Van Halen

Van Halen formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972 and went on to become one of the biggest hard rock bands in America. Their sound rested on Eddie Van Halen's dazzling guitar playing, his brother Alex's drumming, Michael Anthony's bass and backing vocals, and the showmanship of David Lee Roth, whose energy made their live shows a draw. The self-titled debut arrived in February 1978 and has since sold more than 10 million copies in the United States. Van Halen II, Women and Children First, Fair Warning and Diver Down followed by 1982.

1984 brought the band's only US number one single, "Jump", and sold 10 million copies. After Roth left in 1985, Sammy Hagar took over vocals for 5150, OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge and Balance, all of which topped the US chart. Gary Cherone sang on Van Halen III, and Roth returned for A Different Kind of Truth in 2012, with Eddie's son Wolfgang on bass. The band ended after Eddie's death in 2020.