From 1974 until 1985, Van Halen consisted of Eddie Van Halen; Eddie's brother, drummer Alex Van Halen; vocalist David Lee Roth; and bassist/vocalist Michael Anthony. Upon its release in 1978, the band's self-titled debut album reached No. 19 on the Billboard pop music charts and would sell over 10 million copies in the U.S. By 1982, the band released four more albums (Van Halen II, Women and Children First, Fair Warning, and Diver Down), all of which have since been certified multi-platinum. By the early 1980s, Van Halen was one of the most successful rock acts of the day. The album 1984 was a commercial success with U.S. sales of 10 million copies and four hit singles; its lead single, "Jump", was the band's only U.S. number one single.
In 1985, Roth left the band to embark on a solo career and was replaced by former Montrose lead vocalist Sammy Hagar. With Hagar, the group released four U.S. number-one, multi-platinum albums over the course of 11 years (5150 in 1986, OU812 in 1988, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge in 1991, and Balance in 1995). Hagar left the band in 1996 shortly before the release of the band's first greatest hits collection, Best of Volume 1. Former Extreme frontman Gary Cherone replaced Hagar and recorded the commercially unsuccessful album Van Halen III with the band in 1998, before parting ways in 1999. Van Halen then went on hiatus until reuniting with Hagar in 2003 for a worldwide tour in 2004 and the double-disc greatest hits collection The Best of Both Worlds. Hagar again left Van Halen in 2005. In 2006 Roth returned, but Anthony was replaced on bass guitar by Eddie's son, Wolfgang Van Halen. In 2012, the band released their final studio album A Different Kind of Truth, which was commercially and critically successful; it was also Van Halen's first album with Roth in 28 years and the only one to feature Wolfgang.
As of March 2019, Van Halen is 20th on the RIAA list of best-selling artists in the United States; the band has sold 56 million albums in the States and more than 80 million worldwide, making them one of the best-selling groups of all time. As of 2007, Van Halen is one of only five rock bands with two studio albums to sell more than 10 million copies in the United States and is tied for the most multi-platinum albums by an American band. Additionally, Van Halen has charted 13 number-one hits on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. VH1 ranked the band seventh on a list of the top 100 Hard Rock artists of all time.
Eddie was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, and died of the disease on October 6, 2020. A month after his father's death, Wolfgang confirmed that Van Halen had disbanded.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Halen
Studio albums
Van Halen (1978)
Van Halen II (1979)
Women and Children First (1980)
Fair Warning (1981)
Diver Down (1982)
1984 (1984)
5150 (1986)
OU812 (1988)
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)
Balance (1995)
Van Halen III (1998)
A Different Kind of Truth (2012)
Hot Summer Nights
Van Halen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey
Oh yeah
Ain't no way I'm sittin' home tonight
I'll be out until the mornin' light
Just a hangin' 'round in the local parkin' lot
Oh, checkin' out all the girls, see what they got
Yeah they love it, when me an' the boys
Wanna play some love with them human toys
We wind 'em up n' let 'em go
Whoa oh yeah, whoa yeah, woo
Summer nights and my radio
Well that's all we need, baby, don'tcha know?
We celebrate when the gang's all here
Ah, hot summer nights, that's my time of the year
We made it through the cold
And that freezin' snow is gettin' old, hey
Next year I'll head out for the coast
Whaddya say boys, that might just call for a toast, now whaddya say?
I got a line, you got a pole
I'll meet you down at the old fishin' hole
Them girls are bitin' good tonight
Ow uh oh whoa yeah
Summer nights and my radio
Well that's all we need, baby, don'tcha know?
We celebrate when the gang's all here
Hot summer nights, you're my time of the year
Uh, yeah
(Ah summer nights)
You wanna talk about love?
(Ah summer nights)
In the heat of the summer
(Ah summer nights)
Well let's talk about love
Ah on a hot summer night, hey
In the heat of the summer
Well let's talk about love on a hot summer night, hey
The lyrics of Van Halen’s “Summer Nights” express a fascination with the warm season of summer and the activities that come with it. The singer has no intention of staying in for the night and instead seeks to explore his local area. The “local parking lot” he visits is a popular spot for young people to hang out and socialize, and he takes the opportunity to “check out all the girls, see what they got.” It’s clear that he’s out to have a good time, as he talks about playing with the girls like “human toys” and “wind[ing] ‘em up and let[ting] ‘em go.”
