Van Halen

Band

Photo: Warner Records · Public domain
Active 1972-1999, 2003-2020
Origin Pasadena, California
Albums 12
Tracks 127
Most frequent collaborator Ted Templeman · 71 tracks
Genres Hard RockHeavy MetalGlam Metal
Artist
93%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 118 of 127 tracks

Did Van Halen write their own songs?

Yes, and always as a group. Every one of the 127 tracks across the twelve studio albums is credited to the whole line-up, with no solo writing credit anywhere in the catalogue. Eddie and Alex Van Halen appear on 105 tracks each, Michael Anthony on 92. The only outside names come from nine covers.

By the Numbers

12
Studio Albums
127
Tracks Credited
93%
Self-Written
more than 80 million
Records Sold
27
Years Active
22
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 118 / 127 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 127 tracks: how many Van Halen wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Van Halen has a writing credit93%
92%
1%
7%
Sole author117tracks92%
Co-written1tracks1%
Outside writers9tracks7%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Van Halen's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 127 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)83%
Composer (music)93%
Producer43%
Performer100%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 127 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Eddie Van Halen Died October 6, 2020 1972-2020 (died October 6, 2020)
83%
93%
9%
0%
Alex Van Halen 1972-2020
83%
93%
0%
0%
David Lee Roth 1974-1985, 1996, 2006-2020
46%
51%
0%
0%
Michael Anthony Former 1974-2006
72%
83%
0%
0%
Sammy Hagar Former 1985-1996, 2003-2005
29%
32%
0%
0%
Gary Cherone Former 1996-1999
8%
9%
0%
0%
Wolfgang Van Halen 2006-2020
10%
10%
0%
0%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Van Halen's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 93%
82%
90%
100%
100%
58%
100%
100%
90%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1978Van Halen
1979Van Halen II
1980Women and Children First
1981Fair Warning
1982Diver Down
19841984
19865150
1988OU812
1991For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
1995Balance
1998Van Halen III
2012A Different Kind of Truth
Early · 92% written
Mid · 85% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

86%
1970s
Van Halen, Van Halen II
90%
1980s
Women and Children First, Fair Warning +4 more
100%
1990s
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, Balance +1 more
100%
2010s
A Different Kind of Truth

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Van Halen sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Van Halen
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Tina Turner0%
Diana Ross10%
The Jacksons24%
Eric Clapton40%
Michael Jackson51%
Earth, Wind & Fire66%
Guns N' Roses78%
93%Van Halen
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

You Really Got Me
Van Halen
Written by Ray Davies
Outside writers
Runnin' with the Devil
Van Halen
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Alexander Arthur van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski
Wrote it
Dance the Night Away
Van Halen II
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Alexander Arthur van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski
Wrote it
Beautiful Girls
Van Halen II
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Alexander Arthur van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski
Wrote it
And the Cradle Will Rock...
Women and Children First
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Alexander Arthur van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski
Wrote it
Mean Street
Fair Warning
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Alexander Arthur van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski
Wrote it
Unchained
Fair Warning
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Alexander Arthur van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski
Wrote it
So This Is Love?
Fair Warning
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Alexander Arthur van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski
Wrote it
(Oh) Pretty Woman
Diver Down
Written by Bill Dees, Roy Orbison, William Dees
Outside writers
Dancing in the Street
Diver Down
Written by Marvin Gaye, Ivy Jo Hunter, William Stevenson, Ivy Hunter
Outside writers
Jump
1984
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Alexander Arthur van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski
Wrote it
I'll Wait
1984
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Michael McDonald, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Alexander Arthur van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski
Co-wrote
Panama
1984
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Alexander Arthur van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski
Wrote it
Hot for Teacher
1984
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, David Lee Roth, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Alexander Arthur van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski
Wrote it
Why Can't This Be Love
5150
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Alex Van Halen, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Samuel Roy Hagar, Michael Anthony Sobolewski, Alexander Arthur van Halen
Wrote it
Dreams
5150
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Alex Van Halen, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Samuel Roy Hagar, Michael Anthony Sobolewski, Alexander Arthur van Halen
Wrote it
Love Walks In
5150
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Alex Van Halen, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Samuel Roy Hagar, Michael Anthony Sobolewski, Alexander Arthur van Halen
Wrote it
When It's Love
OU812
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Samuel Roy Hagar, Alexander Arthur van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski
Wrote it
Finish What Ya Started
OU812
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Samuel Roy Hagar, Alexander Arthur van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski
Wrote it
Black and Blue
OU812
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Samuel Roy Hagar, Alexander Arthur van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski
Wrote it
Feels So Good
OU812
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Samuel Roy Hagar, Alexander Arthur van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski
Wrote it
Top of the World
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Alex Van Halen, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski, Samuel Roy Hagar, Alexander Arthur van Halen
Wrote it
Right Now
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Alex Van Halen, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski, Samuel Roy Hagar, Alexander Arthur van Halen
Wrote it
Can't Stop Lovin' You
Balance
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Alex Van Halen, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski, Samuel Roy Hagar, Alexander Arthur van Halen
Wrote it
Not Enough
Balance
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Alex Van Halen, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski, Samuel Roy Hagar, Alexander Arthur van Halen
Wrote it
Without You
Van Halen III
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony, Gary Cherone, Alex Van Halen, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski, Alexander Arthur van Halen
Wrote it
Fire in the Hole
Van Halen III
Written by Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony, Gary Cherone, Alex Van Halen, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Michael Anthony Sobolewski, Alexander Arthur van Halen
Wrote it
Tattoo
A Different Kind of Truth
Written by Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen, Wolfgang Van Halen, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, Alexander Arthur van Halen, Wolfgang William Van Halen
Wrote it

