If only there were teachers like this when we were in school…
The Professor of Rock has returned once more to profess his love of Van Halen. In his latest video he discusses how the one-two punch of Van Halen’s first two singles – “You Really Got Me” and “Runnin’ With The Devil” helped to “ignite” the late 70s music scene.
“Van Halen was born in the middle of disco, punk and soft rock and it was good. It was very good,” he said.
Here’s what The Professor had to say about each single:
“You Really Got Me” – “The lead single from Van Halen’s explosive debut record was a cover of The Kinks ‘You Really Got Me’. It was a definitive remake to say the least and for many it was like a declaration to the world. Things were gonna be very different.
In the first place The Kinks built ‘You Really Got Me’ around power chords, of course, and the song heavily influenced punk and heavy metal. Dave Davies riff heard ’round the world with lyrics described by Davies himself as a love song for street kids. It was taken to the umpth degree by another Dave….Diamond Dave. With one Eddie Van Halen blasting the Davies riff as an ode to the changing of the guard!”
“Runnin’ With The Devil” – “The second single became a monumental Van Halen original called ‘Runnin’ With The Devil’. [It] was arranged with the intrigue of film noir and the suspense of impending peril ready to pounce on unsuspecting prey!
The villains and the heroes of ‘Runnin’ With The Devil’ are the four members of Van Halen who in 1978 were at their most fearless with savage hunger ready to take on the world with reckless abandon, and a fervor that would capsize the hit makers and the rock and roll fakers!”
There’s plenty more The Professor has to say about each song. He also breaks down the recording of”Runnin’ With The Devil” along with Eddie’s classic instrumental “Eruption”. You can watch the entire video above.
To see more Professor of Rock videos check out his YouTube channel HERE.