For Unlawful Carnel Knowledge

[Reckless Fable]

I believe someone mentioned in the thread "Best Van Halen Album" about For Unlawful Carnel Knowledge being a very important milestone in the furthering career of Van Halen. I started a seperate thread because I would like to limit the discussion to F.U.C.K. and its influence to Van Halen's success in terms of other music and not verses other Van Halen albums in different eras.

Music was gearing up for a shit storm/tornado with the grunge revolution getting ready to explode in the early 90's. If you were a band that saw success during the 80's, the only thing you could do was to hold onto something solid and hope you didn't get torn apart (and keep your mouth closed [img]graemlins/scared.gif[/img] ).

Regardless of your personal views of the music on that record (which in my opinion is one of my favorite albums from VH), it was a huge statement from VH. Van Halen could have been an easy target for a music scene that was tired of guitar solos, effects and the like.

I think that F.U.C.K actually gained a lot of fans that weren't fans prior to the album. Most metal bands were lucky to stay alive, let alone grow their fan base. I'm not really sure about this, but does anyone know the record sales number of FUCK vs. OU812 or 5150 for that matter???? More importantly in terms of the subject matter at hand, did FUCK hit #1 and how successful was it verses other emerging bands at the time? At any rate, I was only 15 when F.U.C.K came out and I wasn't a really a fan of VH until this album came out. Ever since then, I have never had another band that could eclipse VH in my realm of favorite bands/groups/musicians.

I think the accomplishment of this album is extremely underrated because as Van Halen fans we are way to close to the music to think of it in a broader topic. Not too many late 70's/80's bands made it through the 90's with any relevancy. Shockingly, after kicking complete ass during the grunge revolution, I actually find it rather amazing that Van Halen were actually the ones to kill themselves.

Remember, keep this discussion to FUCK vs contemporary artists of THAT particular time period (except for the sales numbers of FUCK vs OU812). BTW, whoever made the point about this in the Best VH Album thread...cheers to you my friend... [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

[bob'e'chops]

Just gotta say this.............regardless of what what happening on the music scene or guitar playing circle or whatever.....I had this album playing on the stereo today....IT ROCKS....I LOVE IT!!!! To me Van Halen is all about the music and yeah....this one is good....hope to hear more of New Van Halen soon.
Thanks
bob'e'chops [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[the 316 man]

Hey Reckless Fable, I beleive it was me who made that point on the F.U.C.K Album being a milestone. Just to repeat myself in the spirit of this F.U.C.K thread, I said that Van Halen were one of few 80's bands to make a successful entrance into the 90's with a kickass aibum. That is why it's my favouroute album and also it has kickass songs. That album and the later release of Live Right Here Right Now placed Van Halen at a greater height that only legends get to experience.

[Raldo]

I thought that VH re-established themselves in the Hard Rock scene with 'F.U.C.K.'. Their previous album was a little on the softer side due to the bad mixing job. Plus, with songs like 'When It's Love' and 'Feels So Good' and 'Finish What Ya Started', it had showed a softer side to VH. 3 years go by and VH drops a bomb by releasing 'Poundcake'. With the power drill beginning and Al's big ass drum sound, VH showed the world who was boss. I think we need to see a repeat real soon!

[ScottRoberts]

When FUCK was released in 1991, hard rock and metal was still thriving. It wasn't until fall of that year that Nirvana and company reared their ugly heads, and even then it took several months for alternative/grunge to dominate the music scene.

So to say that FUCK allowed VH to make a successful transition into the nineties is somewhat wrong; in the mainstream music scene in 1990-91, the 1980's were still "happening".

[Rod Dangle]

Good point Scott.

I think Balance actually is the album that kept VH alive during the grunge era. Grunge wasn't at it's peak until late 93- early 94.

FUCK was good because it showed VH still had some balls. It was great to hear them rockin' out again.

