VAN HALEN NEWS DESK

‘Guitar Hero: Van Halen’ Song List And Release Date Revealed

guitarherovanhalen_logoAn update today from MTV Multiplayer:

Activision, unwilling to skate by the holiday season with just “Guitar Hero 5″ and “DJ Hero,” is bringing one more rhythm game into your already rock-laden household before the year is out. “Guitar Hero: Van Halen” will be releasing on December 22nd, and features the musical stylings of Eddie, Alex and Wolfgang Van Halen along with the vocal insanity that is David Lee Roth. Sammy Hagar is, predictably, a no-show.

The game will follow the trend of “GH: Metallica” and “GH: Aerosmith” by including songs from not only Van Halen, but also other groups with similar musical style, including Weezer, The Foo Fighters and Queen.

Here’s the full song list for your viewing pleasure:

Van Halen Songs
“Ain’t Talkin Bout Love”
“And The Cradle Will Rock”
“Atomic Punk”
“Beautiful Girls”
“Cathedral” (solo)
“Dance The Night Away”
“Eruption” (solo)
“Everybody Wants Some”
“Feel Your Love Tonight”
“Hang ‘Em High”
“Hear About It Later”
“Hot For Teacher”
“Ice Cream Man”
“I’m The One”
“Jamie’s Cryin”
“Jump”
“Little Guitars”
“Loss Of Control”
“Mean Street”
“Panama”
“Pretty Woman”
“Romeo Delight”
“Running With The Devil”
“So This Is Love”
“Somebody Get Me A Doctor”
“Spanish Fly” (solo)
“Unchained”
“You Really Got Me”

Similar Tracks Also In The Game
Alter Bridge – “Come To Life”
Billy Idol – “White Wedding”
blink-182 – “First Date”
Deep Purple – “Space Truckin”
Foo Fighters – “Best Of You”
Foreigner – “Double Vision”
Fountains of Wayne – “Stacy’s Mom”
Jimmy Eat World – “Pain”
Judas Priest – “Painkiller”
Killswitch Engage – “The End Of Heartache”
Lenny Kravitz – “Rock And Roll Is Dead”
Queen – “I Want It All”
Queens of the Stone Age – “Sick, Sick, Sick”
Tenacious D – “Master Exploder”
The Clash – “Safe European Home”
The Offspring – “Pretty Fly For A White Guy”
Third Eye Blind – “Semi-Charmed Life”
Weezer – “Dope Nose”
Yellowcard – “The Takedown”

I haven’t tried the game out yet, but apparently it’ll support dual bass pedals while druming on Expert+ (as introduced in “Metallica”). Now is it too much to hope for a Balance Board mini-game to pull off Diamond Dave’s patented splits?

  • Kevin

    Hell yeah!!!

  • http://www.bellapop.com Bran Halen

    Love the VH songs, but why is there an Alter Bridge song ?

  • Chris

    Man its about time we get some Van Halen out to other people! Can’t wait for it to come out, gonna be the first to get it at my store! Been playing there music since I started playing guitar now I can play them in a game too lol!!

  • Ray G

    I just took over the TV in the living room for the holiday season…

  • BC

    “The only people who put ice tea in Jack Daniels bottles is the Clash baby!!!” Out of respect to Van Halen, the Clash should not be in this game.

  • http://twitter.com/michaelq Michael

    Completely lame they are ignoring 1/2 the Van Halen catalogue and putting these other tracks on there instead.

    Maybe there will be a special Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame version later on with Sammy and Michael.

  • steve

    foreigner? alter bridge? tenacious d? not the kind of company you want vh in. someone was asleep in the picking tracks department not to mention the vh camp as to why this would be allowed.

  • Ian

    I’m disgusted by the absence of Sammy. Anybody else puzzled why they would leave out some the most successful and beloved songs of their career?

  • BC

    Ian, in case you didn’t realize. Eddie has been known to hold a grudge. What’s next? You’ll wonder why there are no VH3 songs.

  • Benny the jet

    eddie was a true guitar hero when dlr ruled the jungle.

