Van Halen Never Before Heard Outtakes/Alternate Endings & The Room Mics For "Eruption". Sunset Sound

Get ready for some epic Van Halen content! In episode 2.5 of The Sunset Sound Roundtable, we continue our journey into the band's world with the amazing Brian Kehew, who joins us in the control room of studio 2 at Sunset Sound. We delve into some killer outtakes, alternate endings, and unheard room mic recordings during the tracking of "Eruption" in studio 1. Our quest to uncover the untold stories from the studio continues, and we're bringing the discussion to you with the people who were there to experience it all. Due to copyright issues our conversation picks up in ep. 2.5 available now. The Sunset Sound Roundtable is on a quest to bring some information to light and have a discussion from the studio with the people who were involved.
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#VANHALEN #eddievanhalen #eruption

[@sunsetsoundrecorders]

25 Signed “ERUPTION” work orders!!!! sunsetsoundstore.com/collections/misc/products/van-halen-eruption-work-order-from-sunset-sound-recorders-1

[@mpmphilpott]

I met two brothers from SoCal in the early 80's. We were all living in Midland, TX. They told me that Van Halen played at their sister's wedding in like 1976. I told them they were full of it and then they broke out the pictures of Van Halen jamming in their backyard! Mind blown!

[@ericv7720]

Van Halen was a backyard party band of some notoriety during the mid-70s!

[@vc7393]

That is very cool.

[@vc7393]

I love your story. I used to live in Park City, UT and I met Valerie Berlinale's brother who lived there, cool cat. I worked at a hotel bar, and we used to play fuse ball. We had a night where it was slow, so the guy's came up to the bar, i closed the door's and we poured some beer's and shots. We had a great sound sytem, but i just blurted out, I'm going to play some Van Halen, well he shouted back to me what album (Fair Warning) he just very honestly told me that was Eddie's favorite album, and he put those tunes together because he was so mad at Dave. What do you do, we drank the beer and shots. I never met Van Halen what a treat that would have been.

[@akfreed6949]

Music was their business . They did backyard parties and even weddings when they weren't playing in clubs .

[@Hugh_Manitee]

In my old neighborhood, Styx did the same thing. They played every high school around, backyard partys, and local rock bars. They did it so much, I never went to see them. My mistake!

[@jaxonmoon9815]

I've heard this solo hundreds of times and still never ceases to amaze me, give me goosebumps, and now tear me up. We miss you Eddie, you truly were the greatest of all time.

[@neb.7210]

well said brother.

[@treykook]

Same, brother. I've watched a lot of reactions to the LWAN solo, and it never fails to have me wiping my eyes by the time the solo ends. It amazes me to see these people who have never heard Ed play before, and that's their first exposure to him. It reminds me of when I first heard VH in 1980 at 10 years old. Ed's guitar grabbed me and never let go.

[@ChewieEst]

I never thought it would affect me like it has, but I still tear up every time a VH song starts on my iPhone on random!!!

[@jimmyz2098]

@@treykook Wow! Reading your post, and getting emotional about it. I was also 10 yrs old in 1980. And I was maybe a couple years behind you. I thin maybe 82' while Diver Down was everywhere. I heard it. I heard Eddie.... and my Life was changed forever. I could not believe what I was hearing. BLEW me away, and changed.... well... everything.

[@DaveShmadeCalabria]

Chill out with the mask, bro !

[@timothya.olmeda7299]

October 4th 1977 would have been a Tuesday, a school day. At the time I was 9 years old, in the fourth grade, dreaming about the girls in class, and Van Halen was recording these masterpieces not only but 15 miles away from me. Mind boggling. Of course at the time I was clueless, still listening to disco and the regular radio stations hits that my parents and the world listened to, sheltered from the rock scene. At this time, Elvis Presley died two months earlier, Star Wars had been in theaters for 5 months, Atari 2600 had only been released a month earlier, and the Apple 2 computer was released 6 months prior. Seams like eons ago. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

[@Mikesorrento3344]

Agreed. Because today, kids in school are being told that a girl may not be a girl and that men can have babies. Rock on liberals, rock on.

[@jonblackers4339]

it IS aeons ago, we re boring old farts now. Are you from the USA? Always thought people there longer were heavyrock fans . I listened to Deep Purple end 77 while my peers listened to disco and other shit.

[@samiam3297]

Wooooooohooooooo!!! Astroids marathon to flip the game & Pit Fall non stop...never did master that one. 😋

[@raymondjohnson6496]

I was 11 1977

[@ericv7720]

I would argue that Eruption was what really kicked off the 80s, a couple years ahead of schedule!

[@nu385]

When you hear Eruption on the album with all the reverb and delay it sounds like some larger than life god beaming rays from another planet. But when you hear this raw track, completely dry and unprocessed, you really get the feeling of what it was like in that moment to be in the control room with this kid prodigy in the next room playing the most thrilling, groundbreaking sounds you can imagine. Sounds that would soon travel around the globe and across generations. It gives me a new appreciation of Eddie's talent. So, so thrilling to hear this moment in time as it happened.

[@mikekopmanis2099]

This is a moment in time similar to the bomb being dropped on Hiroshima. From this point on the world was never the same.

[@jwalzer]

"sounds like some larger than life god beaming rays from another planet," might be the best description of EVH I've ever seen

[@landslug]

Well said

[@blackvinyl7753]

Get this man to 69 likes

[@johnhallam4714]

I was in R.O.T.C in high school. We had a laid back day on a Friday so I brought my boom box to school and played Eruption in the assembly room on my cassette player. The Colonel who was a really good guy , came out of his office and asked what that was making that kind of sound. I told him it was a guitar. He shook his head in disbelief and went back to his office . Unbelievable

[@goneflying140]

Can you imagine being there while this was being recorded? In my opinion, Eruption is the greatest guitar solo ever recorded. What an epic event!!!