The song is all about summer nights and the sense of freedom that comes with them. The singer celebrates the fact that he and his companions are together in the warm air, away from the cold and snow of winter. He even suggests they make a toast to their current situation. The mood of the song is upbeat and celebratory, with a strong sense of joy and camaraderie. The singer seems to be encouraging his friends and listeners to embrace the freedom of the summer months and make the most of their opportunities for fun and adventure.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't no way I'm sittin' home tonight
I refuse to stay home tonight
I'll be out until the mornin' light
I'll be out until sunrise
Just a hangin' 'round in the local parkin' lot
Hanging out in the parking lot nearby
Oh, checkin' out all the girls, see what they got
Observing and examining the girls in the parking lot
Yeah they love it, when me an' the boys
Girls love it when my friends and I
Wanna play some love with them human toys
Want to have some intimate fun with girls
We wind 'em up n' let 'em go
We sexually excite them and let them go
Whoa oh yeah, whoa yeah, woo
Expressing excitement and pleasure
Summer nights and my radio
Summer nights are perfect with my radio
Well that's all we need, baby, don'tcha know?
Radio and summer nights are enough for joy
We celebrate when the gang's all here
We enjoy when all our friends are together
Ah, hot summer nights, that's my time of the year
Summer nights are perfect for me
We made it through the cold
We survived the cold seasons
And that freezin' snow is gettin' old, hey
Tired of enduring freezing snow and frigid weather
Next year I'll head out for the coast
I plan to go to the coast next year
Whaddya say boys, that might just call for a toast, now whaddya say?
Should we celebrate with a toast, friends?
I got a line, you got a pole
I have a fishing line, you have a pole
I'll meet you down at the old fishin' hole
Let's meet at the old fishing spot
Them girls are bitin' good tonight
The girls are interested tonight
Ow uh oh whoa yeah
Expressing excitement and pleasure
You wanna talk about love?
Do you want to talk about romantic love?
In the heat of the summer
During warm and hot summer days
Well let's talk about love
Let's discuss love and romance
Ah on a hot summer night, hey
Expressing delight on a warm summer night
In the heat of the summer
During warm and hot summer days
Well let's talk about love on a hot summer night, hey
Let's enjoy and talk about romance on a warm summer night
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alex Van Halen, Edward Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Troy Barker
5150 came out my senior year in high school. Can't tell you what this song means to me - takes me back to all of the great memories. And the guitar opening/riff in the beginning - doesn't get any better than this. Eddie made sounds with the guitar that no one else did. Your gift was a gift to all of us - forever - RIP Eddie...
William Caudill
I was a sophomore. Best times of my life. Eddie was a big part of the sound track. One of my favs
MrBruinman86
Sophomore to Junior year for me. While I was fiercely loyal to Diamond Dave incarnation of the band, I have fond memories of this album in high school as well.
Stan Dembowski (SDATA)
Also senior year. Blasting out of the speakers of a 1979 Orange 2-tone Chevy Blazer with after market speakers. Window down. 85 degrees daytime. Then the cool night air at Nickels pond. A Stroh's 30 pack and boys trying to talk to girls.
jeff dubuque
@Stan Dembowski (SDATA) fuck ya the good ol days stroh`s populer acorss the river in Michigan back in the day.
Mitch 5
Ed was never ever just a high school favorite to me , he's been a huge part of my existence since 1978 , Randy too ,
" y'all know who I mean" some people act like they forgot about Ed and Randy after highschool , I did not , have not , will not ever , I owe them both so much.
.🙏.rest well guy's 🙏
Daryl Fitzgerald
I've listened to Van Halen for 41 years, singing along and smiling. . My ears have been blessed to listen to fantastic music . Eddie is now among the Rock gods RIP
Robert Hart
always was
Gary Carr
@Robert HartAlex Van Halen
Gary Carr
Sammy Hagar