Van Halen - Gene Simmons "Zero" Demos 1976 HQ

[@hernanrojas8887]

I was blessed to be there as Assistant Engineer at Village Recorder, totally impressed by the guys. I remember Gene coming into Studio B with no make up, shoes with high platforms and a gorgeous girl who had been centerfold, saying that he was producing the next guitar god.... a very young Eddie who came in already with his Strat hanging and fingering it like crazy. Side show provided by Dave who's humor helped push the long AM hours!!

[@breakerbroke23]

Great story.

[@hernanrojas8887]

@Shannon Sez It took me a few hours of them setting up and checking sound to realize how talented they where.

[@mlavinv2112]

Grande Don Hernan! Estaba pensando si este era el demo en el q habías participado y me encuentro con su comentario. Siempre un gusto escucharlo, siga así!

[@hernanrojas8887]

@@mlavinv2112 Gracias Matías por tus palabras...

[@aaronstrong8903]

Glad gene made it-at best he is a C level talent and an A level selfish businessman- oh did I mention a D level “musician” and I’m being nice about that... Thanks for the insight!

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Prediction: In the near future people will get tired of cut copy & paste, all-digital, sampled, auto-tuned, quantized, music and we'll go back to the olden days of recording. We'll have bands in a room recording all together and committing entire whole-band takes instead of just parts to final masters. Perfection will lose its value and vibe/feel/emotion will be what really matters. Hey, a guy can dream can't he? 😉

[@TheOnlyHollywood1]

Let's hope you're right

[@llla_german_ewoklll6413]

I'm just hoping I can be a part of that change. Just keep rocking, and we can get it back.

[@liamwilson7812]

@@llla_german_ewoklll6413 you and me both, brother. 🤟

[@sparklydiamondz5464]

We can only hope.

[@apollotony3741]

@Mohammad Liam yea, I have been using flixzone for since december myself :D

[@Cruzman84]

Love when rock's not overproduced. You can hear everything so clearly.

[@troubledwaters7441]

modern music based upon instruments (I can't call it rock) is soooo overproduced...maybe has been for around thirty years. The late 90s KILLED all the rawness that used to be in rock. SAD

[@stevenarseneault1972]

Heavilly panned and lightly effected. I always loved 70's Rock recordings for that reason, RAW and placed each player in a headroom space.

[@CappyRev]

Would have been very interesting to hear them record with Steve Albini.

[@BigJack512]

Amen brother, you said exactly what I was thinking. Pure kick-ass rock & roll.

[@blppt]

@@troubledwaters7441 ProTools and other computer based music workstations are to blame. You can quantize EVERYTHING with a few clicks of a mouse, killing any evidence that human beings played. Words cannot express how disgusted this has made me. Completely lifeless and fake sounding. You could get the worst drummer on the planet and make him sound inhumanly perfect.

[@dsfddsgh]

Crazy that already in 1976 almost 2 years before their debut album they were already one of the best rock bands in the world. This shit blows away most of the shit on the radio in 1976.

[@glengamble526]

And only one year before they recorded the debut.

[@haraldsletterod]

Back then, t was extremely important to have hit songs made for mainstream radio. A big chorus that stood out. Van Halen didn`t have that hit song yet. They had everything else but that.

[@beng9411]

Better than anything on the radio between 1976-2024. I’ll let you know about 2025 after it comes and goes but… i doubt anything will eclipse it

[@greatexpectations2307]

And in 2026.

[@MrJoseph6119]

Listen to Michael Anthony's back up vocals, classic Van Halen sound, His voice is sick!

[@ast-og-losta]

Yep, Mike is awesome.

[@mattkelly9516]

Yup awesome bass player

[@georgejetson8106]

@Duca Blangis and was told to ✋!!!!

[@killacrush3437]

Yeah

[@louiesalinas4720]

hes very humle, always great!

[@shanehughes740]

1976.........who sounded like this? They were so ahead of their time, and this "demo" is far better than most other bands' best.

[@saltybildo4415]

If anyone, it'd be montrose

[@TacticsTechniquesandProcedures]

Motörhead formed in 75. Really great sound! I agree

[@rickcheyne]

Queen?

[@shanehughes740]

@@rickcheyne Absolutely, Queen also had their own sound, and no one ever quite sounded like them...but they were much different from VH.

[@MrDW-ei1fe]

@@rickcheyne Queen never produced anything as heavy as this

[@Rightsmackdab]

The first time I saw them at the Starwood in 76 (thanks to my friend Kevin O.) I was blown away. Imagine seeing VH as your first club gig after only seeing bands at large concerts like the Forum. I think it was a Thursday night so there weren't that many people there. We were next to the stage in front of where Eddie played. He comes out in these well-worn platform tennis shoes (remember this is the 70's) and his all-white Strat (pre-stripes). Blown away. He was soooo good. We were so close that Eddie's sweat would drip on us and we could smell his cologne. Seriously! We ended up seeing them at every chance we got until album came out. Until that time I never heard much of Dave because Eddie's guitar was so loud and we were in front of the P.A.'s. Some bits of trivia: 1. We met Eddie and Dave at the Whiskey at what I think was Cheap Trick's debut show in L.A. We asked Eddie why the opening bands were often so mismatched stylistically, Eddie said they had no control and Dave started talking about how big they were going to be, "On the cover of Circus and Creem." (Those were two popular Rock magazines back then...Uh, magazines were printed material using something called "paper"...Just kidding). He was right.; 2. Van Halen played a gig at Magic Mountain and two things I will never forget were that this was the first time hearing "Ain't Talking bout Love" and meeting Eddie walking around the park afterwards and he asking what were we drinking. My friend Phil's words after he took a sip and left, "I've never going to wash this cup."; Eddie used to bring out his white Ibanez Destroyer for their rendition of "You Really Got Me"; 4. We met the A&R guy from London records also at the Starwood during a gig for another favorite band of mine, Yesterday & Today (Y&T), and he told us when we asked about what he thought about Van Halen, "They won't make it because they only sound good live."; Lastly, someone mentioned seeing Gene Simmons name on the first album notes. There is also a mention of "Robin". Robin was one of their faithful roadies. He was really kind to us fans and would take pictures to have signed backstage and bring them back for me. My wish is for you too to have these kinds of memories. Go out and support local talent.

[@dwade6322]

Hey thanks for the story ! These stories are the best reason to read a 1000 comments...to get a gem like yours..again thank you.

[@MatthewReiser123]

Thanks so much for these great memories -- And you're right: Get and support local talent!

[@gregggaldo9181]

Thanks for sharing!!....long live Eddie!

[@MichaelVapors]

My friends and I were at those Yesterday and Today shows at the Starwood in 1976 as well, we were probably there a night you were there... we also saw Judas Priest one night there as well :-) We would drive down there from SB. Could not believe it when they said it burned down!

[@ervinc.osvart385]

Wow, great stories and thanks for sharing. RIP Eddie.

