Then again, while I'm not a "dad" for multiple reasons, I *am* an old bitch for my generation. :D "Unchained" is absolutely my favorite song of theirs, though.
Love this series - so far it's been instrumental in getting me into Rush, Tool and Pearl Jam, and I'm looking forward to adding Van Halen to that list too. Thanks Crash!
Probably due to both bands having 2 major, classic eras that could easily stand on their own, and then devolving into garbage about 2 decades into their careers.
32:17 umm Crash, 5150 (The Title track) doesn't say the best of both worlds. Best of Both worlds is on that album and they would have a compilation called "best of both worlds"
First Off, this was amazing. I commented 4 hours before this premiered and I've already watched this twice since then. This was truly incredible and so refreshing to see someone give a fair assessment of the Roth and Hagar era's. Secondly, would you consider the possibility on a How To Get Into : Genesis? I totally understand if you're not a fan, but if you are, I'd be interested in hearing your breakdown of their catalog. Cheers Mr. Thompson!
I never forgot about their last album. Never forgot it existed. Because there were promotions of it everywhere so I will never forget A Different Kind of Truth.
I hate when people say Van Hagar was softer than van halen. Absoloutely 5150 was, but the other 3 albums after (especially the last two) were heavier than anything they did in the roth era. They were still kick ass metal, just with more variety. Btw to respond to the OU812 slander: OU812 had source of infection, AFU, Sucker in a 3 piece, AND cabo wabo. They didn't get softer. In fact, 5150 (the most popular and least criticized) was the pop-iest hagar album. Not only that, but OU812 wasn't focused simply because the album broke into other genres. This album had the most variety so of course there wasn't a theme. That's also why it was longer. Oh and one final thing, as a musician I can confidently say this is there most technical album they ever did. The only valid complaint is the mixing.
After learning that Tom Morello and Adam Jones (The guitarists from my two favorite bands.), were inspired by Eddie Van Halen I figured I had to get into them.
This is completely unrelated to the video but thank you Crash for the recommendation of Sordid Pink. I love their whole self titled album front to back and without your FIMI videos I never would have found it! Thank you soo much and keep making great content dude, you rock! 👍
Were CDs a thing by the time 5150 came out? Because if so, even though it would've probably qualified as bloat, I would've given them the OK to make the running time 51:50.
I got A Different Kind of Truth on release day, and I still love it and listen to it just as frequently as any of the other Roth era records. I dig both the originals and the unearthed and reworked tracks. The only weak spots for me are The Trouble with Never and honeybabysweetiedoll, which I edited together to make one mostly instrumental track.
Thank you for giving Women And Children First it's due props. That album is sooooo good! (Romeo Delight is my personal fav VH song, but everything else on that album is great too!)
HA! I am so glad that you mentioned "Right Now" was the song Pepsi licensed to sell Crystal Pepsi. (Kids, there was a year in the early 90s when everyone's favorite color was "clear." They don't teach this in schools.)
My favorite aspect of Van Halen's work aside from Eddie has always been the contributions from Michael Anthony. One of the most iconic backing vocalists out there and his basslines and tone have many earth shaking moments. I love Van Halen's debut a lot, but I actually enjoy _Van Halen II_ just a teensy bit more for Mike's backing vocals having more of a focus on that particular album. It's a little sad that as VH continued with Sammy and Gary, Mike's work was becoming less noticeable. Especially on _Van Halen III._ I don't hate the album as much as other people do, but it still hurts a bit.
Well done. WACF never gets enough respect. In 1990, Gene Simmons admitted it was his favorite rock album ever. Lots of regret there I’m sure :) Strip the vocals out of the catalog and you’ll see why guitarists love Fair Warning and why musicians in general, including Wolf, love Balance so much. There’s so much going on there under that layer of weird lyrics.
Great over view and series. You did a great job. On the subject of fun type of metal songs, Queen made a few fun type of metal songs in the early 70's.
This year I've had little to do but listen to music I'd otherwise not had the chance to - so I just wanna say THANK YOU, Crash; for your How To Get Into... series. There are many classic bands out there that I KNOW the names of and a know a few songs and that they are are musically very important, but just have so many goddamn albums that it can be a little intimidating to know where to start to get the best impression. You're like a school primer text on music but entertaining and informative - so I guess not really like a primer text at all but you know what i mean.