[@hubbsllc]

I'm not even much of a VH fan but the idea of recording that solo knowing that essentially nobody has heard an electric guitar treatment anywhere near like this *ever* and this was *after* Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and John McLaughlin existed.

[@davids11131113]

I remember going to a friends house right after the album had been released and he said check this out….put on the record and I was like ‘WTF was that??’….bought a Fender Strat copy 2 days later at a pawn shop and started trying to figure out how to play it.

[@cliffords2315]

My band Dunes recorded a song and Video at Sunset Sound in 1982, i had no idea thats where Van Halen recorded the first album. You would think the sound tech would have mentioned it LOL

[@jeffclark6988]

Rip King Edward...im still heartbroken😢

[@erikatowle8695]

You arent alone...😢💔💔💔

[@tobaccorich]

Me too 😩

[@Rockenstein68]

He got another 10 plus years from sheer will.

[@dmccalldds]

I have a red Tesla on order. I’m halfway serious in wanting to put random white and black tape on it as a tribute to EVH. :)

[@t.sewell1513]

Yup….rip EVH.

[@joebloe9901]

I can’t believe how flawless Eddie plays. Perfect recording takes all the way through. He was not of this earth.

[@michaelcantinieri25]

someone noticed !!

[@guitardoug12]

I will never forget hearing this for the first time; I was 10 years old hanging out with my 16 year old cousin (also my guitar teacher) he just purchased the album from Gemco. He dropped the needle and after it was over I looked at him and asked “what is that?” “Is that a guitar?” He just looked at me with this mesmerized look on his face, totally speechless. Back then, it was just out of this world. I went from KISS to Van Halen in a heartbeat.

[@DVincentW]

I had a Sanyo boom box with a shoulder strap and listened to this at school.. I can still recall putting the cassette in and hitting play.. i was never the same

[@clairvoyantamnesiac9770]

Cream magazine reviewed this, and said this was a synthesizer solo initially.

[@johnhackney2936]

@@clairvoyantamnesiac9770 ]

[@alexanderbrown4250]

I was about 14 when this came out. My guitar playing buddies and i thought their was a keyboard/synthesizer in eruption. Our minds were blown and Jimmy Page, Ted Nugent, Joe Perry, et al, were no longer gods in our eyes. Saw them blow Sabbath out of the Milwaukee Arena in winter 77/78. Long time ago.

[@billdivine9501]

@@alexanderbrown4250 Same! I was a major Zeppelin fan. Page was a hero, then at around 14 heard Van Halen and I was put in a “holy s***” dimension! Changed everything about music for me.

[@iggyfritz7150]

God how this guitar solo changed the world. Sure do miss him😞

[@sharkhaywood]

The most influential 2 minutes in the history of rock guitar.

[@iggyfritz7150]

@@sharkhaywood And thats a fact!

[@RobertMJohnson]

@@sharkhaywood truuuth

[@j.a.rodriguez3838]

You know that’s right!

[@nightrain5150]

@@j.a.rodriguez3838 Same.

[@swordmonkey6635]

I'd love to hear the "talk" in between takes of the band. That stuff is priceless and shows where the band's heads were at during the sessions.

[@toddinthemiddle]

I was in the room, and remember Alex saying that people would be talking that solo for at least 43 years.

[@timking2997]

I was there too. I remember Eddie smoking a cigarette.

[@lizp637]

First time hearing this, and boy did the tears flow. Still can't believe he's gone. What a time to live, at the same time as EVH. SO thankful I got to see him in 84, right at the front! R.I.P. EVH. No one even comes close!

[@sunsetsoundrecorders]

❤️

[@Mr.CoachBeaulieu]

Be happy he lived a long epic life. Atleast your favorite guitarist didn't get shot and killed on stage and just taken away from you just like that.

[@mathewreichardt3832]

Nothing like Eruption then or since it was recorded. It stands alone.

[@ktyther]

💯.

[@sholland42]

@@promark5317 , I actually prefer Heartbreaker, but both were masterful solos.

[@teriakamoto]

I kinda like Spanish Fly also. The Intro to Mean Streets.

[@crsantin]

Stunning to hear the room mic’s from Eruption. What incredible attack and touch Eddie had. It really is the most incredible performance recorded to tape in the history of rock music. It still sounds alien in 2020.

[@thedrummer7673]

Wow. I was in kindergarten when this was recorded. By 4th grade my older brother played guitar and I picked up the drums because we were OBSESSED with Van Halen and were convinced we were going to be next. Eventually we grew older and apart...he went country and went to Nashville, I stayed Rock N Roll and went to Hollywood. We never ever stopped Loving Van Halen though. I can't even begin to count the number of times we listened to Eruption in awe. He passed away on August 3rd and I listened to nothing but Van Halen 1 and 2 and Rush's 2112 and Moving Pictures on repeat for a couple of months. He would have LOVED these youtube videos!!

[@halseyknox]

Wow...sorry to hear about your brother...that sucks. Puts in perspective how much time has gone by and how fast it goes by

[@btonn2100]

At 23:30 he turns away from the guys in the studio, puts his mask on, faces the computer then turns back towards the guys and takes his mask off. Wouldn’t want to give the computer a virus i guess. Lol.

[@BlackDogOriginal]

It’s theatre. Masks are another virtue signal, even if subliminal.

[@kaeserd]

This guys mask logic makes no sense....

