Photo: Abby Gillardi, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Our Top 10 Van Halen Cover Songs list takes a look at some of the best cover songs Van Halen performed throughout their glorious rock and roll career. Of course, there are the obvious ones like “You Really Got Me” and “Pretty Women” that many people would argue were their best covers. But to just list them would be so dull.
This Top 10 Van Halen Cover songs list is going to dig deeper into the stuff that many fans may not realize the band covered. So yeah, we all know about the hit cover songs like “Your No Good” and “Where Have All The Good Times Gone.” For the most part, fans don’t even think of those songs as covers because they have become such iconic Van Halen songs. Let’s take a look at some of the lesser-known covers going all the way back to when the band was actually….. a cover band. Yeah, baby, that’s what I’m talking about. This list, for the most part, is going to focus on the songs the band covered before they were famous, with a few exceptions. It’s just more fun to do it this way…..
# 10 – The Rover – Led Zeppelin
What better way to start out our Van Halen Covers songs list than with a great cover version of a classic Led Zeppelin Song? This ripping version was recorded during their club days in L.A. in the mid-1970s. Listen to Eddie Van Halen’s solo at the 2:55 mark. It’s not long, but he’s paying tribute to Jimmy Page while showcasing the style he developed during the early years. His talent is so apparent, even at this point in his career. David Lee Roth does his thing in his own unique way. He’s no Robert Plant, but he makes it work.
# 9 – Tomorrow’s Dream – Black Sabbath
While the sound quality on this one is pretty low, there was no way we would not include Van Halen covering Black Sabbath. Especially the song “Tomorrow’s Dream.” We can only imagine how sweet it must have been for Van Halen to open up for Black Sabbath on their first tour after having covered the band’s songs in the bars. Those who saw that tour were knocked out by Van Halen as, in many cases, they held their own with Black Sabbath. The band was so hot at the time, and Eddie Van Halen was blowing everyone’s minds who were seeing Van Halen for the first time.
# 8 – Won’t Get Fooled Again – The Who
Well we figured we would deliver a much better-sounding recording after the past two bootleg recordings. Some love this version of The Who’s classic track “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” Others have criticized it. We love it; it’s as simple as that. Listen to Eddie play that keyboard part on guitar at the song’s start. Sammy screams perfectly. These guys are having a great time, and if you were there when they did this, you are a living testament to how crazy the audience went when they played this one. Alex is on fire on this one.
# 7 – Now I’m Here – Queen
The sound quality may be pretty low on this one, but it’s so worth it just to hear Eddie Van Halen play that iconic Brian May lick and then add his own madhouse solos. The drums and bass are tough to hear. Michael Anthony’s backing vocals play an essential role in this one as Roth has the challenge of covering a Freddie Mercury vocal. Nonetheless, the highlight of this recording is Eddie Van Halen’s two solos. The band adds a little of Chuck Berry’s “Little Queenie” towards the end of the song. This was recorded at Pasadena High School on April 25, 1975.
# 6 – Hots On For Nowhere
There is nothing like listening to Van Halen play Led Zeppelin songs. What’s so much fun about this one is how David Lee Roth introduces it in the club as a brand new Led Zeppelin song. So this is around 1976 when “Hots On For Nowhere” was released on Led Zeppelin’s Presence album—the last truly great Led Zeppelin record. You have to love how David Lee Roth and Michael Anthony sing this song together. And, of course, Eddie Van Halen blows us all away. It has since been deleted from youtube, but we will keep searching for it. Someone will upload it again.
# 5 – Jean Genie – David Bowie
If there is one band or artist, Van Halen never really sounded like it was David Bowie. They were such different artists. Yet, David Lee Roth sounded great, when covering David Bowie. If you were a teen in the 70s going to see all the great cover bands in the bars, you probably remember that David Bowie was a much-covered artist. So it’s no surprise that Van Halen, the bar band would cover David Bowie in 1976.
# 4 – Summertime Blues
Van Halen often performed this classic rock song “Summertime Blues,” during their 1983 tour when they were supporting the Diver Down album. Eddie lights it up as usual, Michael Anthony gets to play those excellent bass lines, Alex rocks his heart out and David Lee Roth sounds perfect on this one.
# 3 – Rock And Roll – Led Zeppelin
This is probably one of the most covered songs in classic rock and roll history. Everyone from Heart to Sheryl Crow to the Foo Fighters has covered the Led Zeppelin classic. Yet in 1986, when Van Halen had a renewed spirit fueling the band with Sammy Hagar replacing David Lee Roth, the band was supercharged in concert as Sammy Hagar’s vocal range had opened up so many more sonic possibilities for the band. Look how much fun these guys are having in the video. This recording was officially released on Van Halen’s Live Without A Net video release.
# 2 – Chevrolet – ZZ Top
We picked this one for the number two spot because it’s all Eddie Van Halen at the song’s start. This great cover of “Chevrolet” by ZZ Top also showcases Michael Anthony’s talents on bass and vocals. The man was such a key element in the sound of Van Halen in so many ways. Van Halen fans knew how important he was. Nonetheless, the sound quality here is pretty poor, but the playing is off the charts. It’s 1974, and the band is lighting it up in the clubs as no one knew the legends they would become in just a few short years.
# 1 – La Grange – ZZ Top
This is simply the perfect Van Halen cover song to end this list with. The song’s opening featured both David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen in all their glory before their fame exploded and shed that glory onto the entire world. This was one of the set closers because it was just so hot. It’s too bad they never did this one when they were playing stadiums because this is so crazy good.
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Photo: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com
Updated November 9, 2023
Top 10 Van Halen Cover Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
