@730waters, Sorry I had the right band, I’m just a bad speller. OK , nothing to do with Van Halen correct but except that, notwithstanding Eddie’s unquestionable gifts and innovative playing style, the first Van Halen album (1978) is absolutely derived from that first Strider record (1973) down to identical riffs and tones. Van Halen had been playing together around Pasadena for years before their break and first record. I would bet the farm that they or their handlers absorbed the obscure Strider album, probably early on. I’ve learned over the years about so much of this cynical rip off behavior in pop music, which is, exactly what Van Halen is, fun pop music that quickly descended into one of the most vulgar abominations our culture has ever seen.
Don’t get me wrong, Sammy is one of my heros and eddie’s talent is undeniable but all the crap and corruption-maybe the best example of commercially promoted lifestyle over music/ form over substance.