[@RoadTripEddie]

At less than 2 minutes in and I'm already distracted by the ritualistic shame face muzzle, enough to look for any mask comments, as I myself have also been programmed (even though I live a free life style of seclusion in the mountains, and no tv programming since 9/11), to being slightly hesitant to say anything about it. Thanks for saying.

[@jehramyforks4513]

It makes perfect sense…the mask is useless as fuck so wearing it without any consistency at all is on point. We skull fucked common sense out the door a year ago. All jokes aside his usage of a mask in this video is absolutely mind blowing. He put it on while the track played and then took it right off #beta

[@roberthijar4793]

WTF? No sense to his mask/muzzle use. The medical community has to do a fit test at hospitals for the N95 or higher masks, so for the rest of us they are virtually useless. The masks are symbolic muzzles. This is a commentary on the stupidity of the practice but thankfully it doesn't take away from the actual subject of EVH and VH's history at the studio. Oh man, this will be taken down for misinformation because the truth is subjective based on the narrative that You Toob wants you to believe. "Lets Go Brandon!".

[@CribNotes]

We know EVH tweaked and edited his solos together in many Van Halen recordings. But I've got that Eddie Van Halen satisfied grin on my face now knowing "Eruption" was performed and recorded PURE!!!!! From what was said here, they couldn't find any alternate takes of that solo. That just makes it so much more perfect!! RIP Maestro!!

[@akfreed6949]

From guitar interviews , Ed credited Donn helping him do this behind Templeman's back . Ed would want changes done and Ted said no . Ed and Donn would show up to Sunset Studios when everyone else was home at night . They'd make obvious changes and the next day they were like morons not noticing the changes made the night before .

[@CribNotes]

@@akfreed6949 That's' hilarious knowing Eddie and Donn had the best ears and nobody else could tell the difference. Michael Anthony probably sat there chuckling without saying anything cause he knew.

[@akfreed6949]

@@CribNotes yeah . I read alotta guitar magazines even though I didn't play guitar . I'm left-handed . I just wanted to hear how Eddie thought . Countless times he credited Donn for THE VAN Halen BROWN SOUND . He told Donn he wanted it as simple as possible so he could easily play it live and easily recreate the sound live . I think they parted ways because of the beginning of the digital age started around the Van Hagar/Journey 2.0 start with 5150 and OU812 . Around the beginning of digital recording and CDs were nice but the sound was kinda flat . Some of the BEATLES complained about the flat sound too .

[@CribNotes]

@@akfreed6949 There's an entire discussion surrounding the "flatness" of digital sound. Eddie credited Donn with the brown sound because he was a humble guy. But the brown sound starts with Eddie's guitar sound, which he created being a driven mad scientist when he was younger. Perhaps the biggest contribution to the brown sound was Eddie de-tuning his B-string just a touch to get a round harmonious natural tuning consonance on his bar chords.

[@mattsarnecky2552]

It sounds even more incredible in this because you can hear that it wasn't trickery, it was all him. EDIT: I'm referring to Eruption.

[@craigberry4051]

Totally agree.

[@DVincentW]

15.00!

[@Rockenstein68]

Incredible

[@billhoward1918]

Not to insult anybody, but if anyone hasn't seen the video of Wolfie playing eruption on Eddies frankenstrat... All I can say is wow

[@flyme2themoon720]

Yeah its raw Eddie Van Halan man..What a genius he was!

[@eddiebaez2093]

Its incredible how a someone who you never met in person...could make you feel so connected to with music...I feel I lost some with his death. Wolfie my prayers for you and the family

[@erikatowle8695]

It is such a odd feeling. I feel like i lost a family member...💔

[@Mff48]

@@erikatowle8695 i feel like that,christ help me if anything happens to DLR!!!!

[@SovereignKnight74]

@@erikatowle8695 Oddly enough, I feel the same way.

[@reprintranch]

Yup. Well said.

[@anthonyherron2242]

@@erikatowle8695 Me too, he has been my hero-inspiration for 43 yrs. I heard him & VH when I was 7yo and I began guitar by age 9. I think the Macy parade and the other parades should pay tribute to him by honoring Edward Van Halen in all parades this yr. It's kinda tough hearing Eddie's solos now though. Especially in the song "once" on the VH3 album. Try it, I bet you will she'd a tear as well. I am still Devastated.💔😥

[@cheenu711]

Man that eruption take is just magic. To play it like that in one take is just incredible. That just gave me goosebumps.

[@ericplaysbass]

Love that Realistic T-shirt! Back in the day, RadioShack had some decent stuff. Not the best, but for somebody on a budget, it sounded pretty good. I still have a pair of Realistic speakers out in my garage that I’ve had since the late 70’s and they still sound pretty good.

[@trustyshellback4724]

I had a Realistic 100watt receiver, Realistic Nova 10 speakers and a Technics turntable and what a great sounding stereo it was! I used to skip school and rock out to Van Halen records!

[@michaeldeloach838]

I have an old pair of Realistic 1/4" jack headphones that I still use today. They have to be at least 35 years old by now and still sound great.

[@batphink2655]

I still have their version of a Shure SM58 and though a bit dented works perfectly after about 30 years ROFL!!

[@beaveittoleaver2327]

I thought I invented multi track recording on a box cuz of a 1/4" to xlm splitter I bought at radio shack in the mid 80s 😂

[@mikemelisa1804]

Right? I thought the same thing! That guy is a true geek! Radio Shack’s house brand??!? Noice!!