Discography 12 albums

All twelve studio albums. The live albums and compilations sit outside this catalogue.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Van Halen127 tracks
TT71Ted Templeman, 71 tracks DL19Donn Landee, 19 tracks 13John Shanks, 13 tracks BF12Bruce Fairbairn, 12 tracks MP12Mike Post, 12 tracks AJ11Andy Johns, 11 tracks MJ9Mick Jones, 9 tracks on Foreigner's page RD2Ray Davies, 2 tracks JB1John Brim, 1 track CB1Clint Ballard Jr., 1 track BD1Bill Dees, 1 track RO1Roy Orbison, 1 track WD1William Dees, 1 track MG1Marvin Gaye, 1 track IJ1Ivy Jo Hunter, 1 track WS1William Stevenson, 1 track IH1Ivy Hunter, 1 track MA1Milton Ager, 1 track JY1Jack Yellen, 1 track DE1Dale Evans, 1 track MM1Michael McDonald, 1 track LG1Lowell George, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. TT Ted Templeman · DL Donn Landee · BF Bruce Fairbairn · MP Mike Post · AJ Andy Johns

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

The credit is a line-up, not a person. Eddie and Alex are on 105 tracks each because they were there for all of it, and Michael Anthony on 92 because he stayed through three singers. The singer is the variable: David Lee Roth on 58 tracks across six albums, Sammy Hagar on 37 across four, Gary Cherone on ten for one, Wolfgang Van Halen on thirteen for the last. Not one track in the catalogue is credited to a single member. What changes instead is how much of an album is not a song at all: thirteen tracks have no lyric credit because they are instrumentals, from "Spanish Fly" on the second album to "Primary" on Van Halen III. Nine more are covers, which is where every outside name in the credits comes from.

Quick Facts

  • The brothersEddie and Alex Van Halen on 105 of the 127 tracks
  • The singersDavid Lee Roth on 58 tracks, Sammy Hagar on 37
  • Solo creditsNone. Every track names the whole line-up
  • InstrumentalsThirteen tracks with no lyric to credit
  • Sales56 million albums in the US, more than 80 million worldwide
  • Hall of FameRock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted 2007

Creative Fingerprint

A whole-band credit on every track for forty years, with two brothers constant and the singer rotating through it.

The Story

Nobody in Van Halen ever got a solo credit. Every song across twelve albums is credited to whoever was in the band that year, which puts Eddie and Alex Van Halen on 105 of the 127 tracks and moves the singer's name in and out around them.

Awards & Recognition

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted January 2007
Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal, 1992, for For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
Twentieth on the RIAA's list of best-selling artists in the United States as of March 2019

Frequently Asked Questions Van Halen

Did Van Halen write their own songs?
Yes, and always as a group. Every one of the 127 tracks across the twelve studio albums is credited to the whole line-up, with no solo writing credit anywhere in the catalogue. Eddie and Alex Van Halen appear on 105 tracks each, Michael Anthony on 92. The only outside names come from nine covers.
Who wrote Van Halen's songs?
The band, credited together. Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen and whoever was singing and playing bass at the time. David Lee Roth is on 58 tracks, Sammy Hagar on 37, Gary Cherone on ten and Wolfgang Van Halen on thirteen.
Who wrote "Jump"?
Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth, credited together like everything else on 1984. It reached number 1 on the Hot 100 in 1984, the band's only chart-topping single.
How many studio albums did Van Halen release?
Twelve, from the 1978 debut through A Different Kind of Truth in 2012. Six with David Lee Roth in the first run, four with Sammy Hagar, one with Gary Cherone and one more with Roth back.
Which songs did Van Halen not write?
Nine covers. "You Really Got Me" and "Where Have All the Good Times Gone" by Ray Davies, "Ice Cream Man" by John Brim, "You're No Good" by Clint Ballard Jr., "(Oh) Pretty Woman", "Dancing in the Street", "Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)", "Happy Trails" and "A Apolitical Blues".
How many records has Van Halen sold?
56 million albums in the United States as of March 2019 and more than 80 million worldwide.
Which Van Halen album sold the most?
1984 and the band's self-titled debut album are their best-selling records, each having sold more than 10 million copies in the United States.
Did Van Halen win a Grammy?
One, in 1992, for Best Hard Rock Performance with Vocal, for For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.
Who sang for Van Halen?
David Lee Roth from 1974 to 1985 and again from 2006, Sammy Hagar from 1985 to 1996 and Gary Cherone from 1996 to 1999. All three have writing credits, because the band credited everyone in the line-up.
Is Van Halen in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Yes, inducted in January 2007. As of March 2019 the band was twentieth on the RIAA's list of best-selling artists in the United States.

Sources

Wikipedia: Van Halen Wikipedia: Van Halen discography Wikipedia: Eddie Van Halen Wikipedia: Alex Van Halen Wikipedia: David Lee Roth Wikipedia: Michael Anthony Wikipedia: Sammy Hagar Wikipedia: Gary Cherone Wikipedia: Wolfgang Van Halen Wikipedia: 1984 Wikipedia: Van Halen (album)