TwoFoolsAMinute
11-08-2004, 09:29 PM
I first became aware of Van Halen when I was in fifth grade. There was a catchy tune on the radio, another keyboard driven song of the 80’s. I remember a follow up song called Panama that a friend of mine had recorded off the radio that was pretty cool. And then they were gone. At that time, where I lived in rural north Texas, there was no MTV, and rock and metal were virtually absent from radio. Van Halen was but a blip on the radar, and then they were gone.
A couple of years later, in seventh grade, I was at a party. At this time, my musical tastes were that of what was available to me, things like Bryan Adams, Janet Jackson, Wham, and other embarrassments…you get the picture. I found the cool kids at the party were listening to two things…ZZ Top’s Afterburner, and Van Halen’s 1984. I knew that to be cool, I must score these two. After all, being cool was much more important than the music, right?
My dad had once told me that real rock n roll was made with just bass, drums and guitar. When I got the ZZ Top cassette, I understood. The things I had been listening to seemed so weak and artificial. This music was kinda loud and nasty, and I knew I had found the way to better things. I soon got the 1984 cassette. I remember riding home in the backseat of my mom’s Buick reading off the track listing on the back of the cassette case. These great titles that sounded dirty and funny at the same time, like “Drop Dead Legs”, “Hot for Teacher”, “Girl Gone Bad”, and “House of Pain”. I got home, popped it in, and when it was through with the 1984/Jump keyboard thing, I heard the greatest fucking sounds of my life. This was the real deal. Even ZZ Top had had electronic drums on the tracks. This was what it was all about: Blazing guitar, vocal attitude, clever lyrics, and raw uncensored ROCK N ROLL. Suddenly, I was hungry for more from Van Halen, hungry for more Roth. I started picking up the other Van Halen tapes when I had extra money. I got Van Halen, and Diver Down. I got Crazy From the Heat, and though it had the horns and keyboards and all, it still came through clear with that same fun loving attitude. Van Halen for me was about David Lee Roth. Hell, back then the general public thought Roth was Eddie Van Halen.
Soon, I heard there was a new Van Halen album out. I was unsure, because I thought Roth had left for good, but I was no historian. But I hadn’t read in Hit Parader that they had rejoined. And then it happened. I heard it! “Why Can’t This Be Love” What the fuck was that. I still don’t know. I refused to accept it. Van Halen was dead to me.
Not long after, I happened by the cassette case at Gibson’s Discount Center. You know, the kind that was locked up with a glass top and the lady behind the jewelry counter had to open it with a key to get out your tape, and I saw a DAVID LEE ROTH Eat Em And Smile. I summoned the lady, and bought it without having heard a single song. I was not disappointed. The guitarist could make the guitar talk to Dave. Holy shit, this was the best band ever!!!
Well, as I mentioned before, I lived in a rural part of the state, and there had to be weather phenomena to get the Dallas radio stations. I was in 8th grade by this time, and it was time to go to the show. I asked around to my friends that had been to concerts how to find out who was playing and when the Roth show was going to be in town. I finally found out. The night before the show I found out when it was, and my mother said that was too soon, and I couldn’t go. And I cried. I fucking laid down on the couch and cried.
The next year, the Skyscraper tour came around, and dammit, I wasn’t going to miss that one. My friend had an uncle who lived in Dallas and we told him to hook us up, and he did. I saw Dave in May of 1988 from high atop Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. He was but a dot to me from up there, but on fantastically bad ass dot. It was great. The theatrics were awesome. The flying surfboard, the boxing ring, rappelling down from the stage with his climbing gear. And that Vai fellow was like a magician on guitar.
Then, later, the A Lil Ain’t Enough tour went onsale, I got my tickets immediately, but it never happened. The show was cancelled, and I didn’t know why until 1999 when I read it in Dave’s book. After that, I know he played Dallas some, but I never found out about the shows until after they happened. It seemed I’d never get to see Dave live again. I continued to buy his cd’s and always wished for more.
One day in about 1996 I was at work, and I picked up the newspaper and saw a picture of dave wearing a cap. I read the caption under the picture and it said Dave was back with Van Halen. I jumped up and started dancing. I got the funniest looks. I told them why, but they didn’t seem to get it. It was a dream come true. I could see Dave, not only Dave but Dave with his original band. Huge arenas, or stadiums! The greatest show on earth!
But…well, you know.
And Dave toured alone, and I never saw him. And He got together with Van Halen again...but…you know. Then a great thing happened. He got together to do a tour with Hagar. It was publicized, and I could go. Dave again in a full concert venue. I’m there. And I was going. I headed out to Kansas City, I lived in Iowa by this time, and I never made it. My minivan overheated. I missed the show.
And I found a couple of websites on the Internet that were full of “Rothtards” like myself. And they showed me the way to great bootlegs recordings and that Dave was on his way back. That he had his shit together, and a great new band, and Van Halen would be lucky to have him.
And I found out about Dave live dates as soon as they are booked, and last night, in Prior Lake, Minnesota, at the Mystic Lake Casino, I saw Diamond David Lee Roth and the DLR Band from the front row courtesy of a member of the Roth Army. I was resting an arm on the stage as he perfomed a fantastic show, and I didn’t even have to leave soaked in Jack Daniels. But so what if I had. The band was tight and Dave was at his finest. The setlist was fanastic. Same tunes he’s been playing for a while now. He missed a few notes during Runnin with the Devil, but hey, not bad for 28 years later. It was the pinnacle. I don’t care if he was playing a club on Main Street, or the Rose Bowl, I saw David Lee Roth from the front row, and it’s been a long time coming.
