This is only a preview. The auction will open on: 10/28/2026 1:00:00 PM
Offered Here: Van Halen 1967-1973 Genesis/Mammoth Cover Song List with Lot of 9 LPs - LPs Played In Mammoth Rehearsal Room With COA
Item Details: An exceptional and historic piece of rock history, this lot features an original Genesis and Mammoth era cover song list dating from 1967 to 1973, accompanied by a collection of nine LPs owned by original Van Halen bassist Mark Stone. The handwritten pen list features a staggering fifty-one tracks that the band utilized to study and learn their early repertoire. The reverse side of the document contains a handwritten list of venues alongside a prom proposal quote, with explicit instructions directing the response to Alex Van Halen. The accompanying nine vinyl records represent the exact classic rock and blues albums utilized by the group to learn these covers, shaping their foundational sound with legendary artists including Cactus, Cream, Jack Bruce, Jimi Hendrix Experience, The James Gang, John Mayall, and Mountain. All the records in this lot were played in the Mammoth / Van Halen rehearsal room. Mark would take albums with him during band practice and they would listen to these albums to see if there were songs they wanted to cover, or parts of a song that inspired them for creating their own songs.This extraordinary archive offers a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the formative years and musical education of one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
Provenance / Authenticity: This lot originates directly from the personal collection of Mark Stone, a multi-talented artist who was the original bass player and backing vocalist for Mammoth and Van Halen from 1972 to 1974 and an accomplished luthier. As a foundational figure in the band's legendary early history, Stone performed on their seminal studio demos and extended his creative contributions by designing the iconic original band logo utilized by Mammoth and early Van Halen. Offered directly from his estate, these historic items will be accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity signed by an authorized representative of the Stone estate.
Before Van Halen became one of the most influential hard rock bands of the late 1970s and 1980s, brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen spent their formative years in the Pasadena area playing in Genesis and then Mammoth, groups that earned their following by performing other artists' songs at backyard parties, high school dances and local clubs. Learning material by blues-rock and heavy rock acts such as Cream, Jimi Hendrix and Mountain was central to that apprenticeship, and Eddie Van Halen often credited Eric Clapton as a key early influence on the guitar style that later transformed rock playing. That years-long grounding in cover repertoire helped shape the band's original sound, which reached a wide audience with the release of their self-titled debut album on Warner Bros. in 1978.
Condition: All items in this lot are in good to fair condition and are being sold strictly as historical collectibles. The handwritten cover song list shows clear signs of heavy utilization, authentic wear, and aging, featuring creasing throughout, torn corners, and evidence of liquid exposure. The nine accompanying LPs are sold as is and are intended for display or archival purposes rather than playback, as they were originally used by the group as working tools to learn their early covers.
SKU: DST1011