Van Halen was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1973. Credited with restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene, Van Halen was known for their energetic live performances and for the virtuosity of its guitarist, Eddie Van Halen. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
Final lineup of Van Halen in 2015. From left to right: Wolfgang Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, and Eddie Van Halen
Van Halen performing at La Cañada High School in 1975.
Flyer handed out at La Cañada High School show. Ed playing an Ibanez Destroyer.
The introduction of Sammy Hagar (pictured in 2005) as vocalist continued the band's worldwide popularity.
Hard rock or heavy rock is a heavier subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. Some of the earliest hard rock music was produced by the Kinks, the Who, the Rolling Stones, Cream, Vanilla Fudge, and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. In the late 1960s, bands such as Blue Cheer, the Jeff Beck Group, Iron Butterfly, Led Zeppelin, Golden Earring, Steppenwolf, and Deep Purple also produced hard rock.
Baker, Bruce and Clapton of Cream, whose blues rock improvisation was a major factor in the development of the genre
Led Zeppelin live at Chicago Stadium, January 1975
The Who on stage in 1975
Kiss onstage in Boston in 2004