  • Rodney

    NO TOP JIMMY !!!!
    AND NO SAMMY ERA!!!
    Well when they all get back together with Sam again in 5 years maybe they can re-release the best of both worlds van halen guitar hero Volume 1 right now live. LOL What a joke

  • http://none Ducky / Dirty Duck

    The only reason this game excites me at all is because it will hopefully get the younger generation to listen to REAL music.

  • adam

    I think it’s cool that van halen is coming out a guitar hero van halen. But I think it’s bull sh.. That there is no sammy hagar. How come they couldn’t do half of david lee roth and half of sammy hagar. Cause sammy hagar was in the band also. And they put out alot of good song’s. Like best of both world’s,Right now,Humans being,when it’s love,top of the world,Don’t tell me what love can do, dream, They came out with alot of good song’s with sammy hagar. And I just think it’s bull sh..That there’s not going to be no sammy song’s in this game. But what ever.

  • SCAR

    I wish drop dead legs would have made the list – wicked song!!!

  • MICAL VEE

    Don’t worry sammy fans,guitar hero BAND FAILIN’ will be out in 2010!!! Can you wait?

  • reservoirgoose

    I love the addition of an Alter Bridge song, wish there was more.

    And why is it so strange that Sammy is a no-show? Van Halen reunited with David Lee Roth so to help solidify and unify the group I’m sure they chose to exclude Sammy-era songs – since excluding such means that Sammy gets no royalties and we all know there’s been money disputes and quarrels between Eddie and Sammy. It seems pretty clear that Eddie has no interest in tossing a bone in Sammy’s direction, despite the fact that tons of fans would LOVE to have a decent selection of Sammy-era songs to play.

    This game looks like it will intentionally display Van Halen as they want to be seen, not a collection of the band’s history. I’m sure this has nothing to do with how Sammy feels – but more with what the existing Van Halen members decided. I bet Sammy had no say in the matter.

  • JakeySnakes

    Does anybody else find it funny, that it doesn’t say anything about Michael Anthony being left out, just Sammy Hagar?

  • Chad

    I played the demo version of the game at E3 back in June. It’s a lot of fun. I’m disappointed in the Sammy/Mike thing, but, I can’t wait to have the full setlist to play through! Great call including “Romeo Delight,” though I would have put “DOA” or “Take Your Whiskey Home” on there before “Loss of Control.” No “Drop Dead Legs” either…

  • http://none Ducky / Dirty Duck

    I dont understand why people are so confused and baffled over the absence of sammy on this game? What dont you understand? Sammy and eddie have been having problems with each other since 96′. Sammy hasnt made an album with him since balance. Dave is back in the band (where he belongs by the way)and this release of this game proves they are focusing on the classic era….thats it. And lets be honest here can we? Who the hell wants to play “Right now” on guitar hero?
    Look…I’m not a fan of these “video games” but if you’re gonna release guitar hero: VH it has to be some hard rockin’ stuff. Look at that list of songs up there. Everyone of them smokes. This is what the people want.
    I’m sure jimmy buffet-hagar will release his own version og guitar hero soon enough…
    I heard there will be coupons for hot sauce and tequila included in the packaging.

  • John

    Yeah , does seem wierd that they don’t mention Mike…
    you know never know though, could be the first Band Guitar Hero to have a sequel…

    ‘Guitar Hero: Van Halen 2: Sammy Hagar years’ anyone?

    or maybe they’ll do DLC for extra tracks, albums, even band members maybe. OR it will have a character editor accurate enough to make Sammy, Mike and maybe even Gary.

    Also shame theres no ‘Big Bad Bill’. Would have been awesome to see Jan Van Halen up there on the clarinet….could even spawn ‘Clarinet Hero’ :P lol

    As for the synth tracks (Jump & And the cradle will rock) are players expected to play these parts on guitar? I mean, in Jump, guitar is only as prominent as a ryhthm and the solo, the majority of the song is all keys….just a thought….

  • Skutch

    Tenacious D eats sammy era for breakfast.

    Loss of Control is a cool choice.

