Comments: 14

• Chuy R. from San Diego, Ca5150 is a generic term used by the police, and others, in California when referring to a "crazy" person. The origins are from the California Welfare and Institutions Code 5150 (a) through (k). It defines who and under what circumstances a person may be taken into custody for a mental health evaluation. The initial detention period is up to 72 hours for assessment, evaluation, and crisis intervention, or placement for evaluation and treatment in a designated facility. My complete guess is that "5150" jumped into mainstream terminology in the 1970's, and no doubt, Van Halen gave it a boost in the 1980's. This code, also known as the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, was enacted in 1967.
• Dogpyle from UsaHey Jameson, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, think about, think, why not, 5150, yep! Cool hey guys, let name the next cd 5150.
• Kevin from Plymouth Meeting, PaSomeone needs to tell Jameson from Long Island that he needs to do better research. The album 1984 and every album after that was recorded in 5150 Studios. News flash for you Jameson. Yes Edward Van Halen took the 5150 from the California code for an endangered person who may do harm to themselves be because they are mentally ill and could have an involuntary psychiatric hold for 72 hours on them. You might want to brush up on your Van Halen history. If you do not believe it you can go to Van Halen Wikipedia page, you can go to the 5150 Studio Wikipedia page. You could go to van halen.com and research all of this.
• Jameson from Long IslandDo you all actually believe that Eddie Van Halen would use 5150 from a code to hold mentally impaired people? Wrong, no one can see the truth in the name and where he actually got it. Be smart and look deeper but I'm sure no one will figure it out I don't even think his son knows. Remember in rock and roll subliminal ideas are how rock stars think so if you believe the "mental story" so be it.
• Ladd from 59106Greg House from Columbia, 5150 is the radio code for the mental person. Codes were put in place to not say deragotory terms over the radio. Scanner land was a concern even back in the 80's when I started as a cop. Some of us referred to rookies as 5149s.
• Jose from Puerto RicoProbably my fav song from the Sammy Era. Eddie is literally on fire with his guitar playing in this tune!
• Englishjello from LondonEddie and studio engineer Donn Landee where hanging in Eddie's newly built studio listening to a police scanner. They heard a officer say "5150". They soon found out it's a Los Angeles police code for a escaped mental patient. Eddie decided to name the studio that (He also put stickers of it on his striped guitars). Eddie did come up with the music for this song and it's a killer song. One of the Van Halen's best songs in the Hagar era!
• Joe Bloggs from Trinidad And TobagoThe number 5150 and "meet you half the way" in the lyrics made me think it was a reference to a Senate tie breaking vote-- implying a failure to reach a compromise between 2 sides.
• Joe from SfIn the film "Collateral" Tom Cruise shoots a guy who later appears in the morgue with "5150" tattooed on his eye lid. Two possibilities: the Van Halen song or the 72-hour psychiatric hold. Based on the guy's career choice, I'll go with the latter... Greg House is correct.
• Greg House from Columbia, ScActually 5150 is the code for involuntary psychiatric hold.
• Jason from Florence, KyThe version Simon is speaking of is by a band called Charge. They were based out of New Orleans, I belive. I think they changed lead singers and moved to Vegas.
• Jason from Florence, KyA great song off a great album...one of VH's best of either era (don't even bring up Gary), IMO. By the way, the version Simon is referring to (the one that sounds like Axl Rose singing) is by the band Charge.
• Simon from Nijmegen, NetherlandsOn the internet there is a fake going 'round that would like us to believe that axl rose is singing with ed and the guys.. No dice. Don't know who these guys are but it's pretty good
• Eric from Salt Lake City, UtI love this song. It was the song that sold me on Sammy Hagar replacing Dave. The rest of the album was great, but this was the clincher.

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