One of the very biggest names in Rock, VAN HALEN set the world alight back in 1978 with the emergence of the band's self-titled debut and guitarist Edward Van Halen would significantly influence a whole new generation in the ways the instrument could be played. The VAN HALEN story began in Nijmegan, Holland where Edward and his older brother Alex were born in the mid 1950s and encouraged to take up musical instruments by their Jazz musician father.

Although the pair first started tinkling the ivories with piano lessons, Alex would progress to drums and Edward guitar by the time the Van Halen family had emigrated to the United States in the 60's. Ironically, Eddie had first taken up the drums and Alex the guitar before the pair decided to swap instruments, thus changing the course of Rock n' Roll history in the process.

In the early 70's the brothers, after initially worked with bass player Mark Stone, teamed up with Chicago born bassist Michael Anthony (a.k.a. Michael Sobolewski) to form MAMMOTH, proceeding to perform in their locale as a trio before the addition of loud mouth vocalist and erstwhile surgical orderly DAVID LEE ROTH circa 1973. The quartet progressed from playing High School parties playing sets of cover tunes before hitting the Hollywood club circuit and headlining venues such as Gazzari's and the Whiskey A Go-Go on Sunset Boulevard.

KISS bassist GENE SIMMONS was the first individual of note to pick up on the group's talents, personally financing the recording of the band's first ever demo tape himself. Eddie and Alex Van Halen even recorded some demos with Simmons of songs that would include the original version of the KISS number 'Christine Sixteen'.

Whilst most record executives chose to ignore Simmons' support for the group eventually producer Ted Templeman and Warner Brothers' Mo Ostin discovered the undoubted talent possessed by the quartet and they were signed after a memorable showcase at the Starwood Club in Hollywood in 1977.

Now using the VAN HALEN handle (after the Van Halen brothers had initially wanted to go with RAT SALAD!), the group's self-titled debut album was released in May 1978 and America's Rock adoring public couldn't get enough of it. The album quickly established itself in the American Top 20 and was on its way to platinum status in no time.

The group's first US nationwide dates saw the quartet as opening act to JOURNEY and MONTROSE throughout March and April of 1978. VAN HALEN was then brought over to Britain to open for BLACK SABBATH and easily blew the headlining act away, Eddie Van Halen astounding those present with a ferocious display of guitar histrionics. Remaining partnered with an ailing BLACK SABBATH the band then embarked upon US dates, commencing in Chicago on the 14th August prior to traversing the Midwest and closing East Coast shows in Seattle during September. Still retained as support to BLACK SABBATH, they then engaged in German gigs.

Whilst 'Van Halen II' wasn't quite in the same league as the stellar debut (being a little too commercial in places and opening with a cover of the Clint Ballard Jr. number 'You're No Good') it nonetheless shifted enough copies to reach number 6 in America.

Whilst on tour in 1979 the quartet pulled off one of their first major publicity stunts before appearing on the bill of a show at Anaheim Stadium that also featured JOURNEY, MONTROSE and BLACK SABBATH. VAN HALEN hired four sky divers and gave the 62'000 crowd the impression that they'd parachuted into the arena's backstage area by running onto the stage in identical jumpsuits to their stunt doubles. The band weren't even headlining.

The group toughened up their sound once more with March 1980's 'Women And Children First', a record that came complete with a free poster of a bare chested Roth chained to a fence and photographed in his trademark black and white by top fashion photographer Helmut Newton. A shot that Roth claimed recently cost a mere $45 that was paid to a couple of students who helped out on the shoot after Newton waived his fee. Back on the road, VAN HALEN's headline trek through the USA running from March until May saw RAIL as support act. 'Women And Children First' reached number 6 on the US charts.

In October 1980 VAN HALEN are said to have approached TALAS bassist BILLY SHEEHAN after the Buffalo group had played a series of shows on the East Coast opening for VAN HALEN, with a view to having him replace Michael Anthony. Many years later, Sheehan was to confirm this rumour as true. However, VAN HALEN seemingly settled any differences they may have had with Anthony and decided not to recruit Sheehan.

Having toured in Britain and Europe in 1980 in a headlining capacity, VAN HALEN, retaining producer Ted Templeman's services, returned to action in 1981 with the heavyweight 'Fair Warning' album. Despite it being their fourth consecutive million seller, hitting number 5 in the USA, it rather surprisingly failed to register any hit singles leading to the group trying a different tack with the following year's 'Diver Down'.

