Disgraceland is a production of Double Elvis.

The stories about Van Halen are insane.

They hunted down bootleggers with the help of U.S. Marshals. They barely escaped the wrath

of an angry fan after cracking open his head with a beer bottle. Their singer was arrested

after violating the fire code at a venue where 11 people had been killed just months prior. Their guitarist had a drug dealer on call 24-7

fly around the world and scorn dope.

And on the backs of one of rock and roll's greatest innovators

and its greatest ringmaster, Van Halen made great music.

Unlike that clip I played for you at the top of the show, that wasn't great music.

That was a preset loop from my Melotron called Neither Husk nor Cobb MK2.

I played you that clip because I can't afford the rights to a clip from Say, Say, Say by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson.

And why would I play you that specific slice of ooh, ooh, ooh, cheese could I afford it?

Because that was the number one song in America on January 9, 1984. And that was the day Van Halen

released their sixth studio album, an album that was intended to keep the band together, but instead wound up

being the thing that finally tore them apart. On this episode, cracked heads, drug dealers on call, bootleggers, U.S. Marshals,

ooh, ooh, ooh cheese, and Van Halen.

I'm Jake Brennan, and this is Disgraceland.

Music And this is disgrace land. Eddie Van Halen was not like other guitar players.

I'm not talking about a sheer musical talent,

which was light years ahead of his peers.

I'm talking about the way he looked when he played guitar, the joy

that radiated from his face. It was infectious. It was unique. It was a look that said,

...