Van Halen Tour W/ Roth

Drop Dead Legs!

A lot of rock bands are truly a legend in their own minds.

It doesn't get better, it doesn't get worse, but it sure gets different!

People ask me how far I've come. And I tell them twelve feet: from the audience to the stage.

David Lee Roth !

Excerpts from VAN HALEN reunion tour press conference:

On how the band is getting along:

Eddie Van Halen: "We're getting along better than we ever have before."

On why founding bassist Michael Anthony is not part of the reunion:

David Lee Roth: "Michael Anthony is part of this band's history. This band has many alumni. I am one of them."

On the setlist for the upcoming tour:

David Lee Roth: "We decided to do everything you'd expect, but make it high speed, low drag. Everything that got me fired from radio."

On the decision earlier in the year to postpone the so Eddie could head to rehab:

Eddie Van Halen: "None of us wanted to give you less than our best. We are at our best."

David Lee Roth: "This is not like THE POLICE. The idea is that this will go on and on and on. This is like a brotherhood like it never was before."

According to MTV.com, the bandmembers noted that this trek is not a "reunion tour" as such, but instead "a new band." The bandmembers also said they had been rehearsing for four months before announcing the tour, and said the reunion will be permanent — not a one-shot deal.

The bandmembers said the 25-song setlist for the tour was chosen by Wolfgang. They also said that they're planning to release a new album in the not-too-distant future but provided no details about when it will be recorded or released.

Check out photos:

http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.asp?navtyp=gls====284454

dime bag dave lives again!!!
don't get me wrong i rocked out plenty to these guys back in the 80's , sadly they should have stayed there i think!
ok i got a brand new shiny penny that says they cannot complete this tour without a cancellation or re-scheduling of a show. takers???
p.s. the penny is REALLY shiny!

damn no CO Date looks like a road trip.

One of the worst bands ever!!

Panama!!!

man, these guys are about as cool as George. W Bush. Not sure why this is news worthy on this site. oh well, who gives a turd

pass

I got it bad, soooooooo bad

I'm hot for teacher!

Rock & Fuckin' Roll. Can't wait to get my Women and Children First LP out for some spins...

Heard they are headlining Vegoose too!

Welcome to egos! I saw them sold out, 1980 at MSG. It was the best thing going. Now they will have to prove themselves to Sammy. Sammy the most intelligent out of the bunch, and not even an original member, huh. Mind over matter.

If they can get over egos, it will be an amazing tour. We meaning, me and my wife will have to see. I certainly can give you a before and aft recap!

Peace to all!

van hagar blows

he wonders why he cant drive 55

roth just says PANAMA!!


they all sound like douch bags
but i luv the tunes

we'll see how long this tour lasts

DOES ANYONE WANT TO TAKE BETS ON HOW MANY SHOWS THEY ACTUALLY PLAY BEFORE THEY REALIZE THEY HATE EACH OTHER AND QUIT?

Well Im glad they're in KC when im @ Vegoose, if they even make it that far. Thanks TravlynnJoe for providing a report from the press conference. I can't believe Roth compared their newest attempt at getting along for a tour to THE POLICE! The Police>Van Halen

Whether you're going or not (and I'm not), doesn't anyone else find it a bit odd that only six of the 25 announced dates fall on a Friday or Saturday? That's unheard of on most tours. To me, this says two things:

1. Band management doesn't foresee a ton of sellouts and, as such, they've told their tour booker to find the cheapest possible days on which to use each arena, thus minmizing overhead, and

2. The band doesn't expect to woo any attendees who aren't already diehard Van Halen fans. After all, diehards will buy a ticket for any night of the week, but casual buyers (i.e. those with adult lives and real jobs) typically hold out for weekends.

For all the bravado regarding this union being a long-term thing, it sure doesn't look like the powers that be are all that confident about its success.

Overall -

When Motley Crue came back a few years ago and was playing arenas I thought, "what are they thinking? Shouldn't they be on the State Fair Circuit?" They've been selling out places. I saw they made $40 million on their last tour. So, I see much the same for VH. Also, I'm seeing the Avett Bros. in KC soon. I take it you are a fan. I've never seen them.

Favorite quote out of the press conference...

"New bassist Wolfie — looking at tad uncomfortable under the media glare — said he’s a big fan of AC/DC, Tool and the White Stripes."

Cool. Sounds like a typical 17 year old kid.

“I can describe Wolfie in two words,” Alex said. “DNA.”"

Huh?

Luther-

The Avetts are great. I was lucky enough to add them to two of my festivals this spring, and those shows were their only two pre-July dates in NC (their home) this year.

If you get to speak (they ALWAYS greet club audiences after the show), tell 'em App Roots Walt said "hi" from back home in Boone, and that I suggested you catch their show. That should get you a signed set list if you ask.