I have been blessed, and the prophecy had been fulfilled. There is a god, and Roth be thy name.
Amen.
A couple of years later, in seventh grade, I was at a party. At this time, my musical tastes were that of what was available to me, things like Bryan Adams, Janet Jackson, Wham, and other embarrassments…you get the picture. I found the cool kids at the party were listening to two things…ZZ Top’s Afterburner, and Van Halen’s 1984. I knew that to be cool, I must score these two. After all, being cool was much more important than the music, right?
My dad had once told me that real rock n roll was made with just bass, drums and guitar. When I got the ZZ Top cassette, I understood. The things I had been listening to seemed so weak and artificial. This music was kinda loud and nasty, and I knew I had found the way to better things. I soon got the 1984 cassette. I remember riding home in the backseat of my mom’s Buick reading off the track listing on the back of the cassette case. These great titles that sounded dirty and funny at the same time, like “Drop Dead Legs”, “Hot for Teacher”, “Girl Gone Bad”, and “House of Pain”. I got home, popped it in, and when it was through with the 1984/Jump keyboard thing, I heard the greatest fucking sounds of my life. This was the real deal. Even ZZ Top had had electronic drums on the tracks. This was what it was all about: Blazing guitar, vocal attitude, clever lyrics, and raw uncensored ROCK N ROLL. Suddenly, I was hungry for more from Van Halen, hungry for more Roth. I started picking up the other Van Halen tapes when I had extra money. I got Van Halen, and Diver Down. I got Crazy From the Heat, and though it had the horns and keyboards and all, it still came through clear with that same fun loving attitude. Van Halen for me was about David Lee Roth. Hell, back then the general public thought Roth was Eddie Van Halen.
Soon, I heard there was a new Van Halen album out. I was unsure, because I thought Roth had left for good, but I was no historian. But I hadn’t read in Hit Parader that they had rejoined. And then it happened. I heard it! “Why Can’t This Be Love” What the fuck was that. I still don’t know. I refused to accept it. Van Halen was dead to me.
Not long after, I happened by the cassette case at Gibson’s Discount Center. You know, the kind that was locked up with a glass top and the lady behind the jewelry counter had to open it with a key to get out your tape, and I saw a DAVID LEE ROTH Eat Em And Smile. I summoned the lady, and bought it without having heard a single song. I was not disappointed. The guitarist could make the guitar talk to Dave. Holy shit, this was the best band ever!!!
Well, as I mentioned before, I lived in a rural part of the state, and there had to be weather phenomena to get the Dallas radio stations. I was in 8th grade by this time, and it was time to go to the show. I asked around to my friends that had been to concerts how to find out who was playing and when the Roth show was going to be in town. I finally found out. The night before the show I found out when it was, and my mother said that was too soon, and I couldn’t go. And I cried. I fucking laid down on the couch and cried.
The next year, the Skyscraper tour came around, and dammit, I wasn’t going to miss that one. My friend had an uncle who lived in Dallas and we told him to hook us up, and he did. I saw Dave in May of 1988 from high atop Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. He was but a dot to me from up there, but on fantastically bad ass dot. It was great. The theatrics were awesome. The flying surfboard, the boxing ring, rappelling down from the stage with his climbing gear. And that Vai fellow was like a magician on guitar.
Then, later, the A Lil Ain’t Enough tour went onsale, I got my tickets immediately, but it never happened. The show was cancelled, and I didn’t know why until 1999 when I read it in Dave’s book. After that, I know he played Dallas some, but I never found out about the shows until after they happened. It seemed I’d never get to see Dave live again. I continued to buy his cd’s and always wished for more.
One day in about 1996 I was at work, and I picked up the newspaper and saw a picture of dave wearing a cap. I read the caption under the picture and it said Dave was back with Van Halen. I jumped up and started dancing. I got the funniest looks. I told them why, but they didn’t seem to get it. It was a dream come true. I could see Dave, not only Dave but Dave with his original band. Huge arenas, or stadiums! The greatest show on earth!
But…well, you know.
And Dave toured alone, and I never saw him. And He got together with Van Halen again...but…you know. Then a great thing happened. He got together to do a tour with Hagar. It was publicized, and I could go. Dave again in a full concert venue. I’m there. And I was going. I headed out to Kansas City, I lived in Iowa by this time, and I never made it. My minivan overheated. I missed the show.
And I found a couple of websites on the Internet that were full of “Rothtards” like myself. And they showed me the way to great bootlegs recordings and that Dave was on his way back. That he had his shit together, and a great new band, and Van Halen would be lucky to have him.
And I found out about Dave live dates as soon as they are booked, and last night, in Prior Lake, Minnesota, at the Mystic Lake Casino, I saw Diamond David Lee Roth and the DLR Band from the front row courtesy of a member of the Roth Army. I was resting an arm on the stage as he perfomed a fantastic show, and I didn’t even have to leave soaked in Jack Daniels. But so what if I had. The band was tight and Dave was at his finest. The setlist was fanastic. Same tunes he’s been playing for a while now. He missed a few notes during Runnin with the Devil, but hey, not bad for 28 years later. It was the pinnacle. I don’t care if he was playing a club on Main Street, or the Rose Bowl, I saw David Lee Roth from the front row, and it’s been a long time coming.
I have been blessed, and the prophecy had been fulfilled. There is a god, and Roth be thy name.
Amen.