The little things...

[hambon4lif]

I'll be holding my own personal ceremony Tuesday night in honor of my father. He's the one who nicknamed me 'Hambone' when I was four-years-old, and he's also the one that introduced me to Van Halens first album when I was eleven. It's difficult to put into words how I felt when I heard it, but it became a part of my soul. Then around 1980, I was thumbing through a Circus magazine and saw an amazing two-page pic of Roth doing a flying leap off the drum riser, and it looked as bombastic and outrageous as their music sounded. That was it! I was fuckin' gone! There was no turning back! I wanted to be "Lil' Diamond Dave" and do that leap off of the roof of houses. Do you remember the kid on your block who always drew a crowd by yelling "Hey! Watch this!" and always ended up in the fuckin' hospital? That crazy little bastard was me!
My father knew how to get me to reach my potential by creating the "Van Halen Incentive Program". He would buy me Van Halen albums, posters, and merchandise, but only on the condition that I maintain my grades and stay in the Honor Roll. My grades slipped once and he took all that shit away from me until I brought them back up. It was the worst fucking twelve weeks ever. But it was one hell of an excellent plan. I knew what he was doing. Looking back at it now, that plan paid off big time, and I'm forever grateful to him. Not only for understanding my Van Halen jones, but for using it like a mechanical rabbit at a dog race. It was discipline. You wanna be the boss? You gotta pay the cost.

I lost my father in 2006 to cancer, but on Tuesday night, there's going to be a fith of Jack and a shotglass, and before I even press play, I'll have a moment of silence, knock back a shot, and whip that fucking volume knob up so him and everyone else we've lost along the way will be able to hear it, too.

"This one's for you"

[don don]

The little things...it brings so, so many memories back. My one and only brother who is twelve years older than me is flying in from Phoenix to go to the Louisville show. I'm down in Tennessee so this is as much a brotherly reunion as new era in Van Halen. But it goes much deeper than that. He is the reason I've been a fan. I was born in '68 so I grew up with his musical influence. He was into Sabbath and Zeppelin. But when I was ten and getting ready to go skating, he kept playing this record which I initially thought was noise because I was so big into KISS back then. But the more I listened while getting ready for the skating rink, the more I was hooked starting with the obligatory, obnoxious sound of that most famous Mercedes horn in history, blasting RWTHD. Then as I'm recovering, Eruption blows out the rest of my "hesitation." I've never been the same. Thank you Van Halen for the memories of you, and my only brother.

[sadaist]

One memory of mine. My VH album covers had pin holes in the corners from being up on the wall. I was young & didn't take very good care of my vinyl. Some albums became a little warped. Some so bad that the needle might pop off into another groove now & then. So....I taped a couple quarters on top of the needle head to weight it down so 'Top Jimmy' wouldn't skip. Luckily the intro for Hot For Teacher was hard to tell if it skipped or not. We'll never know for sure........

[Sensible Shoes]

Back just after my senior year of college, 1979, the girls and I were headed out to the beach club on lake Erie. They were hot, I did not believe I was. We got drinks and headed out to the sand. Just then, the club's speakers started blasting this killer guitar and then there was this voice of a very BAD guy who screamed and taunted women. It was not just amazing, it was HOT. Towards the end, the singing gave way to talking and growling at some fictional girls on the beach, who walked away, and caused some more catcalls.

I raised my head high in that little black bikini and believed for a while that I was a "beautiful girl".

I called the local radio station to find out "who was that band?" They told me and I went out and bought VHII the next day.

[JJtheVagPounder]

Three years ago I was separated from my wife. It was tough times. I just wanted to drink and really had no ambition. You ever felt like all you want to do is sleep all the time? That’s called depression. Anyway, I moved in with my aunt for a minute and I met this dude. We hit it off and talked about music a lot and he asked me if I dug Van Halen. I told him that I like them but really only ever listened to the radio stuff. I used to be the Metallica megafan. I don’t know, maybe I’ve always been just a little angsty. He made a deal with me: He would give Monster Magnet (great band, I highly suggest it) a chance if I would give Van Halen a chance at the title. Ok.

