Van Halen - Pasadena High School May 3 1974

[LeftyLoungeLizard]

1st known recording of Van Halen in circulation.

Ed was about 19 at the time. Mark Stone on bass.

Of special note is "Guitar Solo" which starts a hair after 51:50 (!)... it's an early version of what would become "Eruption"... which morphs into an acoustic type piece.

 

[TSJMajesty]

I missed this gem. A guy from work grew up in CA and told me about the house parties VH used to have back then. It was so cool listening to his stories...., of them having to start playing as early as possible, because word would spread like wildfire, and people and cars would descend on the neighborhood, prompting neighbors, who couldn't get out of their driveways, to call the cops. PARTY'S OVER!!

 

[Achilles]

He had 'that tone' even way back and you gotta assume that can't be the exact same head he used for VH1.

Wonder what Ed's inspiration was to focus on his staccato picking to get it so insanely good?
Certainly all of his influences I'm heard him cite wasn't it.

Anyone know?

 

[TSJMajesty]

I wonder why hardly any of these songs ever made it onto their albums. Is it just a simple case of their songwriting improving? Maybe Michael Anthony's coming into the band had an influence?