[@jimmyjennings4089]

I got chill bumps when eruption played almost like the first time back in 78 because he said it was kinda raw knowing Eddie was the most amazing guitar player I've ever heard, I've heard many guitar players and I like many kinds of playing, but Eddie had the coolest sound and his selection of notes will always be my favorite, it's like he knew exactly what I wanted to hear not just on one song but over and over, R.I.P. I always called you the boy with the magic fingers.

[@musek5048]

i think of evh of being more R&B since his rhythm is killer and his blues licks are so tasty. hard to believe that he considered eric clapton a big inspiration since they sound NOTHING i like but that tells me he learned from EC how to take the blues and make them your own.

[@jimmyjennings4089]

@@musek5048 that's a very good analysis of Eddie, I think your probably right.

[@musek5048]

@@jimmyjennings4089 you're absolute right about his "magic fingers"! as i was learning new stuff on guitar in my earlier years and listening to EVH i constantly had to pause the songs to scratch my head and wonder how did he do that??!! haha

[@treykook]

@@musek5048 absolutely the most underrated rhythm player in guitar history. His leads dramatically overshadow his rhythm, but that's really where the true tastiness of his playing lives.

[@TANTRUMGASM]

THIS ALBUM TRIGGERED MY 30 YEAR CAREER IN MUSIC !! THIS IS SO SPECIAL TO ME ! THANK YOU !!

[@mikewallace1270]

It triggered my 30-year attempt to have a career in the music business LOL

[@jeffreywillmitt]

The masking routine is hilarious!

[@cpfs936]

Mask on, mask off, mask on...somebody tell this genius to at LEAST make up his mind. 🤦‍♂️

[@Mumblues]

Also who gives a F…we r here to listen to VH

[@seanmeaney6154]

This kids mastery of such a complex and difficult instrument is ridiculous! I was grinning like a Nun in a cucumber patch during the entire first take. Kinda like Ed had when he was doing what he was born to do. Entertaining all of us with his God given gift. And he knew it hence his iconic grin while playing. Wow I'm so grateful to have grown up with him and the rest of the Van Halen boys 🙏... Rock and Roll Legends!

[@joec2639]

Incredible piece of history right here. Hearing the room mic, one take recording of Eruption gives me chills. Seeing the actual Sunset Studios invoices for 10/4/1977, the day that Eruption, along with Little Dreamer was recorded, is just so satisfying. Thank you for sharing this!

[@lastdaysguitar]

Every man at that board had a look of reverence when Eddies eruption solo was playing.

[@thomasaghotmail]

It was beautiful to see.

[@mindeloman]

It's a 20th century masterpiece. I was about to give up on playing guitar when I was 13. It was just too hard. Them I got a copy of Van Halen 1. Gave me a whole new purpose in life.

[@michaelsteven1090]

Except for the masked dude..no expression for some reason

[@rustybones99]

They were all sitting there thinking “why the fuck is this guy wearing a mask?” and completely distracted from the recording.

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

Except the dude chewing gum

[@greatness768]

Thanks EVH & CO. for all you’ve expressed in your tunes through the years. RIP. EDDIE㋛

[@brightwings7788]

Crazy. I can't describe how emotional it was just to hear the raw guitar tone. Thank you guys so much for documenting all of this stuff.

[@majesticpbjcat7707]

I was born a year after the release of VH1 but this stuff is still monumental to me as a longtime guitarist. It's chilling, in a good way, listening to Eruption this way. So epic... RIP EVH

[@stevenkimsey7039]

I will always remember exactly where I was when I heard Eruption. The time and place and oh my God!! I had been listening to Nugent's Stranglehold and everything that was great guitar for a young teenager wanting to play. Eruption hit my ears from a badass 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo 8 track player in Des Arc, Arkansas, RIP Eddie Van Halen

[@chrisb8655]

Thanks for sharing that memory, Steven,

[@rickleblanc8900]

I remember hearing Eruption for the first time on the radio in a friend's car, just driving around. I also remember our jaws dropping and us going OMFG wth was that, that was brilliant! Lol

[@Arcturian1111]

I remember me and some friends were tripping out on acid that summer when the album came out, OMFG we were fucking stoked it enhanced our trip.

[@francisrobinson9236]

1978 I was detained in a juvenile facility the first time I heard the whole album. The only thing that came to my mind was WTF. I couldn't get enough

[@richarddeady6342]

Yep and The Nuge fell hard after that

[@tilmanluther1887]

I found this video randomly as youtube algorithms recommended it since I really like van halen. This is the gnarliest video. And I have the song on vinyl and a good stereo . It sounds beautiful every time I play it

[@chriscampbell9191]

The thing that really hit me while listening to this 'outtake' is that Eruption just wasn't a guitar-changing masterpiece... it really is a beautiful piece of music.

[@struff]

It's amazing the level of detail they can remember and determine about an album recorded 43 years ago when I can't remember what I did 43 minutes ago. I find it interesting that Eddie bought Ronnie Montrose's amp, then about 15 years after Eddie got Ronnie's old singer (Sammy Hagar) to join Van Halen.

