It just doesn't get much better than this tune. It's unfortunate that EVH's soloing always got most of the attention because in his day, he was such a fantastic rhythm player as well. This tune is just a master's class in rhythm guitar playing. Actually the entire second album is a master's class in rhythm/riffwork.

I remember the summer 74 and 75 living Monrovia Ca, backyard parties seeing Van Halen at least 10 times or more paying like $3 a head got you in and one styorfoam cup. The cops use to bust the parites at 10 pm all the time they would draw at least 500 people or more. Those were the days.

@ericmdk

3 жыл бұрын

I'm building a time machine. If it works would you be willing to help me find the parties again? JK =) I so wish..

@scrappycoco7996

3 жыл бұрын

San Gabriel valley was Van Halen country I grew up in Temple City California the best back yard parties ever Van Halen ruled 74 and 75 what a incredible time that was

@baybae92

3 жыл бұрын

@@scrappycoco7996 So jealous of you all! I was born in '92 so I missed the glory days by a couple decades lol

@scrappycoco7996

3 жыл бұрын

@@ericmdk hell yeah I'm in I still have many of the original fliers to the clubs and backyard parties 🎉

@WestShoreMan

3 жыл бұрын

I hear you! I’m from Pasadena. The 70s and the back yard parties every weekend along with VH and the battle of the bands at the Civic were the best!!

Light up the sky tonight Eddie. You were the best that ever was!

@Momonoski

2 жыл бұрын

Amen!

@astraluna6is9

Жыл бұрын

Agreed. Especially’Outta Love’ Time signatures man. Time signatures.

I will say it a million times, and mean it everytime Being a guitarist myself, I know what EVH was to me. Everyone else here knows what he meant to them. You can throw out all the superlatives you want about The Master, but there is never going to be an argument about his mastery of his chosen art. No else had players around the planet going "What the F is that". From his grin to his fingers Eddie was born to bring us joy through his expression of his art, and you can thank whatever god you believe in that he shared his joy with us. ALWAYS #1 UNPARALLELE

The first time I saw VH was August 9,1980, they opened with this at the Hollywood Sportatorium. My life was changed forever. Ist or 2nd row. I had seen Kiss 2 years earlier and was blown away, but when I saw VH it was beyond magic... God bless Van Halen. Things like this just don't happen anymore, where O' where are the Van Halen's of the world??!!

@israeljimenez5816

3 жыл бұрын

Was there with you ! Mind blowing show not sure if it was 81 too many things have passed

@mudbone3276

3 жыл бұрын

I seen them in April of 1980 and they opened with Romeo delight...you sure it wasn't 1979?

@skeeno666

3 жыл бұрын

@@mudbone3276 you're right, it was 1979 at the Jai Alai Fronton... Crazy! 1980 World Invasion they opened with Romeo's Delight. I also saw the 1981 Fair Warning Tour, I think the opener was Sinner's Swing... Man, nobody today comes within 1000 miles of VH live in that era. Rock on!

@sourcefor

3 жыл бұрын

Yes my second concert ever 1979 Miami Jai Lai

@cathtech15able

9 ай бұрын

I was there also with you at the sporthole. My 1st concert. That night changed my life dramatically! R.I.P. Edward Van Halen....

I would LOVE to see an official 2 cd/DVD live recording from the DLR era, to see and hear them at their PUNISHING, ASS-KICKING BEST !! I think in my humble opinion, VH II is the best balance of high-energy rockers and ballads, and just plain good songwriting of the DLR era material. Peace! -Dave

Mike Anthony screaming is the best!

@marybotkin7297

3 жыл бұрын

It’s not VH without Mike’s falsetto!

@ericmdk

3 жыл бұрын

Fuck yes!

This whole show is great. Dave’s singing is so on point and really brings the whole sound of the band together

So Fucking Tight! VH II was a killer rocking LP! Amazing live performance!

saw them live everytime they played any ciity within 200 miles of my hometown of E. Tenn. from '82 -84. changed my life. THE Best American Rock n Roll Band , untouchable as a live act . ON FIRE Thanks for posting this great clip.

@dougtull4594

Жыл бұрын

Saw them in 1978-1982.

