1984 Tour Stage

[Nitro Express]

Loved all the speakers. They went to the roof . I don't think they were all working. Just the bottom row for Ed & Mike. I mean Bass player.

You are correct. Not the whole bottom row. Some were used as monitors. Most those speakers were just props.

[Nitro Express]

That wall of speakers was actually a curtain with speakers printed on it. Every so often a breeze would come from somewhere back stage, and the whole thing moved.

The top rows were and then the projection screen had speakers as one of the scenes it would project. The stage was set up differently according to the venue.

[CROWBAR]

Basically, the '84 stage was the same as the '81, with the exception of more lighting and a wider stage with platforms, and a different backdrop. They used the same speakers, but not staggered like in '81, Alex had the gong, although another drum kit, and keyboards. I guess they had some kind of a deal to use a southern California's company logo too. The famous hammer man was (and still is) Western Exterminator's logo.

http://www.west-ext.com/

[Terry]

It was, without a doubt, one of the biggest productions (stage size both height and width, amount of lights, etc.) I've ever seen for a rock band in an indoor arena.

[78/84 guy]

Wouldn't it be nice to have a pro shot dvd of this tour !!! Fucking Ed.

[Antman]

That wall of speakers was actually a curtain with speakers printed on it. Every so often a breeze would come from somewhere back stage, and the whole thing moved.[/QUOTE]

The backdrop with the speakers was from Diver Down. The three bacdrops for 1984 was the sky/clouds with the rigging, hammer guy and the same pattern as the stage floor.

[Nitro Express]

VH stages became boring and dorky after Dave left the band. The 5150 stage was bland, and then the OU812 stage was completely stupid with the drum riser being a big ass fake cog that looked fake as hell. The VH3 stage was a fucking circus ring. Just dumb shit after Dave.

[ULTRAMAN VH]

VH stages became boring and dorky after Dave left the band. The 5150 stage was bland, and then the OU812 stage was completely stupid with the drum riser being a big ass fake cog that looked fake as hell. The VH3 stage was a fucking circus ring. Just dumb shit after Dave.

Agreed, I had the pleasure of seeing the 84 show in DC and out of curiosity a buddy and I went to the Van Hagar show at the same arena in 86. The HUGE stage production was gone. With Dave's departure, Van Halen went from theatrical, arena rock giants to a top 40 Reo Speedwagon clone. We actually left early, due to extreme boredom.

[Nitro Express]

We got to see the 84 stage in it's glory during sound check but during the show I was right smack in front of it. Dave's little platform was off to the right of me and he would come out on it and do his thing but everything was up and behind me for the most part. So I was there but really missed the show.

[ThatArtGuy]

This should be in Main. It's an extremely great change of pace and the best thread I've read in a long while. I'd love to see comparisons of all the VH/DLR stage setups.

[Seshmeister]

Jeez, don't give up the day job Ed...

[Nitro Express]

Jeez, don't give up the day job Ed...

What day job? Demonstrating organs and keyboards trying to impress grandma at the Kerwitzel & Baldwin piano dealership?

[Nitro Express]

Thank God Eddie never played a keytar on stage. He fucked himself badly with VH3 but at least Ed never got crazed enough to go out with a keytar strapped on him.

[CROWBAR]

This should be in Main. It's an extremely great change of pace and the best thread I've read in a long while. I'd love to see comparisons of all the VH/DLR stage setups.

This is the 1980 stage. Had the cool VH lion with shades for a backdrop..

These are from the 1981 Fair Warning tour



The city lights backdrop...

[CROWBAR]

More 1981...


Gong was lit for this tour, but not for the 1984 one...