[@TheGuitarman1968]

Well, there is an interesting story to add to that little "coincidence." When Gene Simmons (KISS) discovered Van Halen in the mid 70's, he really pushed to get them signed to a record deal. However, after Van Halen recorded their first album, the record company decided that they did not like David Lee Roth, and the way he "sang " They wanted David Lee Roth to be replaced by guess who? Yep, none other than Sammy Hagar. It was only after Van Halen went back into the studio and re-recorded all of Dave's vocals that the record company approved the album. The signing of Sammy Hagar in the mid 80's was not a spur of the moment decision by Eddie, as some people think, as there had always been a connection between Sammy and Van Halen, as Sammy and Eddie had been friends for years before Sammy joined Van Halen. The rest is history. 🎸 🎸 🎸

[@RockNRoller66]

@@TheGuitarman1968 Word

[@simpleagain1]

@@TheGuitarman1968 -and to think that Hagar the HORRIBLE still blows today and absolutely blew back then makes you wonder just what the fuck music execs were even thinking? Like, do they even have ears? Do their ears even work? What idiots! Roth was and still is, irreplaceable. His vocals were sung with classic rock and roll reckless abandon to match Eddie’s guitar work. Van Halen without Roth is like a 3 legged dog. It still works but there’s something really big missing

[@luvbasses5487]

This debut album came along at a time when there was still “wow factor” around. It was the perfect time for this record to be unleashed on the world to remind everyone that rock n roll ISN’T dead. They really did save heavy metal just like the book title suggests. Many huge rock acts were sailing into the doldrums by ‘79 and VH did happily fill that void. Zeppelin, Floyd, Aerosmith just to name a few would be just about done by 1980, all the while VH were flourishing. Life moves along in chapters and by 1982 there was no bigger rock band than VH. All the crappy hair bands by the late 80’s tried but failed to cop on some of that VH Guitarwork. Eddie was an original. A true pioneer and we owe thanks to him for inventing something that wasn’t there before. Rest In Peace brother. We love and miss you.

[@teriakamoto]

Yeah pretty much, with the exception of Randy and then Slash as far that wretched Hair Era lol. Accurate assessment though . Even Randy admitted he was just doing everything EVH was doing and didn't really get to settle into his Style yet as of an Guitar Magazine interview shortly before the accident. Had to edit as my 2009 Mac is just possessed .

[@luvbasses5487]

@@teriakamoto Randy was a lion in his own right. The other day when I got in the car and started it, Mr. Crowley was on and in progress and at the solo bit. For a split second there, I was like “what the fk IS this” before immediately recognizing. The guitar was just soaring! Randy was a true artist!

[@kensims4086]

Motorhead!

[@StratsRUs]

It is so beautiful to hear it in this context. It always leaves a ' beyond words' feeling.And the actual Soul of it is eternal and fresh.The end of Jamie's Crying reminded me of Zep's ending on The Ocean.Thank you.

[@definitiveenergy1]

To be an engineer at Sunset Sound between 1967-1980 and working with several producers and bands would be an experience of a lifetime.

[@joeloschiavo1237]

OMG This Is HISTORY THIS IS A FIND

[@katiec6935]

This is f king amazing!!!

[@sooparticular]

???? I dont get it...sound great but thats eruption....

[@bernardcarpenter6949]

In 1978 I was 11 years old. My sister's friend had the first album and I did not know who Van Halen was. She put the needle on the record and everything for me changed. Up till then it was Aerosmith, Peter Frampton, Eagles and AC/DC. But this band changed everything for me. Sharing these videos with us is the nicest thing you could do. I can not thank you enough for doing so. Truly thank you for sharing. :)

[@neogeoha1464]

Gave me chills. The sound gives me a mental picture of them in the studio together as kids. Remarkable. RIP Eddie.

[@clairvoyantamnesiac9770]

hearing this brings back so much.. The most ground breaking guitar of the last 45 years.. (barring those Ed himself loved), the feed back when he turns his volume back up during the interval, You can almost smell the warmth and heat from the tubes. The room tone ♥.

[@timw.6910]

Can’t thank you guys enough for your time and effort in sharing this with us.

[@chriszavala4027]

Why not just bring Mike Anthony in the studio and tell us the story.

[@davidkaplan3596]

Or Alex VH?

[@tommyfender1968]

If you haven’t read “Running With the Devil” by former manager Noel Monk... Fantastic read! Both Michael Anthony and Alex detest interviews. But especially MA

[@peterhopqk]

Do you really think he want this now?? He is probably still grieving about the loss of Eddie and same for Alex and many others.

[@ThePaulmirto]

Or both avh ma

[@mindeloman]

@@tommyfender1968 i viewed MA's indifference to interviews as having to with media types just trying to get dirt and trash talk from him on the VH bros. - all the time. That's what every interview would devolve into. MA could have discovered the method for cold fusion nuclear power, hold a press conference about it, and an interviewer would want to know his current status with the VH bros. And MA knew the VH bros. would eventually come knocking on his door for him to come back in to the band. It was going to happen and it almost did. MA didn't want to be the reason for a wedge. Even when eddie said all that real shitty stuff about him around 10 years ago, he said nothing in response. And he doesn't need to work. There was no bigger VH fan than MA. No bigger exist. He was the biggest cheerleader for the band. He wanted to get the original band back together for the fans. Maybe with some time elapsing from eddie's death, he'll do some interviews. Maybe some really good stories too.

[@gregdennis5107]

Remember hearing this for the first time as myself and my older brother got ready to walk into a local grocery store. It was like when people say they knew what they were doing when Kennedy got shot, or 911 happened. You knew it was something big, way big. I had been playing guitar for a few years at that point, and when it came on I told my brother I was going to listen in the car instead of going into the store with him. When he came out 5 minutes later, my life was changed forever. Eddie took pop rock/disco and silly slapped it into another universe. God bless this man, the greatest guitar player ever, PERIOD!!

[@stephanevermette145]

VH1 - Recorded from 1977 -- still a completely timeless classic sound today

[@shawnbell6392]

What an honor to hear this, especially if you were around when VH 1 came out.

[@joeyschwartz5150]

Amen, brother.

[@Bpjames]

The room mic sound is like your standing in the next room, watching through the glass... I couldn't stop smiling hearing that for the first time! Like something we never thought we would actually hear.

