Van Halen Therapy

[Kimmie5150]

Has Van Halen ever helped you through a difficult time in your life?

My mom was diagnosed and passed away from cancer a few years ago. Needless to say, I was devastated. When I would cry so much that I felt like I didn't have any tears left, I would crank VH and after a few minutes I would calm down and start to feel better. The music became my therapy and helped me through the most difficult thing I've ever went through in my life.

I still listen to VH every day, it just seems to make bad days go a little smoother, and good days great!

[AT]

For sure. I think we need those things that are enjoyable to us when dealing with tough times. Though not nearly as tumultuous as dealing with the loss of a parent, I ended a long-term relationship in the spring of '98 and traveled twice that summer to see VH in concert--once with my best friend and once with my brother. I also bought my first Wolfgang guitar that spring. It was kind of a "re-discovery" of all things VH, and it was very therapeutic at that particular time.

[Saywin]

Therapy for the mind and soul everyday!

[vhrocker]

When my parents go divorced and my grandpa died in 1997 VAN HALEN music helped me. Whenever I'm down VH always picks me back up.

A day without VH is a day waysted.

[smme5150]

You know I agree and disagree all in the same breath. I've been listening to Van Halen as a backdrop to my whole entire life. My sisters bought me the first Van Halen album in the late seventies as a youth and have been hooked ever since. However, lately, when I'm down, crankin VH only makes it worse when I start thinking of all the turmoil that this once musical monster of a band has gone through. It makes my problems look like a walk in the park. I can't seem to listen and not think of Edward, with all his demons, or Mike who has cleary had some degree of ass fucking throughout, Alex and all his failed marriages ( like mine), and of course all the lead singer debacles we have all been painfully put through.I love these guys but to some extent feel as though it to, is a failed relationship that continually let's me down.

I will obviously say that it is just rock-n-roll, and big picture wise,it means jack shit. However, like a relationship can be, it's just more bullshit that we must trudge through in this place we call life.

So, in simple terms, thanks Van Halen for everything and thanks for nothing.

[FORD]

Best therapy for me is driving down the road at about 90 MPH with the Van HALEN 6 pack blasting on the CD changer. But the criminals in charge of the government have made the first part of that therapy more expensive than a shrink.

At least I still have Van HALEN

[Raldo]

VH music always picks me up.

It's also gets me reved up for competition in sports.

[muffdiver]

VH music always picks me up.

It's also gets me reved up for competition in sports.

Yeah, hows that lawn bowling thing goin' anyways...?

[eden]

Yeah, hows that lawn bowling thing goin' anyways...?

dude, you are cruel....

[LLFHS]

My last few days of high school (1988) were painful in the extreme.

One fateful day, during a field trip to the Orange County Performing Arts Center during my last days of my senior year would prove to be my only solace to the pain I was feeling. My GF had just revealed to me that she was leaving me (and going to the PROM) with my best friend.

I was lost.

"OU812" had just been released and had taken up permanent residence in my Walkman. During the trip to OCPAC, I met another girl from another school on the same trip. Her name was Kelly and she came up to talk to me just out of the blue as we ventured along the backstage areas of the place. By the end of the day we had exchanged phone numbers.

On the ride home, I must have played "Feels So Good" about a thousand times.

[eden]

Van Halen should've made me get therapy - rehab!

I was 15 when VHII came out (I know, ) and there was much drinking and smoking of weed, and lots of physical activity, in those days, with VH's permission.

I'm lucky I survived!

so, VH reminds me of some very good times. It was part of easing the pain of high school.

[Mandelbaum]

Totally agree that music will soothe the savage beast: VH music will calm a Woolly Mamoth (or fix whatever else ails ya').

Even - in the distant past mind you, back in my black 'n' blue period - when I was miffed at the band themselves, I'd hear just a couple of notes on the radio and ... I'm totally ready to make nicenice.

[Kimmie5150]

I would like to thank all of you for sharing your stories. I enjoyed all of them a lot! It's just another reason for people to understand why VH fans are so loyal and why they're the GREATEST BAND ON THE FREAKIN PLANET!!!!

ROCK ON!!!

[C5A1B5O0]

When ever I'm down feeling like the whole world is caving in on me, I blast and have blown like 3 amps in my truck to "Panama" live with Sammy on the Mike. I mean every song has it's grove to pick me up, I just listen to Sam talk while the boys play in the backround, and it's awesome. Like a pill of fresh music. But i'll tell ya. I tell my family this every now and then about my dream that I had when my father passed 2 years ago. I preach to them that I'm going to live to be a 101 years old. There is just no two ways about it. I tell them they will all be gone, and when 101 hits, I'm outta here. Well, one time I said that and I dreamed pretty deep that nite of what I just said. I was looking down at my self in the dream asleep in my box that will deliver me back to the earth. I look in the audience and I don't recoginze anyone. And I'm like who are these people. Well, everyone I know and love were gone before me. As it turns out, I had a bag in my hand wearing my Military Uniform on and I jump in the Truck, driving down this long road. During this, one of my all time favorites is playing, "When it's Love". The song plays and I view everything in my whole life that I ever done, driving up the coast on a sunset day. Well, as the song finishes and as the sound of Alex hitting the cymbals lightly, I get out of the truck to find my whole family waiting for me. I made it to heaven and I took the best music with great harmony and sound with me, and my wife was standing there in front of the truck with the sunset behind her saying to me, You finally made it. After that dream, as I already do play all there music, III included makes my day go smooth and stress free. Sorry I babbled, but hey, it was my dream, and I thought I'd share why this Great Rock 'n Roll band has such an influence on my life.

Late:

[Ain't Talkin' Bout' Love]

I got back from my first year of university last year and started work 2 days afterwards full time. I should've been happy, I have a great job and school had gone well, but I had fallen for this absolutely beautiful girl who had absolutely no interest in me. It didn't feel like a normal crush, and I got pretty down for a few months. I blasted some 5150 and OU812 many nights during the spring and early summer of 2006.
When we finally started spending a little time together, I decided to pick her up a little gift. I stopped by a pawn shop a buddy of mine owns and bought her a copy of Van Halen. She was floored, cause she knows how much I love them. Well, I took her for a long drive outside of town with VH blasting, and she absolutely lost it. She told me that night, "I don't know what came over me, the music or something else...". That something else became me, and we've since fallen in love.
Anyways, despite the happy ending, Van Halen got me through break-ups, deaths, whatever else life has thrown at me so far. And it's like I always told my buddy about my girlfriend, "She gets VH man, she fucking gets it!". I think it takes a certain kind of person to understand this band for all they're worth. I mean, think about it everyone: There's thousands of us on here, many of us daily, and they haven't released a full-length album in almost ten years. Some of us made really good friends on here, and we talk about everything. This is always going to be my favorite place to hang-out, and I'd be more than happy to buy any of you a beer anyday.