Van Halen – Live 1981
Introduction
Eddie Van Halen was dissatisfied, reportedly so dissatisfied he even wanted to leave the band that carried his name. He wanted to have control over his music, the production, and the end result. Fair Warning would provide him with exactly that.
Van Halen
Within three years, Van Halen had grown into a sensation. When their debut album Van Halen was released on February 10, 1978, it proved to be a turning point in (pop) music and heavy metal. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen in particular was highly praised. His skills were celebrated; year after year he was voted the best guitarist in the world, and his band broke record after record.
But he was unhappy. As also stated in the article on Women And Children First, the relationship between Eddie and singer David Lee Roth was poor. In addition, producer Ted Templeman was rigid in his approach to production and recording techniques. Eddie felt obstructed by his own singer and producer. Therefore, his frustration was mainly aimed at them.
Eddie Van Halen & Valerie Bertinelli (first meeting, Christmas 1980 & wedding day 1981)
Valerie Bertinelli
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. On August 29, 1980, Eddie Van Halen met TV actress Valerie Bertinelli after a Van Halen show. According to Van Halen manager Noel Monk, it was immediately clear that there was instant attraction.
It was kind of cute to see them together – they were both clearly nervous and somewhat reticent. This struck me as a sign of genuine chemistry. After all, Valerie had spent most of her life in front of a camera or audience; she was completely comfortable with all manner of public interaction. And yet, here she was, stammering and blushing like a schoolgirl in the presence of the captain of the football team. And Edward? Here was a guy who went out onstage every night and performed, wizardlike, in front of thousands of adoring fans. In the presence of this young woman, however, the rock star facade melted away.
© 2017 Noel Monk, Runnin’ With The Devil (Van Halen book)
Bertinelli herself later said, “It was love at first sight, for sure.” On New Year’s Eve 1980/1981, Eddie proposed to Bertinelli, and on April 11, 1981, they got married. At the time, both were deeply involved in cocaine use, with Eddie also struggling with a drinking problem. Reportedly, he was so out of it on his wedding day that, between the ceremony and the reception, Bertinelli helped him vomit in the bathroom.
The marriage between Bertinelli and Eddie Van Halen ultimately lasted much longer than anyone expected, even though (or maybe because?) much of it was spent under the influence of various substances. In 2005, Bertinelli officially filed for divorce, which was finalized in 2007. They remained on good terms and continued to see and speak to each other until Eddie Van Halen’s premature death. Bertinelli and Van Halen had a son, Wolfgang, in 1991.
Not everybody was happy about Eddie getting married. Ted Templeman: “There was a lot of pressure on him by the band not to marry her, but I think they were meant for each other.” Eddie: “I don’t think the other guys like it too much. But I love it. Best thing I’ve ever done.” Bertinelli claimed that Eddie personally heard David Lee Roth say the following about him: “That fucking little prick, not only is he winning all the guitar awards, he’s also the first to marry a movie star.”
Dark period
Despite his marriage and the love he had found, Eddie Van Halen described this period as a “dark period.” He wanted to leave Van Halen. According to Kiss bassist Gene Simmons, Eddie asked him if he could join Kiss. All these issues would eventually lead to Fair Warning, an album that many Van Halen fans consider the best the band ever recorded.
Van Halen – Fair Warning
Fair Warning
The recordings for the album took place from early March through early April 1981. Eddie Van Halen’s frustrations translated into dark, aggressive guitar parts. A large portion of the album was written (and partly recorded) late at night, when the rest of the band and producer Ted Templeman had already gone home. Engineer Donn Landee and Eddie Van Halen stayed behind in the studio (or secretly returned after everyone had left) to work on the album and new music, sometimes removing or altering additions made by Ted Templeman.
The experience directly contributed to Eddie Van Halen’s desire to build his own studio, which he actually started 1983 (see also the sub-article Eddie Van Halen and his home studio: 5150). Van Halen was heavily involved in the album and its musical direction. Meanwhile, David Lee Roth wanted to take things a bit more seriously as well. During a trip through India, he had seen real poverty, corruption, and hunger for the first time, which had left an indelible impression on him.