[@timsullivan3715]

How did Gene Simmons not get Van Halen a record deal? The future is all over that demo.

[@j_freed]

Well we know that now. This Demo has a LOT of Boston, KISS and Ted Nugent style sounding moments. There's not much identity in those songs (cheesy thrown together lyrics) & who in 1976 needs a copycat band with a peculiar singer (Dave is great with the original VH.)

[@robertzantay5923]

They needed better song writing

[@subg8858]

It sounds similar to KISS, except if KISS was actually good

[@haraldsletterod]

In 1976, KISS toured like crazy. It was just bad timing. But this demo got them a lot of gigs that finally gave them a record deal, so Gene was a part of them making it.

[@kevinbown424]

​@@j_freedVH Reinvented Rock & Roll.

[@anndriggers6660]

Are you kidding me? Maaannnn...this is the best Van Halen I've heard yet, and I'm a SUPER FAN of the original four. Each of them is fresh and at the top of their game. And whoever says David Lee Roth can't sing obviously hasnt heard this! I would totally buy this and I think most purist Van Halen fans would too. Absolutely love it. Thank you so much and thank you Edward Van Halen. You helped produce the soundtrack to my life. I can't believe you're gone but maybe we'll see you again one day. I sure hope so... So freaking sad right now. Godspeed

[@BigJack512]

Put Eruption and You Really Got Me Now on this playlist and you've got a better album than Van Halen Van Halen

[@Mff48]

ann,im with you on this! fantastic priceless footage. van halen 1 takes me back to when i was a teenager,my first boyfriend and his brother introduced me to the album,on vinyl of course! i still fancy the bloody pants off lee roth as he was then,lol.theres only one frontman and thats dave!!! rip eddie.your comment brought a lump to my throat 😢

[@stingereasybuck6919]

@@BigJack512 im feeling that too .as far as production goes sometimes less is more . This is more authentic without being sterilized DLR also is killing it ,

[@briankliewer8275]

Agreed. Some of the best singing I've ever heard from David Lee Roth.

[@PeterthePiper777]

My fav thing about this demo is it actually sounds 70's Eddies sound was so frigin huge it still sounds new but this really takes you back even though you never heard it in the 70's

[@supernaturalbassjigs]

Crazy, crazy VH story... There is a homeless guy I always see near my local Walmart. One day I bought him some food and had a conversation with him. Over a few months I got to know the guy pretty well- Being a guitar player myself, I found it fascinating that he knew all about guitar pedals and that he used to design and build them for a living. He knew so much about pedals I was completely blown away. He then revealed to me that he worked for Eddie back in the late 70's and actually built the pre-amp in Eddie's guitar that he used on the first album....Apparently his name (Tommy) is right there on the credits on the first VH album. Now this guy is on the east coast homeless, who would ever pass him by and know he used to work with EVH for years? Seems like a great guy and I hope his luck turns around...

[@PlanktoniusRex]

I totally met him too, Dude! Except he told me he worked with Ernest Hemingway and he invented those balls that go into ball point pens. Oh and he could fly and see deeply into the future. His name was Meth...Crystal Meth.

[@mikelliteras397]

A little money, too many drugs and some personality disorder probably landed many people homeless. Jaco Pastorious’s last days were the same. Would you believe him?

[@mh5259]

Y'all cynical sumbiches need to give 'ol Tommy some love....Now excuse me while I give Morrison some poetry lessons (Yep, you guessed it. He never died, and now he lives in my basement)

[@JeromyBranch]

Right after he made a preamp for a guitar that didn't have active pickups, he made the steam generator to power my 427 sideoiler.

[@lorenamares1427]

Gene needs to hear the story--super generous dude that he tends to be (or Dave).

[@DanielAraujoNazar]

I love that clear and dry sound from 70s productions. Sounds like I'm sitting in a small carpeted room listening to a band rehearsal. Thank you and RIP EVH.

[@PeterthePiper777]

Ya man with your turntable mounted on the wall with chains in your parents den with wood panelling and shag carpets

[@cominroitover80]

@@PeterthePiper777 how would you mount a turntable to the wall with chains? Genuinely curious

[@PeterthePiper777]

small chain on a board about 20 in squared hook rings mounted in the wall studs, was quite popular in the 70's and 80's with some kinda fur on the wood for resonance

[@dougtull4594]

It's not just Ted Templeton's production, it's Van Halen. They were so tight, rehearsed, and hot. They paid their dues and were ready to explode.

[@haryygeros7528]

Often the demos outclass the "real" productions because they can't recreate the rawness of the band.

[@nisagomez4366]

What I love about these recordings is, they have differences from the same album tracks that make them fresh again. ❤❤❤

[@rothed16]

Exactly! I'm liking it. Missing some Dave shreks on some that I'm use to, but that is cool n fresh. Sell this as a record album and TAKE MY MONEY!

[@haraldsletterod]

To be a demo tape the songs are actually pretty similar to the album versions. This is an extremely well produced demo tape. Probably because it was made to impress the listeners as VH didn`t have any record deal at the time.

[@jimhall2924]

Great observation! I agree 100% - just a little different. Still kick ass.

[@Nebula37]

Yeah, there are LOTS of differences in these versions! They're awesome.

[@k8track]

To the 214 (as I write this) people who gave this a “thumbs down”: I’m deeply sorry you were all dropped on your heads as children. My condolences. I truly hope you get the help you need.

[@terrymiller111]

It's 222, now. Another eight bite the dust.

[@deanladue3151]

The Tide Pod kiddies!

[@909One92]

I can’t stop laughing

[@ash_monkey1]

Don’t worry, they are mentally ill unfortunately. We will pray for those who don’t appreciate the legacy of Van Halen. 🤙🏽💯🇺🇸

[@buckjohnson725]

I just hope they have someone to tie their shoes. But I guess sleeping in a microwave oven growing up had consequences for them.

[@sammmy4495]

That demo sounds better than 99.376% of the music we have out today.

[@freedomwatchdog2495]

Well said ...

[@freedomwatchdog2495]

Ya know, just to hear people fucking playing together ya know ...? not ... here's the fucking click track ... do the bed tracks first ... this is is live shit if ya follow?

[@rayvandragon]

Amen to that....

[@LuisLondonG]

This demo sounds raw, like all good rock should sound!

[@jerseydeviljohnnyfeds9347]

This DEMO TAPE blows the doors off ANY KISS ALBUM

[@iluvpepi]

Eddie is rightfully the focus of all these comments. Alex, however, deserves praise for his superior percussion skills. 👊🏼

[@shannonrichardson3405]

I agree! When I seen Van Halen of course I wanted to see Eddie but I was just as excited to see Alex!

[@iluvpepi]

Of course Mike, Dave, and Sammy are awesome as well. 👊🏼 Van Halen forever!

[@jts400hp]

Alex is beast.. He does something most modern hard rock drummers dont.. swings his ass off.

[@iluvpepi]

@@jts400hp That’s what I love about Van Halen. They have a groove that is so irresistible and, yes, swings like mad.

