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The first of 12 tractor-trailers rumbled to a halt outside the Greensboro Coliseum around midnight Saturday.
Six hours later, it opened its doors to reveal black and silver containers. Lots of them, stacked high and tight. Each one handled as if it were a newborn. And on each, written in magic marker, a household name: Van Halen.
After nine years away from the stage, the band reunites in Greensboro on Friday for a 47-date tour.
In a nationwide conference call with reporters last week, vocalist Sammy Hagar, the band's on-again, off-again and now on-again frontman, promised: "The set list will kill you."
But before that show can begin, another one began to unfold Sunday.
The crates came off the trucks and the crew began the massive chore of setting up lights, sound and sets so the band can start rehearsing today or tomorrow.
Greensboro has seen its share of great acts come through, but seldom do they start here. The last time one did was AC/DC in 1996. Before that, it was The Cars in the late 1980s.
This tour was originally scheduled to begin in Richmond, Va. -- only multiple days couldn't be secured there for rehearsal. So band organizers looked for another point on the map that was within a day's drive of the tour's second stop, Hershey, Pa.
Six hours later, it opened its doors to reveal black and silver containers. Lots of them, stacked high and tight. Each one handled as if it were a newborn. And on each, written in magic marker, a household name: Van Halen.
After nine years away from the stage, the band reunites in Greensboro on Friday for a 47-date tour.
In a nationwide conference call with reporters last week, vocalist Sammy Hagar, the band's on-again, off-again and now on-again frontman, promised: "The set list will kill you."
But before that show can begin, another one began to unfold Sunday.
The crates came off the trucks and the crew began the massive chore of setting up lights, sound and sets so the band can start rehearsing today or tomorrow.
Greensboro has seen its share of great acts come through, but seldom do they start here. The last time one did was AC/DC in 1996. Before that, it was The Cars in the late 1980s.
This tour was originally scheduled to begin in Richmond, Va. -- only multiple days couldn't be secured there for rehearsal. So band organizers looked for another point on the map that was within a day's drive of the tour's second stop, Hershey, Pa.
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