The album cover also differed from previous Van Halen albums. It featured various excerpts from The Maze, a painting by Canadian artist William Kurelek, depicting tormented youth. The use of the image was suggested by Alex Van Halen. The band wasn’t pictured on either the front or back cover. The inner sleeve contained an image of the band members and part of the lyrics of Mean Street in handwritten graffiti.
The album was well received by critics, but less so by the public. It was the worst-selling Van Halen album up to that point, but was nevertheless certified platinum in the United States in November 1981. According to manager Noel Monk the band utitlized the payola system, bribing diskjockeys and radiostations to play specific songs in order to sell more copies. Monk stated that “a couple hundred thousand dollars” would turn the album platinum. According to Monk Roth said “We can’t afford to be just a gold band anymore.”
Van Halen – Fair Warning – Promos
Review
After Women And Children, Van Halen kind of vanished from my radar. I found other musical styles more appealing and interesting, including the 2 Tone craze. As a result, I listened to Fair Warning much later. I wasn’t immediately impressed (the same applied to Diver Down), but over time the album grew into one of my favorite Van Halen records.
Together with the debut album Van Halen, Fair Warning is the heaviest material the band ever recorded. It introduced synthesizers on a Van Halen album, though still in a somewhat rudimentary form. The track Push Comes To Shove stands out because of its funk elements, showing that the band had mastered that style as well. Sunday Afternoon In The Park is unlike anything Van Halen had done before, or would do after, an instrumental experimental piece, even if it doesn’t always work equally well. The latter track in particular can feel somewhat monotonous and dull.
Many fans consider Fair Warning to be their favorite Van Halen album. For me, however, the album is not quite classic enough. The first side is absolutely outstanding, but the second side contains just a bit too much filler material for me to consider it classic Van Halen.
Van Halen – Fair Warning – Singles
Singles
Four singles were released from the album.
- So This Is Love?
(released in June 1981, US) - Unchained
(released in July 1981, Europe) - Mean Street
(released in 1981, Europe) - Hear About It Later
(released in 1981, Netherlands)
Van Halen – Fair Warning – Back cover
Songs
All songs written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth.
Side A
- Mean Street
- Dirty Movies
- Sinner’s Swing!
- Hear About It Later
Side B
- Unchained
- Push Comes To Shove
- So This Is Love?
- Sunday Afternoon In The Park
- One Foot Out the Door
Van Halen – Fair Warning – Inner sleeve
Musicians
- David Lee Roth – vocals
- Eddie Van Halen – guitar, synthesizer, backing vocals
- Michael Anthony – bass, backing vocals
- Alex Van Halen – drums
Van Halen – Live New York 17-07-1981
After Fair Warning
The band toured the United States and Canada from mid-May through late October 1981. The tour was a major success as the band sounded heavier and more impressive than ever before. The sound system consisted of more than 100 speakers, capable of nearly blowing the audience away. The tour ended on October 24 and 25 in Orlando, where Van Halen served as one of the opening acts for The Rolling Stones.
For 1982, the band planned to record a cover single and then take a break. David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen reached an agreement, and the band recorded Roy Orbison’s Oh, Pretty Woman. It became a major hit. Under pressure from their record label Warner Bros., the break was canceled and a new Van Halen album was put together within two weeks: Diver Down. More pop-oriented and featuring no less than five covers, the album was a great success, much bigger than Fair Warning. Next, the band moved toward their final Van-Halen-with-David-Lee-Roth album, 1984. Read all about that album in the article 1984 and the end of the classic Van Halen line-up.
In closing
What do you think of Fair Warning? Let us know!
Video/Spotify
This story contains an accompanying video. Click on the following link to see it: Video: Van Halen and the dark, heavy Fair Warning. The A Pop Life playlist on Spotify has been updated as well.