This record produced a top 12 American hit with a cover of ROY ORBISON's '(Oh) Pretty Woman', although the band's rendition of the MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS' 'Dancing In The Street' only got as far as number 38 in America. Gigging saw a sustained campaign that stretched across the USA throughout much of the year, July leading into October dates being supported by GARY MOORE's combo G FORCE. The band closed live activities for that year with a brace of supports to the ROLLING STONES at the Orlando Tangerine Bowl in late October.

'Diver Down' had come in for criticism for offering too many cover tunes, including a quite ridiculous delivery of 'Happy Trails', and further experimentation with synthesisers from Eddie that had started to make their mark on 'Fair Warning', with many hardcore fans questioning the group's motivation. Indeed, according to the KISS bible 'Kisstory', Eddie Van Halen, who had married actress Valerie Berinelli by this point, wanted to become ACE FREHLEY's replacement in the legendary New York group during a period in which the guitarist was clearly unhappy within the confines of his own band. Billy Sheehan nearly came back into the picture, again turning down an offer to replace Michael Anthony.

1983 opened with South American gigs in January as the band traversed Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Undoubtedly making Rock history, VAN HALEN headlined Metal day at the 'US Festival' in the Summer of 1983 and were paid a cool million to do the gig on a bill with MȪTLEY CRÜE, OZZY OSBOURNE, JUDAS PRIEST, TRIUMPH and the SCORPIONS to a staggering audience of nearly half a million.

During late 1983 Eddie appeared on QUEEN guitarist BRIAN MAY's 'Star Fleet Project' mini album alongside the likes of REO SPEEDWAGON drummer Alan Gratzer and ex ROD STEWART bassist Phil Chen. Van Halen also caused something of a stir when it was discovered he had contributed guitar to MICHAEL JACKSON's 'Beat It' on the human chameleon's huge 'Thriller' album. The track was later released as an extremely successful single.

VAN HALEN returned to the fray in January 1984 with the New Year launch of the appropriately titled '1984' album, a record introduced by the hit single 'Jump' the video of which was claimed to have been shot by the band themselves and cost a paltry $500. '1984' proved to be a massive seller for VAN HALEN, just failing to score a US number one and generating a crop of major hit singles in 'Jump, a US number 1, 'Hot For Teacher', 'I'll Wait' and 'Panama'.

The British retail chain W.H. Smith refused to stock the album due to the cover artwork depicting a cherub openly brandishing a lighted cigarette. Warner Brothers in Britain rectified the problem by covering the offending image with a sticker printed with the album's title in Roman numerals.

The first half of the year was taken up by a suitably mammoth round of US headliners supported by AUTOGRAPH from January until April then THE VELCROS until July. In the wake of the success of '1984', the group eventually made a return visit to Britain to headline the 'Monsters Of Rock' festival at Castle Donington in August 1984. The event that year turned out to be one of the strongest bills put together in the event's history to this day, AC/DC, MȪTLEY CRÜE and ACCEPT being just three of the other acts to play that day.

However, a split with Roth was on the cards virtually the moment the colourful singer decided to record a solo record entitled 'Crazy From The Heat' that enjoyed a fair amount of success thanks to the man's fine rendition of the BEACH BOYS hit 'California Girls' and its accompanying video.

As Roth put together plans for a movie project and a solo band, VAN HALEN recruited ex-MONTROSE frontman SAMMY HAGAR as Roth's replacement. Although the move caused some degree of controversy at the time the decision would reap equally lucrative rewards in terms of album sales during the self-styled 'Red Rocker's tenure.

Rumours had run rife through most of 1985 that the band was working with SAMMY HAGAR. Everything was made official when the 'Red Rocker' made his recording debut in VAN HALEN on the Donn Landee and Mick Jones co-produced '5150' album in March 1986 and the album was greeted with a wave of enthusiasm in the United States as the first single, 'Why Can't This Be Love?', peaked at number 3.

Interestingly, things might have been rather different had SCANDAL singer Patty Smyth accepted Eddie Van Halen's offer to her to join the band to fill the void left by Roth. Smyth declined as she was fully committed to becoming a solo artist and was also eight months pregnant at the time.

Reportedly, Hagar had been in the frame for the frontman's job back in 1977 when the Van Halen brothers had been seduced to the point of ditching David Lee Roth and hire a vocalist of Hagar's ability. However, contractual difficulties would appear to have got in the way.

When Hagar joined VAN HALEN the singer was still signed as a solo artist to Geffen Records and was contractually obliged to record one more album. Hagar duly delivered 'Sammy Hagar' in 1987.

