They Might Be Giants

In 1999, the ever-changing backing band lineup settled on The Band of Dans, forming a full house line-up of Johns and Dans for almost five years. However, it was during their contribution to the movie Twister that tension between Hagar and the brothers boiled over publicly with Hagar's departure. Several albums have followed, including John Henry (1994) and Factory Showroom (1996). The band's Roth-era remake of The Kinks You Really Got Me was used in a Nissan commercial. The 1992 release of Apollo 18 saw Flansburgh and Linnell attract a supporting band, consisting of former Pere Ubu bassist Tony Maimone and drummer Brian Doherty. The hit single and award-winning video Right Now (F.U.C.K., 1991) was used to promote the ill-fated soft-drink Crystal Pepsi. Following those successes, Bar/None Records released the B-sides and rarities compilation Miscellaneous T in 1991. In addition to the band's success musically, the second incarnation of Van Halen also saw broadened use of the Van Halen brand as the band expanded its reach into other media with their music being featured in high-production value commercials and movies. Although it was David Lee Roth's innovative, over-the-top style that turned Van Halen from a member of the hard rock pack to the leader of it; Hagar's more conservative 'working man' person turned Van Halen into a franchise and icon.

This reflects the high "kid appeal" that TMBG has, resulting from their often silly or absurd songs and poppy melodies. Amazingly, Van Halen continued to enjoy tremendous popular success through the mid-90's, a period during which the anti-corporate rock, "Grunge Music" revolution, ended a decade of "Glam Metal" and dealt the final blow to many hard rock acts of the 1980s (Guns n' Roses and Poison to name a few). Further interest in the band was generated by a pair of music videos featured in Warner Brothers cartoon Tiny Toon Adventures: "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" and "Particle Man". In addition, Van Halen was nominated for two Grammy Awards- winning the 1991 Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal award for the album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. Flood earned them a gold album, thanks to the singles "Birdhouse in Your Soul", which reached number 6 in the UK charts, and "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)". Also, during this time, 17 singles breached the top 12 of the mainstream rock tracks chart. In 1989, they signed with Elektra Records, and released their third album Flood the following year. During Hagar's tenure, the band established a successful musical formula which delivered both commercial and artistic success. All four studio albums reached the #1 spot on the Billboard pop music chart.

The first single from Lincoln, "Ana Ng", reached number 89 on the UK Billboard charts, and was No.1 in the College Charts, earning the attention of major labels. Die-hard "old Van Halen" fans derisively referred to the new "Van-Hagar" sound as "soft" or "fluffy" when compared with the earlier Roth-era raucous 80s party, 'hair'-band style- a sound which Roth himself once described as a mix of "religion and hockey". This album caused a major shock within the US music industry when in its first week of release it knocked U2's The Joshua Tree off the top of the Billboard College Charts (the US music industry's equivalent to the "Alternative/Independent" charts elsewhere in the world) after only a one week stay at the top (most were expecting U2 to be on top for the remainder of the year). The result was a more mature, more integrated sound that differed markedly from the hard charging, straight through, run-away riffs of the group's earlier work. In 1988 they released their second album, Lincoln. Hagar's musical sensibility enabled Van Halen to be more accessible to a wider audience with lyrics that were more introspective and dreamy. This was coupled with expanded instrumentation by Eddie that demonstrated tighter thematic elements brought about through more advanced blending of sonic textures within each song. The video for "Don't Let's Start" became a hit on VH1, earning them a broader following. Van Halen's period with Sammy Hagar was marked by two somewhat opposing trends: expansion of the band's commercial success and acceptance by a wider audience while at the same time experiencing a growing sense of fan resentment regarding the departure of Roth.