[@dariobava]

RIP EVH and Alex was the beat he rules!

[@miked2593]

Hearing this demo; I can't believe Simmons was unable to get record companies to see the light. Clearly a lot of people in powerful position don't know shit.

[@scocassovegetus]

Didn't he say in his book that he thought they'd be better off with a big label and that since kiss were going on tour etc. they wouldn't be able to devote all their attention to them, so he let them out of their contract with him, tore it up. Well, something like that.

[@ragnarskollnation3073]

They also said blizzard of Oz album was mediocre 😂😂 clowns not to see true talent

[@SuperReverbious]

There are lots of very talented bands that just don't sell. Maybe the execs were just stupid. Or maybe it's just a lot harder than it looks from the peanut gallery, with 44 years of hindsight.

[@stingereasybuck6919]

Inorite ! You feel like ...how would any exec not notice this demo was gold ?! Simmons did a great job here. And also, to think how much bloated trash was being sold in 76 !

[@shanehughes740]

Makes you wonder how much amazing music from great bands we've missed out on over the years because of stupid music execs.

[@jonesy2111]

Roth is singing his ass off on this... whoever said he can't sing is full of it. Eddie reinvented electric guitar and changed everything

[@TonyTube407]

Who says he can't sing??? LOL

[@michaelponce7326]

Back then he was great but now...oh no, it's gone for him

[@cosmicman621]

Rick Jones yes⚡️

[@davearonow65]

Yes. He could sing then. He just can't sing now.

[@aivira3161]

DLR is a studio singer not live ! Check out Van Halen concert 1979 until the last concert !

[@roofingiscool]

That was the best 33 minutes I have had in months!!!

[@ericklein5927]

I agree

[@rick3747]

That's what she said!

[@7thdimensionalbeingsareimp230]

Agreed.

[@1970borntorun]

And lasted 23 minutes longer than my Honeymoon Performance! LOL

[@jjrj8568]

@@rick3747 make that 53 if I'm involved

[@merlin4809]

Everyone knows Eddie's solo's will melt your face off, but not enough people appreciate his rhythm guitar skills.

[@fivestring65ify]

I like his rythym work better than his lead.

[@carlhart9604]

I avoided playing lead anything like Ed but his rhythm playing, along with Malcolm Young is the backbone of my approach.

[@androidgameplays4every13]

Not enough people appreciate EVH's legendary guitar TONE.

[@_Ramen-Vac_]

Helped a lot that Alex = drummer supreme and stellar/ brother. WOW Alex shreds the shit up!

[@carlhart9604]

@@androidgameplays4every13 One of the Greatest ever!

[@lisi7773]

Michael Anthony's back up voice is OUTSTANDING!! I didn't realize it was him till I just recently watch their concerts. Love David Lee Roth!!!!

[@dougtull4594]

He had the best voice in the band. Eddie dissed him more than a few times. Michael Anthony's vocals made these songs radio hits. DLR does what he can with what he's got. Not the best singer, but he's got style and magic.

[@ckatheman]

Van Halen is not Van Halen without Anthony's vocals. That's what kept them sounding the "same" despite the lead singer swaps

[@dougtull4594]

@@ckatheman His voice cuts glass. It's so loud and clear.

[@_zoinks2554]

Voice good, bass playing average.

[@drby0788]

Eddies lead chops are insane, but nobody ever talks about how freaking AWESOME he was as a rhythm player. I could listen to that more than his leads.....man, I can't believe he died, but we all do at some point right? 😔

[@JJ-Streaming]

Ozzy?

[@daveytrain6494]

Agreed! Killer rhythm player as well

[@ralphshaw9758]

"Some people think their gonna die someday....I got news ...you never got to go" - Ted Nugent

[@blppt]

I actually think Eddie was a better rhythm guitarist than a soloist---often his solos could sound like unmelodic wankery, but his riff writing, chordal tone, and near-perfect chops on the rhythm guitar separated him from the rest.

[@jessemontano6399]

No one gets out of here alive, brotha

[@gianpaolopelizzaro8414]

Stunning. They should put out an official vinyl LP with these wild takes. True Van Halen

[@freedomwatchdog2495]

Agreed; but not like anybody pays for music anymore ...?

[@tonypowell250]

@@freedomwatchdog2495 I would pay for it.

[@simplelife1966]

I have this on vinyl. it sounds amazing

[@BeeKay5150]

I could live in an abandoned house with one milk crate, a blanket and one pack of ramen noodles and still my wallet would be open for anything Van Halen.

[@nesekittyz4589]

damn straight

[@Petequinn741]

Demo?.. Christ! How good was this band. Rip Eddie

[@JonathanHiller]

Yep, our musical standards have slid a LOT since the ability to make high quality recordings at home has come to be. There's very little accountability to a producer, and no one to PUSH you to be your best. I took my daughter to see Kansas 5 years ago. She was a fan because she'd heard their music in Guitar Hero and Supernatural...well, a few of their songs, at least. Those guys are still out there, getting after it, playing that complicated music, and making it sound exactly like the record. The talent level in that band is crazy high. Anyway, we're on our way home from the concert and she says to me, "you know, I hate to admit this, but there's NOT ONE band in my current generation of music that could play ANY of those songs as well as these guys do. They literally smoke any band from my generation that I've seen". Sadly, I know she's right. How lucky were all of us to have grown up with the bands we did?

[@Bm23CC]

@@JonathanHiller The problem is because edits nowadays are non destructive.

[@vladalexeev8529]

@@JonathanHiller Lucky, you may see Kansas live. They never visited Russia as never Van Halen did

[@labyrinth2010]

Tighter than Zep! 👍

[@haraldsletterod]

This was not the typical demo. Bands who didn`t have a record deal put a lot effort in their demos so they could be played on local radio and in clubs, like VH on this one but bands who had deals just scrambled ideas together, not meant to be heard by others than the band and the producer.

[@charlesmayer7097]

I've been playing guitar and listening to VH since '83.... How the hell have I never heard of this demo tape?!? What rock have I been under?.... Thanks for removing the rock off of me so I could hear this!! Sweet Lord this is awesome!

[@ChrisCarpenter-d5e]

Its like hearing brand new VH in 2020

[@charlesmayer7097]

@@ChrisCarpenter-d5e Yes!!! Exactly! 👍

[@jackaction7077]

I can't believe it was sat on and tucked away all these years. I would have brought this right along with their other albums back then.

[@matthorowitz1861]

Imagine you were Black Sabbath with Ozzy and had to go on AFTER them each night?🎉

[@UnchainedEruption]

@@matthorowitz1861 Imagine you were there in the audience for a Black Sabbath show...and then you heard this before. Same thing with Ozzy in 1986 and Metallica go first during their Puppets era.

[@MarkoAlatalo]

This is one of the best VH recording I've heard. Clear, fresh and truly outstanding!!!!

[@haraldsletterod]

True. Weird how the first albums sound so bad when this obviously is the sound they needed.