It's so weird hearing people say how much of an impact Van Halen had because here in England they're basically unheard of, we have Jump, thats about it
To the defense of Diver Down, one of my favorite Van Halen songs (mostly because it’s fun as hell in GH: Van Halen), Little Guitars, is a banger for me
I learned something today... One of the albums that I call, the “Right Now” album, actually stands for “F.U.C.K” and me and Crash’s first VH song was “Right Now”. I’m happy that me and him found them by the same song. Where are my Crystal Pepsi people? 🙌
I've been giving hair metal more of a shot, this might help bridge the gap. Your recommendation of Skid Row in a previous video got the journey started, so this is a great follow up Thanks.
Bulletboys are heavily Roth era Can Halen influenced. Guitarists like Vito Bratta (White Lion) and Nuno (Extreme) build off of Eddie's influenceand expand upon it.
Hollywood Bowl hosted Van Halen for thier last show. Sold Out. We went. Wow Edward was good and loud. Every Wants Some was really awesome. I'll Wait (believe it or not) was another fave. Beautiful Girls. From mtw and 99 in L.A. MTW has seen VH 9, 10 , 12 times. Big VH fans here. Still wear the concert T shirts too.
Good luck getting an answer. I think the more critical difference is Hard Rock has little to no punk influence while metal can incorporate punk as an influence and is generally heavier.
Heavy metal is generally more aggressive and distorted than hard rock in terms of the guitar, especially modern metal. Once punk happened, a lot of metal bands played faster. Metal also sounds darker and heavier sonically, musically and lyrically. Melodies too. Hard rock - at least the best hard rock - is often oriented around bluesy guitar rock and more traditional rock n' roll. Hard rock's solos are bluesy while metal's are often shred-influenced or in cases like nu metal often eschew solos, though again both of these can flip depending on the band. Lyrcially, metal is generally more serious than hard rock, though hard rock can tackle serious and dark topics and metal can be goofy, light-hearted and party-influenced. I'd also say hard rock is a lot more accessible and a lot easier to get into. Bands like Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Def Leppard, Van Halen, Aerosmith, etc are what I think of when I think of hard rock. Metal, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Pantera, Dream Theatre, Korn, Slipknot, Tool, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, etc.
I’m so happy you made this video I listened to all of the streams from the Rolling Stone top 500 and I told myself I was going to listen to every album on that list and most of the names I’ve heard of but only singles it’s a little overwhelming to know where to start. Also the clip you played of women and children first makes me want to run and I don’t run unless it’s in the things that’s not a dick on exercise I absolutely love exercise but I’m blind and clumsy so when I run I get hurt
Me before you finished your argument: wtf Van Halen is ROCK, dude don’t be a grandpa. Then you played stuff from women and children first so I take it back, they’re pretty metal
I actually really enjoyed 'A different kind of truth'. For me, that album takes me back to roth-era van halen and I thought the first 4 or 5 songs were pretty solid. Ed's playing is tight and the lyrics make sense. But just imagine had Dave not left the band, and they did this album in 86 or 87, it might have been an outstanding record for the time. It's surely not the best, but I'm happy too that it exists. I'll always love VH and I'll always mourn his loss. RIP Eddie. Thanks for this vid, Crash.
Calling it now: "Must hears" will include debut self-titled and 1984, and the "proceed with caution" section with have VH3. Personally, I would include 5150 in the "must hears", but we'll see where Crash goes with it.
Dad bands aren’t bad bands.
Crash Thompson words of wisdom.
It’s time to expand my horizons!
It's time for real metal.
Jack white's toaster.
I already got into this band
That was a very nice video, Crash.
yesssssss
please document your expansions
Not sure if this is just me, but ever since Crash came out I can see such a stark change in his confidence and I can tell how much more authentically he's living his life. Goddamn I love that for him!
🤮WTF does that have to do with Van Halen? Go away
Fun fact, before the band recorded VH 1. Manager Ted Templeman wanted to get rid of David Lee Roth (because he thought he was a bad singer), and Replace him...with Sammy Hagar.
How funny is that?
That is similar to Bon Scott AC DC opening for the band Geordie who Brian Johnson is a part of that at the time and he later on would join the band once Scott sadly died of alcohol poisoning.
Sometimes life has funny coincidences
Just a pin in a sea of possibilities
Rest in peace, Eddie.
Yee
Man, the fact that the “keyboard album” was a controversy is so funny to me. I mean, when Jump opens with literally one of the most iconic keyboard riffs of all time, it’s hard to imagine a world where they just never went that route.