The duo released their self-titled debut album in 1986, and it became a college radio hit. After this, every subsequent Van Halen album would break the top 5 of the pop charts. It soon caught the eye of Bar/None Records and earned them a review in People magazine. The band's second production, Van Halen II, peaked at #6 on the charts and their fourth album, Fair Warning, topped out at #5. They did many live performances in New York but when Linnell broke his wrist in a biking accident and Flansburgh's apartment was broken into and all his guitars stolen, they set up the Dial-A-Song system with an answering machine hooked up to a tape of them playing popular songs. (The Van Halen track "Runnin' with the Devil" and 1984's "Jump" are listed as two of the top 500 most influential songs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame). Although they had a strong local following, they had a hard time getting a record deal. In addition, both albums are regarded as milestones in rock and roll, ushering in artistic innovations that, although widely emulated, remain quite unique.

The band began performing their own music, accompanied by a drum machine, and soon became fixtures on the Manhattan underground. Both albums have reached diamond status, each having sold over 10 million copies. The two finally reunited, and moved to Brooklyn to continue their career. The band's top selling albums to date are their 1978 debut and 1984. Eventually the two went to separate colleges after high school, and Linnell joined The Mundanes, a New Wave group from Rhode Island. The David Lee Roth era remains Van Halen's most critically and commercially successful period, having influenced nearly all bands who followed it. They began writing songs together in high school, but they never officially formed a band. Soon after, singer/guitarist/song-writer Sammy Hagar, who had been introduced to the band during a previous tour with Hagar's former band, Montrose, joined as the new vocalist.

The two Johns first met as children in Lincoln, Massachusetts. In the midst of their greatest commercial success and tour, the artistic and personal tensions between the musicians reached a breaking point, and Roth left the band on April 1, 1985 -- having been either dismissed or having quit, according to different reports. They are also known for "Boss of Me," the theme to the hit television comedy, Malcolm in the Middle for which they won a Grammy Award. Music videos for the singles Jump, Panama, and Hot For Teacher, all became wildly popular. Their appearance on the show Tiny Toon Adventures also gained recognition for their songs "Particle Man" and "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)". (Eddie Van Halen played the lead guitar on the hit song "Beat It" from that album). TMBG's most famous songs are probably one single from each of their first three albums, "Don't Let's Start" (from They Might Be Giants), "Ana Ng" (from Lincoln), and "Birdhouse in Your Soul" (from Flood). 1984 was praised by critics and fans alike, and peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts, behind the stratospherically popular Thriller by Michael Jackson.

They Might Be Giants (commonly abbreviated to TMBG) is a pop/rock duo consisting of John Linnell and John Flansburgh, collectively known as "the two Johns" or "John and John". "Jump" became the band's first and only #1 pop hit. The Spine Surfs Alone (2004). 1984 fully integrated electronic keyboards into the band's sound, (they had dabbled in electronic keyboards on earlier albums, but never so prominently.) The album's lead single, Jump, featured a boundy synthesizer hook and anthemic lyrics by Roth. Indestructible Object (2004). Van Halen's subsequent album, 1984 (released December 1983) became their commercial and artistic pinnacle, as well the breaking point for the original group. Bed, Bed, Bed (2003). That record was eventually broken in the 90s.

They Might Be Giants In Holidayland (2001). After another successful round of touring, Van Halen became the highest paid music group for a single appearance with an appearance at the US Fest in 1983. Music From Malcolm In The Middle (2000). As the band began to make their first music videos for MTV, the telegenic "Diamond Dave" Roth naturally became the focus, often to the chagrin of the other band members. Man, It's So Loud in Here (2000). Fair Warning was a relative sales disappointment and the band returned to a more accessible sound with Diver Down which featured a hit cover of Roy Orbison's classic rock and roll song "Oh, Pretty Woman". Boss Of Me (2000). However, in 1981, during the recording of Fair Warning, tensions began to stir within the band, as Eddie Van Halen's desire to experiment with more serious songs and complex structures came at odds with Roth's pop instincts and increasingly cartoonish, ironic persona.