I listened…..and listened…..and listened some more. Hey, there is so much more to this band. This is great. Then, and this is what solidified it, he gave me Crazy From The Heat to read. I read that fucking book like four times in a two month period. It was just so interesting and Dave, oh Dave, it was the role model you wish you always had. Be smart. Live life. Stay frosty. From that day on I cannot live without Van Halen or Dave. It really is a lifestyle. I listen to very little else, not even Metallica even though Lars is the greatest drummer ever. He told me himself.

It’s so cool that I am a recent Davesciple (Dave and disciple, get it?). Like this dude said the other day, I never had to live through that horrible period of terribleness, a few years of waiting is all. It’s really cool though to see one of the long time sufferers get their time. When Tattoo came out we sat in his house drinking beers while it was on repeat for hours. When Dave’s video diary came out we shared it with everyone, if they wanted to listen or not. It’s just been a non stop party.

This guy turned into my best friend. No, not just a friend. A brother. We can talk about anything even though the conversation usually goes back to “Want to watch a concert?” “Uh, yeah. Duh.” I think his conversion of me was what bound us so closely together. Well, that and we both are creatives. If it wasn’t for him I probably wouldn’t have dove into school or much else. I have a lot to thank that guy for. He totally helped me get back on track and oh, look who came back, my wife. I very much believe that wouldn’t have happened if I never met him or opened my eyes to the glory of Dave. It’s definitely made me a better person.

I know this thread is titled “The Little Things…” but for me there really isn’t a little thing. Van Halen has been the soundtrack to a better life. And while things suck here and then and especially right now, all it takes is a little Dave and I can hold it together better than before. I thank my buddy all the time but you can never do it enough, ya know?

VAiN? Fuck yo couch…







...And thanks for the laughs.

[Zing!]

Loving the hell out of this thread. I could bore you to death with endless VH stories. Soundtrack of my life, that's for sure. Went to to my 20 year class reunion a couple years ago and the question I got asked the most by everybody was: "You still love Van Halen?"

[Zing!]

so cool that I am a recent Davesciple (Dave and disciple, get it?)... if I never met him or opened my eyes to the glory of Dave. It’s definitely made me a better person.

I know this thread is titled “The Little Things…” but for me there really isn’t a little thing. Van Halen has been the soundtrack to a better life. And while things suck here and then and especially right now, all it takes is a little Dave and I can hold it together better than before. I thank my buddy all the time but you can never do it enough, ya know?

I get it - and I'm out of thank you's for today. This damn thread used 'em all up! Great post!

[ashstralia]

first girl, first car, first job...=VH=.

before i had a car, the job was a 70 minute train ride and walk... i had a walkman and the cassette tape with FW on one side and WACF on the other.

i looked forward to the commute every single fucking day. and the cradle WILL rock, baby. i say; ROCK ON!!!

[Texas Outlaw]

1978, cannot remember the date but I seem to think it was around October or November and I'm 15 years old. I'm in a local pizza joint playing pinball with some friends and a jukebox is playing when all of the sudden there's this car horn sound and then this really heavy bass line and this monster song comes on. I let go of the pinball machine, turned to a friend of mine and asked, "Who in the fuck is this?" to which he replies "New band called Van Halen". I walk away and go to the jukebox and see what the selection is. The next day I ride my bike to Eucalyptus Records in Vallejo California and I buy my first Van Halen album. Bought each successive one the day that it came out up until Dave quit and then I lost interest.

I'm buying a new one this coming Tuesday.

[sadaist]

Mom finally saved up enough to buy me my 1st guitar. We drove to Music Music and she had $125 for me to get one. They had a wall of Hondo guitars that looked like Fenders. Mom said pick 1. I immediately chose the red & white one for EVH. She also was able to pay for 2 lessons to start me out.