[@johnhussey2807]

So true

[@davidoak2784]

I have 6 grandsons. 2 of them (2 years apart not twins) share Eddie's birthday. Now I find out Eruption was recorded on the birthday of one of the other grandsons. RIP Ed.

[@stevemann3080]

Yep. I have the same Birthday as Eddie as well. R.I.P LEGEND 🎸🎸

[@Iknowthelaw13]

I get chills when he does the dive bomb near the end of the solo, after the final run. Sounds like a fighter jet is in your living room. Incredible tone

[@667neighbourofthebeast2]

Just stumbled on this video. I’m not a guitarist, just your everyday Van Halen fan,but hearing this so raw makes me even more amazed. It must have been mind blowing hearing this in 78.

[@msw812]

That Jamie’s Crying ending is definitely the ending they used in live performances.

[@DVincentW]

Yes indeed.

[@tone-talk]

Fantastic! What a treat to hear that little feedback right before he goes back into eruption during the break and the end!!! Thank you!

[@grantfisher]

Wasn't that cool?! I reacted the same way as the guys in the video. Ahhh!!

[@AllenGarberGuitarFun]

Yeah, the Guitar Hero isolated track had the burst of feedback at the beginning, but that bit in the middle was new!

[@AllenGarberGuitarFun]

@@nickh1933 I agree...it would be amazing to have Dave talk with Brian. Those two guys know A LOT about Eddie’s sound.

[@sunsetsoundrecorders]

@@nickh1933 whos tone talk?

[@killerchimp12]

@@sunsetsoundrecorders it’s a series on KZbin with Dave Friedman and other folks.

[@GGY6102]

That was truly amazing. I'm glad I got some more insight on all of it. The whole story with Solar X. And you explaining it all left me wanting more. Loved it.

[@hummarstraful]

Yeh, this cool and all, but imagine hearing Ed playing it in a small club just a few weeks before these sessions? There are people who heard this solo in small bars back then. WOW!

[@paulglover7048]

That raw sound is so much more powerful to me...imho.

[@badtripmoses]

Absolutely dude!! Raw Rock & Roll on analog tape! It sUx music is usually over polished to some degree! But it is what it is I guess

[@matthewvillarreal2975]

What an honor to hear this, especially if you were around when VH 1 came out.

[@craigberry4051]

Yeah...i have to agree. Wow. When you pull back the reverb...you can hear more of the the subtle nuances.

[@paxavgvsti]

Fantastic! Absolutely fascinating to see and hear the history of this iconic studio, band, and guitar legend. Great to get insights about the engineering of EVH’s unmistakable and unique sound. Thanks for putting this out there for us fans, Sunset Sound! Looking forward to more and will be watching the episode of Sunset’s history to learn more about this legendary studio!

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

A work of art. One of the finest guitar solos ever played. an Inspiration to millions of wannabes, including myself.

[@guitartec]

My buddy Mike K was Ed's guitar tech in the late 90's-early 2000s. While the band was on hiatus, Ed calls Mike at home in MA and asks him to run down to NJ to Les Paul's house and pick up a guitar Les wants to give Ed. Turns out it's Les's first guitar- like an old Harmony acoustic. Mike runs down there and grabs it from Les, then he's gotta decide how to get it to Ed. Mike is a line haul driver when he's not tech'ing, so at first he wants to drive it out there, but opts to send it. While packing it he's stumped on how much to insure it for. Like would a zillion $$$ be enough? I think that's just about the coolest thing ever.

[@odinquincannon4237]

That’s insane and incredible!! OCTOBER 4th is the date of the last VH performance at the Hollywood Bowl in 2015!!

[@ArturoRailProductions]

Wait really?

[@DVincentW]

Ed left the building Oct 6th 2020.. 43 years and two days.

[@toddinthemiddle]

October 4th is my birthday 😶

[@Videditor1067]

Ted doing the "come on Dave" even for that space talk...

[@robteaster2446]

I am soooooo very glad I stumbled upon this video!!! We all miss you Eddie! We all still love you!!! Thank you for all the truly GREAT music you gave to us!

[@jesussaddle]

Its a perfectly written piece of music with the energy of an improvisation. The sections are all unique but blend seamlessly, yet with all that technique to manage its still 100 percent passion coming across, even in a direct to mic sound. I especially liked hearing that short chatter before he unleashes the "volcano section", giving a sense of this being a very live thing.

[@monkface]

I can't even believe I'm about to hear this right now! I saw that pic of them from Ted Templeman's book. All the years spent in the metroamp forum endlessly discussing Ed's amp and sound are being answered and summarized here. It's like the end of some epic quest on this rainy Sunday afternoon. And like some epic it's only after the hero dies. Sorry to get so melodramatic or overly romantic there for a second!

[@majesticpbjcat7707]

I think a lot of us feel the same.

[@vmc37]

Yes. The metro amp forum went into every aspect

[@Greenaresy]

Well said

[@monkface]

@@vmc37 yes if you want to get into 132 posts about which guitar cords Ed had plugged into various amps and boxes!🤪🤣😎

[@AllenGarberGuitarFun]

Yep, I got in the discussions on MetroAmp in 2009, but I always talked about the playing rather than the amps...Which is odd considering it is an amp forum. I remember when Brian started posting there and I at first didn’t believe it was him since a guy had been posting as “RudyL” and it turned out to NOT be Rudy Leiren.

[@RichardFriendartist]

never heard this sound so alive...you can literally feel the room and moment...thank you for sharing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jakemitchell1671]

LOVE the question about Dancing In The Streets!! Diver Down is universally panned, and partly for good reason, but Ed's genius found its way into everything he did, and his guitar work on this song is among my favorite of his career. Cheesy song, absolutely brilliant ideas that could ONLY have come from EVH's mind.

