Coming hot on the heels of the lost Van Halen ‘dinosaur’ video comes yet another unearthed gem! And this one is even better!
We’ve all wanted to be a fly on the wall at 5150. Or a friend of Eddie Van Halen’s who could get to hear amazing stuff that he’s working on.
Well, this video below is just that!
The unknown videographer starts filming as he opens the studio door, and there at the control booth sits the most popular guitar player in the world. Edward Van Halen is at home in his studio, and happy to share the amazing music he’s been writing with his friends.
This epic piece of music would become “Amsterdam”, released on Van Halen’s Balance album, eight years later!
It’s amazing that he had this incredible piece of music, for so long before the world heard it. Makes you wonder what else he’s written, doesn’t it?!
The video clip, uploaded to YouTube by Van Halen Brasil, who states it’s from 1985. But Eddie’s haircut and his JAMS brand “Team Jams National Champs 1986” jersey show us it’s actually probably from early 1987, around the time he jammed with G.E. Smith on Saturday Night Live, during the period of time between the 5150 and OU812 albums and tours.
This makes the third song from Balance which originated from much older ideas. “Seventh Seal” as written in the ’70s, as was the intro to “Take Me Back.”
It’s so bitter-sweet to get to see stuff like this, as it just makes us miss him that much more.
We can’t stop watching this. This is PURE GOLD.
Van Halen – “Amsterdam” (1995)
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