VA's Classic Van Halen Nostalgia Tour

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Just wanted to share the experiences of my recent trip, which I turned into my own little CVH nostalgia tour...

I just got back from San Diego, where I was on business....

I was stationed there my first year in the Navy, from '83 to '84...

Had some time to kill, so I drove around my old stomping grounds...

I drove up to the San Diego Sports Arena, where other than the births of my two sons, I spent the greatest night of my life... Of course, it's not called that name anymore, it's got some corporate name now...

May 20th, 1984, The Mighty Van Halen live....

I parked in the lot for a while....I was a strange feeling, I actually had goosebumps, thinking about how absolutely frenzied the crowd was for the entire show...

Then on Saturday, after my work had been finished, I decided to take a jaunt to Los Angeles before my flight the next morning....

After driving around for a while, seemingly lost, I finally stumbled upon Sunset Blvd....

Now I grant you, this was in broad daylight, so OBVIOUSLY I didn't get the same type of feelings...

But I tell ya, when I drove up to the corner where the Whisky A Go Go is, I just cracked a big smile...

Not only because of the legend that Van Halen created there, but all of the other bands as well...

And then the Roxy and the Rainbow as well...

It made my trip more than worth it.... :D

[sadaist]

San Diego Sports Arena is now the I Pay One Center. I saw many concerts there through the 80's. Awesome venue. After, I would walk across to Tower Records to hang out and people watch until my ride came. Taco Bell right there too. The arena parking lot was always a party before the show. I'm sure every city with a sports arena in the 80's was similar.

[Diamondjimi]

I get the same feeling every time I pass by Maple Leaf Gardens.
I now sits vacant , collecting dust. A shame !
Saw many awesome shows there.
Most importantly THE MIGHTY VAN HALEN '80,'81,'82,'84 !!!

[diamondsgirl]

Thats cool VA, and I know what you mean, whenever I go to LA, I peek into the the Whiskey and the Rainbow...just because...

[bantonelli]

Originally posted by diamondsgirl
Thats cool VA, and I know what you mean, whenever I go to LA, I peek into the the Whiskey and the Rainbow...just because...

DG - you know exactly where to go!!! The spirit of VH and specifically DAVE lives at the Whiskey and the Rainbow.

[sadaist]

The Sports Arena on any given summer in the mid 80's would have a concert lineup as follows:

Van Halen
Motley Crue/Whitesnake
Ratt/Poison
The Cult
Scorpions
Def Leppard
Journey
Ozzy
Metallica
Alice Cooper
Megadeth
Deep Purple
Roger Waters
AC/DC
Judas Priest
Iron Maiden

etc....

I miss those days. And with tickets averaging $12-$15 tops, a kid could mow enough lawns to pretty much see any of them.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Originally posted by sadaist
San Diego Sports Arena is now the I Pay One Center. I saw many concerts there through the 80's. Awesome venue. After, I would walk across to Tower Records to hang out and people watch until my ride came. Taco Bell right there too. The arena parking lot was always a party before the show. I'm sure every city with a sports arena in the 80's was similar.

Yeah, Tower Records was the only place I recognized on that whole street..

Other than Les Girls and the Body Shop, that is....

And a couple of the dive motels on Rosecrans that I spent many a night.... :D