C'mon VH it's time to do it again...... [img]graemlins/yell.gif[/img] MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!! [img]graemlins/yell.gif[/img]

[Mario VH]

I think F.U.C.K was an important record for Van Halen. The grunge scene was really starting to manifest itself during that time but Van Halen proved they still had staying power. A lot of the 80's stuff diappeared with the emergence of bands like Nirvana, Sound Garden and Pearl Jam while the Poison and Warrants of the world faded away into obscurity.

[Reckless Fable]

I think that the chronology is a little off in thinking that Balance was the SOLE album responsible for keeping Van Halen alive during grunge. Balance did indeed push Van Halen to the peak during the hayday of grunge, but without FUCK, no one would have even listened to it. FUCK was getting TREMENDOUS airplay even as Nirvana and the like came in a year later. Just because FUCK came out a year early doesn't mean that it didn't compete with grunge. As a matter of fact, FUCK was on the front lines...Balance was the artillery that came in with a MASSIVE support effort...

[Reckless Fable]

Also, I am a little dubious in believing that heavy metal and rock were still thriving in 1991 and 1992. Guns and Roses was in complete turmoil. Motley Crue was done. Granted, those bands kind of shot themselves in the foot, but most heavy metal (other than a handful of bands) was getting very dry and boring. Alas, grunge had a fertile field of people that were just plain bored with current music. This goes to my point that FUCK was a great album because through this period people were STILL listening to Van Halen.

[The Full BuD]

Actually, GNR were HUGE in '91 and '92 with the Use Your Illusion albums. I remember hearing "Poundcake" and "Don't Cry" like everyday during that summer nonstop. Metallica also had a huge summer when the Black album came out as well. It's true that grunge didn't really take off until that fall, but I remember VH, GNR, and Metallica representing the old school very well. Now that I think about it, Skid Row was big too when Slave To The Grind came out. Those were great times...

[wham bam will rock]

From beginning to end, F.U.C.K. is my favorite van hagar album. In my opinion, great songs, great lyrics, nice drum sound, bass present in the mix (anxiously awaiting a re-mastered OU812, HA!) Just a great rockin' album. If i remember correctly, F.U.C.K. had 4 #1 songs on the a.o.r. chart (poundcake, runaround, top of the world, and right now), mulit-platinum status, vh won a grammy, american music award, plus several other rather impressive music awards, and of course, mtv video of the year for 'right now'. i saw several shows on the F.U.C.K. tour, including one in indy where 'alice in chains' opened. I believe this was mid to late summer of '91, BEFORE 'grunge' really hit. I do remember liking what i heard from 'alice in chains', even though layne staley (R.I.P.) BARELY moved. HA!!!
GOTTA GO. My phone is ringing...........caller i.d. says..............1-900-SPANKED?!?!?

[wham bam will rock]

By the way, i am 99.99% sure, that F.U.C.K. DID debut #1. Soundscan had begun not long before it's release.

[Mario VH]

Yuppers. F.U.C.K did debut a number 1 and Van Halen enjoyed a good amount of critical success with the album as well.

[Top Jimmy 1]

Lawdy lawd, let me tell you. The F.U.C.K album was something else. Hearing Poundcake for the first time was pure bliss, cause the whole band was smokin. Mikey is layin down those relentless one note bass lines as only he can. But also tracks like In and Out see's Ed playin some really tasty blues oriented rock. Also it's the first album where Ed started to use the neck pickup a whole lot, giving him self a real Clapton Cream era "Outside Woman Blues" like tone. Also the wah pedal became a new toy for Ed to present to the world. It was a fun tour. I went to the very first show of that tour in Atlanta and it was a hoot. I'm a Dave fan, and I want Dave back, but I really enjoyed Sammy Hagar on this album and tour. And then they ruined it for me with the live album which to me was a huge disappointment. Eddie's guitar sound just wasnt right. The overall sound of that record wasnt right. To me anyways. But F.U.C.K.? That was and still is a great album. Boy I miss Eddie. Peace.......

[Frank N.Strat]

Like the album but, and I know I'll get shit for this, I think Ed's guitar was way overproduced. Doesn't sound raw enough for me. I think he sounded much better on Balance though. [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]