[@hawklord4076]

00:03 On Fire 03:39 Woman In Love 07:02 House Of Pain 10:25 Runnin' With the Devil 13:59 She's the Woman 16:50 Let's Get Rockin' 19:52 Big Trouble 23:24 Somebody Get Me a Doctor 26:26 Babe, Don't Leave Me Alone 29:19 Put Out the Lights

[@victorcox6599]

Damn people! That's a demo? Upstart bands would kill to have a debut album this good!!! Way to go Gene! And as always, thank you Eddie for always being there!

[@tonypasma1707]

great already had it

[@ReductioAdAbsurdum]

What's crazy about is how few of these songs showed up on the first album. They has so much material that almost this entire list ended up on the cutting room floor.

[@gc4644]

The later releases of Running w/Devil and Somebody get me Doctor was much much better. This demo version just sounded to raw and lacked some things..

[@escentials]

House of Pain became Atomic Punk!

[@gregalon]

It may be just a demo, but this has some of the best rock rhythm guitar tones ever recorded.

[@MR_THINQ]

They’re so tight on this track. Incredible musicianship.

[@humbledb4jesus]

you must be a musician...that is usually the first thing we notice...

[@lovealways2609]

did judas priest [helion, etc..] "borrow from this track?

[@JasonDavis103]

They always were. 80% at least, was due to Ed. 15% was due to Mike and then there was Alex.

[@chihiro6008]

Amazing to think that this was recorded in 1976. They knew what they were doing, for sure.

[@daviddemaria3982]

43 fucking years ago! Sounds fresh as hell

[@brendonpenn3126]

Electric Lady what a cool place to put your first demo down with Gene helping you premix everything.

[@ericbrauch5872]

All in their early twenties then

[@Enoch-Gnosis]

Dave sounded great back in the day ..

[@MichaelMaxwell747]

@Berry Harbour Now that was funny

[@gmasterg13]

Dave sang his ass off on this.

[@MrGiorgioud]

What a perfect combination: Dave’s vocal skills and big personality, Alex’s no-nonsense drumming, Michael’s solid bass and gorgeous harmonies, and the inimitable touch of Eddie...it took them 4 years to make it, but when it happened, oh boy.....

[@ChrisKalafus]

Michael's bass playing on this blows away VH albums. They should have let him play more.

[@targbroffman9297]

Goddam this is RAW, and I fuckkin' love it! Like traveling to another dimension and hearing VH for the first time! They don't make bands like this anymore and they sure as hell don't make music like this neither! Long live the days of Hard and Heavy Rock!🤘🤘🤘

[@tommyripple1101]

Targ Boffman you fuckin' A man, I grad in 1983 and grew up on the old stuff but loved getting flattened by bands like ac/dc, VH, Priest and Maiden....long live the days of kick ass Rock n Roll.

[@franksmith7419]

You have no ear, no taste.

[@tommyripple1101]

Frank Smith, who are you referring to, this old VH demo rocks.

[@ericcurry-pitcher5493]

Fuck yea!

[@stobbinsboy]

yeah and this a great example of just no holds barred straight ahead hard kick ass jammin.

[@Klaus80804]

Van Halen with the sound of 70s Kiss recordings. Awesome fat bass tone - here you can really hear what a great bass player Michael Anthony is. Thanks Gene Simmons - all producers should be bass players!

[@vonvlad67]

Dude....ALL the Van Halen albums were recorded w/Edddie in the right speaker, and Michael in the left. You wanna hear Michael? Turn your stereo system to the left channel....it's all Mike, and just the echo of Eddie from across the room...great way to practice your Eddie chops also when you're ready. OR, turn it to the right to hear Eddie, and practice your bass along with it.

[@fukhue8226]

That's kind of funny because Eddy said he sucked and had to teach him all the notes to play. But he was mad at Michael at the time. I thought he did a great job and it was the combo of all 4 of them that made the sound, especially David Lee Roth. Eddy's playing was still evolving. If you listen to the 1976 DEMO there was no right hand tapping and his playing was more primitive. A lot changed between 1976 and 1978. Enough to make them a household name. I thing Michael's one note bass lines made the band sound solid and backed up Eddy's guitar very well. The Van Halen brothers were know to turn on people. One day you were the greatest thing since sliced bread, the next day you sucked.

[@vonvlad67]

@@fukhue8226 I hardly think EVH was mad at MA. If he were, they would've replaced him at this point because it was their 1sr album. PERIOD!!!! 2nd, EDDIES PLAYING IS ONLY RESTRAINED, BECAUSE OF GENE SIMMONS! PERIOD! I'M NOT SAYING I WAS THERE, I WAS 9 AT THE TIME!!! BUT, I WENT ON TO PLAY IN 2 MAJOR LABEL BANDS. 1 ON SONY/EPIC, AND 1 ON DGC. On the 1st CD, we were looking for a producer, and 1 Sony brought in, was Gene Simmons. He 1st came to see us on HALLOWEEN NIGHT, IN NYC, AT A SHOW WE PLAYED AT A CLUB CALLED "THE CAT CLUB" ON 13TH ST., BETWEEN 4TH AVE., AND BWAY.. KISS WERE MY CHILDHOOD HEROES, AND HERE I AM, GETTING TO SPEND FUCKING HALLOWEEN NIGHT, WITH GENE SIMMONS!!! So, we did the show....it was kind of a goofy show as it was Halloween. My GF talked me into wearing a dress!!!! (She promised no limits in the bedroom, if I did that!) After the show, the whole band, 2, 3 people from Sony, and Gene with a friend, all went to a diner down the street down the street called AROUND THE CLOCKS. We settled in, ordered some food, a beer, Gene said, and I quote "I'VE NEVER DRANK A BEER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!" Real smug, real, I'm great, listen to me if you want to be great also. We all talked for awhile, then he turned to me, and mockingly said and with a motion of playing gtr too fast, said, "so, you're the one......" just a mocking, rudely, gtr, shredder, implication to me. Then he said to me, "you want to be a rock star, or a surfer? Dye your hair black." I was shocked, the entire table of almost 20 went quiet, I just looked down, embarrassed....here was my childhood hero, already, insulting the shit out of me in less than 5 minutes. :( I guess he was already producing. AT THIS TIME, IT WAS ALREADY SOMEWHERE AROUND 1990/91!!! WTF HAD GENE PRODUCED SINCE FINDING VAN HALEN, THAT HAD HIT BIG?!?! I say all this to say, that EVHs playing on the "Gene Simmons Demos" are so much more restrained!!! THAT IS ALL GENE TRYING TO HOLD THE MIGHTY EVH BACK!!! HE HAS A LION IN A FUCKING CAGE, AND HE'S TRYING TO TRAIN IT!!! TO MAKE IT A FUCKING HOUSE PET!!!!! INSTEAD OF DOING WHAT TED TEMPLEMAN DID, AND THAT IS, UNLEASH THE BEAST, AND JUST RECORD IT!!!!! YOU CAN CLEARLY HEAR THE BEAST IS LET LOOSE IN THE DIFFERENCE FROM THE GENE DEMOS, AND THE ALBUM!!!! GENE'S SO ARROGANT, AND KNEW KNEW KNEW, THEY WERE GOING TO BE HUGE, HE JUST HAD TO BE ON THE DEMO.....WHOS STUPID VOICE IS THAT REAL DEEP AND LOW SAYING FFFIIIRRREEEE.....and he's on 1 other part like that also. As for my shitty band, we could've been big if the damn thing had been put out 2 years b4 Nirvana!!!! They sure did kill a lot of careers....but brought in a new music scene which was needed. GENE WANTED WHAT'S POINTS ON OUR ALBUM, OF WHICH THERE'S ONLY 10, HE WANTED 4!!! AND!!! $100,000. NOW THAT'S A HUGE AMOUNT FOR A PROVEN PRODUCER, BUT GENE HAD NEVER DONE ANYTHING!!!! NOTHING!!!! AND, LOLOLOLOL, THERE'S MULTIPLE PHASES TO MAKING AN ALBUM. THE VERY 1ST IS 1. PRE PRODUCTION-WORK OUT EVERY DETAIL OF EVERY SONG IN REHEARSAL!! TAKES 4,6,8, WEEKS OR MORE! 2ND STEP-RECORDING THE ALBUM! TAKES 2 MONTHS ROUGHLY 3RD STEP-MIXING 2WEEKS-MONTH 4TH STEP- OFF TO A GREAT MASTERING FACILITY AND A GREAT PERSON WHO'S BRILLIANT AT IT. 5TH STEP-DONE, SEND MASTERS TO LABE, GET PAID! ALL PRODUCERS ARE THERE FOR 1, 2, AND 3. PERIOD!!! GENE, THAT ARROGANT FUCK, WAS ONLY GOING TO BE THERE FOR STEP NUMBER ONE, PRE-PRODUCTION!!!! WASN'T EVEN GOING TO BE THERE FOR THE RECORDING!!! HE WANTED TO BE PAID THE AMOUNT OF SOMEONE LIKE TOM LORD-ALGAE, TEMPLEMEN, ROY THOMAS BAKER.....AND I PROMISE YOU, THEY'D BE THERE FOR ALL 3 STEPS!!!!! That's why VAN HALEN FIRED HIM, and so did we......what a let down of a childhood hero. Heartbreaking.