Overall - Will do if I get the chance. They are playing this new outdoor downtown concert place in KC. Thanks for the heads up.

www.crossroadskc.com

Poop Pass

seeing as how 1984 Tour at the Cow palace was the first show I ever attended, it would be nice to go see them. Too bad that by 12/3 in Seattle, the odds that the tour will still be going is slim

-this sight is for fans of music for the head, music that makes you think. I've gradualy grown to moderatley appreciate eddie's guitar, and just the whole sillyness abound of VH, though more in more of a mock-retro kinda way.
die hard van halen fans are as rampant as the red on their necks and im sure will come out in force, selling millions of $$ worth of tickets and merchandise, the band will play their modest retro fab 80's rock, and anyone else that reads this or uses this site thats not passivley into there modest fabulousness will relized that this shits, uh....well, kinda bunk.....
thats my opinion.

....iv'e got my pencil....
gimme some thin' to write on...

well this is certainly a better article than some of the other crud that is written about on here :P
back in the day, the album 1984 is really a classic.

I'll wait! Till your love comes down, I coming straight for your heart, no way, you can stop me now, as fine as you are!!

They need to hit up some of those bluegrass versions of VH songs that Roth concocted last year. THAT would be worth seeing.

that is a cool release actualfactual :)

wow now to make the summer complete, when in trey gonna tour with page and jon and eliza

I remember, when I was a kid, Roth sold skateboards at the swap meet in OC. He was a punk asshole then and I believe he is just bigger now. I can't believe that the rest of the guys will put up with him for long. Also, I remember seeing them a few times way back when...DLR would be so drunk that one time he forgot the lyrics to Running With the Devil or just couldn't form the words. What a complete and utter waste case! I wouldn't see them now if you gave me a ticket and a ride to the show. Throw in a bag...we'll talk.

1984 is a rowdy album I'd love to see EVH rip it up with his kid on bass, not to mention the antics of DLR.

Wolfgang Van Halen

Van Halen not Van Hagar baby! I might as well Jump! I have to ask, where is Gus Hagar, spoon player for the band, I heard Eddie kicked his ass so he could cook up.

isn't Eddie Van Halen's health in the crapper. i thought he had cancer or something. i noticed that they've got a lot of time in between shows. it will interesting to see if their bodies can hold up to the rigors of touring.

terriblebob, why do you feel the need to call their fans rednecks???

"Van Halen remains one of the most important and influential bands of all time." I think they remain one of the most self-important bands of all time. Their influence died with the hair metal they unfortunately helped spawn; Right around the time Kurt Cobain stamped it out in his Chuck Taylors. RIP: Phil Rizzuto. "Holy Cow that huckleberry Roth is getting back with VH."

YESSSSSSSSSS!! Best News I've heard all year. I'm going to the first 4 shows, then 2 nights in chi-town then NYC BAbyy!!
Van Halen = Best Band Ever Period

Date to be announced soon October 3rd Verizon Center - Washington, DC.

eddie van halen is an incredible guitar player, regardless of what anyone thinks. but, he's an asshole as well. that's why this band never survived. if you were a kid in the 80s you loved van halen. sure they are a pretty much a dead band and this tour is for money, but they were great years ago. all the negative comments on here are most likely from people that are not even 20 years old. theterriblebob's comment is the most ridiculous stupid shit i've ever heard. and i'm not a die hard van halen fan. phish, sci, umphrey's, and widespread are my favorites. van halen was freakin awesome when i was 10 years old though!

trainwreck.

Inside source who has attended some of the tour rehearsals says that David Lee Roth is singing better than he has in 15 years and Wolfgang is just smoking on the bass - breathing new life into his father and uncle.

Below are 2 links to photos of press conference and a picture of Van Halen's 2007-2008 stage !

http://www.dotphoto.com/Go.asp?l=dmb5150&P=&AID=4744221&Pres=Y

http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/15883639/van_halen_reunited/1

It's good to see this band tour. Sure, their reputations are shaky because of all the scrapping over the years, but they are their own worst enemies if they fail to pull off the entire tour (or the main portion at least of the promised 50 dates). I remember when their first album was released in 1978. It was so different from everything else we were listening to and became a regular staple of albums we spun along with up and coming artists such as the Cars, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, etc. It broke new ground. I didn't see Van Halen in concert until 2004 with Sammy Hagar. I am one of those that like both the DLR and the Hagar eras of Van Halen. I'll tell you what, next to perhaps Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen is one of the most awesome guitarists I've ever seen live and that's from more than 30 years of going to rock concerts. He ripped up the Verizon Center in Washington where I saw the show. And, Wolfgang came out and played a little bit with his Dad, so he has been on stage before. Let's hope for the best for this tour. Others have come back and pulled off great reunion shows (e.g., Page and Plant) so there's really no reason these guys can't pull it off. And to hear the classics--Jamie's Cryin, Jump, Panama, Hot for Teacher, Mean Streets, etc.--would be a real treat. Now, if we could just get the rest of the dates announced....