First lesson was in a tiny room. 2 small drum stools and 3 walls floor to ceiling of speakers & knobs. LOUD. He taught me how to tune. He said come back next week and we'll make sure your tuning is still good. Pick a song you want to learn & bring it in.

So all week I wanted the perfect song that i JUST HAD to learn. 2nd lesson comes & we sit down. He checked my tuning & all was great. he say....so, you pick a song to learn? I was grinning from ear to ear. Yep I sure did. And I slid the cassette out of the inside pocket of my black members only jacket & handed it to him. He was probably thinking "Smoke On The Water" or something similar. He pops the tape in & hits play to see what this wide eyed grinning kid wants to learn....


The song starts and his face just kinda sunk and he sighed a bit. Got his job cut out for him he does.


AINT TALKIN BOUT LOVE!

[Zing!]

So all week I wanted the perfect song that i JUST HAD to learn. 2nd lesson comes & we sit down. He checked my tuning & all was great. he say....so, you pick a song to learn? I was grinning from ear to ear. Yep I sure did. And I slid the cassette out of the inside pocket of my black members only jacket & handed it to him. He was probably thinking "Smoke On The Water" or something similar. He pops the tape in & hits play to see what this wide eyed grinning kid wants to learn....


AINT TALKIN BOUT LOVE!

Just think how many guitar teachers got fed up with students asking to learn how to play 'Eruption.' I know mine thought tapping was just a passing fad and I should stick to Clapton and David Gilmore.

[ashstralia]

haha! here we go. '84, i go to buy my first REAL guitar. an ibanez roadstar2. i say to the long haired music shop dude 'how does eddie van halen make that sound?'

he starts telling me all about special strings and picks and such, i says 'no, can YOU pull a guitar down off the wall and show ME how he does it??'

he looks at the skinny 17 year old in front of him and says 'uh, no.'

thus began my near 30 year guitar journey. i've been teaching for 21 years now, and my mantra has always been 'show me what you wanna learn; i'll show you how to play it'. so =VH= also gave me a career.

[Dave's PA Rental]

I lost my father in 2006 to cancer, but on Tuesday night, there's going to be a fith of Jack and a shotglass, and before I even press play, I'll have a moment of silence, knock back a shot, and whip that fucking volume knob up so him and everyone else we've lost along the way will be able to hear it, too.

"This one's for you"

If you read this and don't get a little bit emotional, you don't have a fucking soul. Thanks for sharing this amazing story...

I was actually a little nervous when I was starting this thread. I wasn't sure if people would reply to it, but you guys are knocking it out of the park...

[chefcraig]

haha! here we go. '84, i go to buy my first REAL guitar. an ibanez roadstar2. i say to the long haired music shop dude 'how does eddie van halen make that sound?'

he starts telling me all about special strings and picks and such, i says 'no, can YOU pull a guitar down off the wall and show ME how he does it??'

he looks at the skinny 17 year old in front of him and says 'uh, no.'

thus began my near 30 year guitar journey. i've been teaching for 21 years now, and my mantra has always been 'show me what you wanna learn; i'll show you how to play it'. so =VH= also gave me a career.

Thank goodness for Eddie Van Halen. Jimmy Page had inspired me to get a Les Paul and wear it around my knees, but since I was about a full foot shorter than Page (and Les Pauls weighed as much as a refrigerator at that time), this started killing my back. So somewhere around the time of the second VH album, I simply had to get a Strat knock-off, which was a shitload lighter. You couldn't exactly get decent replacement pickups back then, and I sure as hell had no idea how to cut up a body and put in a humbucker, so I got these Dmarzio Super Destorto pick ups and slapped 'em in the guitar, started doing dive-bombs and practicing my soloing more than ever before. The pick ups were a disaster, as they tended to receive Yankees games at high volume. So I went back to the originals and compensated by playing even louder. This system has pretty much served me well until this very day.

[ashstralia]

you da man, DPA.