I watched the Rush episodes to legitimately learn about Rush, now a huge fan, but I’ll be watching this one to see someone else’s opinion on Van Halen a band I’ve loved since 6th grade.
Rock on, Ryan!!!! 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
I'm the exact opposite, I've always loved Rush and just watched the rush episode to sort of see how crash ranked their albums, but as far as van halen goes, I like a few of their songs but outside of that, I don't know much
After this do one for RHCP. It’s a must.
He just did one.
@@kylehegedus5498 Finally after one year of waiting
Not everyone is going to notice how Crash's head is positioned right in front of an inconspicuous DVa funko...
...but I sure did!
I need a shirt that says "Dad band but not a bad band"
WAIT I love that idea
How 'bout a "Not a bad dad band" shirt?
That's just tempting fate in my opinion.
My dad and I listen to Chicago, Steely Dan, and America a lot.
Bands like Van Halen, Rush, and even Weezer probably fall under that category.
Keep in mind, Gen X are parenting Gen Z. I mean, my parents were in college in the "grunge era".
Some of my very favorite moments of this video (a field that was EXTREMELY tough to narrow down):
- The new wall setup (that Joey Ramone Funko Pop!! I LOVE!). Have you thought about rotating records in the cubes to fit with the theme of the video? I love it regardless but still.
- Defense of Van Hagar. "Dreams" and "Why Can't This Be Love" are two of my very favorite Van Halen songs, and it makes me happy to see someone give them their due! Also the arm flailing before you finally got it out that Van Hagar is more of a dad band was priceless 😂
- Claiming "Beautiful Girls" for the gays. I, a fellow gay, embrace this action on behalf of the community.
- "Right Now". Just..... "Right Now". That was the first song I played when I heard that Eddie had passed away. Car windows rolled down, radio turned to maximum volume, tears streaming down face. He'll always be missed ❤️.
Another damn masterpiece, Mr. Thompson!
Let's not forget that this year STARTED with the death of Neil Peart as well. May he Rest in Piece
He was the Eddie Van Halen of drums. It really sucks that we lost two of the best all time musicians of their craft in the beginning of the year and the end..
Shout out to all the guys that showed their respects to rush on the live chat
@@OzzyVanHalen I dunno if I'd day that. What they do is very different.
As legendary as Van Halen's music is...
...I do have a desire to hear Wolfgang come to his own as an artist.
He is amazing. He's doing his own music and it's a treasure.
His band Mammoth WVH is great
RIP Eddie. You are loved and missed. Great video, Crash. I am definitely going to revisit the best this band has to offer.
I need this ive always tried to get into them but never could thanks Crash
ditto
Section-based timestamps:
Must Hears: 2:23
Next Steps: 32:43
Deep Digging: 51:19
Proceed With Caution: 1:05:09
As a British person, I approve the useage of the word “wank” in a negative context. Good Job Crash, Gold Star. 😂
The debut album and Fair Warning are my favorites. I personally love Fair Warning. R.I.P. Eddie
Wolfgang is to Van Halan as Josh Klinghoffer is to RHCP.
Both talented but underused by the bands they were in.
You ain't wrong
Thank goodness that Wolfgang was able to show off even more talent with his debut album Wolfgang MVH.
@@ElliYeetYT I kind of want him to play bass with Josh's guitar.
As someone who kind of went straight from being into post-punk, grunge and '80s/'90s college rock as a kid to really gnarly heavy stuff as I got older-the trajectory was literally from R.E.M. and They Might Be Giants to Swans and Pig Destroyer within a few years (and I still love them all)-I never really got into more traditional hard rock and early heavy metal, so Van Halen kind of passed me by. So this video, much like your Rush vid, feels like something of an education in an area which I'd love to know better, even if it isn't 100% my thing much of the time. (Women and Children First, in particular, seems like a damned good time.) In fewer words, thank you.
I mentioned this in the chat, but EVH was one of my dad's heroes, so he was understandably CRUSHED by his passing. So in his honor, he's making a cigar box guitar based on one of Eddie's actual guitars.
That is at once sad and rad. Give your dad our regards?
@@ConvincingPeople Thanks.
@@ConvincingPeople In fact, it's close to done. All that's left is to finish the neck and string it up.
you gotta post pic cause that’s sounds amazing also rip eddie is also one of my heroes still can’t believe he’s gone
@@danielan3936 Great idea. I'll have to make sure he's okay with it him first.
