How many of you actually have seen Van Halen live?

[Jagermeister]

I saw the original line up twice. I don't have any real big stories about it though. Saw a ton of concerts back then.

[mug]

Every tour but the 1st. That was supposed to happen but the whole show was cancelled .VH was kicking journys ass so it never happened. Was supposed to happen in seymour wis, at the fairgrounds. Still have the ad for the show.

[Dan]

Every tour but the 1st. That was supposed to happen but the whole show was cancelled .VH was kicking journys ass so it never happened. Was supposed to happen in seymour wis, at the fairgrounds. Still have the ad for the show.

It's True,I Have Seen The Ticket Stubs.

What Up,Brother Mug?

[fwacf]

1981 Fair Warning tour Lake land Fla General admission !....Hitchhiked from Brooksville to Lakland,back when you could do that.
Oct 15th 1982...Brenden Byrne(now Izod) Original show was canceled due to Eddie wrist injury.
April 2 1984....Same arena...little did I know that was the last time I would see the original line up!

[Hardrock69]

As amazing as it was to see CVH, it was equally amazing to see the audience at a CVH show. Never in my life have I witnessed any other band who could cause 12,000 people to go absolutely nutso-bonkers and ROAR at the top of their lungs.

NO OTHER BAND has EVER been able to consistently create that extreme level of out-of-control fanatic response on such a consistent basis. At least in the US. Now if you go down to South America, those rock and metal fans down there go absolutely ape-shit when attending concerts.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

As amazing as it was to see CVH, it was equally amazing to see the audience at a CVH show. Never in my life have I witnessed any other band who could cause 12,000 people to go absolutely nutso-bonkers and ROAR at the top of their lungs.

NO OTHER BAND has EVER been able to consistently create that extreme level of out-of-control fanatic response on such a consistent basis. At least in the US. Now if you go down to South America, those rock and metal fans down there go absolutely ape-shit when attending concerts.

Well said....

[Warham]

July 30, 1993 - Right Here, Right Now Tour
May 16, 1998 - III Tour
November 6, 2007 - Van Halen Fall 2007 Tour

[sadaist]

As amazing as it was to see CVH, it was equally amazing to see the audience at a CVH show. Never in my life have I witnessed any other band who could cause 12,000 people to go absolutely nutso-bonkers and ROAR at the top of their lungs.

NO OTHER BAND has EVER been able to consistently create that extreme level of out-of-control fanatic response on such a consistent basis.

Dude, when I saw the 2007 reunion tour, it was the first time for me seeing Dave & Eddie together. In my late 30's and I was a little worried I would tear up being so happy once the curtain dropped. As soon as You Really Got Me started and Dave was waving that flag & Eddie was ripping the notes...I looked around me.

I saw hundreds (if not thousands) of other grown men tearing up as well.

WOW!

Fucking Van Halen! Very few bands can get that type of emotion from a fan. I mean, a few people might tear up during any given show when a special song is played. But 12,000 people all at once?! Only VH.....and only Dave & Ed at that.

It wasn't about Alex or Wolfgang or even what song they were playing. It was the fact that Dave & Eddie were actually on the same stage playing any song together.

There were no fights in the parking lot after. No honking during the traffic jam. Just thousands of car stereos cranking CVH tunes and people hanging out the car windows high fiving everyone else & screaming the songs. 100% of the crowd would have U-turned if an announcement came out that they would play just 1 more song.



*hoping to add San Diego 2011/2012 to this list very soon.

[sadaist]

I saw the original line up twice. I don't have any real big stories about it though.

I'd say seeing the original line up twice are your big stories. Good enough for me. Don't really need to add anything else.

[VAiN]

Dude, when I saw the 2007 reunion tour, it was the first time for me seeing Dave & Eddie together. In my late 30's and I was a little worried I would tear up being so happy once the curtain dropped. As soon as You Really Got Me started and Dave was waving that flag & Eddie was ripping the notes...I looked around me.

I saw hundreds (if not thousands) of other grown men tearing up as well.

WOW!

No kidding.. I know I got teary when they launched into it... It was like a religious experience for me.

I can't wait to have the 'I'm going to see Van Halen' feeling again, soon!! Wherever show #1 is - I am there.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

No kidding.. I know I got teary when they launched into it... It was like a religious experience for me.

I can't wait to have the 'I'm going to see Van Halen' feeling again, soon!! Wherever show #1 is - I am there.

Oh no.... That point, for me and Poj anyway, was when both Dave and Ed teared up during the stop in the middle of "I'm The One" in Greensboro (about the 7:40 mark) .... By the way, wanted to also mention that video doesn't do the crowd justice... When they stopped playing in the middle, that crowd was fucking ROARING !!

You were there bro, there wasn't a dry in the house !!

