IFLTS: 'Panama,' Van Halen

Posted on Aug 1st 2007 2:00PM by Fred Mascherino
Comments

'Panama,' Van Halen
From 1984's '1984'

My favorite [songs] are anything guitar rock. But Van Halen's 'Panama' is my favorite song to jam to in my '82 Rabbit [It takes me back to] the '80s, when I was a little kid, riding in my mom's backseat with no seat belt. We had a VW Bug and my brother and I would sit in the very, very back behind the backseat. I can't believe we fit back there. The first time I heard 'Panama,' I was in third grade. In the video, the band was swinging from ropes over the stage and the ropes were tied to their backs. It was shot in Philly -- and I'm from Philly -- at the Spectrum, which is not there anymore. Bon Jovi totally ripped [the video] off in 'Livin' on a Prayer.' Anyway, Van Halen was my favorite until Sammy Hagar joined the band ... then I got into more punk rock.

Hear the song after the jump.Fred Mascherino is the guitarist/co-vocalist for Taking Back Sunday. The Long Island rockers are currently on the road as part of Linkin Park's Projekt Revolution tour.

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