Working Undercover For The Man (2000). For the next four years the band would continue to alternate album releases with touring, to increasing commercial and critical acclaim; by 1980 Van Halen was the world's most successful and influential hard rock band. S-E-X-X-Y (1996). This album yielded the band's first hit single, the poppy "Dance the Night Away". Back To Skull (1994). They returned to the studio in 1979 for Van Halen II, very similar in style and sound to their debut. O Tannenbaum (1993). The early chemistry of the band was based upon the interplay between Eddie Van Halen's technical wizardry and frontman Roth's flamboyant antics, (a contrast that would later bloom into full-blown conflict within the group).

Why Does The Sun Shine (1993). The band toured for nearly a year on the basis of Van Halen, firmly establishing their reputation as a talented and exciting live band. The Guitar (The Lion Sleeps Tonight) (1992). Van Halen also introduced the guitar world to the band's signature "Brown Sound": a nickname given to the combination of Eddie's own relaxed, experimental style coupled Templeman's production technique that produced a distinctive tone sought after by other musicians. I Palindrome I (1992). According to folklore, before the release of the first album, Eddie would play his solos with his back to the audience to hide his technique from imitators. Istanbul (Not Constantinople) (1990). Nothing like it had ever been heard on record and "Eruption" granted Eddie Van Halen immediate guitar god status among players worldwide.

Birdhouse In Your Soul (1989). Other musicians had developed two-hand playing techniques as far back as the 1950s, but Van Halen's technique was something else again: a percussive, hugely amplified barrage of notes and effects. Purple Toupee (1989). The Van Halen track "Eruption" introduced the rock and roll world to a new soloing technique called tapping: a technique utilizing both left and right hands on the guitar neck. They'll Need A Crane (1989). It was soon regarded as one of rock's most extraordinary albums. (She Was A) Hotel Detective (1987). The band quickly moved into the studio with Templeman and recorded their first album and released it to immediate success. Self-titled Van Halen, the album featured innovations in playing, production, and arrangement.

Don't Let's Start (1987). executive, and Ted Templeman, who would be the band's first producer, in a meeting that took place after a show at the famed Starwood Club in Los Angeles. 1985 Demo Tape (1985). Eventually the band was signed by Mo Ostin, a Warner Bros. Wiggle Diskette (1985). KISS’ management passed on signing the band, and the tape did not lead to a record contract. Users Guide to They Might Be Giants (album) (2005). In 1976, Gene Simmons of the rock band KISS, caught one of the band's shows and financed the production of a demo tape. The bootlegged demo commonly circulates around the internet under the name of "Zero," featuring unfinished and alternative lyrics to many of Van Halen's more famous early songs as found on the first few albums.

Almanac (album) (2004) (Internet release only). The band became a hit in the Los Angeles, California club scene of the early 1970’s. Venue Songs (2004) (Internet release only). Playing gigs under various names including The Trojan Rubber Company, The Broken Combs, Mammoth, and Rat Salad (after the Black Sabbath song), the band eventually settled on the name Van Halen as suggested by Roth. Dial-A-Song: 20 Years Of They Might Be Giants (2002). Edward and Alex, growing tired of paying the "PA Tax" to Diamond Dave, brought him into the Van Halen fold in 1974. They Got Lost (2002). David Lee Roth, a noted entrepreneur his entire life, rented out his public address system to the band on many occasions.

Long Tall Weekend (1999) (Internet release only). Through the years, Mike consistently performed well on vocals, earning himself the moniker "Cannon Mouth" for being louder than the lead vocalists. Live (1999). Going through a number of potential vocalists, Van Halen consisted primarily of a power trio in its primordial existence. Edward Van Halen and Michael Anthony took turns at the microphone. Then: The Earlier Years (1997). While he was away, his brother Alex would practice on the drum set. As Eddie saw his brother excel on the drums, he decided to switch and learn the guitar. Live!! New York City 10/14/94 (1994). As legend goes, in order to pay for his drum set, Eddie worked delivering newspapers.

Miscellaneous T (1991). Eddie, subsequently, took an interest in playing the drums. Here Come the ABCs (2005) (CD and DVD released separately). As they grew older, Alex took an interest and began to learn the guitar. The Spine (2004). As young children, Alex (the older of the Van Halen brothers) and Eddie were trained as classical pianists. No! (2002). Eddie and Alex's father, Jan Van Halen, was an accomplished musician and encouraged his sons' love of music (the band would eventually feature the elder Van Halen playing the clarinet on the song "Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)" from the album Diver Down (1982)).