    Must we reiterate. MA isn’t in the band. ho-hum. quit complaining people

  • Kevin

    is what sucks is they keep recycling tracks from other guitar hero’s….why do they do that shit?? put some new ones on here!!!!!!!!!! AND van halen

  • R

    I guess I just don’t understand the deal with these games. Why not learn how to actually play the guitar/bass/drums/or sing instead of playing with pieces of plastic with colorful buttons?

    “Hey, dude, I banged on some pads along with Alex Van Halen’s drum track to “Hot For Teacher” and a computer told me I was kind of accurate!”

    Seriously, someone explain to me what I’m missing.

  • Dooley

    Very fake, just like the apparent piped in backing vocals used on the nostalgia tour. And if this is how the band wants to be seen now (as if MA or Sam never even existed)it’s just plain wrong and makes it even more worthless.

    Just the way it is with VH, great music and a great history with a lot of WTF’s dropped in along the way.

  • ben

    great set list, can’t wait to have it.

  • Chad

    Tenacious D is a lousy choice. They’re a joke – literally. Most of the extra tracks stink actually. The Queen and Deep Purple tracks are cool, but they even chose a lame Priest tune. There are so many better ones.

    Ironic that “Space Truckin’” was picked. Chickenfoot was playing that in their encore for the first leg of the tour.

  • Chad

    BTW, yes, you play keyboard parts (like on “Jump”) on the guitar. Kinda weird, but they weren’t going to leave that song off of it. It was too big of a song.

    Incidently, I have always been curious how “Jump” would have sounded if the main riff were done on guitar instead. With Eddie’s typical flourishes and highlights, it could have been very cool. Maybe the guy that does the VH Brown Sound tribute songs can work that up for us.

  • ringostore

    Never had any interest in this game. I guess it is for people who don’t play guitar and want the next level of “air” guitar.
    I’ll stick with Starcraft.

  • RickieVanWhalen

    I am getting old. The whole thing strikes me as odd. Pick up real guitar and give it shot. Some of EVH’s stuff is pretty easy to learn. Some of it… good luck! Guitar hero does no justice to the real thing. This shit is for little kids.

  • Junglestud

    What about DROP DEAD LEGS, HOUSE OF PAIN, GIRL GONE BAD ???

    i’m a little disappointed…

  • http://none Ducky / Dirty Duck

    You know junglestud….I am too.

    All THREE of those songs should be included.

    Didnt eddie say that “Drop Dead Legs” & “Girl Gone Bad”
    are two of his favorites? Did i read that right?
    See…shit like that i dont understand. I’m sure eddie had to make some decisions regarding the set list?

  • Kimberly

    Guitar Hero is actually a fun game if you just give it a chance and its a way to let younger kids see what rock really is…you have Van Halen, Aerosmith, Metallica, The Beatles for Rock Band..I’m not complaining. At least it isn’t Guitar Hero- Britney Spears. That shit would actually drive me up a wall lol.

  • Jungleland2

    “I’m disgusted by the absence of Sammy. Anybody else puzzled why they would leave out some the most successful and beloved songs of their career?”

    Money — that’s all – 100% CASH. If Sammy is part of this then Ed pays him. same with Mike Anthony.

    This game is about Van Halen in their current form, Van Halen the band and Van Halen(tm) the company / product.

    One other part is that Ed sees that his LEGACY is the Dave era Van Halen (much like Gene and Paul have the KISS from the 1970′s as their legacy)It’s not very rock and roll, but Ed is rebuilding the PRODUCT of Van Halen and this game is about the current flavor of Van Halen.

    Will this ever translate into an actual RECORD by Ed, Dave, Alex and Wolf? I think it will, at least one record. Ed’s not stupid, the new record will signal the END of Van Halen’s comeback era, even if this end is judged in years (we hope many)… so there is really no hurry to get this record made and out and tour. For now the excitement of POTENTIAL and the success of the reunion tour is keeping us on the edge of our seats. Think about Guns & Roses, now that Chinese Democracy is out, does anyone still care? It was a well made record (not my bag, but it was well crafted and I know people who did dig it)but the anticipation was bigger than the event. (but what the hell do I know ;)

  • Garrett

    These games are incredibly lame, but I’m all for exposing a younger generation of kids to the magic of Classic VH!

