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2007.Aug.13 DAVID LEE ROTH IN CONCERT WITH VAN HALEN... 22 YEARS AFTER
"This is not a reunion... this is a new band!", says David Lee Roth, who also reveals "...Van Halen is going to rock the USA and Canada, then Europe, then Japan... and then a new album...".
After hugging Eddie, Dave was referred to as Ed's new brother as Van Halen is now a family and not the same band that once existed. The new energy, the new 25 song setlist, it's all creditted to Wolf (as David refers to Wolfgang).  Referring to his rehab earlier this year, Edward just focused what's important for him and the band: "We don't want to give you anything less than our best, and we are at our best"; a curious observation made by Wolfgang when asked what does he tipically listens to was: "I listen to AC/DC, Tool, The White Stripes...". From the Van Halen newsletter: "Beginning this September, in what promises to be the most exciting live tour this year, Van Halen will embark on a national concert tour throughout the U.S. and Canada with its original lead singer David Lee Roth for the first time in 22 years. Considered by fans and media alike as one of the most highly anticipated tours in rock and roll history, Roth, guitarist Eddie Van Halen and drummer Alex Van Halen will perform with Eddie’s son, Wolfgang who joins the line-up as the band’s bass player. Van Halen and Roth have not performed or recorded together since 1984’s classic multi-platinum album “1984” and subsequent tour, making this tour truly a historic event. Twenty-five dates in all were announced today for the tour which is slated for a September 27th kick-off in Charlotte, North Carolina. 
Tickets for select dates on the tour go on sale beginning on Saturday, August 18th and are available on www.LiveNation.com. A complete list of confirmed dates is attached.The Van Halen tour is being produced by Live Nation. Individuals who have the Citi® / AAdvantage® card, the official credit card of the tour, will be offered access to purchase preferred seats to all U.S. shows. Fans can enjoy the ultimate Van Halen experience including concert pre-show parties, backstage access, premium seating and more. For additional details go to www.iloveallaccess.com. Fans are encouraged to also check in at www.van-halen.com or www.davidleeroth.com for additional information. Van Halen remains one of the most important and influential bands of all time. Formed in Los Angeles in 1974, the band quickly won a loyal hometown fan base with their electrifying live shows. From the moment they released their self-titled 1978 debut album, Van Halen shook the foundations of rock, thanks largely to Roth’s peerless showmanship, Eddie Van Halen’s revolutionary guitar virtuosity and their songwriting abilities. It changed rock music forever. The band’s first album proved one of the biggest selling rock debuts, with key tracks like “Eruption,” “Running with the Devil,” “Jamie’s Cryin’,” “You Really Got Me” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” leading the way. 
The next year, the band followed up with “Van Halen II,” which included the hit “Dance the Night Away.”Subsequent albums like “Women and Children First” (1980), “Fair Warning” (1981) and “Diver Down” (1982), along with worldwide touring, solidified the band’s reputation for innovative and unparalleled live performances. Classic Van Halen tracks from the early 80’s include “Everybody Wants Some,” “Unchained”, “And The Cradle Will Rock”, “Beautiful Girls”, “Mean Street” and “Somebody Get Me A Doctor” just to name a few. With their sixth album, released in, and titled “1984”, Van Halen rose to stratospheric heights. Recorded at Eddie Van Halen’s 5150 Studios, the multi-platinum smash yielded one of Van Halen’s signature hits, “Jump,” which remained #1 on the Billboard charts for an astounding five weeks straight. Other hits from the album include “Panama,” “Hot For Teacher” and “I’ll Wait.” The band’s record of achievement is hard to top. Presented with two Diamond Award RIAA Certified Status’ for their albums “Van Halen” and “1984”, Van Halen joins an elite short list of two time Diamond Award honorees in the history of the music industry. The Diamond Award is presented to an artist for album sales of 10 million or more units. They are also in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most #1 hits on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart than any other band in history. Inducted into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame in March of this year, Van Halen has produced a treasured body of work that fans will admire for decades to come". One thing is for sure... the guys look healthier than ever and also seem committed to do a lot more than a tour. With great expectations rising (Dave also insists on the fans being demanding), the band looks forward to travelling to Europe and Asia. One other thing that wasn't on the horizon for almost ten years is a new originals album, something that the band gave a clear indication will happen soon. Rock on, guys !... Full schedule, as announced so far:
In Dave's words: "...leave the world saving for Bono, we're just going to save 100 cities... then we want to save Europe, then we want to save Japan and Australia...". So, this is what you're expected to see in the end of each concert:  I'm sure that, like in 1998 and 2004, you'll find the webmaster attending one of the concerts (most likely in the east coast). Photos: © Dave Brandon (a.k.a. dmb5150) |