[@allencameron3833]

A year ago I could not listen to this I'm still devastated in a way I'm so lucky to be a fan of Eddie Van Halen brought so much joy into my like I'm so grateful

[@abelsanchez9047]

Terrific stuff, much appreciated, fellas.

[@markinthemix6055]

You’ll never know how much this touches my heart.

[@katiec6935]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@camerondean6804]

As a drummer, it's wild to finally hear the Ludwig drums, and especially the Ludwig Supraphonic snare, as they actually sounded the day they were recorded... you can clearly tell that is THE Supraphonic snare sound. I always thought the drums sounded to compressed, clean, and muffled on the first record. RIP EVH. Thank you to you, the rest of the band, and everyone involved behind the scenes for bringing us so much incredible music.

[@mumbles215]

My fav snare. I have what I believe to be a late 70s one. Fabulous drum. I am a guitarIst too. Lol

[@TheMeJustMe75]

I love stuff like this. I am intrigued by the recording process. I got to go into a friend's recording studio at his house in 1992. I recorded two guitar tracks with a drum machine. Now in 2021, I am putting together a digital recording studio at my house. In the process of learning Cakewalk. Mixing is what I need to figure out.

[@moe17moe]

43 years ago, so Eddie was 22? And already that good!

[@georgemueh3273]

Amazing. Still sounds fresh. Thats the thing about a band like Van Halen. It never sounds dated. Every note and beat starting with the car horns on running with the devil all the way thru house of pain are just genius. We will never have that impact again.💯👍🤘

[@brianriggs2378]

That car horn was from gene Simmons Cadillac.fyi

[@georgemueh3273]

@@brianriggs2378 The song begins with a collection of car horns sounding. The horns were taken from the band's own cars and mounted in a box and powered by two car batteries, with a foot switch. Producer Ted Templeman slowed the horns down before adding them to the track. This same idea was first used during the band's club sets and appeared on the Gene Simmons-recorded demo of the song, as well as the song "House of Pain" which preceded it on the demo.[4] A four-measure guitar solo is played after the second and third chorus.[5]

[@VanHalenIsolated]

Please please! Release more premixed material from Van Halen. Anything you have! It’s so amazing! Thank you for releasing this.

[@johnathanwetherill456]

Amazing listening to the GOD of modern guitar . I will always give Hendrix his kudos as the king of kings but as a 12 year old when you heard eruption for the first time , man did the world change from that point on . RIP EVH .

[@CoscarelliFan]

Thank you for sharing this with the world. So exciting. When time passes and the grief hopefully eases a bit, I am sure we will all be treated to some fantastic things.....

[@erikatowle8695]

Man I hope so....

[@eastwestguitar5561]

That photo is priceless. It’s like finding a fossil from thousands of years ago.

[@Twotontessie]

In the presence of something supernatural !

[@gmasterg13]

@@Twotontessie indeed.

[@nathanwalsh3028]

I have a full length wall poster of a similar picture from the same photo session. It was released in the early eighties at a poster shop in the mall. I bought it as a young kid and still have it framed on my wall to this day. I still sit and stare at every little detail even down to the half eaten big macs and that picture. Or the bent up cans of malt shlits liquor. I've always said you can smell the Room!!!

[@AllenGarberGuitarFun]

@@nathanwalsh3028 You are talking about the staged photo session from the sessions for the second album. The photo we are talking about is the only photo from the sessions from the first album which was recently shared in Ted Templeman’s autobiography which came out in April of this year. This photo was taken by Donn Landee from the control room of Studio 1 during sessions for “Jamie’s Cryin’”: imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/5042/wXftiK.jpg

[@buddywilliams5650]

@@AllenGarberGuitarFun your right Dave had a broken foot. And Edward was playing the black and white striped strat. Before he painted the guitar in mid March of 1979.

[@everythingismusic20]

Amazing!! I had never tried to listen to this song with a face mask on. It's a whole other story! Thank you

[@timw.6910]

😂👍🏼

[@curtisphilumalee1447]

The whole mask on mask off during this video was bizarre to watch. It’s like walking into a Dollar General store knowing your going to get accosted by the Vid.

[@robertpeters3924]

Cloth mask on and off doing nothing to prevent anything lol

[@ASouthernBoyCanSurvive]

Take the mask off touch everything around, replace mask to your face..take it off again..then expose your hands to more germs then touch the mask then place it tighly over your mouth and nose..continue until you get SOMETHING

[@erniethefork]

@@curtisphilumalee1447 Absolutely bizarre! And you know the other three were thinking the same thing.

[@lylemoultrie5498]

In music...THAT (Eruption) moment...is the historical equivalence of Bach coming onto the scene, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring or Coltrane's Giant Steps. October 1977...wow...just amazing to think about what else was going on then...for context. Then...a glorious musical H-Bomb...kaaaaa-boom. Thanks Ed. RIP.

[@ritarollins6664]

Yeessssss!!!!! Very well said. Thank you.

[@davidmerlin3344]

What a trip down memory lane of one of the most iconic albums ever recorded!

[@Christopher.Charles]

He wears a mask while sitting there... Removes it to talk... Makes total sense.

[@Florida_guy]

I'm still blown away by eruption I'm literally speechless hearing this in this context I'm glad I clicked on this

[@sunsetsoundrecorders]

sunsetsoundstore.com/products/van-halen-eruption-work-order-from-sunset-sound-recorders-1

[@Twotontessie]

That divebomb thing that starts at 3:13 just too epic.