1988 brought with it the new VAN HALEN album 'OU812', with Eddie Van Halen's production skills put to the test the same year when he worked Donn Landee on an album from the Warner Brothers signed PRIVATE LIFE, a female fronted group that included ex-AXIS and DERRINGER guitarist DANNY JOHNSON. PRIVATE LIFE were taken out on the road as VAN HALEN's support act for the 'OU812' tour, although were not part of the American 'Monsters Of Rock' package that buzzed through the stadiums that Summer as VAN HALEN topped a bill that included SCORPIONS, DOKKEN, METALLICA and KINGDOM COME.

Ted Templeman returned to the fold for 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge' in 1991, the producer having worked with David Lee Roth in the interim. Templeman was seemingly forgiven for his sins and co-produced 'F.U.C.K.' with Andy Johns. US touring had ALICE IN CHAINS as support from August of 1991 into January of 1992, being superseded by Australia's BABY ANIMALS for the remainder of dates up to closing shows in Honolulu that May.

Together with Andy Johns, VAN HALEN produced their first live album in 1993 with 'Live: Right Here, Right Now', a 25 track package packed with material that heavily favoured (naturally enough) material recorded in the post Roth era including most of the 'F.U.C.K.' album. VAN HALEN returned to Europe for the first time in nine years and were joined by rising British outfit LITTLE ANGELS as opening act. On the road in the USA that Summer it would be VINCE NEIL lending support from June until August

In April of 1995 Eddie Van Halen kept himself in the media eye when it was revealed that he had been caught by airport staff with a loaded handgun in his hand luggage. Fortunately for the guitarist no charges were pressed.

In the wake of the new 'Balance' studio album VAN HALEN returned to Europe in the Summer of 1995 playing second on the bill on stadium shows headlined by BON JOVI. Not long after the group returned to the States the announcement came that Sammy Hagar was no longer in the band, the singer leaving in less than amicable circumstances. SAMMY HAGAR immediately resumed his solo career and returned in 1997 with his 'Marching To Mars' set.

Press speculation was rife that David Lee Roth was about to rejoin - most certainly fuelled by his appearance at an Awards ceremony in Los Angeles to celebrate VAN HALEN having sold over 60 million albums. Roth recorded of a brace of brand new tracks 'Me Wise Magic' and 'Can't Get This Stuff No More' with the group for use on their greatest hits compilation album but this union quickly fell apart in bitter recrimination.

At first solo AOR artist MITCH MALLOY was inducted into the band to record a series of demos but this union fell apart amidst business tangles. VAN HALEN then shocked an awful lot of people by announcing former EXTREME vocalist Gary Cherone as Hagar's replacement. Billy Sheehan was approached yet again to fill the bass position but Michael Anthony remained entrenched.

Although VAN HALEN were set for a return, optimism was dampened considerably when it became known that Eddie Van Halen might have to undergo major surgery in a planned hip replacement operation. After much speculation and many tests the guitarist was pronounced fit for action in late 1997. However, when the album 'III' emerged it was roundly panned by critics and fans alike. It reached number 4 in the American charts but soon fell off the listings as Roth seemed to rub salt into the wounds with his high energy 'DLR Band' release. 'Van Halen III' would be the group's first album not to score a platinum award.

An independent Boston based label Cherry Disc issued a VAN HALEN tribute album entitled 'Everybody Wants Some' made up of contribution from 16 local acts. Rumours circulated on the Internet that Cherone had been dumped and replaced by an unknown in order to tour on the back of the new album proved (for the time being) untrue. Cherone took his place out front as VAN HALEN returned to Europe for the first time since 1995 on a headlining tour. Although Scouse act DEADLINE were due to support at the British shows these were cancelled due to an injury sustained by Alex Van Halen in Europe. He sustained an injury to his neck after being hit by a chunk of plaster that had fallen from the ceiling of the Docks venue in Hamburg on June 3.

The rumours of Cherone's departure may have been premature but eventually became fulfilled as in early 2000 the band announced Cherone was out. The ousted singer later created TRIBES OF JUDAH. Although heavily denied by both parties WHITESNAKE's DAVID COVERDALE was mooted for the vacant position as, of course, was DAVID LEE ROTH.

As 2001 drew in it was revealed that in America alone VAN HALEN had shifted a blockbusting 50 million albums in America alone with both the debut 'Van Halen' and the album that closed the David Lee Roth era first time round '1984' clocking up 10 million sales each. Indeed, all of the bands records had cruised into multi platinum status except the Gary Cherone effort which struggled to even reach gold status.

