Van Halen Merchandise
The band, founded in 1972 by brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen, is considered one of the
most influential hard rock bands of all time. Van Halen songs like "Jump," "Panama," and "Runnin' With The Devil" significantly contributed to the development of hard rock. Van Halen is also regarded as a pioneer of glam metal. A crucial factor was
Eddie Van Halen's infamous guitar playing. As one of the best guitarists of all time, he revolutionized guitar playing with his speed and innovative tapping technique.
The History of Van Halen
The band was initially formed in 1972 as "Mammoth." After renaming themselves Van Halen, the group made a name for themselves in the local club scene around LA. About four years after their formation, Gene Simmons from
Kiss accidentally discovered Van Halen and funded a demo tape for the band, which secured them a record deal with Warner Bros. The musicians around the Van Halen brothers also opened for
Santana, presenting themselves to a larger audience for the first time. In 1978, the group released their debut album VAN HALEN, followed a year later by VAN HALEN II. Between 1980 and 1984, Van Halen released four more albums: WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST (1980), FAIR WARNING (1981), DIVER DOWN (1982), and 1984 (1984), with
the debut and the latter being particularly successful due to their innovative musical features. All other albums also landed in the Top 10 of the US charts. After this successful period, singer David Lee Roth left the group and was replaced by Sammy Hagar, who made his first appearance on the album 5150. The single "Why Can't This Be Love" became a global hit. The album and its successor, OU812, both topped the US charts. Following the 1991 album FOR UNLAWFUL CARNAL KNOWLEDGE, Van Halen embarked on one of the most successful tours ever in America. After the album BALANCE (1995), Sammy Hagar announced his departure. The band planned a fresh start with new singer Gary Cherone, and the first album together was aptly named VAN HALEN III (1998). However, the album was poorly received by fans and faced much criticism. Despite the failure not being solely Cherone's fault, and the band being accused of lacking inspiration, Cherone left after just one tour. The following years were very challenging for the band, partly due to
Eddie Van Halen's battle with cancer and alcoholism. In the mid-2000s, Van Halen began touring again. Newly onboard was Eddie Van Halen's son, Wolfgang Van Halen, who took over on bass. Original vocalist David Lee Roth also returned in 2007. In the same year, the band was inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2012, Van Halen went back to the studio to record the album A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRUTH, which was released the same year and included both new songs and old, never-recorded tracks from their early days.
On October 7, 2020, Eddie Van Halen, one of the most influential and best guitarists of all time, passed away from cancer. The future of the band remains uncertain. To date, Van Halen has sold over 80 million albums.
Official Van Halen Merch at Impericon
Are Van Halen your all-time hard rock kings, and do you want the world to know it? Then check out the cool Van Halen merch items in our shop. Look forward to stylish shirts with your favorite band's logo.
