Dave explains Van Halen Tour Dates Postponement

[DavidLeeNatra]

I'm not buying the blower bullshit. (I hope I am wrong) They scheduled a show in Detroit in a fucking HOCKEY ARENA! We have many other sizeable venues they could have booked, including the DTE outdoor venue. Do these blowers have only one speed? In this day and age, there isn't the technology to turn them from high to medium to low? Call me what you want, but I am just not buying this reason for cancelling (postponing) this many dates, all the way out to September.

Regardless of what many of you want to believe, this is a business tour. These guys have found a way to get up on that stage every other night, and perform as a band, and make it look good doing it. They are not best friends. They are not claiming to be "soulmates". They are not hanging out with each other before, in between, or after shows. They are travelling seperately, and have seperate buses. Does any of this matter to me? Fuck no. I only care that they found a way to piece together a new album, and to get up on that stage and play a lot of the music that has consumed my heart and soul for over 30 years.

Do I care that they are healthy both mentally and physically? I absolutely do. If there is a medical issue causing this, I hope it is manageable, and fixable. If they are infighting, and just can't keep it together, I can respect that too. The only thing Van Halen hasn't given me over the last 30+ years, is an official release of one of the old live shows. Other than that, they have given me some of my greatest memories. They have accompanied me through a lot of my own trials and tribulations. Their music is in my blood, and will be until I take my last breath. Of course I am selfish, and want more from them. But if they can't find a way to do that, I am good with what they have given me so far.

Having said that. I don't have any idea what has caused this delay or end to the tour. I am asking this next question, because I don't know. If it were infighting, wouldn't they just cancel now, and not play the remaining dates? Or is that a bigger contractual issue because of where they are in the tour? Are they obligated to finish this leg, no matter what? Was the other leg easier to get out of, because they haven't started it yet, and many of the dates haven't even started selling tickets? Does anyone have any knowledge on how that works, business wise?

If it is the blowers, that will be great news, because time will solve that issue. If it is infighting, that won't be great news, because that will obviously mean time hasn't been able to solve their differences. If it is a medical issue, I only hope whoever is suffering, gets better and can be happy and have an enjoyable life.

Thank goodness I have the 7 albums. The pictures I have taken. The bootlegs. The merchandise. The friends I have made through this site. The memories...

where can I sign that?

[guwapo_rocker]

wouldn't they just cancel now, and not play the remaining dates? Or is that a bigger contractual issue because of where they are in the tour?

That's it, that's it.

[Never was]

One idiot's opinion

postponement not due to band issues the band is getting along better than they ever have
those dates will get played in the fall
they will get to Europe but not Asia
they will surprise and have a new studio album in the back half of 2013
they aren't done yet so just wait and see

[loucap81]

It will be interesting to see how the performances are for this next month. Are they happy to be playing right now or not?

[Never was]

This tour is by no means a farewell tour, or at least that's the intent

[private parts]

I agree that something is bizarre with Dave --- whether it's a thyroid problem or what, I dunno --- but to be wearing 3 layers of clothing and a thick scarf while everyone else is sweating like pigs is quite strange!

Check out videos from the May 2008 tour dates --- Dave is sweating onstage but at least he's bare-chested with open short-sleeve shirt and cooling himself --- and no blower rants that entire tour.

We can all safely assume Dave isn't cancelling these gigs simply because venues won't comply with his "no AC blowers" demands. Like you said, he isn't that much of a diva prick to attempt that level of douche-baggery.

If it's a health reason from either Dave or Eddie --- why not deal with it immediately instead of waiting until July?

The more I ponder this --- I think it's exhaustion and maybe the band just needs to be away from each other for a little while to decompress. They lived apart for the last 4 years and now they're forced to deal with each other every day.

Getting lucrative offers to tour in Europe and Australia seem possible --- but why didnt Live Nation work this shit out back in January when the band was getting tons of media exposure from the ADKOT release ???

That was my initial thought. These guys are almost 60 and this tour has got to take its toll.
At least that's my hope- nothing more serious.

[Never was]

By the way great forum

[Nitro Express]

What happened? The Van Halen locomotive jumped the tracks again? Something always happens. You can't take this band for granted. It's like sex, you got to take it when you can get it and if you don't jump on the chance it may be gone.

[private parts]

I was surprised to see the news of the tour dates being postponed scrolling with other headlines on the 'Today' show.

That's where I saw it.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

CNN getting ready to talk about it in a couple of minutes....

Blah, blah, blah, speculation, blah, blah, blah....

[Angel]

It damn well better not be "infighting", or my name will be mud around here.

No matter what it is though, how will we even know what the truth is? A Different Kind of Truth??? C'mon guys, give us a break...

Hell, Kool is overseas this summer. I was invited to their gig in Beirut. Maybe VH is opening for them in the mid-east, lol. Now THAT would be a fun rumour to start.

[Grit]

The first thing I read was the Rolling Stone "fighting" comments. My first reaction (usually the most negative) was FUCK, after all of the success they've had with the 2007-08 tour, the new album, and current tour it's back to hating each other again! I just don't buy that. I agree with most everyone here that it is some other serious issue. Hope like hell that everyone is healthy. I am going to try and "Stay Frosty" until I hear otherwise!
Long Live the "MIGHTY VAN HALEN"!

[Jérôme Frenchise]

It damn well better not be "infighting", or my name will be mud around here.

No matter what it is though, how will we even know what the truth is? A Different Kind of Truth??? C'mon guys, give us a break...

Hell, Kool is overseas this summer. I was invited to their gig in Beirut. Maybe VH is opening for them in the mid-east, lol. Now THAT would be a fun rumour to start.

[kwame k]

Since we're speculating..........I actually hope it's infighting because the alternative is a health issue.

Bickering they can get over........health problems, maybe not

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Unless they just decided they would have a break during this summer, the reason for postponing the whole summer dates is probably not cool.

One I think wasn't mentioned is maybe Alex has some problems with his cervical vertebrae, which by the way would explain why he's been looking
rather unconcerned so far. He would need some rest then.

I really don't feel like trusting the Rolling Stone (damn, how can they use such a cool name and be such a shitty mag, really?!) rumour, but that would be a real pain in the neck (no silly pun) if they were getting mad at each others again... AGAIN...

VHBLAST displays press titles telling about it, but the band doesn't communicate about it... Strange, even though it's how it goes with Van Halen.

Bigger offers from Europe would be an awful motive for those who had already purchased tickets for this summer - but well, VH hasn't played there
since 1984...
You Americans had the 2007/2008 tour, then the current one. Let us get the chance to see them oversees just for once!