So This Is Love?

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, it’s your groovy Zoo Crew spinning the wax and takin’ you back with “So This Is Love?” from Van Halen’s 1981 masterpiece, Fair Warning! This track’s a funky, upbeat gem that stands out on an album known for its dark, heavy vibes. Did you know it was the only single released from Fair Warning in North America, peaking at #15 on the Mainstream Rock Chart and just shy of the Billboard Hot 100 at #110? Originally titled “Flesh and Blood (Banana Oil),” the song’s lyrics were tweaked by David Lee Roth to capture that love-at-first-sight rush, with lines like “Put one and one together, and it blowed my mind.” The solo? Pure Eddie Van Halen magic, stitched together from four different takes, as he and producer Ted Templeman crafted it in one go. Legend has it Eddie was sneaking into the studio late at night with engineer Donn Landee to push the album’s sound, and this track’s bouncy bassline from Michael Anthony gives it that “jaunty” strut—Eddie himself called it the only Van Halen song with that vibe!

Let’s dig into the live scene, Zoo Freaks! The classic video for “So This Is Love?” was shot during Van Halen’s epic three-night run at the Oakland Coliseum in June ’81, where Eddie cranked up the heat with an extra-hot outro solo. Fans loved it on the Fair Warning tour, but after the 1983 US Festival, the song took a breather until the 2007-2008 reunion tour with Roth, where Wolfgang Van Halen got a mini solo spot in the intro. Roth’s lyrics, shared later with the Van Halen News Desk, show his playful side, but there’s a bitter edge too, exploring lust versus love. And that bass-drum boogie attack? It’s all about Michael Anthony and Alex Van Halen locking into a groove that makes you wanna move. Eddie once said Fair Warning was fueled by some “pissed-off energy,” and this track’s a bright spot in that stormy creative clash.

Now, let’s rewind to how Van Halen got rollin’. Formed in Pasadena, California, in 1973, the band was built on the blistering guitar of Dutch-born brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen, who moved to the U.S. in the ‘60s. Raised on music by their jazz-musician dad, they ditched classical training for rock ‘n’ roll, with Eddie mastering guitar and Alex tearing up the drums. They hooked up with the flamboyant David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony, gigging as a bar band in the San Fernando Valley. By ’74, they were a tight unit, blending Eddie’s virtuosic riffs with Roth’s five-octave showmanship. Their big break came in ’77 when Kiss’s Gene Simmons caught their set at the Starwood and helped them score a deal with Warner Bros. Their 1978 debut, Van Halen, exploded with hits like “Runnin’ with the Devil” and “Eruption,” selling over 10 million copies and cementing their spot as hard rock pioneers. From there, it was non-stop touring and recording, with Fair Warning showing Eddie’s push for darker, complex sounds.

Zoo Freaks, wanna connect with the Van Halen vibe? Check out their official website for news, merch, and tour info. Get social with them on Facebook, Instagram, and X, where Alex Van Halen recently celebrated “Jump” hitting a billion streams! For the ultimate fan fix, dive into the Van Halen News Desk, a killer fan site packed with deep cuts and updates. Join the Van Halen Fans Facebook group to trade stories with fellow freaks, or hit up the Eddie Van Halen Tribute group to honor the late guitar god. Keep it loud, keep it proud, and stay tuned to THE ZOO for more rockin’ grooves!