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)
La Grange
Van Halen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Warring clans in lowered cars.
A buck is still a buck in Shanghai
and a buck is all you earn.
A great night for all concerned.
Steel fingers play a deadly song.
Whole lotta Shakespeare going on and on and on.
It's all happening downtown.
You painted daughters of the Tong underground
don't mess around.
Welcome to China Town.
Well, you're in our town now.
Welcome to China Town.
Heroes aren't born, they're cornered
and this corner is where we write the story.
Two tribes warring
downtown after hours.
The best to you each morning.
Can't survive and think to win.
Drugged into sin.
Next episode begins and begins and begins and begins.
It's all happening downtown.
You painted daughters of the Tong underground
don't mess around.
Welcome to China Town.
Well, you're in our town now.
Welcome to China Town.
It's all happening downtown.
Welcome to my town, my town, my town!
It's all happening downtown.
You painted daughters of the Tong underground
don't mess around.
Welcome to China Town.
Well, you're in our town now.
Welcome to China Town.
Welcome to my town, my town, my town!
The lyrics to Van Halen's song "La Grange" describe a scene of mayhem and chaos in downtown Chinatown. The first line, "Headless body in a topless bar," sets the stage for a dark and violent environment. The next line, "Warring clans in lowered cars," implies a turf war between rival gangs. The third line, "A buck is still a buck in Shanghai," suggests a message of corruption and greed.
The lyrics continue to describe a "great night for all concerned" as ominous steel fingers play a deadly song. "Whole lotta Shakespeare going on and on and on" is an ironic allusion to the highbrow literary tradition, juxtaposed with the lowbrow environment of Chinatown. The chorus repeats the phrase "Welcome to China Town," as if the listener is being initiated into this dangerous and mysterious world.
The second verse suggests that heroes are not born, but rather made in the streets of Chinatown. The line "Two tribes warring downtown after hours" reinforces the idea of a violent clash between rival factions. The repeated phrase "It's all happening downtown" emphasizes that all the action is taking place in this seedy location. The song ends by repeating the greeting "Welcome to my town," as if the singer is proud of this dark and gritty environment.
Line by Line Meaning
Headless body in a topless bar.
A bizarre occurrence that is both shocking and fascinating.
Warring clans in lowered cars.
Two groups competing fiercely for power or territory in a dangerous situation.
A buck is still a buck in Shanghai and a buck is all you earn.
Money has the same value and importance no matter where you are, and it's the sole source of income.
A great night for all concerned.
An excellent evening where everyone is happy and satisfied.
Steel fingers play a deadly song.
Someone with great skill is capable of causing significant harm or destruction.
Whole lotta Shakespeare going on and on and on.
A lot of talk and drama that seems over the top and exaggerated.
You painted daughters of the Tong underground don't mess around.
Women associated with a Chinese criminal organization are to be taken seriously and should not be underestimated.
Welcome to China Town. Well, you're in our town now. Welcome to China Town.
A greeting to someone entering an area controlled by the Chinese criminal underworld, conveying that they are now under their rules and guidance.
Heroes aren't born, they're cornered, and this corner is where we write the story.
A hero is someone who rises to the occasion when they find themselves in a difficult situation, and this current situation is where the story will be written.
Two tribes warring downtown after hours.
Two groups fighting for power or territory in a city center at night when the law is more relaxed.
The best to you each morning.
A form of farewell wishing someone well every day.
Can't survive and think to win. Drugged into sin. Next episode begins and begins and begins and begins.
You can't succeed if you're impaired and losing yourself to unhealthy habits, and the cycle continues.
Welcome to my town, my town, my town!
An invitation to enter their world and experience their way of life.
Contributed by Jacob K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@duckydrummer6331
Can you imagine walking into some bar and hearing Eddie just tearing up the guitar?
@Igglefan69
He must have just blown people's minds...
@hervemauri6457
Eddie est monstrueux 🔥🔥
@deadreckoning292
I know… that’s be so crazy
19 years old
Making that guitar his bitch
@benjaminsmith1089
Long live Van Halen, Eddie your mark on the world was unmistakable.
@asherdeangelo3268
Eddie can boost anything..rip my brother...respect
@rangerdoc1029
Really impressive recording quality for how old it is.
@plutomoon8106
Recorded thru a sound board. Gives album live sound. Plus mic for audience background. Superb.
@freddyferrillo9704
@@plutomoon8106: Yes you're correct. But one detail you left out.....it's recorded analog onto tape.
@mindeloman
I've always felt the guitar during the talking break in "Hot For Teacher" was lifted from La Grange. It sort of has that same cadence. And it goes from A to B#