Public

This Day in CVH/DLR History
This Day in CVH/DLR History

1974
Van Halen plays at Gazzarri's in West Hollywood, CA.

1978
Van Halen plays the Austin Memorial Auditorium in Austin, TX. Black Sabbath is the headliner.

1988
David Lee Roth plays the Playhouse Theater in Edinburgh, Scotland.

1996
David Lee Roth and Edward Van Halen appear at an eight-hour benefit at the Riviera Theater in Chicago, IL, for former David Lee Roth guitarist Jason Becker, who is suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. The benefit featured Edward Van Halen on guitar, Steve Lukather on guitar and lead vocals, Billy Sheehan on bass, and Pat Torpey on drums. The group was decked out in matching black berets and white tank top undershirts and was billed as The Lou Brutus Experience. The name was chosen during a radio interview the day before at Chicago's WRCX 103.5 (hosted by Lou Brutus). Callers were encouraged to phone in their band name suggestions, with Edward wanting "something sick, but fun." Suggested names included Four Play, Bad Ass Barnyard Animals, and Delicious Vomit. Edward's appearance began with a televised plea for donations to charity on Jason's behalf that had originally been broadcast at the Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon on 9/01/96 - 9/02/96. Becker, who contracted the disease in 1989 and started feeling symptoms shortly before his work on David Lee Roth's A Little Ain't Enough album, was confined to a wheelchair and was not present for the event. As the band took the stage at this former movie theater, Edward kicked things off with a brief rendition of the Munsters theme before launching into "Wipeout." Interestingly, when Sheehan came into the song, the whole band sounded off-key, all playing different lines. The night before the ALS Benefit, the Lou Brutus Experience made an appearance at the Chicago Hard Rock Café, where Edward donated one of Jason's guitars to be hung on display. Other performers on the bill included Marty Friedman, Tony McAlpine, Zakk Wylde, Richie Kotzen, and Vinnie Moore. Songs performed by The Lou Brutus Experience: • Wipeout • Good Times, Bad Times • Little Wing • Ain't
Talkin' 'bout Love • She's So Heavy • Fire

11-17-2023

This Day in CVH/DLR History