WHY HATE ALBUM, CRASH??!
WHY CRASH MEANIE HEAD??
Atomic Punk is one of the most criminally underrated songs ever written. I’ll stand by that until the day I die.
I really only like Van Hagar for 2 reasons.
1. A talk the local radio station had 2 years ago. Sammy is more a better vocalist and singer. Roth is the better showman and frontman.
2. As you said Crash. It was a dad rock band. My dad loved Sammy and really only listened to the Sammy era. So it was pretty much that reason. It takes me back to the days when I was young going for a drive with the family listening to F.U.C.K or 5150 and even the Red Collection. It makes me happier thinking of better times.
I knew about A Different Kind of Truth. Pre ordered it. Love it still.
Honestly, I think Van halen II is the best starting point. It has everything. If you like that album, you like almost every other album.
I am brewing with excitement! I flipped when you announced this on the last Rock Colosseum. sooooo happy you chose this band for your next "How To Get Into". Cheers Crash.
Crazy tension between band members can totally lead to some amazing music. Jane's Addiction with Ritual de lo Habitual is another great example.
This video was literally made for me. I grew up only hearing the radio classic singles and have never wanted to go any deeper. So thanks a heap Crash. Now I can finally break through that hesitation wall and dive in to Van Halen.
Youre forgiving of the Van Hagar era…because its awesome
I'm 22 and I'm a huge Van Halen fan. They're first six albums are must hears for me. 5150 is also cool as well. Everything else is OK.
Best compliment you can give Van Halen I is that even with all the imitators it sounds fresh and revolutionary still
Even Diver Down?
Love the shutout to Todd in the Shadows. Love his content
Everybody Wants Some is my ringtone and it's one of the best decisions I ever made.
in Highschool, i thought Van Halen was metal, sure, not thrash or anything, but they are still metal to me at 36
I'd call them Pop Metal. They've got a lot of the set up and execution of a metal band but also a lot of fun, polish and hooks. Basically proto-Glam Metal.
I found this video again recently and decided to do a full discog listen because of it. I was genuinely pleased with how much good stuff I found. Thank you Crash, keep doing your thing.
My comment will probably be almost as long as Crash's videos, but hell why not...
Van Halen was my very first musical love. I saved up my allowance & had my mother take my impressionable 13yr old self to the local record store with the intention of buying Prince's 1999, Michael Jackson's Thriller, & VH's 1984. Unfortunately because of the overnight popularity of "Jump" the store was completely sold out of 1984 (as well as Thriller). Thankfully the clerk talked me into buying VH1 & VH2 in their stead... and I was never the same again lol. THANKS DUDE! 😃 And as much as I loved all three vinyls (1999 was great!) it was Van Halen 2 that ended up being my favorite of the haul. Still to this very day VH2 is pretty much my all-time favorite rock album. DOA, Beautiful Girls, You're No Good... I'm sorry but that album just slaps! In hindsight as an adult VH1 was technically the better album overall, but VH2 gives me the feels to this very day.
By the time Sammy came along I was a superfan of the original lineup and I wasn't really feeling the new vibe (although I did catch them live supporting 5150 and it was pretty damn great). I honestly think that had they literally renamed the band "Van Hagar" it would've gone down a little easier for me. Petty? Absolutely. But in my mind the "real" Van Halen ended with 1984.
Great video, Crash! Thanks again for the shout-out--and yeah, as I was saying on the live chat, Van Cherone (or Van Horrible, as it would be known) probably would have been better if they had just toured with Gary first to get to know his high points and low point before hopping straight in with an album. H.E.A.T did that when they added Erik Grönwall as a lead singer, and the resulting album was better off for it, and other bands have done the same. It just sucks that it went down the way that it did. Also, I'mma have to agree about _WACF_ being better all around than _Fair Warning._ Great stuff on that one.
But yeah, Eddie's legacy is so monumental that even albums like _VHIII_ can't take away from all the good he and Van Halen did for rock as a whole.
I think that Gary himself agreed that they should've toured first also.
I'm already a huge fan of Van Halen but hey given this videos nightmare development and all the least I can do give a watch and hear your takes. Especially sense the previous how to get intos made those bands some of my favorite bands ever (hell Rush is my favorite band now.)
So yeah great video, good takes and dig the new layout. I want to see it in the next one if possible.
