Van Halen: 7-24-82 Biloxi

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Back in the day I lived in the center of of a 5 arena radius with the furthest being 200 miles away. I live 10 miles from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi. The other arenas were in New Orleans, LA, Jackson, MS, Mobile, AL and Pensacola, FL.

Of the bunch, New Orleans (85 miles from me) gets the most action. Biloxi and Mobile have essentially fallen off the radar for good arena rock shows. Pensacola does SOME business. Have seen Motley (2005) and Foo Fighters (2008) in Pensacola (115 miles from me) but that arena kinda sucks. The area is beautiful though. Jackson might get shows...but I don't know. Never went to a show there but VH played there always the night before Biloxi on those early 80s tours.

One thing I always found comical about the Mobile Alabama Civic Center was they'd serve NO alcohol for rock shows...but they'd serve beer and liquor at country shows. It was stated as such on signs outside the door. Apparently the redneck community are refined drinkers in Alabama. Who knew?

Edited to say interestingly enough Air Supply is doing a 2 night stand at the Biloxi HARD ROCK Casino this weekend. Did they go metal or something?

[loucap81]

Don't let the name fool you. It's just like how the House of Blues franchises draw a lot of crap nu-metal shit and washed up '90s acts like the Goo Goo Dolls. And Chickenfoot.

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Don't let the name fool you. It's just like how the House of Blues franchises draw a lot of crap nu-metal shit and washed up '90s acts like the Goo Goo Dolls. And Chickenfoot.

Oh I know. I was joking. The Hard Rock gets it's share of nu metal, country, r&b, easy listening and unfunny comedians to render the name of the venue meaningless.

[Nigel]

I saw them for the first time in May of 1979 in Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens. I can't even remember the opening act, but Eddie cranked his guitar from behind the curtain to announce them. When they mercifully left, VH exploded with Light Up the Sky (that running intro) and Dave ran the entire length of the stage to interpret the energy of that song.

With only 2 albums out they played pretty well everything and I remember my friends stating that they were the best "bar band" they'd ever seen. Roth had a huge fan going to cool him down (ironic isn't it), and Eddie's solo included him running and leaping into his stack of Marshall's as if he was trying to topple them.

He wore his Godzilla pants, played on one knee and tapped his way through furious versions of everything they had. Next day a bootleg photographer had all his shots being sold at various stores on Yonge Street. I bought some but I gave them to someone who was putting a scrap book together. Thank God for CREEM, Hit Parader, Rolling Stone and all those other mags that covered the CVH excitement. Next issue, we'll discuss 1980/1981/82 and 84!!!

[Angel]

The opening band was probably the Screams. HORRIBLE! I had someone try to choke me when I booed them. My girlfriend beat him up and poured his wineskin down the front of his pants.

[fraroc]

Your dad and I must be right around the same age. My first show was the "Fair Warning" tour when I was eleven. Saw "Diver Down" and "1984" as well as some of the Hagar tours....(I was always an Eddie fan so that was my excuse). Didn't see the Cherone tour. I agree with your dad about the 2004 tour. I walked out of that show depressed thinking I'd just seen Eddie Van Halen alive for the last time. I really thought death was his next step. Thankfully that wasn't the case. Saw them again in 2007 and 2008 as well as the last U.S. date (for now) of this tour in New Orleans. I really liked this tour better than the reunion. Had tickets for Memphis on August 6 but alas so far, it wasn't meant to be.

If you're really 42, then your about my mom's age. My Dad just turned 50. After the 2004 show, He told me that Eddie took his shirt off in the middle of the show and literally EVERYONE in that row he was sitting in was shocked to see how frail and gaunt he was. He even said "there's no way he can committ to the rest of this tour, not in the state he is now." I wouldn't be suprised if he was rushed to the hospital a few times on this tour on death's door due to alcohol poisioning....
Love him or Hate him, Eddie's story is a story of survivial, endurance and eventually, redemption.

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If you're really 42, then your about my mom's age. My Dad just turned 50. After the 2004 show, He told me that Eddie took his shirt off in the middle of the show and literally EVERYONE in that row he was sitting in was shocked to see how frail and gaunt he was. He even said "there's no way he can committ to the rest of this tour, not in the state he is now." I wouldn't be suprised if he was rushed to the hospital a few times on this tour on death's door due to alcohol poisioning....
Love him or Hate him, Eddie's story is a story of survivial, endurance and eventually, redemption.

Just turned 42 on July 1st. And yeah, Eddie looked rough. I was in the golden rings for that show on Ed's side. Got to see him up close and personal. He didn't have a shirt on at all during the show. Hell he didn't at either reunion tour show I saw either...but he looked awful in 2004. What was really bizarre at the 2004 show is Ed killed the mystique. It used to be you didn't see any band members on the stage until they came out for their set. Ed came out twice by the drum riser between the opening acts set and theirs. He also took his guitar from his roadie and just started soloing away off to the side somewhat behind the amps....and this was at least 5 minutes prior to showtime. The people in the seats stage left essentially got a quickie show before the show....

[twobad]

" I've also heard in certain circles that the Director just isn't interested in rock shows. He'd prefer country and the flavor of the month shit. Oh well."

