Bands or songs that contain blatant Van Halen rip-offs

**jonjuan** · 06.10.02, 10:53 PM

Some would say that Drop Dead Legs is a rip-off of Back N' Black. That's probably true, but it's ok when the one doing the ripping-off is better than the original, as is the case here. What I want to know is, have any of you noticed blatant rip-offs of Van Halen? (I don't blame the bands for doing it. If you're going to rip-off music, there's none better) I've noticed quite a few over the years, but can only think of one at the moment. I'll post more as I remember them, but the one I just listened to is:

Lad in Sin -- by Wildside

There is a two or three second section between the first chorus and second verse that sounds exactly like the main riff to House of Pain. (They also blatantly rip-off Boston's Holyann, but that's irrelevent to "VH" forums)

What have you guys noticed?

**therealdeal** · 06.11.02, 12:36 AM

Where to begin? The most obvious ones that come to mind include:

- "Judgment Day" (Whitesnake, NOT VH), a ripoff of "Kashmir"

- "Renegade" (Styx) and to a lesser extent "Barracuda" (Heart) are lifted from "Trampled Under Foot"

I'll end up thinking of plenty more in due course (o' course)...

The Real Deal

**therealdeal** · 06.11.02, 12:40 AM

Whoops, any VH songs that have been ripped off?

This is probably a stretch, but how about "Lack Of Communication" (Ratt) being pretty close to "D.O.A."?

I know there's at least a couple songs on 'Dr. Feelgood' that qualify as VH knockoffs, but don't ask me to specify which ones...Waldo...anyone?

The Real Deal

**The Full BuD** · 06.11.02, 11:08 AM

Originally posted by therealdeal:

"Renegade" (Styx) and to a lesser extent "Barracuda" (Heart) are lifted from "Trampled Under Foot"

I always thought "Barracuda" was ripping off Zep's "Achille's Last Stand". It's the exact same rhythm and even pieces of the guitar riff.

**5150guy** · 06.11.02, 09:46 PM

I can't think of any songs, but have you guys ever seen the Weezer logo? It looks way too much like the big VH!

**VHguy823** · 06.12.02, 03:10 AM

Even though Ed's guitar playing spawned a shitload of hairbands in the 80's, the solo in "Never Enough" by L.A. Guns sounds entirely too much like a fabricated EVH. Just my opinion though...

**jonjuan** · 06.13.02, 08:41 AM

Here are some more that I remembered this morning:

Steelheart -- The intro to Take me Back Home is a totally blatant rip-off of Women in Love.

Roxy Blue -- All of Rob the Cradle sounds like I'm the One, right down to the accapella (sp?), harmonizing vocals. This entire band is a VH wannabe. The picture of the lead singer in the liner, has him jumping in the air with his legs doing the splits, ala DLR.

Of course, there's the drum sampling of Jamie's Cryin' that was used in that rap song. What was it? Super Freak or something.

**uncle ted** · 06.13.02, 11:14 AM

Originally posted by VHguy823:
Even though Ed's guitar playing spawned a shitload of hairbands in the 80's, the solo in "Never Enough" by L.A. Guns sounds entirely too much like a fabricated EVH. Just my opinion though...

i second that...

**The Full BuD** · 06.13.02, 02:53 PM

Hah! Roxy Blue, I forgot that one. Yeah, they were the biggest rip-off of them all, weren't they? Didn't they have a song that tried to sound just like Hot For Teacher too?

**therealdeal** · 06.13.02, 03:43 PM

jj,

The rap song you're thinking of is "Wild Thing" by Tone Loc

TFB,

You're exactly right about "Barracuda"...just another brainfart on my part

[img]graemlins/wtf.gif[/img]

The Real Deal

**jonjuan** · 06.13.02, 06:09 PM

Originally posted by The Full BuD:
Hah! Roxy Blue, I forgot that one. Yeah, they were the biggest rip-off of them all, weren't they? Didn't they have a song that tried to sound just like Hot For Teacher too?

Yeah, ROCK-A-BYE BABY, on the same album as Rob the Cradle, is the Hot for Teacher clone.

**Mario VH** · 06.13.02, 06:45 PM

I guess their are worse things in life than trying to rip off the greatness of Van Halen. You can't blame them for trying.

**chewbaccamonkeylunch** · 06.14.02, 08:18 AM

One of the hair bands has a tune that sounds like the cabo wabo chorus. Damn if I can't remember the name of the song or the band.

**Bassman** · 06.14.02, 02:49 PM

The intro to "Mutha" from Extreme's 1st album is VERY close to the "Unchained" intro, right down to the sweeping phase effect. It must have been intentional. I'm guessing it was meant as kind of a tribute to Ed, because I know Nuno Bettencourt is capable of coming up with some great original stuff without having to rip-off someone else's ideas.

**DanHalen** · 06.16.02, 05:02 PM

I wouldnt say that it is a rip off but a lot of DLR's solo stuff is a lot like van halens ( for obvious reasons). but one song that comes to mind is, Its Showtime!. this song sounds very similar to Hot for Teacher. Maybe its just me.