[@thefonzkiss]

It’s not a divebomb it’s a delay.

[@AllenGarberGuitarFun]

Here is a demo of how he did the oscillating octave dive with a vintage Univox EC-80 A echo unit: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4nEiKanjbRjask

[@toddjacobs540]

This stuff is so great to hear.

[@falquest]

Jamie’s Cryin’ ending was how they played it live on later tours...

[@time2see192]

Thanks so much for sharing with us guitar nerds. What a moment in time, we get to enjoy on our speakers forever. ❤

[@toddjacobs540]

Recommendation for an amazing coffee table book for us music and recording nerds. Put out a book of all the invoices and sheets from all the great albums recorded there and groups that have come through the studio 👍

[@OFR]

Yessss

[@sunsetsoundrecorders]

Like that.

[@thedrummer7673]

I'd buy that in a heartbeat!

[@MarkPritchardGuitar]

Wow that was amazing to hear some outtakes and goofing around in the studio. More of these please, this is pure gold.

[@jennifercooper8794]

I know a Mark Pritchard. 😁 He married my best friend Shannon, from high school. ☮️

[@MarkPritchardGuitar]

@@jennifercooper8794 haha that’s funny 😊

[@evilangel8194]

Eruption change the face of guitar solos , people don't fully understand the effect Eddie and this solo had on rock and metal guitar this blew guitar players minds along with his taping and his ability he created the best tone in rock guitar history after that every one was emulating Eddie be for him every one went form being page and Hendrix clones to trying to sound like Eddie I love the fact is he never played it the same way twice live it never gets old still get a chill up your spine every time you hear it , one of those most original player to pick up the guitar ever he might be gone but will never be forgotten a true visionary

[@teriakamoto]

On Point

[@timothya.olmeda7299]

It would be nice to have the whole recorded experience (bells, whistles, excerpts, chatting, wind, rain, etc...) from all of the coveted bands throughout history. Especially groundbreaking moments such as VH -1. It just adds to the mystique and romance to the overall project. Maybe, one day.

[@richards6065]

THIS IS THE BEST RECORDING SESSION REVISIT EVER!!!!

[@Skibble5150]

The Jamie's Cryin' alternate ending was done by them live quite often.

[@RigidRecords69]

I believe on the demo version as well. When he played it, I knew I had heard it before.

[@matts6771]

Indeed...I concur.

[@thefonzkiss]

@@RigidRecords69 There was no demo of Jamie’s Crying. They wrote it in the studio during the sessions for vh1.

[@mrscary3721]

It's what I refer to as... a 'live ending'... More generic than a 'Hollywood live ending' which is a little more dramatic. There's also the 'slip-n-slide ending' where you slip out of one song, immediately sliding into another... etc, etc.

[@fonzario]

I remember when this album just came out I was working at Sonic Drive-in and we were closing up and one of the guys invited us to his apartment and said he had something he wanted us to hear. We got there and he puts on Eruption and we were all stunned at what we had just experienced. I asked him who that was and he said Van Halen. I asked him what is a Van Halen? He said that’s the guys name. And I asked him what’s making that sound. He said a guitar. I said a guitar is making that sound? Wow! Seemed impossible that a guitar could produce sounds like that up to that point it was.

[@vidsforsquids]

Who remembers where they were the first time they heard this? I was driving and had to pull over because I couldn’t believe or figure out exactly what it was I was hearing. A keyboard?? A guitar?? It was mind blowing ⚡️

[@hummarstraful]

I don't remember specifically the first time I heard Eruption, but I do remember the first time I listened to Fair Warning on a Emerson tape player boom box in my mother's living room and being STUNNED by all of it.

[@jeffreylbfd]

11:25 Alt Jamies Cryin ending! Loved it.

[@bilbobaggins4710]

Shit I love that song

[@vonharvell5867]

they should have left that on the album

[@stevemineer2857]

They ended it like that live before and after the recording. It’s nothing new.

[@glengamble526]

Its not at ‘alternate ending’ as the song fades out on the album.

[@flashy5150]

VH used to end “Jamie’s Cryin’ “ when they played LIVE, the same way as they recorded that alternative studio outtake. I play guitar and I end it that way when I jam it. I had to do it the way that they did it on stage and it gave me more to learn. I love hearing this stuff. If I ever get to California, stopping by Sunset Sound will be on my to do list for sure. Classic Van Halen and Eddie have always been my idols, I’m a diehard fan and to see where they recorded these awesome songs, is inspiring to say the least. I would love to hear the history of my favorite song “Unchained”. Thank you so much for these great videos.

[@Krullmatic]

I absolutely loved hearing the raw unprocessed recordings. His tone was unbelievable!

[@Cajundaddydave]

Thanks Brian, great stories of back in the day. Thank you again for restoring our Citizens Enactron tapes. We mixed and mastered them and they turned out great. A time warp from the LA Alt Rock scene in 1981. Cheers!

[@codythompson759]

History is such a beautiful thing. There's something about the seventies and especially the eighties I long for. To the comment below I agree Michael Anthony is a hell of a guy I would love to hear his take on things.

[@JustK009]

Kudos to you I’ve kept saying Michael Anthony needs to speak on these things

[@tryfourlo2840]

Goose bumps everytime even after 40 years

[@greacen]

Brian- I love the context you shared about the LA scene of the time, especially that Dills story. It's often forgotten yet so important how bands are part of a scene and are influenced by their peers.

[@ceazerzeb333]

Of all the times I’ve heard eruption it Never ceases to amaze me Thank you for the video I always come back to hear eruption in its purest