The MIGHTY Van Halen!!!!

[donanger1]

Alright, here's the deal. I'm working on my second Foster's Lager on basically an empty stomach so it's gonna go right to my head, which is the best way to have it. I'll try and make it short. That may not happen because this is such a BIG FUCKING DEAL IN MY LIFE!! It started when I was in 9th grade (1983). This is my first memory of Van Halen. First off, my pal Jim got me into Led Zeppelin. GREAT START, right? "The Song Remains The Same." My all-time favorite live album. The 28 minute version of "Dazed & Confused" and "Moby Dick" are just about the most ass-kicking live songs EVER!! What an album! A drum solo that you can basically sing to? Hell YES! J. Bonham, your self indulgence (can't stop drinking) robbed us ALL of so much more that's why there HAS to be a heaven. Bon Scott, Randy Rhoads, etc....NOT FAIR. When it comes to drums, John Bonham is the JIMI HENDRIX of drums! Total BOMBAST! Okay, back to Halen! I was in my 9th grade civics class at Mounds View high in school in Minnesota when I just happen to see a "Circus" magazine opened up to the centerfold on a someone's desk. It was David Lee Roth doing the splits off of Alex Van Halen's drum riser. I was stunned. I said to myself, "What the hell is that?" No words were even needed. It spoke for itself. My pal Jim got me into Zeppelin but I needed my own identity. Zeppelin are English dudes sipping tea and playing Lochness Monster blues. Cool. Fine. My subconcious must have been telling me, "Let's bring that vibe into the current day." I was thumbing through albums at Great American Music or Musicland, one of 'em and I landed again on Van Halen. This time it was Van Halen 2. Back of the cover? Dave doing the 8 foot high splits. Sure it must be trick photography. He broke his damn ankle doing the shoot. HOW COOL! That back cover SEALED THE DEAL FOR ME. I can always go back to my Zeppelin obsession but starting NOW (little did I know it would last a lifetime!) my band is VAN HALEN! 23 some odd years later it is stronger than ever. My first official rock concert was Van Halen 1984, St. Paul Civic Center St.Paul, MN. Opening act?....an unheard of, yet unsigned band called "Autograph." I was 16. Impressionable as HELL! Yet, music was the drug! I thought the bass player for this "Autograph" looked like Jimmy Page too. When I walked into the arena it was a feeling that I still can't almost describe. You know the "Panama" video? Classic vid. That was the stage set up sitting there. All I remember was CHROME when I first looked into the arena. I was in line at the merch counter. Bought my Jersey T-shirt (hell yeah I still have it!). I bought one of those large buttons too of the classic (first album). I remember the merch guy, for some reason sold me two buttons. $2.00 each. At the time I was bummed. I din't have the balls to speak up. Plus the table was basically mobbed with fans buying sh*t. I walked away thinking, "Damn man I only wanted ONE button. This dude got me for two. That's four bucks!" Remember, this was 1984, I was 16. I cut grass for a living. I could only basically afford one button. I still have both of those buttons. They are collectors items I'm quite sure. What I'm getting at is OUR MAGICAL DREAM IS COMING TRUE!! There is nothing like David Lee Roth Van Halen. They OWNED the 80's! Sure, Dave at times, must have been UNBEARABLE to live with. As the sappy Chicago song syas, "Everybody needs a little time away." Dave was pissed in '85. He was hot. His solo career was taking off. He thought he could do anything. And he did. Nothing, though lasts forever. The thing about Hagar that REALLY pissed me off is this. He comes into my all-time favorite band TAKING OVER shooting his mouth off. How about a little humility? Shit man! They did amazing things with Sammy. Fine. Hat's off. BUT the Dave era was other worldly. When I saw them in 84 it changed my life. Dave was so much more than larger than life. Opening up with "Unchained?" IN-credible. The jump off of the drum riser? Outer space man! Sure it's a drag that Michael Anthony isn't a part of it. You're either with us or against us though. He chose Hagar. Fine. Ed has a bone about Mike teaming up with Spam. FINE. Mike seems like such a GREAT guy but Ed must be so beside himself that Wolf is in the band. I can't for the life of me figure out why Valerie allowed it. It's pretty damn cool of her though, non the less. My final thought. This is it. We have been waiting, frustrated, hoping, PRAYING and fantasizing about this since 1985 (when Ed lost his brown sound sadly). It has arrived. I don't know if it's therapy, medication, both or dollar signs but IT HAS HAPPENED! the greatest, MIGHTIEST BAND IS BACK! As the date gets closer I get more fired up. How are they going to compete with their past? Why the hell haven't they ever released a live album with the GREATEST FRONT MAN EVER?! Actually, why are they opening up with "You Really Got Me?" Keep in mind they did that on the 5150 tour. It was okay then but NOW? Anyway, open up the vaults! Let's have Oakland 1981! Let's rejoice. Bring it on. The tailgaiting and high fiving with total strangers is going to rule! Crank the tunes in the parking lot cuz here comes David Lee Roth Van Halen. In their LA rehearsal Dave & Ed were high fiving behind their backs. YES! I love it. Finally! Now light the torch.

[Sarge's Little Helper]

Van HALEN rules!!

[Lloyd Anger]

The man's spillin' his fuckin' guts here. How bout some fuckin' props and share his enthusiasim. Dave and Ed were(and remain) his shit! Isn't that what this bullshit is all about?

Yeah and fuck you too.

[diamondsgirl]

Who is David Lee Roth?

[Sarge's Little Helper]

Who is David Lee Roth?

Diamond Dave is the supreme Toastmaster General of the immoral majority.. the King of Any and All Things Rock n\' Roll. Bar none he is the greatest Frontman in Rock n Roll History!