[@dickdastardly2560]

@@fukhue8226 I love Eddie's playing but let's be honest he's an egotistical dickhead who attacks and talks shit about anyone and everyone who isn't currently in Van Halen or his line of sight when he's flapping his lips. If Alex wasn't his brother Ed would be talking shit about him and saying he had to show him how and what to play.

[@titmusspaultpaul5]

Your spot on, and Daves vocals are crystal clear and i understood every single word. That's very rare for any recording and best of all they still let the guitars shine. They are nice and loud in the mix and sound fuckin awsome. I would just give it a master and release as is.

[@izzyizzm8761]

At least we can really can finally hear the BASS!

[@DaveShmadeCalabria]

IZZY IZZM So true, Mikey was dismissed as a bass player because Eddie had him do very little to highlight himself and i guess also was low in the mix

[@McFlyGuitarsandStuff]

Hey Izzy that's what I thought too. I saw them in 78.....I didn't know who they were. But when they started playing I recognized some of the tunes from the radio.

[@reggiebellamy7112]

I agree! Been saying that since day one! what a compliment to Eddie's guitar! POWER TRIO plus Dave!

[@TheStreetest]

I'm saying!

[@senatorjimdracula1603]

Mike's bass was perfect for Eddie's style, and for the VH 'sound'. Vastly underrated, and his backing vocals have been sorely missed for a long time.

[@lionheartroar3104]

Thank you Gene Simmons for bringing Van Halen's talent to light!

[@ROOKTABULA]

He didn't. No one was interested. Mo Ostin gave VH their break.

[@crisrose521]

@@ROOKTABULA Warner Bros and Mo signed VH because of these demos and the fact that Gene had interest so he had a hand in it yes

[@tedhockstad243]

Also Thanks Gene for walking away from Van Halen 🙏 Daddy Long legs. Really ⁉️ Won't make it 🤔 they said 🤣 what a bunch of dumb asses 😅

[@jerrywoods4066]

​@@ROOKTABULAhe did help period

[@danielfisch389]

@@ROOKTABULA The demos indeed had nothing to do with it, as Ted Templeman wrote in his memoir. Doug Messenger, Van Morrison's band leader guitarist, knowing that Ted Templeman was looking for a "guitar hero" act, had seen Van Halen at the Starwood in Hollywood and placed a number of calls to Warner Bros. for Ted to check them out. "I don't know if it was 4 calls or 10, but I knew this was exactly the act Ted wanted. So on a horrendously rainy night in mid-1977", Warner Bros. executive Mo Ostin and producer Ted Templeman saw Van Halen perform at the Starwood in Hollywood. And the rest is history.

[@necosimpson6225]

Dave's vocals were awesome! Whole band killing it!

[@GeniouxHiring]

Sammy who? Dave Rocks!

[@lovealways2609]

Dave was the best front man.. super athletic, charismatic and the "chick's" dug him..

[@JasonDavis103]

@@GeniouxHiring haha, Dave was what was needed at the time. But then, drugs and age ravaged his voice. And then Sammy came in and carried them to the next level. Funny thing is, well after age 70, Sam sounds damn near the same as he did 25 years earlier, maybe a key or two lower (hello, AGE), but still continues to kick it to this day at 75 years old.

[@TheReubenKincaid]

You can hear Michael Anthony really clearly in these demos. On Fire...is so in the pocket with Alex... He was the right man for the job.

[@MrBruinman86]

In many cases the mix is better than the studio versions. Seems more balanced.

[@ebayfools]

... until Wolfgang had to show up.

[@brianreed1859]

Underrated bassist

[@john-cm8yn]

Michael Anthony was quoted in a magazine as saying he felt part of his job was to make Eddie sound good. That's probably the best advice I ever got as a bass player.

[@tonyfondacaro1980]

I read about this demo in the “Van Halen Rising” book and imagined it had been lost to the ages. I can’t believe you posted this and how freakin’ awesome it sounds even in 2020.

[@bimscutney1242]

This is freaking awesome! So raw and muscular compared to the albums. The rhythm section is laying it down! Michael is such an underrated bassist. He’s living in the pocket. Dave’s vocals are the best I’ve ever heard on this.

[@wordragon]

How the hell could you have passed up on this? There is personality everywhere in these songs and innovative blends of simple iconic phrases; the hallmark of rock. Most rock bands in this era didn’t have this level of style and musical chemistry, much less an amateur band.

[@Rikalonius]

A&R men are dolts. They are looking for the next thing that is the same as the thing that is current. They rarely ever spot a "new" sound because they are garbage at predicting trends. Once Van Halen got famous, I'm sure the same people that rejected them went looking for Van Halen doppelgangers.