[VAiN]

Oh no.... That point, for me and Poj anyway, was when both Dave and Ed teared up during the stop in the middle of "I'm The One" in Greensboro (about the 7:40 mark) .... By the way, wanted to also mention that video doesn't do the crowd justice... When they stopped playing in the middle, that crowd was fucking ROARING !!

You were there bro, there wasn't a dry in the house !!

Yeah, that fucking place went nuts! I know I did my part.. I believe Dave & Eddie were also a bit overcome with emotion...

This has me feeling all sentimental and shit... I may have to dig out my Charlotte & Greensboro DVDs and relive some of this shit!

[VAiN]

Oh, and to stay on topic...

I've seen VH

December 13, 1991 - Miami, FL - My first time seeing Eddie in person.
March 14, 1995 St. Petersburg, FL
March 17, 1995 Miami, FL
September 16, 1998 - Orlando, FL
September 17, 1998 - Fort Lauderdale, FL
June 11, 2004 - Greensboro, NC
September 11, 2004 - Fort Lauderdale, FL (hearing spambo ruin Unchained was like an act of terror)
November 4, 2004 - Ames, IA
November 19, 2004 - Tucson, AZ ('Black Friday', I was certain this was the last time I'd ever see Eddie alive again)
September 27, 2007 - Charlotte, NC (Show #1 - Dave is back motherfuckers!)
September 29, 2007 - Greensboro, NC
November 13, 2007 - New York City, NY (MSG)
February 12, 2008 - Sunrise, FL
February 20, 2008 - Sunrise, FL (Last show before Ed's "break")
April 26, 2008 - St. Louis, MO
2011/2012 - Comin' Up!!!!!

[jero]

New York 2007!

[george]

I've seen the original line up for Diver Down, 1984 and two for the 07/08 shows.

I almost had a chance to go to the Hershey PA show in 2008 but it didn't work out. I have a boot of that show and it sounds like Ed and Dave were on better than ever.

What is the best show video? I've seen a bunch of the YouTube vids people have posted (much appreciated, btw) but I didn't know if there was a pro-shot one running around on the torrents. Love to see that if it exists.

[FORD]

As far as I know, no pro-shot videos of the 07/08 tour have surfaced yet. But since a DVD of the tour was supposedly planned, I'll bet there's all kinds of footage in the vault at Howdy Doody Mountain.

Audience boots of this tour seem to range from a B- to Absolute Crap in terms of sound/video quality. Probably the closest thing to a pro-quality was the rehearsal gig right before the start of the tour.

I'm hoping that maybe some pro shot shows escape from Down Under on the upcoming tour.

[Sweet Irony]

Well as long as we're talkin old news....NYC in 07...me & Jay....incredible!
(In depth reviews were posted on DDLR and here...way back when/then!!)

[VAiN]

Audience boots of this tour seem to range from a B- to Absolute Crap in terms of sound/video quality. Probably the closest thing to a pro-quality was the rehearsal gig right before the start of the tour.

I'm going to disagree here... A few DVDs that instantly come to mind as being A+ are Charlotte - which has virtual soundboard audio from Steeco, San Diego 07 - shot from the first 3-4 rows with incredible waist to head close-ups and Grand Rapids 08, the final show of the tour... There are several more in there, but those 3 are the ones that I instantly think of.

So, what's this rehearsal gig you speak of? I'm pretty on-point with the boots and have never even heard of this... do tell..

[Fairwrning]

Its coming up on 30 years to the day..I just remember being in complete awe of these guys...and the fact I was finally going to see em live..July 27, 1981,,Roanoke,Va. Also saw the 82 and 84 shows here..Greensboro 07..God willing, Greensboro again soon.

[jhale667]

I too was in awe of them when I saw them in '84, but I could tell they were kind of phoning it in at that point. I would've looooved to have seen them earlier, but wasn't allowed to go when they came to town on the WACF and Fair Warning tour, I was (still young enough to be) grounded for some dumb reason that I can no longer recall, but both times! I'm still amazed I was ever let out of the house to go see Ozzy in Feb '82 - and if that hadn't happened, wouldn't have met Randy Rhoads for 5 minutes, and got an autograph and a pep-talk that are part of the reason I am where I am today...


Not sure in regards to the VH shows I was grounded for any other reason besides the fact that Mom had seen DLR on Entertainment Tonight and didn't want me "associating with those types of people". Little did she know then I WAS that type of person. She thought Ozzy was just theater like Alice Cooper, though, so I got to go to that show! By '84 I could buy my own concert tickets, and was like "I'm going whether you like it or not."

[ZahZoo]

78 - 81 were really the best years IMO. Especially the 2 shows I saw in Oakland in 81.

[VAiN]

78 - 81 were really the best years.

Amen, brotha!!

[Hardrock69]

I agree. When they were shit hot. Complacency and inter-band rivalries/arguments had not crept in yet. The first 2 tours were the shit.