The only good thing Roth has ever done was that bluegras album a few years back, and even that wasnt great.

25 dates. Can we take an over/under on how many actually get played? I'm going to be nice and say 17. With Eddie and Diamond Dave its like having a band with TWO Axl Roses to deal with. Can Dave shut up and not annoy everyone within earshot for 5 minutes? Can Eddie go on tour and not succumb to the trappings of the road? Can young Wolfie survive in this soon to be over-hyped tsunami and still get his chemistry homework done?

I like Van Halen. I get up, nothing gets me down...words to live by.

I liked VH back in the early 80s but quickly grew out of it and I cant stand van hagar (sammy is a fag) when I first heard of this reunion the first thing i did was look for dates near me but nothing in fl. its not that big a deal i wont travel to see them or anything but i would have went had they came near just to say i have seen them if anything

over all VH is kinda lame but damn can Eddie play

VH is rancid cock rock. This is a reunion tour because they won't be together after or when it ends mid way through. They did this a decade ago and cancelled it before they even started the tour. I don't care how much Eddie can rip, he's done. DLR can't even get it up anymore, let alone jump. This has about as much significance as a WHAM or Kajagoogoo reunion.

So what...

filo makes a good comment. Michael Anthony's backups were a huge part of the sound, believe it or not. I would just hire some hot metal sluts to sing backups. Problem solved.

VAN HALEN's opening night in Charlotte,NC along with Philadelphia,PA and Toronto,ON Concerts Sold Out Within Minutes after tickets went on sale this morning, Second Shows have been added to Philadelphia and Toronto.

http://www.van-halen.com/tour.html


On the absence of bassist Michael Anthony from the lineup, David Lee Roth said at Monday's press conference: "Michael Anthony is part of this band's history. There's a lot of great alumni who have been through this band. I'm shocked that any of us are still vertical after 30 years. And as far as why Wolf is in the band, may I speak for you, Ed? I understand how he wanted to play with the boy because he's amazing."

If they make it, bonnaroo get your check book out....

Van Halen with David Lee Roth

Verizon Center - Washington, DC - November 01, 2007
Tickets Go On Sale August 24 at 10:00AM!

Time: 7:30pm

Ticket Prices: 59.50, 79.50, 149.50


Originally were going to play Washington, DC on Oct 3rd. However with a sold out show in Philly on Oct 1st they added a second show in Philly Oct 3rd.

Verizon Center - Washington, DC - November 01, 2007 is SOLD OUT !

VAN HALEN Rehearsal Report: Photos Available !

The VAN HALEN Yahoo! list has been updated with the following fan report from a VAN HALEN rehearsal that took place Saturday night (September 8) in the Los Angeles area (rumored to be the Los Angeles Forum):

"On Saturday night a friend of mine got me in to see a VAN HALEN rehearsal in Los Angeles. (I've been sworn to secrecy on certain aspects of this story, including location. Someone else may fill in the details, but it won't be me.)

"We arrived to an empty arena (except for the VH staff) containing VH's full stage setup. No one from the band had arrived yet.

"The stage has a runway which snakes out into the audience in a giant 'S' shape, which mirrors the lighting rig above it. The 'S' continues behind and above the stage so a band member can walk to the very top and be standing above Ed's [Van Halen] rig. There's a giant video screen the width of the entire stage, but neither the screen nor the stage lights were tested tonight; only the house lights were used. (It didn't matter in the slightest.)

"We arrived about an hour before the band while the crew fine-tuned the equipment. Drums were tested, guitars tuned, and pink noise blasted through the P.A. The general mood of everyone seemed very high with lots of smiles and friendly faces. Many people nodded to us and said, 'hello.'

"Eddie was the first to arrive, and very shortly after that, Wolfgang [Van Halen, bass] and Alex [Van Halen, drums]. Valerie [Bertinelli, Eddie Van Halen's ex-wife and mother of Wolfgang] was with Wolf as were about five of his friends from school, I'm guessing. (They all looked the same age.) Alex and Ed spent about 15 minutes on stage noodling while Wolfie was showing his friends the venue. The three of them then met on stage and Eddie said into the P.A., 'We're not opening with it, but let's play 'I'm The One' just to warm up. And that they did. A funny moment occurred when Ed screwed up the bit right before they usually go acapella. He spoke into the mic, 'Did I mess that up?' Wolf confirmed, 'Yeah, you were late.' Both were smiling.

"After 'I'm The One', there was a bit more noodling and then some down time as people waited for Dave [Lee Roth, vocals]. I'm not sure if he was running late or if that's just how the schedule was.