Mink Car (2001). The Van Halen family emigrated from Nijmegen, Netherlands to Pasadena, California in the 1960’s. Severe Tire Damage (1998). Van Halen is a United States hard rock band named after the guitarist Eddie Van Halen and his brother drummer Alex Van Halen. Factory Showroom (1996). The Best of Both Worlds [greatest hits] (2004). John Henry (1994). Van Halen III (1998).

Apollo 18 (1992). Best of Volume I (1996). Flood (1990). Balance (1995). Lincoln (1988). Live: Right Here, Right Now (1993). They Might Be Giants (aka The Pink Album) (1986). For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991).

Experimental Film (2004) (animated, with Homestar Runner characters). OU812 (1988). Courage The Cowardly Dog (2003?) (computer animated, aired on Cartoon Network). 5150 (1986). Boss Of Me (2001) (premiered on FOX, some airplay on MTV2 and other stations). 1984 (1984). Doctor Worm (1998). Diver Down (1982).

Snail Shell (1994). Fair Warning (1981). The Guitar (1992). Women and Children First (1980). The Statue Got Me High (1992) (two versions exist - the BBC aired a different variation). Van Halen II (1979). Particle Man (1990) (animated, with Tiny Toons characters). Van Halen (1978).

Istanbul (Not Constantinople) (1990) (animated, with Tiny Toons characters). That same year, Hagar also released a live album (Hallelujah), which featured Anthony and Cherone. Istanbul (Not Constantinople) (1990) (claymation version). In 2003 Bassist Michael Anthony joined part of Hagar's solo tour and performed together with Hagar and his band, The Waboritas. Birdhouse In Your Soul (1990). I'm the kind of guy you go out with if you want to split your friend with a bottle.". They'll Need A Crane (1988). The difference between me and him is that "he's the kind of guy you go out with to split a bottle with a friend.

Purple Toupee (1988). In an interview, he contrasted his personality with Hagar's by saying: Sam is a laid back, friendly kind of guy. Ana Ng (1988). A classic quotation from the tour came from Roth. Rabid Child (1986) (home video, not released publicly). In the summer of 2002, David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar teamed up for the Heavyweights of Rock (known tongue-in-cheek as the 'Sans-Halen' or 'Sam & Dave' Tour). Don't Let's Start (1986). Since his departure from Van Halen, Gary Cherone has been busy with various projects including his new band Tribe of Judah.

Put Your Hand Inside The Puppet Head (1986). He is involved with the annual music industry NAMM Show. Michael Anthony stays busy outside of Van Halen with various product merchandising projects. He also created his own merchandising brand Cabo Wabo which grace his own line of tequila as well as his franchise of cantinas located in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and Lake Tahoe, Nevada. After his departure from Van Halen, he released five albums.

Sammy Hagar remained active musically. The last word is that he is developing an adult theatre show in Las Vegas, Nevada. He also occasionally performs live as a feature solo act. Since his departure, Roth has produced a number of albums and toured with his DLR band (his most recent release being Diamond Dave (2003)).

In 2003, David Lee Roth brought a court action against Van Halen, their management, and record company claiming he was left out of 1996 royalty renegotiations. Alex Van Halen continued to work with his brother on new material at their fabled 5150 recording studio. In 2002 Eddie's 21 year marriage to actress Valerie Bertinelli ended in divorce. He also underwent cancer treatment and made a complete recovery.

In 2001 Eddie Van Halen had hip replacement surgery. Gary Cherone, lead vocals (1996-1999). Sammy Hagar, lead vocals (1985-1996), (2004-). David Lee Roth, lead vocals (1974-1985).

Edward Van Halen, guitar, piano and keyboard, backup vocals. Alex Van Halen, drums and percussion, backup vocals. Michael Anthony, bass, backup vocals.