[Cato]

btw, what tour was Sean Penn gonna see in his movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", Fair Warning or Hide Your Sheep?

[chefcraig]

btw, what tour was Sean Penn gonna see in his movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", Fair Warning or Hide Your Sheep?

Neither. Since he hired the band for a private party, it's arguable that Spicoli would have had some input on the set list.

[Cato]

I remember a scene. he's trying to get the VH tickets....
haven't you seen that movie?

[chefcraig]

I remember a scene. he's trying to get the VH tickets....
haven't you seen that movie?

Only about a million times, and you are wrong. For one thing, Spicoli never had any money, so just how was he supposed to be paying for the tickets he intended to buy?

The scene you are thinking of is at the beginning of the film, when the character of Damone the scalper is first introduced. Two young kids (neither being Spicoli) ask about VH tickets, then complain about the price.

You can view a clip of the scene HERE.

[Cato]

oh sorry for my bad memory craig-san

you seem to know everything

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Technically it would have been the Hide Your Sheep Tour.... DD was released in Apr 1982, Fast Times was released in Aug 1982.....

[chefcraig]

you seem to know everything

Nah, only about the dubious and insignificant stuff. Whatever is truly important (and commonsensical) completely eludes me.

[hideyoursheep]

Technically it would have been the Hide Your Sheep Tour.... DD was released in Apr 1982, Fast Times was released in Aug 1982.....

I think the book came out in '81?

[Jagermeister]

Oh no.... That point, for me and Poj anyway, was when both Dave and Ed teared up during the stop in the middle of "I'm The One" in Greensboro (about the 7:40 mark) .... By the way, wanted to also mention that video doesn't do the crowd justice... When they stopped playing in the middle, that crowd was fucking ROARING !!

You were there bro, there wasn't a dry in the house !!

I didn't cry but I saw them on that tour also on Ed's birthday. 8th row stage right. I couldn't walk for a week from jumping around like a damn kid at a rock concert. Really I was that sore. I learned a valuable lesson.

[KTC5150]

I saw VH in MSG, NYC 1981, and haven't missed a tour since.. My best one w/ DLR was the 1984 show in Biloxi, MS on Jan, 1984, which was I believe the 3rd show of the tour.... I went back to the beach condos me & my buds were renting for the w/e, then went to the bar next door to party... I'm shooting some pool, hear some whooping & hollering, somebody slams quarters down on the table & asks if he can get the next game w/ me... I look up & I almost sh!t myself by seeing none other than EDDIE! Al & Mike were there too! We hung & partied for about 3 hours, then they took off. The next day, I saw DLR @ the local mall(but he wasn't as cordial...) and it capped off my best time w/ classic =VH=... I've seen VH about 25 times in my life, the last one being Nov.25, 2007 here in San Diego. I must say that show was one of the best of any of the 07/08 shows I've seen on youtube.... SOUND-WISE, OR PERFORMANCE-WISE! Ed's guitar sounded a little too over-processed, but overall great tone! It was also the 1st show he perfomed w/ the cream colored Wolfie...

[Jagermeister]

oh sorry for my bad memory craig-san

[PETE'S BROTHER]

twice on the 07-08 tour. once in glendale and once in vegas new years eve eve, i think. and soon to be once in '11

[Switch84]

I've mostly seen Dave solo, but went to the somewhat-reunion tour when they came to Atlanta. I regret not seeing the complete VAN HALEN (with Mike on bass instead of Wolfie), but I guess I'll have to be happy with this version. Truth is, as long as Dave's on the mic, I don't care who's backing him, LMFAO!

[VanHalener]

Please forgive me if I do not read every post here before I testify...

Van Halen

That's all you cats ever need to know

[Hardrock69]

That's all that needs to be said!

[Heater]

Saw them BOTH nights in Philly on the 1984 tour. That was where they shot the "Panama" video. I think that tour was when they peaked and those 2 nights were probably the best of the tour, a shame they didn't record the entire shows, those were the best shows they ever played, everything seemed to be in line, the perfect storm. Got a high five from Ed as he left the limo to go into the hotel, They weren't letting many into the hotel bar that night but it didn't matter, I will always be one of the fortunate people to proclaim, "I WAS THERE!!!".

[GreenBayLA]

Van Halen is first band I was onboard with from their debut album. I'd have to dig out my ticket stubs to be sure but I mostly saw them in Madison, WI on tours for VH II, WACF, FW, Diver Down 2x and 1984 2x. Each tour was a bigger show but they always had crappy opening bands. Classic Van Halen were the best concerts I've ever seen. Dave always made you feel like you were at the biggest, best party of the year.
Saw Van Hagar on 5150 tour and it was over for me. Never bought any post-Dave VH albums or saw another concert until the reunion w/ Dave.