Released on March 23, 1979, Van Halen II marked the explosive return of one of rock’s most electrifying new bands. Coming just a year after their groundbreaking debut, the album proved that Van Halen wasn’t a one-hit wonder — they were a force destined to redefine late ’70s hard rock. Recorded at Sunset Sound Recorders […]
October has played host to some of rock’s most defining moments. It’s the month The Who released Tommy, Elton John dropped Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Def Leppard made their live U.S. debut. Rock legends like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lindsey Buckingham and Tommy Lee all celebrate birthdays this month, while fans remember the losses of Tom Petty and […]
Hard to believe, but this week marks five years since Eddie Van Halen left this world and honestly, it still feels like someone ripped the soul out of rock ‘n’ roll with a whammy bar. You might be asking: “Why should I still care?”Here’s why: Because Eddie Van Halen didn’t just play guitar—he reprogrammed the […]
Family Feuds and Face Melting Riffs When it comes to rock ‘n’ roll, blood isn’t just thicker than water, it’s LOUDER. Some of the most legendary bands in music history didn’t just form in garages, they were forged at the family dinner table. When siblings or relatives share the stage, the result is either pure […]
When Van Halen dropped Fair Warning in April 1981, the band was already riding a wave of fame, but this record marked a different turn. Darker, heavier, and more experimental than their first three albums, it pushed the boundaries of what the Pasadena quartet had been doing. Nestled in the tracklist was ‘Unchained,’ a song […]
While summer may be coming to a close, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy some great rock music. RELATED: ‘Escape’ Is NOT Journey’s Best Album This list features 25 great classic rock songs to close out your summer as the nights unfortunately start to get longer. RELATED: ROCK MOMENT – AC/DC – ‘You Shook Me […]
“VAN-DEMONIUM!”: Rock Stars Who’ve Got VAN in Their Name and the Wild Rides They’ve TakenGet ready to crank the volume, blow your speakers, and maybe double-check your spelling. We’re diving headfirst into the leather-studded, amp-blasting world of rock stars whose names proudly bear the mighty syllable: VAN. From the smoky blues bars of Belfast to […]
The Fourth of July is quickly approaching, and like all holidays, music goes hand-in-hand with the patriotic holiday celebrating the founding of the United States of America – especially rock music. RELATED STORY: 20 Things To Do in Houston This Weekend (June 27 – 29) July 4 celebrates summer, freedom, patriotism and the American spirit, something […]
Summer is in full swing in the Houston area, as schools have closed for the summer and H-Town’s signature summer highs seem to be going no where. Now that it’s summertime, it’s time to update the music on your summer playlists! RELATED STORY: Top 10 Brian Wilson Beach Boys Songs of All Time RELATED STORY: Sparks Notes: […]
We’re midway through May, meaning summer is just around the corner in the U.S. – unless you’re living in Houston, as the hot weather has been around for quite awhile. Daily highs are in the 90s, which will likely have you heading for the coast or chilling by a pool at some point in the […]
Live albums have been a staple in the world of “rock ‘n’ roll” since the 1970s, with many great bands from the genre’s heyday releasing at least one. While many of the studio recordings of the great songs on this list are amazing, we typically turn to the live tracks when we want to have […]
Throughout the history of rock music, pioneers in various forms paved the way for others to build upon the foundations they laid to grow the genre. In many cases, rockers took songs recorded by other artists and gave the songs their own spin, to varying degrees of success. RELATED: Ranking Every Song by Guns N’ […]