During the late 1970s, music was changing. Disco and punk were taking over the mainstream world, and rock seemed like it might fade away with the next decade. That was until a heroic little band from Pasadena, California stepped in to save rock and roll.
Van Halen released their self-titled debut album on February 10th, 1978. With hard-driving songs like Runnin’ With The Devil, Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love, Jamie’s Cryin’, and Eddie Van Halen’s monumental instrumental guitar solo track Eruption, Van Halen brought back the classic hard rock sounds of the past, but with their own twist.
Eccentric frontman usually dressed in glitter and spandex David Lee Roth, virtuoso guitar shredder Eddie Van Halen, booming bassist Michael Anthony, and pounding drummer Alex Van Halen made up the band who were about to reach global stardom when the album was released. Along with their immense talent and catchy hard rock songs, the band’s extravagant personality also helped gain the world’s affection. Reaching number 19 on the US Billboard 200 and selling over 10 million copies, the record proved that rock and roll was here to stay, and it paved the way for how the genre would sound (or at least how bands would try to sound) in to the 1980s.