"When Dave did show up, right from the start, he was all smiles. He was dressed in tight, flared out leather pants and a black/striped dress shirt.

"The rest of the account is going to contain, for lack of a better word, 'spoilers' of the show, including the set list, all though not in order. If you don't want to know, fair warning.

"Dave addressed the crowd and treated us as if we were guests in his arena sized house. He thanked us for coming and talked about how excited he was to be here and what a 'privilege and honor' it was to play with his 'bruthas from another mutha.' (And yes, that's a quote.) He then went on to great lengths to explain what we would be seeing tonight: that it was a rehearsal where they would be stopping and starting, testing things out, etc. (And he did this all very eloquently with many one-liners, as only Dave does.) Right before the band began, he explained, 'Okay as soon as you hear the first note, that's when the curtain comes up.' He did that throughout the show; stopping to tell us what we would be seeing if this were the actual concert. The constant commentary and casual asides reminded me of that story I've heard where at a concert he wanted to turn the P.A. around so that 'everyone could be backstage.' That's how this show felt. As if we were being let it on the secret.

"The show started with 'You Really Got Me'. Dave was standing on the high part of the 'S' stage above Alex waving a giant red flag as the show began. Then he threw the flag down, and for the first time in over 22 years, David Lee Roth sang on stage with Eddie Van Halen.

"I'd say there were only about 40-50 guests there that night who were lucky enough to get in. Most of us sat in the 'fve-star' section inside the loop of the 'S' runway, but there wasn't even enough of us to fill it up. And there was a silly L.A. attitude amongst the crowd of 'Oh-I'm-so-hip- I-don't-need- to-sit-in- the-front-row' thing going on, as if this event was an every day occurrence. (After the first song, I couldn't stay away, and moved from the fifth row to right up front, just off center towards Ed's side.) The stage setup has at least 8 speakers just for the people in the first few rows, so you don't have to worry about hearing only the echoey remnants of the main P.A. You'll get the full mix nice and loud. But Holy God, bring earplugs.

"Wolfgang did a fine job, even providing decent sounding backup vocals. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about him, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that Michael Anthony was missed. While Wolf competently filled the position, he doesn't have the same sound, either in his playing or in his voice, as Michael. It's such a shame that silly personal conflicts can't be resolved so that people can finally see the classic lineup again. I do have to say though, it's obvious how much Ed loves playing with Wolfgang. He would be all smiles when he walked over to Wolfie and after one song, stepped up to the P.A. and said, 'Great job, Wolf. Great.'

"Over the next hour and a half or so the band played classic after classic that VH haven't done in years. The Sammy Hagar era is dead now, as far as I can tell. (Although when warming up, Eddie ran the VH-stripped drill across his guitar as if he was was starting 'Poundcake', but no more than that.) I was surprised by some of the gems they brought out. I'll post the songs I remember at the end of the article, but the order will be completely wrong except for the first song and the encore.

"The great thrill of the show was seeing Dave and Ed interact. If there's any animosity between them, it didn't show at all. Both were constantly smiling, and Dave often did the schtick where he holds his mic to Ed's guitar during a solo while he looks at the crowd, open mouthed in astonishment.

"That's not to say that Dave didn't get pissed, however. He was standing out by the far tail of the 'S' runway when, in the middle of a song, he yelled at the soundboard crew with intense anger, 'TURN THE FUCKING VOCALS UP! Don't make me ask you again!' I turned to Ed to see his reaction, thinking he would be pissed at Dave's behavior, but incredibly, Ed just smiled even wider. As Dave walked past him returning to the stage, they did a mini-hi-five, low and behind each other's back. I don't know what it meant. I'm guessing it's one of those things that only makes sense to two people who have known each other for decades.

"I never got to see Dave sing with VAN HALEN live. I got into the band in 1984 when I was 12 and didn't see them until the 'OU812' tour. I've seen Dave solo multiple times, but am always wonderfully caught off guard by his stage antics. He really is the clown prince of rock 'n' roll, and I say that with as much affection as I can. There's not a moment that goes by where he's not trying to entertain you, whether it be with silly facial expressions, dance moves, jokes, props or stories. He is the former 5-year-old kid who ran up to every new adult and wanted to show them everything he owned and all the things he could do and wouldn't stop talking until his parents told him it was bed time. And that attitude has never quite gone away.

"Thinking about the whole experience, I can't help but smile. I was going to write a few more details about the show, (like the brilliant way Dave introduces 'Somebody Get Me A Doctor' or the intensity from Dave that makes 'Mean Street' one of the great live VH songs) but I think it's probably better to let you all discover that for yourself.

Songs that were performed (not in order):

You Really Got Me

Romeo Delight

Somebody Get Me A Doctor

I'm The One

Mean Street

Unc