As someone of Dutch ancestry my opinion is also "Could you not?"
Hey Crash, just so you know, my friend and I are covering "Jump" as a tribute to Eddie soon. Stay tuned for that!
RIP Eddie Van Halen. Also, I lowkey wanna rap over that beat in the beginning of the video. Appreciate all that you do!!!
Wow, I'm surprised you didn't mention Neil Peart at the beginning too. It has been a long year.
RIP Eddie, we'll miss you :(
Thank you for this one. Yeah. 2020 sucks. One good thing happened in early November though. Neil Peart also died this year. VH was the band that got me all in on Rock music. And Eddie dying was a gut punch. The fact that he died on my birthday made it sting even more.
People that know me know that I'm always first in line to defend hair metal (you certainly should know) when I feel a band(s) get unfairly slighted. My fascination with the guitar work and tone of that music is rooted in Van Halen. As tired as I am of "Jump" and "Runnin with the Devil", to say that Eddie left a major impact on me as a music-head and musician would be an understatement. So much of my favorite music and favorite musicians wouldn't exist without him.
I'm not the hugest fan of the Hagar era personally. His solo work's ok, but I always found him to be kinda typical for hard rock and I never really felt his voice worked well with Van Halen. Those early Roth albums though left the blueprint for how mainstream metal in the 80's would sound with all those bands wanting their own Eddie, hence why I have them grouped under glam metal since there really isn't much separating their sound from it when you get down to it.
Good to see also some nods to Extreme, one of my favorite bands of all time. Cherone's awesome, but like how I feel about Hagar, his voice doesn't work with Van Halen the way it does with Extreme. Hence why no one, not even Extreme fans, come to its defense. Glad also Wolfgang's involvement with Tremonti (one of my music senpais) got a mention.
Also, I saw Van Halen live on the Different Kind of Truth tour, so it's hard for me to forget its existence. Great senior year of high school memory, so glad I caught it. Rest in peace, Eddie.
I love Crash Thompson and his videos. I love watching this stuff. Please keep doing what you do!
I tend to prefer the Van Hagar era myself. Then again, while I'm not a "dad" for multiple reasons, I *am* an old bitch for my generation. :D
"Unchained" is absolutely my favorite song of theirs, though.
Love this series - so far it's been instrumental in getting me into Rush, Tool and Pearl Jam, and I'm looking forward to adding Van Halen to that list too. Thanks Crash!
I get that this comment is a bit cliché, but that is genuinely how I feel.
@Death Hand Studios Thanks for your contribution.
Have you seen the Bad Religion and Red Hot Chili Peppers “How To Get Into” videos?
I’ve never actually listened to Van Halen but in this video I noticed that they have a similar career arc to Green Day in some ways.
Probably due to both bands having 2 major, classic eras that could easily stand on their own, and then devolving into garbage about 2 decades into their careers.
32:17 umm Crash, 5150 (The Title track) doesn't say the best of both worlds. Best of Both worlds is on that album and they would have a compilation called "best of both worlds"
First Off, this was amazing. I commented 4 hours before this premiered and I've already watched this twice since then. This was truly incredible and so refreshing to see someone give a fair assessment of the Roth and Hagar era's.
Secondly, would you consider the possibility on a How To Get Into : Genesis? I totally understand if you're not a fan, but if you are, I'd be interested in hearing your breakdown of their catalog. Cheers Mr. Thompson!
My favourite album by these guys is 1984. I even bought it on vinyl last thursday
Van Halen and fair warning are my favorite, but 1984 has masterpieces like Panama, I’ll wait and girl gone bad
I never forgot about their last album. Never forgot it existed.
Because there were promotions of it everywhere so I will never forget A Different Kind of Truth.
I love Van Halen man I grow up with Van Halen I’m very proud to have there first album
One of my favs
Great video! women and children first is insanely underrated
@crashthompson Would you ever consider doing a how to get into for Midnight Oil?
8:47 Is that a Chicago accent? That's what my cousin from Chicago sounds exactly like!
Not really, I’m from Buffalo and we sound pretty close to Chicago
I hate when people say Van Hagar was softer than van halen.
Absoloutely 5150 was, but the other 3 albums after (especially the last two) were heavier than anything they did in the roth era. They were still kick ass metal, just with more variety.
