Eddie Van Halen was it: the guitarist who helped drag hard rock into the pop age, leaving contemporaries in both performing and composition in the dust. On the occasion of his passing in October 2020, we’re joined by Greg Renoff (https://twitter.com/gregrenoff), author of “Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal” and “Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life in Music” to look back at Van Halen’s 1978 debut album and their groundbreaking synth-led “1984” – the ones that best exemplify the group’s talent, charisma, and staying power. Questions from our Patreon supporters lead us to talk about Van Halen’s music videos, artists whose passing hit hard, bands we only liked as we aged, and more!

To jump to a particular discussion, check out the timestamps below…

14:55 - “Eruption”

22:29 - “Runnin’ with the Devil”

29:46 - “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”

42:12 - “Jamie’s Cryin’”

50:23 - “Feel Your Love Tonight”

58:23 - “On Fire”

1:07:56 - “Jump”

1:14:14 - “Panama”

1:25:31 - “Top Jimmy”

1:30:32 - “Hot for Teacher”

1:37:40 - “I’ll Wait”

1:45:14 - “House of Pain”

1:49:47 - Community questions

2:14:17 - Community song (“Topanga Lawrence” by Charmer, suggested by MinnMax supporter Dan Willey)

Follow Greg at https://twitter.com/GregRenoff

Find Greg’s book about Van Halen, “Van Halen Rising,” at http://vanhalenrising.com/ and wherever you get books

Support MinnMax on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/minnmax/

CrossFade Episode Playlist: https://spoti.fi/2vgqfvK

CrossFade Community Playlist: https://spoti.fi/3aRRgox

Understanding Eddie Van Halen's Teen-Idol Appeal (NPR) https://www.npr.org/2020/10/14/921756326/eddie-van-halen-teen-idol