Van Halen is not an 80's rock band.

[Wayne L.]

Van Halen is not an 80's rock band by any stretch of the imagination since they formed in 74 & released their debut album in 78 & if you look at those classic pictures & you experienced VH live in those days you know what I"m talking about unless you're musically uneducated which is probably the case because VH is in the same leagues as other legendary 70's rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Kiss & AC/DC instead of worthless 80's rock bands like Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Dokken & Ratt who are basically one album wonders & VH's 1984 album was popular with the gullible MTV generation similiar to Born In the USA by Bruce Springsteen at the time but that doesn't make them 80's artists since it was just a another great rock album by a great rock group to me with three great classic music videos speaking as an old VH/DLR era fan which has nothing to do with 80's rock bands besides it would take 80's rock bands millions of years to record release classic rock albums like Van Halen, Fair Warning & 1984 anyway!

[Figs]

Good post. Although I don't remember their first album getting a lot of airplay when it first came out. I think you were more likely to hear it a few years later than in '78. In fact if my memory serves me correctly "Dance the Night Away" was the first song I heard a lot on the radio.

I think they sometimes get lumped in with the hair bands because so many of them copied Eddie's guitar work. Not to mention, the Hagar era which fit into the more radio friendly pop-metal genre.

[bru87tr]

who cares ? there are alot of bands from around then that get that label. personally its a joke cause anyone into music grew up with that stuff and was influenced by it. little by little bands admit it as time goes on. its just a way for people to pick on something from the past like evey generation does to be cool. funny part is some of the best stuff and best guitarists made music in the 80's and not a band today an touch any of the rock bands back then. not many rock bands today sell the millions many did in the 80's

I enjpyed myself back then. the label doesnt bother me. I laugh. it was a good decade.

[pete]

VH was never a metal band. They had fast guitar, but much more depth then the typical sound at any time.

They were not an 80's band or a 70's band. They had a sound all their own and that is timless.

Like the stones, the doors, the beatles, the who. it was rock with something extra that cannot be categorized. Their own character. There were influences but, they were many and subtle.

Of course that changed starting with 5150. They had the guitars but the songwriting became more textbook. The songs propelled the performance of the music. It just got stale. I can't believe people don't hear it.(it's so obviously)

If it was another band, it might be forgivable. They had something very special.

A few DLR era songs do sound dated. I'd say off WACF but, mostly the music had an edge you could only get from them.

[Thetruthbaby]

I disagree on this one

I really do think VH is an 80's band although not in a bad way. The early 80's was very different than the late 80's when bands like Poison and Warrant became the big things (Van Hagar fit into this category as well with all of the power ballads). The early 80's though was much more heavy and about attitude. Pyromania, Heaven & Hell and Shout at The Devil were really good records. Sure image was a big part but that was true in the 90's as well-just a very different image. Classic VH was an 80's band but not in the cheese way that Warrant and Poison were. When I think of 70's rock I think of Zeppelin, Foghat, Boston and Pink Floyd etc. Yes VH's first record was in 78' but their sound was more forward thinking than the other 70's acts of that time. The 80's has taken a beating over the years but there was a multitude of great music (not to mention superior musicianship) in that decade. Roth/VH was the cream of the crop. By the way I love 70's rock (since my first albums purchased were all by 70's bands) but there is nothing wrong with the label 80's band. It was a great decade overall.

[pete]

Re: I disagree on this one

Originally posted by Thetruthbaby
I really do think VH is an 80's band although not in a bad way. The early 80's was very different than the late 80's when bands like Poison and Warrant became the big things (Van Hagar fit into this category as well with all of the power ballads). The early 80's though was much more heavy and about attitude. Pyromania, Heaven & Hell and Shout at The Devil were really good records. Sure image was a big part but that was true in the 90's as well-just a very different image. Classic VH was an 80's band but not in the cheese way that Warrant and Poison were. When I think of 70's rock I think of Zeppelin, Foghat, Boston and Pink Floyd etc. Yes VH's first record was in 78' but their sound was more forward thinking than the other 70's acts of that time. The 80's has taken a beating over the years but there was a multitude of great music (not to mention superior musicianship) in that decade. Roth/VH was the cream of the crop. By the way I love 70's rock (since my first albums purchased were all by 70's bands) but there is nothing wrong with the label 80's band. It was a great decade overall.

because of the dated cliches (sound and presentation) of the time (sound and visual) - they sound dated.

VH sounds like VH.

sounded unique at the time and still does.

[tobinentinc]

I'm 17 so I don't have the privelage of growing up with DLR VH at their peak. But I do no that they kicked ass! They are a combination of 70's and 80's. That's what made them great. They were like Zeppelin, but a little more hip for the 80's kids. That's why they did so well. More than an 80's band for sure.

[DavidLeeNatra]

=VH= was a 70'ies band that invented a lot of styles of the 80'ies and led right into this decade...so they were...better to say dave was one of the major influences of what happened in the 80'ies musically and especially visually...

[Panamark]

When they were in the 70's, was when it all began, I agree with Pete that they were not a Metal band, although many of their tunes could be classified as Metal. Light up the Sky immediately springs to mind.
However you would have to at least give them a Hard Rock label, with a variety of other styles all blended into the mix..

I would call them a classic 70's Rock band for sure..

[Dr. Love]

[Panamark]

Foot Fetish Doc ?

[DavidLeeNatra]

obviously... :D

[Dr. Love]

Who, me? Never!

[DavidLeeNatra]

they smell like good cheddar :D

[bru87tr]

I think its funny that when people talk about the 70's and 80's they say.

70's rock

80's bands

why isnt it 80's rock ? lol

the 80's had a different look and its own identity which is easy to make fun of. I personally think it was excess and fun over the top kind of stuff. a blast and we didnt have to borrow from another decade.

the kids today have ni identitly and borrow from both decades. as well as the 90's borrwod from the 70's

the 80's were unique and had its own legs to stand on. anyone notice the colors and styles from the 80's coming back ? my kids watch nickolodeon and the girl candese her stly is right out of the 80's with the big belts and big colorful earings and flashdance cloths.