Runnin’ With The Devil – Van Halen (1978)

Description

Additional information about this Van Halen vinyl art.

Van Halen – The Artist

Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California in 1972. The band is known for its energetic live shows and for the work of its acclaimed lead guitarist, Eddie Van Halen. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. From 1974 until 1985, the members consisted of Eddie Van Halen; Eddie’s brother, drummer Alex; vocalist David Lee Roth; and bassist Michael Anthony. Upon its release, the band’s self-titled debut album reached No. 19 on the Billboard pop music charts. By the early 1980s, Van Halen was one of the most successful rock acts of the time. The album 1984 was a hit; its lead single, “Jump”, is the band’s only U.S. number one single to date and was internationally known. The band has sold 56 million albums in the States and more than 80 million worldwide.

Runnin’ With The Devil – The Song

‘Runnin’ With The Devil’ is the second single from Van Halen’s 1978 eponymous debut album. The song lyrics were inspired by the Ohio Players song “Runnin’ from the Devil”. The song’s lyrics have often been misinterpreted as being satanic, yet the members have never revealed the full meaning of the song. It is usually interpreted as being about the life of a touring young band. The song’s verses deal with an individual’s experience, including learning that a “simple” lifestyle is not as simple as it appears. The lyrics “Runnin’ with the devil” are usually interpreted as being a reference to freedom. In the song freedom is portrayed as a lack of social ties and living in the present. The song’s meaning has also been interpreted as being an attempt to convince a person that the theme of a simple life is not wrong as it appears. Therefore, the lyrics of “Runnin’ with the devil” would not be serious.

The Van Halen Logo – The Shape

This record has been modelled into the bands first logo. Van Halen’s popular logo has undergone a couple of important modifications over the band’s career. The first change came in 1986, when Sammy Hagar replaced David Lee Roth as lead singer of the group. The wings on either side of the “V” and “H” were converted to rings to symbolise the change. Of course, the band’s current, Roth-fronted album ‘A Different Kind of Truth’ featured a return to the original design.

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