Van Halen was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band was recognized for revitalizing hard rock and for their energetic live performances and the guitar work of Eddie Van Halen. From 1974 to 1985, the lineup consisted of Eddie Van Halen on guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals, Alex Van Halen on drums, David Lee Roth on lead vocals, and Michael Anthony on bass. Their self-titled debut album, released in February 1978, reached No. 19 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 10 million copies in the United States by 1996, achieving Diamond certification. Subsequent albums included "Van Halen II" (1979), "Women and Children First" (1980), "Fair Warning" (1981), and "Diver Down" (1982), all of which were later certified multi-platinum. The album "1984" (1984) sold 10 million copies in the U.S. by 1999, producing four successful singles including "Jump," the band's only number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1985, Roth left for a solo career and was replaced by Sammy Hagar. With Hagar, Van Halen released four number-one, multi-platinum albums: "5150" (1986), "OU812" (1988), "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" (1991), and "Balance" (1995), as well as the double-platinum live album "Live: Right Here, Right Now" (1993). Hagar departed in 1996, and Gary Cherone joined as lead vocalist for the commercially unsuccessful album "Van Halen III" (1998) before leaving in 1999. The band reunited with Hagar for a worldwide tour in 2004 and released "The Best of Both Worlds," a double-disc greatest hits collection. Roth returned in 2006, with Wolfgang Van Halen replacing Michael Anthony on bass.
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