Member-only story
When Eddie Van Halen Changed the World
A look back at Van Halen’s debut album and Eddie’s impact on rock.
Van Halen’s self-titled debut album hit the streets in February 1978, and rock music would never be the same. Released into a climate dominated by disco, punk, and touchy-feely singer/songwriters, Van Halen brought the band’s flamboyant Sunset Strip sound and attitude to a rock world begging for something new.
The album featured the band’s most legendary lineup of David Lee Roth (vocals), Michael Anthony (bass), Alex Van Halen (drums), and the incomparable Eddie Van Halen on guitar.
Van Halen sold over 10 million copies and took its place among the most influencial rock guitar albums of all time. Eddie’s incredible tone and style, already well-known on the Strip, brought him instant fame as the hottest young guitarist in rock. His career would go on for four decades, and Van Halen would become the biggest band in the world.
As a guitar player myself, Eddie Van Halen is one of my most significant influences.
As a human, Van Halen has been the background music of my life, and I can’t imagine what the rock world would be like without them.
Eddie Van Halen was an innovator, an icon, and, maybe, a genius. Here is a look at the mighty Van Halen and…