[@Frisbieinstein]

I always heard that record execs had concrete ears, but rejecting this is way beyond belief.

[@dividedbyzach]

Look at the #1 singles from 1976. So much garbage and not much hard rock. "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" was the biggest single of the year and the rest was Abba, Bee Gees, KC & the Sunshine Band, etc. Some bands like Queen were huge, so you would think one exec would have seen the light...

[@teresathomley3703]

This is heavier than most of their later stuff- and Mike's bass is unbelievable. And Ed is an incredible rhythm guitarist.

[@FatInMeGirth]

This is my new favorite VH album! F'ing awesome, reminds me of smoking weed in my 76 el camino, and loving life!

[@MrAntonio2005]

A great piece of history, a young band that was hungry and gaining confidence. The ferociousness of Eddie guitar, Alex drum fills and Michael bass and supreme backing vocals would follow. Roth was the showman and this was just the start of the ride . RIP Eddie

[@errollbrantley]

People gave this a thumbs down?! I’m a musician and this is the best demo I’ve ever heard. I’m not the biggest Van Halen fan but they are great and undeniably amazing.

[@ldelcarmen]

Finally, Eddie’s guitar in BOTH channels (sorry Ted Templeman) and Mike’s bass audible in the mix

[@kenmettler766]

Louie del Carmen was that Ted or Donn Landee ?

[@carlosnavarro9376]

@@kenmettler766 Ted wanted it done that way. I'd love to hear the early records with Ed on both channels and Mike's bass mixed better

[@dez1989]

Please forgive me for saying this however, it is so nice to hear Eddie PLAY a lead and NOT overplay the tapping. Look, it is great! He invented a new way to play but not every lead has to have tapping! I hear him play here and it truly sounds fantastic! Michael's bass can be heard! His vocals soar above the music! This is every bit as good as VH 1!

[@muzikmon2267]

THIS DEMO RAW NOT GREAT SOUNDING KIND OF GARAGEBAND SOUND MAKES YOU REALIZE WHAT A GENIUS THE PRODUCER EARLY VAN HALEN ( TED TEMPLETON ) WAS!! HE MADE EDDIE VAN HALEN ( SOUND AWESOME ) ON THE FINAL TRACK!! WHAT A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS DEMO IN THE REAL VERSION!! TED WAS A GENIUS!! AND EDDIE VAN HALEN SOUND HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE THEY GOT RID OF TED!!

[@richsackett3423]

@@muzikmon2267 Yeah, what a difference. This is much better than the records Templeman produced.

[@longgrayline8055]

The greatest guitar player in history. Nobody brought the attitude with a smile and a wink like Eddie Van Halen. He had the “IT” factor.

[@hotrd91614]

Randy Rhoads

[@matro951]

Sorry jimi was #1

[@Crezelltree4261]

@@matro951 Yes he was,still is.Not to take from Eddie but Hendrix was out of this world.

[@coldacre]

@@Crezelltree4261 Eddie walked all over Hendrix. played circles around him. Hendrix music sounds dated. Van Halen still sounds fresh. c'mon "Eruption" buries anything Hendrix did.

[@andypostema4269]

@@coldacre give Voodoo Chile (slight return) a listen and tell me Eddie plays circles around Hendrix.

[@blkPhillip]

Let's hear it for Alex! His drumming was so tight and sparkling, underrated, but who on earth could've outshined Eddie? Thanks for posting this; their first album changed the trajectory of my life when I heard it as a fifth grader!

[@killerdude35]

I prefer the way VH sounds on this better than their actual studio albums. Raw as hell and in your face! Nice "pre-whammy bar" Van Halen here!

[@paulr.4968]

killerdude35 Love the hardtail guitar work❗️

[@markdovers5150]

killerdude35 sounds a little like thin lizzy

[@danielritchie7215]

Holy shit I didn’t realize there was a pre-whammy version of Eddie. Interesting two-sense, I fucking love the whammy sounds honestly, but I appreciate the insight.

[@thesunnyveil]

Good point! The strange thing is how much changed between 76 and 77-78. This is raw and punchy, but the space and careful guitar phrasing is missing. I like this a great deal; but, frankly, it does not sound all that different than other hard rock acts from the mid-70s.

[@iganpparamarta8813]

I'd call this a well recorded "live" album

[@Unmarked_1]

This is what the music business is missing real Rock

[@tylerduggan6041]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5-VZJSkZ9SWZ6M There is still rock

[@EJ-74]

Yep this is real clissic rock 🤘💀🤘 ✌️

[@clemguitar63]

@@tylerduggan6041 Man was that ever FUCKING GAY!

[@KikoJonesUSA]

@@tylerduggan6041: Are you kidding? Is that a joke/parody band? Oh man, is that awful. That's exactly what we DON'T need: that band is what people who hate rock think rock is. Ugh.

[@kevsta67]

@@clemguitar63 agreed

[@stackpotjr.9951]

I saw them play this material live in Long Beach CA 1976. I remember being blown away. Told my friends they would "make it". A couple months later their cover of the Kinks song was on the radio and tg he rest is history.

[@aintmanyofusleft]

for all who diss'ed DLR, as a minion, his vocals here are super strong! if anything maybe fame went to his head. when you're climbing the ladder, giving it your best is the chore. Thinking thats why most debut albums are usually better than their predecessors. All the band here is kickin ass! no one is slouchin' great to hear VH the way they were! no disrespect to Sammy, loved him with Ronnie M and solo but DLR is Van Halen! Eddie had a special gift that a generation embraced. High school parking lot at 7:30 AM. was ablaze with this stuff! never again, sorry to say, kids today just don't and never will get it, how lucky were we? 🤘

[@FigmentSALabel]

Very.

[@WideawakeinAmerica]

... and highschool parking lots After school!

[@Mff48]

True words spoken! I am British and we had a fantastic rock seen in the 70s and 80s.I remember been introduced to van halen by my first boyfriend,been blown away! remember saying,whos the guy singing? i was 14.thus began my love of Dlr!! His voice was brilliant.Dont think fame went to his head,i think the ciggs and drugs and excess have damaged his voice.i still love him tho 🤩

[@BigislandEJ]

How kiss management heard this and rejected them is mind blowing, they were a game changer in the 70’s....

[@GoDamnWeird]

Probably saw them as a direct commercial threat. MTV was just around the corner... kinder to reject them and let them do their own thing than to sign them and shelve them (as happened to friends of mine with *____ in the 90s.) * Major Record label, four letters. No name mentioned but you can work it out.

[@mooch514]

@@GoDamnWeird mtv was no where close in 78...bill aucoin refused...but so many other record companies refused Van halen

[@songsabai3794]

My guess they listened to less than half of the first song and said ...er, nope, next!

[@sarahconner9433]

Disco era

[@lloydlauer9610]

So Raw And So Beautiful

[@tonypowell250]

@Lloyd Lauer Well said!