@sterlingarcher9208

11 ай бұрын

@@dougtull4594 Saw them in 1979-81 in Chicago!

Van Halen rules the world. Saw them in 81 three times, only remeber Happy Trails. Whee have all the good times gone???

DLR screams like no one else.

@davidcampbell4174

7 жыл бұрын

Not anymore

@KevMac58

7 жыл бұрын

u should hear my girlfriend! !

@Mauste007

6 жыл бұрын

Still better than Sammy ever has been.

@Gutterman5150

6 жыл бұрын

Those high screams are Michael Anthony...

@Challender

5 жыл бұрын

Those high pitched background vocals are Michael Anthony Bro!

So friggin tight! Love Al’s drums in this too...that snare is driving the party

What a beautiful version! '79 Fresno, VH's heyday! The boys were so tight! Love the force here. We miss you Eddy! Back here on earth you will always be one of the very few shining stars, burning forever bright, 'lighting up the sky'. RIP my brother!

One of the greatest Rock Guitar Gods of all time. RIP Eddie

Absolute energy! This is the real VH I love!

Van Halen the Undisputed World Champions of "Whip your Ass" HARD ROCK!!!! Nobody F***ed with VAN HALEN!!!!

great, great, great

THIS IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOO FUUUUUUUUUUCKING BRUTAL !!!!!!!!!

I remember it like it was yesterday, 1979, medford oregon, jackson county expo, Baccardi 151, hands up girls ruffly blouse, weed in the air, unbelievable magic occurring on stage the vision of which is burnt into my brain forever. Me and my friends saw god that night and it changed many of our lives forever. During that 2 hour show we were delivered, saved, and witnessed, we clicked over and grew up that night and we all knew it.....

Saw VH in 1980. Atlanta Ga. Opened with Romeo Delight. Devastating.Blew the roof off.

it's taken me this long to finally find someone else who thinks the same as I do about this tune. Absolutely slays, especially the end part where Roth screams his goofy head off. About the least chick-friendly song they ever wrote, I thought, but it's cool to see girls into it in this vid. This was before my time by one year - I saw them on the next tour.

@djroxanne4429

9 жыл бұрын

Mark Alexander we girls are a funny lot , find the most girl unfriendly song and girls will be out on that dance floor or screaming for more..lol..

Most awesome !!!!!

Wow what a great opener, wish I was there!

They were my 1st concert and it was in December of 1979 at The Forum in Inglewood, Ca. I was 15 years young & I was sitting in the 6th row on the floor in front of Eddie & I know it was my 1st concert but holy smokes they meant business. They were not messing around. I can't even believe what Eddie was doing on his guitar along with running around & jumping off the drum riser. It was crazy. He was playing his Bumblebee guitar. I've seen them 5 times & countless other bands since then & that is absolutely within the top 3 live shows I've ever seen & Maybe #1. They were that good. If you saw Van Halen before 1982, you saw a very high energy, in your face rock n' roll concert. I saw them in 1979,1980,1982, at the US festival in 83 & again about 10 years ago. 🤘

Roth sounds so awesome live in their early days compared to now... He changed things a bit then but stuck with the main melody and vocals that most are used to on the albums. I watched Light Up the Sky live from their current tour 2015 and he wasnt even singing the same song almost... "C'mon Dave... Gimme a BREAK!!!"

@creepyzeek1

7 жыл бұрын

Dave Rucci he he hey, one break coming uuuuup.

@TralfazConstruction

3 жыл бұрын

Five years ago when you posted your comment there was still a hope that a Van Halen reunion with those original talents might be possible. Now we know this can never happen. Going forward, Eddie's legacy will have to be enough for those of us who are left.

Playing this album on dates got me laid, I wore out this 8track

There has only been 2 guitarist that really and completely changed the game. Hendrix and Eddie! Alot of incredible guitarist and many are known for iconic music, but these 2 moved the instrument in new directions.

@MrMolack

Жыл бұрын

Blackmore also did that. For many, he is the bridge between those two.

The first five Van Halen records are flawless. No filler and total jam. Best live band in late 70s early 80's.

Favorite Van Halen song!!

i always liked that little part Eddie puts in right befor the lead real tastey.

excellent boot. don't have this one but will find it. Thanks!

