In a recent interview with Tape Op, Donn Landee delved into Van Halen’s early days. He then revealed the album that made Alex Van Halen feel disappointed in the end.
Over the years, Landee’s been involved in various projects with acts such as Van Halen, The Doobie Brothers, and Eric Burdon, among many others. Yet, even he was surprised by the feedback from the band and Alex Van Halen:
“They were extremely quiet. We didn’t hear anything about [the sound of the album] until well after ‘Van Halen’ was out. They were disappointed; it was not what they had in their mind when they came in to do the record. But Al told me we got it right later on. What we got on tape for ‘1984’ was much more to his liking.”
According to Landee, Bassist Michael Anthony revealed that the band entered the studio hoping to recreate a sound reminiscent of rock band Montrose for their debut. However, as the producer noted, the two albums were different in their recording processes.
Despite the band’s initial reaction, Van Halen’s debut album not only made its mark on the Billboard charts but also received a diamond certification by the RIAA. It also opened doors for the band, leading to them performing alongside Journey, Montrose, and Black Sabbath during their subsequent tour.
In August 2023, Eddie’s son Wolfgang closed the doors completely on a Van Halen reunion, saying there wasn’t any band left after his father’s passing.