[@thegee-tahguy4877]

These guys changed my life, from being a rocker guitar salesman at a big guitar shop in Boston when the 1st album hit in 1977, to playing Ed's guitars on stage in 1998. I was told Ed used my Yamaha G5 amp I sold his tech. He used it as a warm up or tune up amp before going on stage.

[@ruggie.74]

This is one of the best, if not the best, collection of demos I've heard.

[@ApPot]

You gotta listen to these demo’s every now and then. They were what you wished a rockband to be, on stage... it was intense. And the songs... I was hooked for life

[@scocassovegetus]

Man, and they were all like 21/22 years old. Pretty awesome.

[@usefulvidiots7869]

No shit bro. Talent.

[@Danimal77]

They'd already been playing since 1972.

[@waterwoodguitars6871]

Well this is pretty damn cool! I’ve never heard these demos before but I’ve always read about them. Thanks for posting this piece of rock history!

[@davidhuyge8299]

I never heard these tracks before… blown away all over again!!!

[@ZenTheMusician]

That's better than the album. I love this raw shit!

[@Fixologist1]

This might be the best I've ever heard Van Halen

[@tonypowell250]

Best ever!

[@studio-flash]

I agree as a VH fan I saw them in England Monsters of rock gig..they were a bit disappointing..but this sounds great.

[@Undercoverbrotherfromanother]

Best they've sounded without Sammy.

[@seanghannam9800]

15:20 She's the Woman, solo break= Mean Street! ✌️🔥

[@ChrisCarpenter-d5e]

I like how he sat on that gem till fair warning

[@michaelb.42112]

This is the best Van Halen I've ever heard. Why do record producers think they know everything ? Mikey's backing vocals are legendary ! The BEST sound. Everyone's tone is killer ! Mikey's vocals on Woman in Love and his bass playing is so legendary.

[@flyman]

Remember that Eddie is singing backups too, they harmonize so well

[@Donjhon777]

The best demo of all times . RIP, EDDIE .

[@stevenbardsley2489]

When they first showed up it was so different. Heavy rock was for the most part dark and moody. A lot was very British for lack of better words. These guys were so California!! Chicks, cars having a good time!! They looked different!! Dressed different!! One big party!!🤟

[@studio-flash]

I agree..but that's what Kiss were doing even earlier.

[@smbake]

Van Halen is the greatest American rock band there ever was or ever will be!

[@dieselrotor]

The cooler thing about early stuff like this is it also comes for us with dreams of what will be fulfilled and they had no idea. Like We knew them before they were big(er). Goodbye Eddie.

this is fantastique! thank you Mr Gene Simmons and thank you Van Halen!

[@JMSoundFreak]

This is awesome to discover a completely different way of recording Ed's guitars with the double tracking, rythm guitar under solos. Ted Templeman really revealed Ed's raw playing and letting him sound unconventional! Thx for the upload. Great general vibeand attitude, so cool to access this more than 40 years later

[@jasonkaraszkiewicz1025]

Ted Templeman did an amazing job producing VH or they would have remained sounding like another version of an early Quiet Riot

[@84bradyj]

Man Eddie's really rocking that Ace/Paul guitar tone wow we need an official release of this demo ASAP.

[@samzach2057]

Pretty cool discovering 40 something year old music!!!!!

[@tommyripple1101]

Trust me, it was a great time to be alive.

[@peggybrown9694]

This really rocks. Clear audio from all four parts without the studio injected white noise and over dubbing. Pure fire. Mark A's bass playing is insane. Never noticed it on studio tracks of albums.

[@mikekolokowsky]

They’re already sick of it. But studio execs and producers and program managers at radio networks have more say in what gets out there than the mere millions of listeners’ opinions. Sad, but true.

[@peggybrown9694]

@@mikekolokowsky I really miss 'bands'. You know. Talented musicians collaborating with each other to create music that is clearly unique. I can immediately know if I'm hearing Bonham on drums or EVH, Duane, Trucks on guitar no matter who they played with.

[@hogenmogen8545]

@@peggybrown9694 Eddie went out of his way to establish a "sound". David Lee Roth wanted to do that Dancin' in the Streets song, and Eddie wouldn't agree until he figured out a guitar riff that would fit the song and be Van Halen at the same time.

[@WerkzCars]

Edward, Dave, Alex and Michael... put this sh*t out for sale!!! This is GREAT!!!!

[@LedZep14]

Just. read the news about Eddie Van Halen passing away today. The King is dead. Long live the king!

[@xterra67]

Hey man, just wanted to say Thanks my man for digging deep to share this with us. 🤘🤘

[@VANHALENARCHIVE]

You're very welcome... More to come

[@tonypowell250]

@@VANHALENARCHIVE I 2nd that...awesome upload!

[@CatchupGirl71]

Yes! Thank YOU so much. You're helping me honor and celebrate Eddie's legacy and I'm discovering all this new music I've never heard. What a gift!

[@ultrahighgain412]

Godspeed Edward Van Halen. Thank you for all the great music. Forever my greatest musical hero and the composer of the soundtrack for my childhood. ❤️

[@jean-marieboucherit4518]

Composer?

[@DS-ss396]

That was sooo kick ass!! Got sum Mean Street going on in She's the Woman!

[@michaelferreri1256]

Oh hell yeah! Love this. A little stripped down. But in a GREAT way. You can hear every lick, every bass note, every drum beat. SUPERB!

[@vasiliosagio3127]

Id buy this album ...this is brilliant ..when i first bought van halens first album it changed my life

[@user-ye9ph5iq5z]

Amazing, hard to believe it’s a demo, apparently The Demon knew what he was doing with the production. This reminds me how much music sucks today

[@therasound]

Its true .....

[@fretbuzz59]

The Demon apparently knew how to make VH sound like KISS. The band is great, but this recording is horrid. Thank god they got Ted Templeman; he was able to produce them so that they sounded like VH.

[@ckmoore101]

@@fretbuzz59 Do you not understand what the word "demo" means? Just go google for other famous bands, their "demo" tapes. This is probably the best quality demo I have ever heard. Apparently you haven't heard shit.

[@fretbuzz59]

@@ckmoore101 Did you produce it or something? What are you getting so worked up about? Yes, it's a studio-quality recording. But it doesn't capture the band's sound; it makes them sound like an ordinary (though good) hard rock band. VH1 & 2 more closely captured what the band sounded like live. Apparently you don't understand shit.

[@williamsidis5489]

@@fretbuzz59 Explain in detail what parts ?

[@thearcher9940]

There will never be a rock band as cool as VH EVER AGAIN

[@rolandosauceda1070]

I totally 100%agree man.

[@daveytandtheplacetobe7561]

so glad to have insight into their development!!! thanks Gene :)

[@bobbyshizz2138]

This version of Somebody Get Me a Doctor is absolutely FIRE!!!

[@davedemarco5860]

Great to hear the genesis of the songs that later became "A Different Kind of Truth", which is an excellent record. RIP, Edward.

