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I'm starting to believe this is a bunch of crap. Has there actually been any legitimate proof of this. Ok there s a picture, but hasn't busting up instruments at the end of a concert or tour been a long time Rock n Roll tradidition? Startyed by the WHO I believe... I'm not argieing the Ed's unstable at least but I just find it odd that there is not a THING about it in the press and I dont believe for one second that the legend is not newsworthy. What I did find is this article... Posted at ANOTHER VH friendly site... shhhhhhhh....
By Cathalena E. Burch
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Van Halen truly saved the best for last when it decided to close its 2004 reunion tour in Tucson.
The rock band, fresh off healed wounds and hurt feelings, performed the first of two concerts at Casino del Sol's AVA Thursday night; the final show is tonight.
It will be the quartet's 80th concert since making nice-nice last spring and hitting the road to show the world that a great rock 'n' roll band can survive a nine-year separation.
You would have expected they would be burned out, lagging, tired from their North American jaunt that last week dipped into Canada.
If they were tired, they hid it in their near sprints, 3-foot leaps and boundless energy that infected their near-sold-out audience of 4,488.
Those who bought seats left them unoccupied for the 2 1/2-hour romp through Van Halen's greatest hits.
The stage was still dark when lead singer Sammy Hagar let out the his time-honored call to action: "Helloooo, bay-bee." The crowd answered with a high-pitched, perfectly in unison scream that took the chill off the night air.
It was a cold night made a little more bearable for those without seats who wandered back and forth from their lawn spots to a dozen blazing heating lamps. Someone forgot to tell lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen that it's almost winter; he left his shirt backstage and played the entire night bare-chested.
Hagar wasn't so brave. An hour into the show, he slipped on a long-sleeved red shirt to match his red T-shirt and fluorescent yellow pants - the same outfit he wore when the band brought the tour to Phoenix in August.
The band's Tucson show was very similar to that Phoenix show, minus the arena and about 11,000 people. The band crammed its arena setting onto the AVA stage. The towering stage platform didn't look to be as high as the 50 feet it stood on the America West Arena stage, but it might have been. And Eddie and bass player Michael Anthony didn't seem to have nearly as much room to scoot around an ever-moving Hagar as they did on that stage.
But there's much to be said about a more intimate setting for one of the best rock bands ever. When Hagar leaned into the audience, he could touch the outstretched hands of those lucky enough to land in the front row as he belted out the chorus to "Best of Both Worlds" and jerked his head back and forth to the beat of "Runaround."
You didn't have to strain as hard to see him scale the raised platform to emphasize the point of "Top of the World." The platform wasn't set nearly as far back as it was on the Phoenix stage.
When Eddie Van Halen lit into his guitar solo, you could clearly see every muscle in his midriff flex as he threw himself on the ground and pounded out the deliciously crazy guitar licks that have surely earned him a place in rock history.
The sweat pouring off drummer Alex Van Halen's forehead almost splashed the front row when he took his solo turn. He beat on his drum set so ferociously that it came alive.
Not to be left out of their moments to shine, bassist Anthony hauled out his trusty Jack Daniel's ax and tormented it, thrashing against the mic stand, the speaker beside the drums, creating an entirely unpleasant sound that was remedied when he took a swig from a bottle of Jack. He took a shot then stroked the guitar into lovely submission, creating the pleasant sound it was meant to create. Then he toasted a shot with buddy Hagar, who shared the wealth with a pair in the front row.
Yes, they saved the best for last. We got the pleasure of seeing one of rock's premiere bands still making amazingly good music - and loving it.
By Cathalena E. Burch
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Van Halen truly saved the best for last when it decided to close its 2004 reunion tour in Tucson.
The rock band, fresh off healed wounds and hurt feelings, performed the first of two concerts at Casino del Sol's AVA Thursday night; the final show is tonight.
It will be the quartet's 80th concert since making nice-nice last spring and hitting the road to show the world that a great rock 'n' roll band can survive a nine-year separation.
You would have expected they would be burned out, lagging, tired from their North American jaunt that last week dipped into Canada.
If they were tired, they hid it in their near sprints, 3-foot leaps and boundless energy that infected their near-sold-out audience of 4,488.
Those who bought seats left them unoccupied for the 2 1/2-hour romp through Van Halen's greatest hits.
The stage was still dark when lead singer Sammy Hagar let out the his time-honored call to action: "Helloooo, bay-bee." The crowd answered with a high-pitched, perfectly in unison scream that took the chill off the night air.
It was a cold night made a little more bearable for those without seats who wandered back and forth from their lawn spots to a dozen blazing heating lamps. Someone forgot to tell lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen that it's almost winter; he left his shirt backstage and played the entire night bare-chested.
Hagar wasn't so brave. An hour into the show, he slipped on a long-sleeved red shirt to match his red T-shirt and fluorescent yellow pants - the same outfit he wore when the band brought the tour to Phoenix in August.
The band's Tucson show was very similar to that Phoenix show, minus the arena and about 11,000 people. The band crammed its arena setting onto the AVA stage. The towering stage platform didn't look to be as high as the 50 feet it stood on the America West Arena stage, but it might have been. And Eddie and bass player Michael Anthony didn't seem to have nearly as much room to scoot around an ever-moving Hagar as they did on that stage.
But there's much to be said about a more intimate setting for one of the best rock bands ever. When Hagar leaned into the audience, he could touch the outstretched hands of those lucky enough to land in the front row as he belted out the chorus to "Best of Both Worlds" and jerked his head back and forth to the beat of "Runaround."
You didn't have to strain as hard to see him scale the raised platform to emphasize the point of "Top of the World." The platform wasn't set nearly as far back as it was on the Phoenix stage.
When Eddie Van Halen lit into his guitar solo, you could clearly see every muscle in his midriff flex as he threw himself on the ground and pounded out the deliciously crazy guitar licks that have surely earned him a place in rock history.
The sweat pouring off drummer Alex Van Halen's forehead almost splashed the front row when he took his solo turn. He beat on his drum set so ferociously that it came alive.
Not to be left out of their moments to shine, bassist Anthony hauled out his trusty Jack Daniel's ax and tormented it, thrashing against the mic stand, the speaker beside the drums, creating an entirely unpleasant sound that was remedied when he took a swig from a bottle of Jack. He took a shot then stroked the guitar into lovely submission, creating the pleasant sound it was meant to create. Then he toasted a shot with buddy Hagar, who shared the wealth with a pair in the front row.
Yes, they saved the best for last. We got the pleasure of seeing one of rock's premiere bands still making amazingly good music - and loving it.
Big props to Loss Of Control at DDLR for posting this Eddie Van Breakdown pic originally (I saw it there last night!!)
Seriously, I think that while BIG newspapers and networks wouldn't care to report it, the likes of MTV, VH1 and any of the Mucis News groups would. Switch ya know I luv ya girl but no matter what ya say, Ed is still music news, it just may be that THIS situation is not the EVENT that is is being played up to be...
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