Making Of Van Halen
The Making of Van Halen Cody McKinney Edward Van Halen and Alex Van Halen not only play together in the same band, but are also brothers in the same band. ... Band members would come and go, but the Van Halen brothers played backyard parties every weekend, or they would play in somebodys living room. Robin "Rudy" Leirin (early Van Halen guitar tech) said,"The first time I saw them they were in white T-shirts and jeans, playing at an assembly at Marshall Junior High School. ... Unfortunately, there was another band at the time called Mammoth and thats when they started calling themselves Van Halen. Edward and Alex wanted it to be called Rat Salade but it was Daves idea to call the band Van Halen. Ed and Alex though did not want it called Van Halen because they didnt want to appear like they were the band. Bill Gazzari (owner of Hollywood club Gazzaris) said," Van Halen called for an audition, and every Sunday we had a battle-of-the-bands showcase where we would hear seven or eight bands. ... com) Gazzaris was a real breakthrough for Van Halen. Van Halen kept getting kicked out of clubs because they thought he played too psychedelic. ... I struck up a conversation with David and he told me for a full hour how Van Halen was the ultimate band, and how all four members had tremendous reasons for being in it. ... " (Guitar World) Van Halen then met Michael Anthony in almost the same way they met David. ... Van Halen didnt care for the rest of the his band, but Michael was a real energetic performer and had a great voice. ... (Guitar World) Michael Anthony said,"One of the reasons I joined Van Halen was because I was the lead singer in my band, Snake, and I didnt really feel comfortable in that role. ... I remember going to Gazzaris to see Van Halen and the crowd was incredible. ... They were the headlining act, but I never got to them because the first act was a group called Van Halen, which I thought was the dumbest name Id ever heard, and they knocked me out. ... He wanted to be a movie star instead of making music. ... Van Halen though didnt know it for a while but had signed the worst deal with Warner Bros.