Other less welcome news confirmed that, as rumours had predicted, Eddie Van Halen had been suffering from cancer but was reportedly close to beating the disease. Publicly the guitarist was out and about paired with MEATLOAF at the 30th annual Los Angeles Police Department celebrity golf tournament.

November of 2001 would see a resurgence in the rumour trail that speculated on a reunion with Roth. However, many false trails were tempered by news in January of 2002 that the band, still minus a vocalist and management, had parted ways with long-term label Warner Bros. as well as their legal advisors. Industry speculation would also be rife in January that ex-singer SAMMY HAGAR was to front up a brand new 'supergroup' set to include the JOURNEY pairing of guitarist NEAL SCHON and drummer Deen Castronovo and rumours that even ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash and Hagar's erstwhile VAN HALEN compatriot bassist Michael Anthony might also to be involved. Indeed, within days of the leak this superstar collective would be confirmed officially with surprising rapidity.

Hagar's band put in a three night run at the famous Bay Area Fillmore venue. Rumours abounded regarding a special show for the climax and sure enough, following a 40 minute Waboritas set, VAN HALEN and PLANET U.S. colleague Michael Anthony stepped up for four VAN HALEN numbers. The surprises did not end there however as both Lars Ulrich and Kirk Hammett of METALLICA would unexpectedly take to the stage to rip through a set of MONTROSE songs. While all this activity was hitting the news Eddie Van Halen finally announced that he had recently been given a complete clean bill of health and was to set to work once more.

Michael Anthony would show up unannounced at the Tinley Park, Illinois gig of the SAMMY HAGAR and DAVID LEE ROTH 'Heavyweight Champs of Rock n' Roll' tour on Saturday, June 1st, joining the Red Rocker on stage for several VAN HALEN songs including 'Top Of The World', 'Why Can't This Be Love', and 'Dreams'. As the highly successful Roth / Hagar dates were extended into a second leg Michael Anthony made his appearance during Hagar's show a regular event. The solidarity of ex-VAN HALEN vocalists would reach a pinnacle at the Boston Tweeter Centre gig on August 28th with Gary Cherone joining Hagar and Anthony for encore renditions of 'Dreams' and 'When It's Love'. Hagar and Roth doubled up too to present LINKIN PARK with their 'Best Rock Video' award at the annual MTV awards.

Eddie Van Halen would add a guest guitar session to TOTO guitarist STEVE LUKATHER's seasonal 'Santamental' record. The guitarist would also join MOUNTAIN onstage at their West Hollywood House of Blues gig on August 10th for a impromptu guest spot on 'Never In My Life'. During November of 2003 the news finally leaked that VAN HALEN was all set to reunite with SAMMY HAGAR, the band signing their business affairs over to the industry veteran artist manager Irving Azoff. With tour dates announced a 'Best Of Volume II' album would be lined up to coincide including three brand new tracks, 'Up For Breakfast', 'Learning To See' and 'It's About Time', produced by Glen Ballard. Although it was learned that TOTO's STEVE LUKATHER contributed backing vocals to the new material, what was not revealed until much later was that Michael Anthony had not recorded the bass parts.

VAN HALEN's mammoth reunion tour, commencing 11th June in Greensboro, North Carolina, saw up and coming Philadelphia Rockers SILVERTIDE as opening act for the first leg with SHINEDOWN taking over the role for later dates. A third leg of the tour, commencing 3rd September in Atlantic City, saw LAIDLAW as guests, the band of Michael Anthony's bass tech Craig DeFalco. Many of these dates sold out within days of announcement. The reunion news also gave a boost to back catalogue sales, incredibly shifting over a million combined copies of '5150', 'OU812', 'Van Halen II', 'Balance' and 'The Best of Van Halen Volume 1' taking the band's US tally past the 55 million mark. Out on the road with the band as behind the scenes keyboard player would be NIGHT RANGER's Alan Fitzgerald.

'The Best Of Both Worlds' debuted at no. 2 on the US Billboard charts, selling over 138,000 copies in its first week of release and duly gaining platinum certification for one million albums sold in September. With VAN HALEN's comeback in full swing a SAMMY HAGAR compilation was issued to coincide, 'The Essential Red Collection' charting at no. 75 on Billboard. As the band extended their tour into Canada for shows in October, Michael Anthony launched his own spicy condiment range, 'Mad Anthony's Hot Sauce', uniting with Hagar in opening the 'Mad Anthony Pepper Bar' at the Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

In December Eddie Van Halen attended the funeral of his close friend, the murdered PANTERA / DAMAGEPLAN guitarist Darrell 'Dimebag' Abbott. Amongst the Rock n' Roll items laid to rest with Dimebag in his custom 'KISS Kasket' coffin would be Eddie's Charvel guitar.