And a good version that was ! Thanks man

I thought they were at their prime in 1984. Despite MTV and the way it affected Rock music, VH still had great music like Hot For teacher and Panama. They might not have been as hungry as they were here after VHII, but they still had it!

holy crap this is what's missing from music today. these guys were so damn hot back in the day. dirty, dark and somehow catchy under it all. so fucking good. how we miss those days.

i love van halen

So much energy, they were incredible!

One of my all time favorites from one of my all time favorites!

heh heh......right on man. i remember hearin' this record for the first time summer of 79',iwas 8 years old,rollerskatin'!...................................fuck,i knew then they were special.

I saw them in 1984 and they never played this. This is a Fing sick version. Thank you!

Thank you for posting this awesome song 😎.

I thought I was the only one to think this is their best! Killer

Fackkk....too young to see them back then....what a performance!

2:48 Eddie activates awesome mode

Bitchin vid. There are not that many live versions of "Light up the Sky." But, yeah, this is the best live version of "Light up the Sky" that I have heard to date. I still get amped up whenever I hear anything by Van Halen that I have never heard before. I still love them now as much as I did as a kid. Thanks for posting.

You gotta love Michael Anthony's backing vocals.

I'm so glad I saw these guys bitd, when the world was at their feet. I will never forget it as long as I live.

When I was in 9th grade (1979) I remember seeing that VH banner on just about every kid's notebook and wondering what the hell it meant. Then I heard eruption, and I started drawing that banner on anything that would stay still long enough for me to draw on it. Been a fan ever since. R.I.P. Eddie, thanks for the amazing music.

Young and hungry. Mike screaming. Roth singing. Bringin it to Fresnoooo!!! You can tell it's very close to the time they tracked it. Wow. Halen got punk energy.

I hanged that very poster on my wall back in the late 70's as a kid. Love Van Halen!

they were out to blow doors and minds round the world...and they did!

Ha! That made me crack up..Great Post....One of my favorite VH tunes...

WOW. so much energy

Praise Zackvanhalen for posting. THANK YOU!! I just listened to this tune on 8 Track cranked WAY UP on my AKAI CR-81!!

Awesome...Superb..

Awesome!

Lord have mercy!!!! Mighty I say!!!!

The most ripping lead break of all time. Shivers.

@L.A.W.Studios

Жыл бұрын

Very true & me too. My god, the energy on this live version may not sound the best, but holy sh!t, how much more hammering & hi energy can you get,? just ...woah..

I have that same outfit I wore to work this week, at 2:45. Boss loved it. Got a raise....this is killer though. VH in this era, one of rock's all time great live acts. Love how Roth always improvises on his "speaking" parts on the songs.

Wow! They hit that special note at 1:31. I love that. Thanks for the post!!

PEP..I was observing another vid of VH where you're at Anaheim Show. I was there....And I do remember the paraachute jump...lol. Most of ALL... Van Halen came played during the day. Me & my friends went, 2 of us went really close. When they broke out to "Jaime's Cryin' --We were TEARIN IT UP. VH had me! o)

Have the stubs from 78-84 St.Louis,and the next ones with Sammy for 4 years,and I also saw Sammy in 79,with the Scorpions and Pat Traverse, those were ROCKIN DAYS!!! You know the roadies loved the job,Hell,I’d of done it for free.

There has never been a tighter more electric ass kicking band than the MIGHTY Van Halen

Saw them in 1984 on the 1984 tour lol. I was 14 but had been listening to them since 6th grade. Made me pick up the guitar...to date I own and play a 1984 Kramer Baretta...original owner.

my 1st concert ,,July 23, 1978 day on the green at the oakland coliseum....AC/DC Van Halen, Pat Travers, Foreigner and Aerosmith in that order.Van Halen blew all of them off the stage! Saw them again on December 2, 1978 and they blew Black Sabbath back to 1968! Van Halen with DLR = GREATEST ROCK BAND AND SHOW EVER!

This album was EPIC when it came out...awesome songs. VH at their peak!

Strong magic coming on.

Unbeatable. Unreachable. Uncomparable.