Btw to respond to the OU812 slander: OU812 had source of infection, AFU, Sucker in a 3 piece, AND cabo wabo. They didn't get softer. In fact, 5150 (the most popular and least criticized) was the pop-iest hagar album. Not only that, but OU812 wasn't focused simply because the album broke into other genres. This album had the most variety so of course there wasn't a theme. That's also why it was longer. Oh and one final thing, as a musician I can confidently say this is there most technical album they ever did. The only valid complaint is the mixing.
I adored Van Halen
And Eddie.. The icon.
Could you do Electric Light Orchestra or Foreigner? I really like them both, just want your thoughts
After learning that Tom Morello and Adam Jones (The guitarists from my two favorite bands.), were inspired by Eddie Van Halen I figured I had to get into them.
Rest In Peace Eddie Van Halen.🙏🏾🎸🤘🏾🔥
Everybody Wants Some! In Zombie land was awesome.
This is completely unrelated to the video but thank you Crash for the recommendation of Sordid Pink. I love their whole self titled album front to back and without your FIMI videos I never would have found it! Thank you soo much and keep making great content dude, you rock! 👍
That HappySpaceman shoutout~
Were CDs a thing by the time 5150 came out? Because if so, even though it would've probably qualified as bloat, I would've given them the OK to make the running time 51:50.
I think the CD format was getting popular right on the year _5150_ came out in, 1986.
I got A Different Kind of Truth on release day, and I still love it and listen to it just as frequently as any of the other Roth era records. I dig both the originals and the unearthed and reworked tracks. The only weak spots for me are The Trouble with Never and honeybabysweetiedoll, which I edited together to make one mostly instrumental track.
Thank you for giving Women And Children First it's due props.
That album is sooooo good!
(Romeo Delight is my personal fav VH song, but everything else on that album is great too!)
HA! I am so glad that you mentioned "Right Now" was the song Pepsi licensed to sell Crystal Pepsi.
(Kids, there was a year in the early 90s when everyone's favorite color was "clear." They don't teach this in schools.)
My favorite aspect of Van Halen's work aside from Eddie has always been the contributions from Michael Anthony. One of the most iconic backing vocalists out there and his basslines and tone have many earth shaking moments. I love Van Halen's debut a lot, but I actually enjoy _Van Halen II_ just a teensy bit more for Mike's backing vocals having more of a focus on that particular album. It's a little sad that as VH continued with Sammy and Gary, Mike's work was becoming less noticeable. Especially on _Van Halen III._ I don't hate the album as much as other people do, but it still hurts a bit.
Well done. WACF never gets enough respect. In 1990, Gene Simmons admitted it was his favorite rock album ever. Lots of regret there I’m sure :)
Strip the vocals out of the catalog and you’ll see why guitarists love Fair Warning and why musicians in general, including Wolf, love Balance so much. There’s so much going on there under that layer of weird lyrics.
Hey Gene Simmons already got his own hit band with Kiss so I'm sure he can live with that legacy just fine.
Great video, definitely can use this for myself since I yet to hear a Van Halen record in full
Great over view and series. You did a great job. On the subject of fun type of metal songs, Queen made a few fun type of metal songs in the early 70's.
Who forgets about Fair Warning? It's their best album.
Crash does it again...in a very rockin’ bandana!
Have to point out that "Light Up The Sky" from Van Halen II and "Little Guitars" from Diver Down are amazing gems from the VH catalog!
This is a very nice video, Crash. 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
Seriously, no mention of Neil Peart in the beginning?? As a drummer, that hurt more than any other death in 2020
He brought it up very early in the year on his best albums of 2019 list.
@@Flamestar320 I know he did, I just think he deserved a mention in the beginning when he was listing all the notable musicians who passed
@@jaspergillgannon4991 That's a good point.
I am prolly going to get flack for this but my Favorite is Diver Down. Cathedral is still amazing to this day.
Great vid ! Ha Ha super thumbs up! From longtime fan and guitarist Michael t Wyman in Los Angeles / Del Rey. October 11 2021.
This year I've had little to do but listen to music I'd otherwise not had the chance to - so I just wanna say THANK YOU, Crash; for your How To Get Into... series. There are many classic bands out there that I KNOW the names of and a know a few songs and that they are are musically very important, but just have so many goddamn albums that it can be a little intimidating to know where to start to get the best impression. You're like a school primer text on music but entertaining and informative - so I guess not really like a primer text at all but you know what i mean.
5150 is up on the pedestal in this household as well. It’s UP there. THAT good.
