Jump

Hey there, Zoo Freaks! Your favorite hippie DJs at THE ZOO are spinning the iconic track "Jump" by Van Halen from their 1984 album 1984. This song’s got some wild stories behind it. Did you know the synth riff that drives "Jump" was cooked up by Eddie Van Halen around 1981? The band initially shot it down, with David Lee Roth worried it’d make them look like sellouts chasing radio play. But in 1983, producer Ted Templeman convinced Roth to give it a spin, and boom—it became Van Halen’s only number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, holding the top spot for five weeks starting February 25, 1984. Eddie played the synth on an Oberheim OB-Xa, and he’s said the solo in "Jump" is his favorite of all his work. Fun fact: Roth got the lyrical inspiration from a news story about a guy contemplating suicide off a building, imagining the crowd below yelling, “Jump!” Dark, but it turned into an uplifting anthem.

Another cool tidbit? Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates claims Eddie admitted to borrowing the synth part from their hit "Kiss on My List"—and Daryl was totally cool with it. The music video, shot on 16mm at The Complex in Santa Monica, was a low-budget gem directed by Pete Angelus and Roth. It won Best Stage Performance at the first MTV Video Music Awards in 1984, though tensions flared when Roth wanted extra footage of himself in wild antics, like getting arrested in a towel, which producer Robert Lombard cut out. Oh, and sports fans might know "Jump" as the tune the Chicago Cubs used for their 1984 and 1985 broadcasts on WGN-TV, and it’s been a staple at Olympique de Marseille soccer games since 1986.

Now, let’s rewind to how Van Halen got rolling. Formed in Pasadena, California, in 1973, the band started as a group of kids with big dreams. Brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen, born in the Netherlands, moved to the U.S. in the early ’60s. Both were classically trained on piano, but Eddie switched to guitar and Alex to drums, jamming in their garage. They hooked up with David Lee Roth, a charismatic singer with a love for showmanship, and Michael Anthony on bass, forming the classic lineup. Playing covers at local bars and parties, they built a rep for high-energy shows. By 1974, they were a staple in the L.A. club scene, catching the eye of Warner Bros. Records. Their 1978 debut album, Van Halen, with hits like "Runnin’ with the Devil" and "Eruption", went Diamond, selling over 10 million copies, and their wild live performances cemented their status as hard rock legends.

Want to keep up with Van Halen? Check out their official website at van-halen.com for news, merch, and more. They’re active on socials too—follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans, or should we say Zoo Freaks, can dive into the community at fan sites like Van Halen News Desk for deep dives and updates. There’s also a buzzing Van Halen Fans Facebook group where you can connect with fellow freaks sharing love for the band. Keep rocking, and stay tuned to THE ZOO for more killer tunes!