Van Halen Was An American Rock Band Formed In Pasadena California In 1972. Credited With "restoring Hard Rock To The Forefront Of The Music Scene" Van Halen Was Known For Its Energetic Live Shows And For The Virtuosity Of Its Lead Guitarist Eddie Van Halen. The Band Was Inducted Into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame In 2007. From 1974 Until 1985 Van Halen Consisted Of Eddie Van Halen Eddie's Brother Drummer Alex Van Halen Vocalist David Lee Roth And Bassist/vocalist Michael Anthony. Read More On Last.Fm
"Dance The Night Away" Was Van Halen's First Top 20 U.S. Hit Peaking At #15 And The Second Song From Their 1979 Album Van Halen II. While The Rest Of The Songs From This Album Had Existed In Various Forms Since Their Days Doing Demos And Playing Clubs This Song Was Possibly The Only Song Written During The Recording Sessions For The Album. The Band Members Conceived The Song During The Recording Sessions While They Were Standing In A Circle Humming To Each Other. It Was Inspired By Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way". Eddie Van Halen Purposely Left A Guitar Solo Out Of The Final Version Of The Song Replacing It Instead With A Riff Of Tap Harmonics. David Lee Roth Originally Wanted To Call The Song "Dance Lolita Dance" But Eddie Van Halen Convinced Him That "Dance The Night Away" Was More Suitable And The Chorus Was Changed To Reflect That. Roth Claimed During A 2006 Performance In San Diego California That He Wrote This Song In Tribute To An Intoxicated Woman Who Was Having Sex In The Back Of A Truck And Ran With Her Pants On Backwards While Escaping Police Officers Into The Bar Where The Fledgling Band Was Playing. This Was Also Mentioned At A 2006 Performance In Detroit Michigan. Billboard Magazine Described "Dance The Night Away" As "a Melodically Driving Rocker Spiked By Blaring Guitar Riffs Keyboards Bass And A Powerful Lead Vocal.