How to get into The Flaming Lips? that would be really interesting, so many changes in their sound and so much material to cover
It's so weird hearing people say how much of an impact Van Halen had because here in England they're basically unheard of, we have Jump, thats about it
To the defense of Diver Down, one of my favorite Van Halen songs (mostly because it’s fun as hell in GH: Van Halen), Little Guitars, is a banger for me
It's a fucking awesome song.
Great video- thanks. This is a TRUE VH fan who just gets it. Thankful.
Great video Crash, I didn't know much about Van Halen.
I personally love diver down. it doesn't end the strongest, but the first side is perfect and little guitars might be my favorite song
I learned something today...
One of the albums that I call, the “Right Now” album, actually stands for “F.U.C.K” and me and Crash’s first VH song was “Right Now”. I’m happy that me and him found them by the same song. Where are my Crystal Pepsi people? 🙌
I've been giving hair metal more of a shot, this might help bridge the gap. Your recommendation of Skid Row in a previous video got the journey started, so this is a great follow up Thanks.
Bulletboys are heavily Roth era Can Halen influenced. Guitarists like Vito Bratta (White Lion) and Nuno (Extreme) build off of Eddie's influenceand expand upon it.
@@thomasffrench3639 I've been listening to Dokken because Into the Fire is the theme song for NWA Power, which is on UA-cam if you are into wrestling.
Yeah boi, let's do this!
VH Forever!! We were at the very last show, CT . Saw them roll out in their Mini Copper ha.
Hollywood Bowl hosted Van Halen for thier last show. Sold Out. We went. Wow Edward was good and loud.
Every Wants Some was really awesome. I'll Wait (believe it or not) was another fave. Beautiful Girls. From mtw and 99 in L.A.
MTW has seen VH 9, 10 , 12 times. Big VH fans here. Still wear the concert T shirts too.
This video really brings up a question that I've always had. What is the difference between Metal and Hard Rock?
Good luck getting an answer. I think the more critical difference is Hard Rock has little to no punk influence while metal can incorporate punk as an influence and is generally heavier.
Heavy metal is generally more aggressive and distorted than hard rock in terms of the guitar, especially modern metal. Once punk happened, a lot of metal bands played faster. Metal also sounds darker and heavier sonically, musically and lyrically. Melodies too. Hard rock - at least the best hard rock - is often oriented around bluesy guitar rock and more traditional rock n' roll. Hard rock's solos are bluesy while metal's are often shred-influenced or in cases like nu metal often eschew solos, though again both of these can flip depending on the band. Lyrcially, metal is generally more serious than hard rock, though hard rock can tackle serious and dark topics and metal can be goofy, light-hearted and party-influenced. I'd also say hard rock is a lot more accessible and a lot easier to get into. Bands like Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Def Leppard, Van Halen, Aerosmith, etc are what I think of when I think of hard rock. Metal, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Pantera, Dream Theatre, Korn, Slipknot, Tool, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, etc.
I’m so happy you made this video I listened to all of the streams from the Rolling Stone top 500 and I told myself I was going to listen to every album on that list and most of the names I’ve heard of but only singles it’s a little overwhelming to know where to start. Also the clip you played of women and children first makes me want to run and I don’t run unless it’s in the things that’s not a dick on exercise I absolutely love exercise but I’m blind and clumsy so when I run I get hurt
Me before you finished your argument: wtf Van Halen is ROCK, dude don’t be a grandpa.
Then you played stuff from women and children first so I take it back, they’re pretty metal
Women And Children First is definitely metal but most of their albums are right on the border of metal and hard rock
I actually really enjoyed 'A different kind of truth'. For me, that album takes me back to roth-era van halen and I thought the first 4 or 5 songs were pretty solid. Ed's playing is tight and the lyrics make sense. But just imagine had Dave not left the band, and they did this album in 86 or 87, it might have been an outstanding record for the time. It's surely not the best, but I'm happy too that it exists. I'll always love VH and I'll always mourn his loss. RIP Eddie. Thanks for this vid, Crash.
yup, I def didn't know that last album ever existed.
Would love to see one for RHCP or Pink Floyd
There’s an RHCP video recently uploaded.
Calling it now: "Must hears" will include debut self-titled and 1984, and the "proceed with caution" section with have VH3. Personally, I would include 5150 in the "must hears", but we'll see where Crash goes with it.
BAM! CALLED IT