If this IS from Fresno, it was at Selland Arena, and I was there. But like a lot of days from back then, I don't really remember a whole lot of it : ^ )~ But these guys were untouchable back then.

badass cant wait til april 1

amen,brother......young eddie!

HOLY SHEEET

I saw them when it was a real concert...you could party! You could smoke cigarettes! You saw people passed out laying on the floors! People puking! People laughing uncontrollably! Sat where you wanted! Watch out for the fireworks Today concerts suck!

@ericmdk

3 жыл бұрын

And the artists actually sang, played, moved, and danced around. Now - Mumbling to backing track of their own voice/track dj says "Yeah!" "What?".

@jdsharp4033

2 жыл бұрын

Cigarettes??? That’s what they called em’?😁 I saw Joint storms(my best description, of course Dave would would find a hog leg and ask for a lighter,then 10,000 lighters started being incoming and you could see em bouncing of Alex’s drum kit,cymbals and all

Très bon 👍 Merci 🙏🇫🇷

This Shows How Awesome They Are

Got to see them in 78 79 first time at rainbow or hamersmith to be honest but do remember my and my mates leaving shellshocked amazing gig

i still can't believe it

This is FUCKING AWESOME. Thank you for posting...

Holy Shit!!!!!!!!!!#!!!!!#!!!#!

love van halen best rock guistarist up with townsend, hendrix, stevie ray vaughn, joe walsh, jon mchaulighin. hey woolfie, love you too. big mozart fan myself

This is why VH should be regarded as one of the alltime greatest bands. Who cares about S hagar and all the other BS this material easily puts them in the Hall of Fame.... Too bad the shit bag American Idols will never even approach this level of greatness... All Hail: REAL ROCK N" ROLL

Epic

thats rite!!!.....hopefully they do it june 22nd in San Antonio when I see them...would love some Top Jimmy too

Saw them play this at Riverfront Coliseum in Cin City Ohio back in the day, David L. Roth opened the song by saying light up your Joints. They made the news headlines and they got banned from playing there again . Ha Ha ! Was One helluva show !

I watch the "KZread " and almost lost mind!!! Great song

@skeeno666 I saw them @ the Hollywood Pitatorium too It was on the Diver Down tour won tickets from WSHE for one night & bought tickets for the next night. This new album really KICKS ASS!!! VAN HALEN ruled & will rule again...PEACE

Happy 40th Birthday VH2.....

Damn!! Now I really miss Mike,LOL!! I always thought "House of Pain" was thier heaviest followed by "Atomic Punk,"but damn I love this song,Thanks!!!]

@zackvanhalen i saw this tour the first and the next they all got bigger and better

Born in 72 , I never had a chance to see early Van Halen but when they came to Victoria BC in 1981 ( I was 9 and not allowed to go to concerts though I was a huge fan ) I had VH 1 and AC/DC highway to hell and that was my foundation for becoming a rock/metalfan. Anyhow my step mom worked at the hotel where the band was staying and Eddie left his jacket behind and she was the one who cleaned their room ( bet it was pretty nasty ) she turned it in to the lost in found but since he never claimed it she got it back. Eddie was a small guy and since I was 9 I was the only one in my family that it would fit. I now have a momento that will last my life forsure , I hope its magic will light up the sky again for someone some day RIP Eddie and thanks for making making my life full , VH is like sex for your ears

about fell off my chair...

Happy Memorial Day from all the boyz on the USS Wasp, baby!

@wilkyx they had floyd rose back then...I still have it. Kramer made some too...

what a fuckin way to start a gig!!!!!!!!

I love the primal energy they had then esp Dave with the "Strong magics COMIN' ON!!" I practiced singing this and I cant do that but at least I can harmonize w/wolfgang in my vocal workout to this w/the Van Halens soundchecking it.This is their best song!

Fresno?!?!?!?!?!?!? FUCK I wish i was alive during then to see the best fucking band ever in my home town... Damn missed out

Fucking Amazing! This is Van Halen.

@creeper109 Wish I even had the chance. Come to Rochester NY, now that you are back Tgether, damnit all!!!! Light it Up!

i tattooed mike a couple times in hawaii and he's the coolest guy, real class act VAN HALEN NO KA OI!!!!

Fresno used to be hopping!!