5150 Studios in Los Angeles was Eddie Van Halen’s private, backyard-built recording compound—conceived in 1983 with engineer Donn Landee so the band could write and track on their own terms. Zoning rules meant the build was submitted as a “racquetball court,” but the space was purpose-designed for albums: a high-ceiling live room, control room, later an isolated drum booth for Alex, even arcade machines between takes. Early radio interference from a nearby 50 kW AM mast led them to wrap the structure in grounded mesh, effectively turning it into a Faraday cage.

From 1984 onward, Van Halen made their records here—beginning with 1984 and then the Hagar-era run 5150, OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge and Balance—cementing 5150 as one of rock’s most famous home studios. The name comes from California’s Welfare & Institutions Code §5150, later also the title of their 1986 album.

Today the studio remains active under Wolfgang Van Halen, who continues recording Mammoth WVH projects in the same rooms, keeping the family workshop alive while upgrading gear as needed.

ADDRESS:
3371 Coldwater Canyon Ave, Studio City, CA 91604, USA

Back to Los Angeles.