The industry’s relentless “album-tour” cycle, which had the power to turn breakthrough acts like Van Halen into superstars, demanded that the four musicians get to work on a new record, so they could hit the road again by the spring of 1980. In effect, Roth’s artistic vision threatened to overwhelm Van Halen’s collective identity as a group, something that the band’s namesakes weren’t willing to cede to Diamond Dave without a fight.Īlex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen in May 1978ĭespite their success, Van Halen had little time to rest on their laurels in December of 1979. But Roth’s desire to have a portrait of himself, bare-chested and bound in chains, dominate the album’s art gave this round of conflict a particular intensity. This battle took shape along familiar lines, with the group’s frontman squaring off against the Van Halen brothers. Records, planned the visuals for the forthcoming Women and Children First. These triumphs aside, intra-band tensions (which Roth later conceded were “ always” present) mounted as the quartet and its label, Warner Bros.
These were significant achievements for a hard rock band at time when disco and new wave dominated the nation’s airwaves.
EDDIE VAN HALEN CRACKED
They had two platinum albums under their belts, and their latest, Van Halen II, had even cracked the Billboard Top Ten. Vocalist David Lee Roth, bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Eddie Van Halen, and drummer Alex Van Halen had sent sold out crowds into delirium on their wildly successful 19 world tours.
Van Halen’s star was on the rise in late 1979.
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