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THE BEAT GOGS ON

Van Halen: In Search Off The Baaad Chord NEW YORK—"I sure feel sorry for Mr. and Mrs. Van Halen, having to listen to that being rehearsed in the basement... "—random reaction to Van Halen's New York debut at The Palladium, 3/25/78. Face the facts, kiddos, when it comes to heavy rock and roll—y'know, the kind of stuff that sounds like a herd of dinosaurs engaging in some prehistoric S&M—a little bit of calculated outrageousness goes a long way.

July 1, 1978
Rob Patterson

THE BEAT GOGS ON

DEPARTMENTS

Van Halen: In Search Off The Baaad Chord

NEW YORK—"7 sure feel sorry for Mr. and Mrs. Van Halen, having to listen to that being rehearsed in the basement... "—random reaction to Van Halen's New York debut at The Palladium, 3/25/78.

Face the facts, kiddos, when it comes to heavy rock and roll—y'know, the kind of stuff that sounds like a herd of dinosaurs engaging in some prehistoric S&M—a little bit of calculated outrageousness goes a long way.

So along come Van Halen, led by two Dutch siblings on guitar and drums who grew up, in Pasadena, and fronted by one David Roth, whose struts and screeches emit a crotch-splitting intensity the likes of which haven't been seen since Jim Dandy Magrum invented his now passe cock-walk. They look just like a bunch of kids from California offstage, but under the spotlight, become 50,000 watt denizens riffing their way out of a suburban hell. Got some good songs and an admirable version of "You Really Got Me," surely one of the ten most covered songs of all time, the requisite bone cruncher chords, thunv dering rhythm and cat o' nine tails leads. Y'know—the basics.

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