When Van Halen entered the music scene in Southern California in the 70s, rock and roll changed forever. The band began performing on top of a flatbed truck to backyard parties and quickly started making headlines for massive festivals.

The band has sold up to 56 million albums in the US alone, a record feat. Hailing from Pasadena, California, the band underwent various name changes before settling on Van Halen. Fans might recognize Van Halen due to their electrifying performance by lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen.

Fun Facts: 

• Van Halen is listed on the Guinness Book of World records after headlining the US Festival in San Bernardino, California. The band performed briefly, for an hour and a half, taking a cool $1.5 million, which at the time was the highest paid single performance of a band.
• While coming up with the lyrics, Roth recalled seeing a news report the previous night about a suicidal jumper and imagined an onlooker yelling, “go ahead and jump.” He ran the idea through Hostler, who agreed it was great. But instead of describing a suicidal situation, it’s more of an invitation to jump into action, love and life.
• “Jump” received three nominations during the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards.
• Van Halen won MTV’s best stage performance in a video; “Jump” also got a Grammy Nomination for the Best Rock Performance that year but lost to “Purple Rain” sung by Prince & The Revolution.
• While Eddie is easily the all-time best guitarist, he began on the drums. When the two brothers started during the 60s, Alex played the guitar while Eddie played the drums. Eddie only suggested a switch of instruments after discovering his older brother was secretly playing his drum set whenever he was away at work.While Eddie is easily the all-time best guitarist, he began on the drums. When the two brothers started during the 60s, Alex played the guitar while Eddie played the drums. Eddie only suggested a switch of instruments after discovering his older brother was secretly playing his drum set whenever he was away at work.
• Eddie met his first wife, Valerie Bertinelli, at a Van Halen gig in Louisiana; she caught him backstage tuning his guitar and looked on with admiration.
• Eddie is an acclaimed performer, musician and lead guitarist of the Van Halen band. At the early age of six, he built a good memory of his piano tutor’s finger development and listening abilities. He credits his old-style music comprehension for his capacity to compose melodies.

Lyrics 

I get up and nothin’ gets me down

You got it tough, I’ve seen the toughest around

And I know, baby, just how you feel

You got to roll with the punches and get to what’s real

Ah, can’t you see me standin’ here

I got my back against the record machine

I ain’t the worst that you’ve seen

Ah, can’t you see what I mean?

Ah, might as well jump (jump)

Might as well jump

Go ahead and jump (jump)

Go ahead and jump

Ow, oh, hey, you

Who said that?

Baby, how you been?

You say you don’t know

You won’t know until you begin

So can’t ya see me standing here

I got my back against the record machine

I ain’t the worst that you’ve seen

Ah, can’t you see what I mean?

Ah, might as well jump (jump)

Go ahead and jump

Might as well jump (jump)

Go ahead and jump

Jump

Might as well jump (jump)

Go ahead and jump

Get it in, jump (jump)

Go ahead and jump

Jump

Jump

Jump

Jump