Runnin’ with the Devil (Demo)

The Zoo Crew is cranking up the vibes at THE ZOO, spinning the raw, gritty "Runnin’ with the Devil (Demo)" from Van Halen’s unreleased Zero album for all you Zoo Freaks out there. This demo, recorded in 1976 with Gene Simmons of KISS at the helm, captures the band’s early fire before their 1978 debut. One wild tidbit: the song’s iconic car-horn intro wasn’t just a studio trick. Eddie Van Halen rigged up a box with horns from the band’s own cars—Alex’s Opel, Eddie’s Volvo, a Mercedes, and a Volkswagen—powered by two car batteries and a foot switch. Simmons suggested the horn idea, and producer Ted Templeman later slowed it down for the debut album’s ominous opening. On the Zero demo, though, those horns segue from an early version of “House of Pain,” giving the track a chaotic, live-club feel. Fans on r/vanhalen have geeked out over this, with some calling the demo’s raw energy a glimpse into Van Halen’s Sunset Strip days.

Another juicy story comes from a 2020 leak shared by @VanHalenNews on X, revealing an alternate take of “Runnin’ with the Devil” with different David Lee Roth vocals and an extended Eddie Van Halen guitar solo. This version, sourced from the original 24-track session masters, sent Zoo Freaks into a frenzy, with YouTuber Groovefunkel Second Helping noting its “Diamond Dave” swagger. The demo’s rough edges reflect the band’s early hustle, playing house parties and dive bars. Van Halen News Desk points out that the Zero sessions were a turning point, even if they didn’t land a deal right away. Gene Simmons flew the band to New York’s Electric Lady Studios, buying them clothes and producing 15 tracks, including this one. Despite the demo’s failure to secure a contract, it caught the ear of Warner Bros.’ Ted Templeman, who saw them at the Starwood in 1977 and signed them.

Van Halen started in Pasadena, California, in 1973, born from the Dutch-born brothers Eddie (guitar) and Alex Van Halen (drums). The siblings, trained in classical piano, moved to the U.S. in 1962. Eddie, initially a drummer, swapped roles with Alex after realizing his knack for guitar. They formed a band in fourth grade, playing school lunches, and by the early ’70s, as Mammoth, they were gigging at high schools and backyard parties. David Lee Roth, a charismatic singer from Indiana, joined after renting his PA system to the brothers, bringing showmanship inspired by vaudeville and James Brown. Bassist Michael Anthony rounded out the lineup, adding tight harmonies. Britannica notes their relentless self-promotion, from flyers to club gigs at Gazzarri’s and the Whisky a Go Go, built a cult following. Their 1976 Simmons demo, including “Runnin’ with the Devil,” was a near miss, but by 1978, their debut album, fueled by Eddie’s finger-tapping and Roth’s yowls, hit No. 19 on the Billboard 200, selling over 10 million copies.

Zoo Freaks can dive deeper into Van Halen’s world through their official site or connect on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fan hubs like Van Halen News Desk offer news and trivia, while r/vanhalen on Reddit and Van Halen Fan Group on Facebook are buzzing with devotees sharing stories and rare tracks. The band’s legacy, as Rolling Stone writes, is their “epic party” vibe and Eddie’s game-changing guitar, still inspiring Zoo Freaks to crank the volume and run with the devil.