On this day March 24 1986 Van Halen released their seventh studio album 5150. This was the band’s first album with Sammy Hagar as lead vocalist following David Lee Roth’s departure. The album marked a new era for Van Halen with a shift toward a more polished sound that combined hard rock with synthesizers and melodic hooks. 5150 hit number 1 on the US Billboard 200 charts and went on to sell over 6 million copies in the United States. The album featured major hits like Why Can’t This Be Love which helped define Van Halen’s sound in the mid 80s. Fans embraced the change in lineup and sound making 5150 one of the band’s most successful releases.
Fun fact: The album’s title 5150 is a reference to the California police code for a person deemed mentally unstable but it was also the name of Eddie Van Halen’s home studio where the album was recorded.
Trivia question: What was the first Van Halen album to feature Sammy Hagar on vocals?
Fun fact: The album’s title 5150 is a reference to the California police code for a person deemed mentally unstable but it was also the name of Eddie Van Halen’s home studio where the album was recorded.
Trivia question: What was the first Van Halen album to feature Sammy Hagar on vocals?