[@TheMotownPhilly]

Wow. The music. Mikes bass thumping and his back vocals fill it out. The bottom end in these tracks are sick. This is legit, unpolished and real rock and roll. This needs to be put out and made available.

[@777jones]

It's great to hear Michael Anthony and others on this wonderful Michael Anthony recording!

[@brianloher7617]

My favorite Michael Anthony Band recordings right here

[@kingofallwhites]

777jones More talented as a backup vocalist than as a bass player.

[@coolbreeze5916]

777jones thanks to the all gracious MIchael Anthony

[@dynjarren8355]

They should have released this exactly as is! They should do it now if nothing else. This is great!

[@butchcassidy3373]

Growing up around Macon Georgia in the late seventies and eighties I was fortunate enough to catch many great bands at bars, big venues, and out door festivals. Seeing Van Halen and watching Molly Hatchet at the local clubs are my finest memories. What a time to live if you loved and lived music. RIP to you EVH and all the others who are gone after inspiring so many of us who continue to carry the torch. May we all be blessed enough to pass it on and keep Rock and Roll going strong forever.

[@MrJoseph6119]

simply killer! I saw them at the whiskey in the late 70's a lot! great time to live in Los Angeles! was there every fri-sat night!!!

[@dalejanzen415]

Im Sooooooo jealous!!!!!

[@TexWatson-sh8vf]

They didn't play the whiskey in the late 70s. Mid 70s

[@MrJoseph6119]

@@TexWatson-sh8vf I have a tour poster from 74 & 76 at the whiskey, your not knowing your Van Halen!

[@weeklyawesomeness8262]

Joseph Thoma 74-76 would be ‘mid’ 70’s

[@MrJoseph6119]

S@@TexWatson-sh8vf your wrong 78-79 is LATE 70'S Get help Bro!

[@booifojoe]

A lot of banging on Gene Simmons here. Simmons recognized their talent and gave it a shot to get their foot in the door. Doesn't sound like he was threatened or jealous to me. Another example of people believing what they want to believe.

[@robwessels6899]

Automatic Slim not banging on him but he was actually trying to steal Ed to be the new Kiss Guitarist. Luckily Roth was having none of it. Roth was pretty Savvy when it came to running the band. Developing the merch and making sure the stage was safe(The no brown m&ms clause) he knew the band was going to be big. They found the right engineer and manager.

[@hotdjdwray]

But it Does speak to how bad Kiss's management/record label was. I mean com'on, they signed Kiss, which doesn't really speak to their taste in music or knowledge of good musicianship.

[@booifojoe]

@@hotdjdwray You're right - KISS was a total failure - sold no albums, sold no tickets, made no money, and I can't believe that anyone recognizes their logo, band, or names.

[@allsystemsgo8678]

@@booifojoe I don't care who they signed before. Their mgmt let Van Halen slip through their fingers. That's a pretty big black mark on their resume.

[@jeffgibbs8439]

Gene Simmons wasn't the real one who discovered Van Halen...Paul Stanley says in his book " face the music" ...he discovered Van Halen n he took Gene Simmons the very next night to see Van Halen to see what Gene thought....Gene excused himself from the table n he went backstage to work out a deal the band behind Paul's back....kind of a fucked up thing to do if the stories true

[@michaeltaylors2456]

Context Context Context. 1976. Supersonic badassery

[@megntx1]

Indeed

[@photofriend44]

It's shocking that they were not signed up on the basis of this.

[@Challender]

This is the Van Halen I heard on a cassette tape late in 1978 and always wondered what happened to this material. wholy shit thought that was from a different universe lol..

[@rticle15]

Eric Challender A lot of it became other songs. On Fire ended up on Van Halen One

[@tonysingleton5470]

I'm a big fan of Van Halen, and I was happy to find this on KZbin. Gene Simmons' influence can be heard on most of the tracks, and I believe that the EVH's guitar sounds very "Kiss like" in places. This deserves an official release.

[@markfrost2707]

p-lease. They had been playing these songs this way long before they met Gene. It is well-know KISS was basically a fake band like the Monkees and were NOT considered good musicians. They were 12 year-old white kid theater

[@tonysingleton5470]

Somebody is missing a little bit of music history 101 here. The Monkees could play, but the label wouldn’t let them. Kiss were competent musicians before they were Kiss. Wicked Lester songs are available on KZbin. Sure, Kiss songs were basic at the beginning, but few bands have made the money that Kiss have done.

[@81afitz]

Thanks Gene! I first saw VH in 1979 Literally had to pick my jaw up off the floor! Waayyy ahead of their time All 4 members talented in their own way RIP EVH

[@tyryztoll]

The story is that VH was in New York using KISS's equipment for this, which would explain the lack of the usual whammy bar action from Eddie, as he was likely playing standard bridge guitars like Ace and Paul used.

[@shawnattebery1892]

So perfect, pure and raw. This band was, and always be, the pinnacle for me. Four guys so unbelievably talented. These recordings better than most other crap out there now. Dave sounds fantastic and yes, he can really sing folks. Alex and Mikey amazing. And Ed...my idol, incomparable and one of a kind MUSICIAN. Thanks for the pure joy of your music. Thank you God for giving us EVH. RIP GOAT...

[@wrathofall]

I love Dave and Sammy.

[@tonypowell250]

This is actually better than most of their later stuff.

[@MrBruinman86]

No question. They really were something special until the Van Hagar era.

[@sirkayda7205]

Van Hagar is awesome.

[@RTC1655]

Their last record _is_ this, sort of.

[@fanboys247]

@@MrBruinman86 actually VH jumped the shark with the appropriately named shitefest "Jump"

[@irishguy13]

They lost me after the first album, which was great. They should have released this as a follow up.

[@alexschiff3923]

you can hear the minor third harmonies during the Runnin' With the Devil chorus, before they changed it to the major harmony for the debut

[@funland108]

Yeah, it sounded... wrong!

[@TheDmonet]

I noticed that too. Its a minor change but makes a huge difference in the feel of the song. Sounded kinda bluesier this way, much more soaring in the final version

[@williamchristian8705]

They played at Avio in Anaheim quite often even earlier. Avio is a Dutch club on Katella near Disneyland. My in-laws were good friends with Eddie and Alex’s parents. My wife is also Dutch/Indonesian. Both families came from the Netherlands at about same time.

[@carlosrincon1551]

William Christian that’s cool. I’m guessing Avio is long gone? I’m from OC but now live near Pasadena, where one of my neighbors was part of the early Van Halen high school scene when they would play epic backyard shows. My neighbor remained close friends with a mutual friend of Eddie’s from those days who went on to be a session player.

[@williamchristian8705]

@@carlosrincon1551 Avio is still there. It’s near Euclid/Katella in Anaheim. My wife and I got married in Maui in 1998. We had our mainland reception there even.

[@mrxmrp8795]

I'm from the Glendale/Eagle Rock/Pasadena area and remember them playing in the quad of my jr. college, great times.