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)
Runnin
Van Halen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I live my life like there's no tomorrow
And all I've got, I had to steal
Least I don't need to beg or borrow
Yes, I'm livin' at a pace that kills
Ooh, yeah
Ahh (Runnin' with the devil)
Woo-hoo-oo
(Runnin' with the devil)
I'll tell you all about it
I found the simple life ain't so simple
When I jumped out, on that road
I got no love, no love you'd call real
Ain't got nobody, waitin' at home
Ahh, yeah
(Runnin' with the devil)
(God, in the name of the lord of Nazareth, I'm only gon' tell you one time)
Ahh, yeah
(Runnin' with the devil) you bet I am, yeah
Woo
Woo
You know, uh, I found the simple life weren't so simple
When I jumped out, on that road
Got no love, no love you'd call real
Got nobody, waitin' at home
Ha-yeah
(Runnin' with the devil)
Oh God, oh God, I'm runnin', aw yeah
(Runnin' with the devil) uh, uh
Ooh ooh, one more time
(Ha-yeah)
(Runnin' with the devil) (oh, yeah)
(Runnin' with the devil) (woo, woo, woo)
(Runnin' with the devil) (ah-ha, yeah, ah-ha, yeah, ah-hah, yeah)
(Runnin' with the devil) (woo)
The lyrics to Van Halen's "Runnin' with the Devil" reflect the rockstar lifestyle of excess, recklessness, and living in the moment. The singer admits to stealing and living without consequences, embracing a pace that puts his life in danger. The chorus of "runnin' with the devil" speaks to the thrill of living life on the edge, pursuing a life that others may deem dangerous or immoral. The second verse reveals that even the "simple life" that others may aspire to is not enough for the singer. He has no real love in his life and no one waiting for him at home, so he continues to run with the devil, seeking that rush of excitement.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of rebellion and defiance against societal norms and expectations. Van Halen was known for their hard rock sound and party anthems, and "Runnin' with the Devil" is no exception. The song taps into the adrenaline-fueled lifestyle of being a rockstar, living life to the fullest and not caring about the consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah, ah, yeah
Expressing enthusiasm and excitement for the lifestyle he is living
I live my life like there's no tomorrow
Living recklessly, as if there is no future or consequences
And all I've got, I had to steal
Admitting to obtaining possessions through illegal means
Least I don't need to beg or borrow
Acknowledging that stealing may be wrong, but at least he doesn't have to rely on others for help
Yes I'm livin' at a pace that kills
Maintaining an unsustainable lifestyle that will likely lead to his eventual downfall
Runnin' with the devil
Engaging in dangerous or immoral behavior with companions who share his lifestyle
I found the simple life ain't so simple
After trying to live a life without possessions or responsibility, he realized it was not easy
When I jumped out, on that road
Refers to leaving behind his previous way of life and embracing a new, reckless one
I got no love, no love you'd call real
Unable to find meaningful connections with others in his current lifestyle
Ain't got nobody, waitin' at home
No one in his personal life who cares about him or is a positive influence
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alex Van Halen, Edward Van Halen, David Roth, Michael Anthony
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnp.johnson1541
@Logan Hayden LOLZ Dave Grohl.
Junna at 18 was better than Grohl was age, well, ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIr-3Qp1JbA
Dave Grohl is bankable. That is why he is anything. He is bankable because of Kurt Cobain.
Grohl is as much of a hack drummer as Alex VH is.
Good luck!
@TrapMusicNow
Legends are never forgotten. Keep rockin Eddie. 🤟
@kevinkidd7211
True
@blakebortles6098
rip
@clankercommando7576
Pleasure To Kill gate keeping music💀
@TrapMusicNow
Pleasure To Kill bro I grew up with hair metal and grunge rock and classic country like george strait and Travis tritt. You need love in your life brother. Sorry for your hate
@dupersuper6516
@Pleasure To Kill
Dude, stop being 11 for like 6 seconds for Eddie
@spartacusromanus
For anyone who was 15 years old in 1978, when this album was released, you know the impact it made. Eddie's insane and different guitar left a lot of people not knowing what was going on. How was it possible to get those harmonics and that tapping technique? Eddie was an alien...R.I.P.
@lisacline4975
I was 12 but definitely got into them a few yrs later and now at 57 still a fan
@tednugentlives
Was 10 years old. Wore that record out..picked up my first guitar at 11 , jumping off furniture because of this. Never knew the intro was car horns. I even installed 8 in my car to make the same noise.(dumb) RIP King Edward. The rock word continues on as you set the bar for guitarists for generations.
@inkfreq888
@Lisa Cline im 54, never saw Daves VH, the 5150 tour i did. I think they went downhill on 1984 album. It wasnt the "in your face" rocking!
The VH logo will be inked on me in Feb.
LONG LIVE ROCK!!!