  • Remember the Prom Queen

    The marketing strategy is sound: release a popular game featuring the band, THEN follow up with a NEW album!

  • onlyclassicvh

    For all of you whining about Sam don’t buy the game PERIOD!!
    For all of you whining about the game, hmmm IT’S ONLY A GAME!!

  • Andrew

    Sammy? Ya put When it’s Love on the game. It’s a Van Halen Tribute, thus the true Halen songs.

  • Cam Winston

    I love the addition of an Alter Bridge song, wish there was more.

    Alter Bridge & Chickenfoot are the best rock bands that have released something recently. Someone who besmirches Alter Bridge, I’m willing to bet, only thinks of them as “Creed with a new lead singer”. Go listen to “Find the Real” or “Metalingus” or the aforementioned “Come to Life” and you’ll see that Mr. Tremonti is among the best.

    we all know there’s been money disputes and quarrels between Eddie and Sammy.

    Someone needs to Ed to get over it: if there were a battle of ‘best businessmen with the most money’, Sammy won a long time ago. Maybe there’ll be a Van Hagar edition in the future. Would love to check out some of the songs from F.U.C.K. on GH.

  • kevin

    no sammy songs was he not once in the band eddie or
    do you have share royalties?

  • EVHOU812

    Glad that “Feel Your Love Tonight” made it on there, my personal favorite from Van Halen 1. Disappointed that “Secrets” didn’t make it on.

    Also surprised to see Romeo Delight and Loss of Control from Women and Children, but jeez, the same three 1984 songs? What about Drop Dead Legs, House of Pain, or Girl Gone Bad?

    I like very few of the extra bands, they could have cut off most of them and replaced them with other VH songs. Those newer bands were most likely Wolfgang’s choices.

  • Adrian

    well my Christmas list is done! ROCK ON =VH=

  • http://myspace.com/rainefilms RaineFilms

    Hey you never know, they could give out Sammy era songs as DLC!

  • Bigdawg

    Guys don’t sweat over the Sammy songs.We all know Ed does not get along with Dave,so as soon as this lineup runs it’s course,Sam will be back in again,and then you will get GH Vol2 with all the Sammy tunes.

  • Bort

    Not happy about the Sam and Mike thing, but I’ll get the game if for no other reason than to further instill good music into the minds of my 7 and 9 year old boys.

  • Rich

    Its not a big suprise that there isn’t any sammy on here but its kind of a kick in the face to fans who enjoy all their music, as they’re ignoring 20 years (respectively – 1984 – 2004 when they last recorded something new) of their music and some of their best music, might I add.

    I just think it would be cool to emulate AFU Naturally Wired on Guitar Hero exactly they did on the OU812 tour at the Tokyo Dome in 1989. The drums are excellent for that song.

    But ho hum, its not like Van Halen are actually in it for fans anymore or they’d put the bullshit behind them.

    I think they should release the entire Fair Warning album just for content download – I’d just buy that album if it was available for GH.

  • Cam Winston

    I just think it would be cool to emulate AFU Naturally Wired on Guitar Hero exactly they did on the OU812 tour at the Tokyo Dome in 1989. The drums are excellent for that song.

    Go listen to “Get Up” & tell me the drums wouldn’t be awesome on GH.
    The pedal work alone would equate to any workout that Wii Fit could provide.

  • APE

    “Similar Sounding Songs”!? Obviously the Guitar Hero folks have never heard Extreme’s “Mutha (Don’t Wanna go To School Today)”

  • crazygoji

    I’m happy with the track list, but regardless, I’m disappointed Top Jimmy didn’t make it in.

    (Not that it would have…)

  • http://none Ducky / Dirty Duck

    CRAZYGOJI:

    I’m behind you on that one brother.
    Just my opinion of course but i think they should have released ALL the classic VH songs you NEVER hear on the rock stations. “Top Jimmy” , “Girl Gone Bad” , “Outta Love Again”, and “D.O.A” (Damn I love that song!) for starters.
    But whats done is done I guess…

  • stew

    what a bunch of winers ! Get over sammy you bunch of P&%$YS ! Dave Is Van Halen !!!