Unchained (song)
Encyclopedia
"Unchained" is a song from Van Halen
's fourth album, Fair Warning
. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen
wrote the main riff at 4:00 in the morning with engineer Donn Landee while they were doing some overdubbing on the album. The song features prominent use of the MXR
M-117 flanger, which became a popular sound. A preset for the flanger setting was included on the EVH Flanger MXR. It uses a drop-C♯ tuning with suspended fourth chords
interspersed. The song is also notable for being producer Ted Templeman
's only vocal contribution to the band when he says "Come on, Dave, gimme a break!" during the interlude of the song. One theory is that he thought David Lee Roth
was getting too obnoxious and he jumped in. The band liked the way it sounded and kept it in the song. However, Van Halen News Desk suggests that, as with many other apparently improvised lines involving David Lee Roth, Templeman`s line was in fact rehearsed.
The song was a live concert staple with David Lee Roth following its release. During the first Sammy Hagar era, the song was only played on Van Halen's 1993 "Right Here, Right Now" tour. It later made a comeback as the usual opener for the 1998 Van Halen III tour and was also played nightly on the 2004 tour with Hagar. It was also part of the setlist for the 2007 tour with Roth and Wolfgang Van Halen
. Wolfgang told David to "give him a break" during the break on this tour.
This song is heard at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
whenever the New York Islanders
hit the ice.
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
's fourth album, Fair Warning
Fair Warning (Van Halen album)
Fair Warning is the fourth studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen. Released in 1981, it sold more than two million copies, but was still the band's slowest-selling album of the David Lee Roth era...
. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
wrote the main riff at 4:00 in the morning with engineer Donn Landee while they were doing some overdubbing on the album. The song features prominent use of the MXR
MXR
MXR, also known as MXR Innovations, was a manufacturer of guitar effects units, co-founded in 1973 by Keith Barr and Terry Sherwood . MXR was based in the United States in Rochester, New York. MXR Innovations, Inc. was incorporated in 1974...
M-117 flanger, which became a popular sound. A preset for the flanger setting was included on the EVH Flanger MXR. It uses a drop-C♯ tuning with suspended fourth chords
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
interspersed. The song is also notable for being producer Ted Templeman
Ted Templeman
Ted Templeman is an American record producer.-Career:He began his career in the mid 1960s in the Santa Cruz area as a drummer in a band called The Tikis. At the suggestion of Lenny Waronker, the group decided to change their name. Harpers Bizarre was born in 1966, with Templeman switching to...
's only vocal contribution to the band when he says "Come on, Dave, gimme a break!" during the interlude of the song. One theory is that he thought David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
was getting too obnoxious and he jumped in. The band liked the way it sounded and kept it in the song. However, Van Halen News Desk suggests that, as with many other apparently improvised lines involving David Lee Roth, Templeman`s line was in fact rehearsed.
The song was a live concert staple with David Lee Roth following its release. During the first Sammy Hagar era, the song was only played on Van Halen's 1993 "Right Here, Right Now" tour. It later made a comeback as the usual opener for the 1998 Van Halen III tour and was also played nightly on the 2004 tour with Hagar. It was also part of the setlist for the 2007 tour with Roth and Wolfgang Van Halen
Wolfgang Van Halen
Wolfgang William Van Halen , is an American musician. He is the current bassist for Van Halen, replacing Michael Anthony in 2006.-Personal life:...
. Wolfgang told David to "give him a break" during the break on this tour.
This song is heard at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Uniondale, New York, United States. Home to the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League, the Coliseum is located approximately east of New York City on Long Island...
whenever the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
hit the ice.