Almost, you broke the news in 2007 that VH was playing New Orleans rather than Biloxi due to the 5,000 seat advantage that the arena has over the coliseum. If I remember correctly, you had an inside source- love it, but hate that Biloxi is so non-competitive. It "seems" that the director would do whatever he could to make money... seems to me most of the time the venue just sits empty. With an average attendance of 9,000+ this go round, that would have made for a spectacular sell out in Biloxi, especially if it was on a weekend.

Thanks again for your hard work at the "most recent" show,
-=T=-

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" I've also heard in certain circles that the Director just isn't interested in rock shows. He'd prefer country and the flavor of the month shit. Oh well."

Almost, you broke the news in 2007 that VH was playing New Orleans rather than Biloxi due to the 5,000 seat advantage that the arena has over the coliseum. If I remember correctly, you had an inside source- love it, but hate that Biloxi is so non-competitive. It "seems" that the director would do whatever he could to make money... seems to me most of the time the venue just sits empty. With an average attendance of 9,000+ this go round, that would have made for a spectacular sell out in Biloxi, especially if it was on a weekend.

Thanks again for your hard work at the "most recent" show,
-=T=-

Trust me I have voiced my disgust about our arena here. But you're right. Things I've heard since 2007, point in the direction of the venue just not really wanting rock shows so they don't really try. Not only does NOLA have the bigger venue, it's light years better as well. I can't blame a band skipping Biloxi in favor of NOLA. Things might be different if there was a younger Director out to prove himself and the venue... but alas it remains stagnant for the most part. No doubt, shitty venue or not, I'd LOVE to see Van Halen in Biloxi again... ten miles from home. Short drive. Hell, it'd be easier to perhaps even meet the band here. But it is what it is.

Thanks for the props regarding the vids. Was my pleasure really.

[gbranton]

I was 12 years old when I attended this show.

The opening act, After The Fire, hit the stage at 8:00 p.m. They played around 2 songs when the singer finally said, "Hello. It's great to be in New Orleans!" Too bad for him, he was in Biloxi, MS at the time. Well, the crowd booed and he tried to correct himself. They launched into the 3rd song and the boos persist, followed by severe pelting of beer cups, and anything else the crowd can get their hands on. They cut the song short and left the stage.

I've seen VH 6 times, and nothing will ever top that one!

I was there too. I was 17, it was my first concert. We were in the crowd next to the stage. It was kind of a wild introduction to concerts, being able to lift your feet off the ground and not fall. I was just a kid and knew that people had been killed at concerts before, so I was a little on edge.

After The Fire sucked though, we would have pelted them regardless. Falco was in that band, the first time I saw Rock Me Amadeus on MTV I wondered where I knew him from.

God what I wouldn't give to have a video of that show.

Also, during "Bottom's Up!" Dave stuck the microphone into the crowd during the sing along in the middle and the crowd took it right off the stand....

I would love video, audio, anything. I remember the mic incident as well, funny stuff.

Two other recollections, this was the show where Dave got the t-shirt with his picture airbrushed on it, a kid that stood near us made it and threw it on stage. We sort of laughed before the show when he kept saying "I'm gonna give this to Dave." The other thing was that this is where the snippet of video that used in the Panama music video was shot.

A buddy of mine and I were just talking about this. Back in the 80s EVERYBODY came to Biloxi. I saw every band of that era right here at home.

I have been to a lot of shows there over the years, I bet we have gone to many of the same shows.

Biloxi and Mobile have essentially fallen off the radar for good arena rock shows. Pensacola does SOME business. Have seen Motley (2005) and Foo Fighters (2008) in Pensacola (115 miles from me) but that arena kinda sucks.

Yes, there was an article online yesterday about what to do with the Civic Center here in Mobile. It is basically only used for Mardi Gras and Jeff Dunham concerts, neither of which I give a rat's ass about. I was at the first show in Pensacola, a KISS show in 1995 and was at that Motley show but they have kind of given up too.

No doubt, shitty venue or not, I'd LOVE to see Van Halen in Biloxi again... ten miles from home.

Me too. Or Mobile. They played here in 1982, I was at that show as well.

[gene]

Saw them July 31,1980,Oct 18,1981,Aug 18 1982,March 13,1984,July 1,1984,Oct 16,2007,May 30,2007,Feb 24,2012,and April 1,2012,frist row in April!! Evert show was a GREAT TIME!!!

[gene]

Sorry,every show was Great!!!

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Saw them July 31,1980,Oct 18,1981,Aug 18 1982,March 13,1984,July 1, 1984

Wasn't it great when they toured this much back in the past? And for new albums no less! You got to see them on my 14th b-day, July 1. I'd love to see a VH show on my b-day. Was pretty damn close this year.

[Angel]

Man, you're all making me feel old...

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After the 2004 show, He told me that Eddie took his shirt off in the middle of the show and literally EVERYONE in that row he was sitting in was shocked to see how frail and gaunt he was. He even said "there's no way he can committ to the rest of this tour, not in the state he is now." I wouldn't be suprised if he was rushed to the hospital a few times on this tour on death's door due to alcohol poisioning....

Here's one of many photos I took of Ed on 09-05-04 in Biloxi, MS. As I said, he didn't wear a shirt at all that night and his appearance backs your dad's claims.