Backing away from plans for a new VAN HALEN studio album, Hagar, joined by VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony, set up a Mexican-themed 'Cinco de Cabo' solo tour for April of 2005. That same month the Recording Industry Association of America revealed VAN HALEN had sold over 56 million albums in the USA, with only LED ZEPPELIN, AC/DC, AEROSMITH and METALLICA ranking above them in terms of Hard Rock sales.

In mid September Michael Anthony revealed he was in discussions with two Rock veterans, DOKKEN guitarist GEORGE LYNCH and the BLACK OAK ARKANSAS, WHITESNAKE and OZZY OSBOURNE credited drummer Tommy Aldridge, in regards to forming up a new band unit. It was also learned that ex-VAN HALEN singer Gary Cherone had forged a fresh venture, simply billed CHERONE, to release the EP 'Need I Say More'.

With VAN HALEN still immobile and without a singer, the rumour mill began suggesting that the Van Halen brothers and Michael Anthony had been approached to feature in the second series of the 'Rockstar' reality TV series, previously incepted by INXS, in order to solve their career woes. Reported on MTV, the station was asked to issue a retraction the following day as the band members flatly denied their involvement.

As 2006 was ushered in DAVID LEE ROTH revealed he had recently spoken with Alex Van Halen and stated that, in terms of a reunion, "the inevitable will happen". That March it was learned Roth had contributed vocals to two Bluegrass re-works of VAN HALEN tracks, 'Jump' and 'Jamie's Cryin', included on the album 'Strummin' With The Devil'.

A June 17th gig date by country musician KENNY CHESNEY at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California saw the brotherly duo of Eddie and Alex Van Halen join the stage for two numbers. KENNY CHESNEY handled vocals for a rendition of 'Jump', while lead guitarist Clayton Mitchell assumed singing duties on THE KINKS classic 'You Really Got Me'. On July 19th Eddie Van Halen, performing with keyboard player Patrick Leonard, debuted new music at the House of Petals in Los Angeles.

In October renewed speculation pointed towards a reunion with DAVID LEE ROTH. As November broke VAN HALEN officially hired fifteen year-old Wolfgang Van Halen, the son of guitarist Eddie Van Halen and estranged wife Valerie Bertinelli, and nephew of drummer Alex Van Halen, as the new bassist for the band. In regard to the then still unconfirmed opening for DAVID LEE ROTH, Eddie Van Halen told the December issue of 'Guitar World' magazine that "the ball is in Dave's court".

On January 24th 2007 Billboard reported VAN HALEN, fronted by DAVID LEE ROTH, were setting up a 40 date US amphitheatre tour. Press co-ordinator Janie Liszewski from High Profile Media made the announcement that DAVID LEE ROTH was rejoining VAN HALEN official on February 2nd.

It was subsequently revealed that VAN HALEN was to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the ceremony being held on Monday March 12th at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. Confusion reigned as the various band members gave contradictory statements as to their availability and willingness to attend the event. David Lee Roth stated he would appear but then backed out when he learned he was not invited to perform onstage. Roth said ""I don't make speeches for a living; I sing and dance for my dinner." Rock and Roll Hall of Fame president and CEO Joel Peresman then claimed the singer was offered to join the show onstage for a rendition of 'You Really Got Me', Roth responding 'You Really Got Me', originally by THE KINKS, was not a "true" VAN HALEN song.

Eddie Van Halen opted out in order to pursue a rehabiliatation programme. The guitarist issued a press release claiming "At the moment I do not feel that I can give you my best. That's why I have decided to enter a rehabilitation facility to work on myself."

As it transpired, VELVET REVOLVER, frontman Scott Weiland and lead guitarist Slash inducting VAN HALEN, honoured both the David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar eras by playing 1978's 'Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love' and 1991's 'Runaround'.

Unveiled in April 2007 new Rock outfit HURTSMILE was notably fronted by ex-VAN HALEN man Gary Cherone along with brother Markus Cherone, of FLESH, OK PANIC and SUPERZERO, on guitar, Joe Pessia, of DRAMAGODS, POPULATION-1 and STATE OF THE ART, on bass and drummer Dana Spellman.

Eddie Van Halen underwent surgery in July 2009. Medical specialists in Düsseldorf, Germany, who initially began treating the guitarist for arthritis, discovered a bone spur, twisted tendon and a cyst in the joint of his left thumb. The procedure was successful.

Garry Sharpe-Young