Considering ITP V.020, the music and entertainment world are grieving the tragic loss of guitar virtuoso and VAN HALEN legend EDDIE VAN HALEN, I thought I would post an hilarious memory of a VAN HALEN concert I attended in 1986.
It was the summer of 1986, I was 16, and I was a die hard VAN HALEN fan getting into metal and shred in my teens.
SAMMY HAGAR had joined VAN HALEN on vocals (replacing DAVID LEE ROTH) as the band had just unleashed their new offering "5150" (also the name of EDDIE VAN HALEN'S home studio).
VAN HALEN announced a string of summer 1986 dates at the BRENDAN BYRNE ARENA/MEADOLANDS in EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY.
I figured I would buy a ticket, rock out with VAN HALEN and go to the show, why not?
I lived in New York City, didn't know how to drive, so I took public transportation, NEW JERSEY TRANSIT to the MEADOLANDS in EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY.
Needless to say, the NEW JERSEY transit bus was full of VAN HALEN fans stoked for the show.
All of a sudden someone on the bus started screaming, not out of fright, simply from the pure excitement and the anticipation of seeing VAN HALEN.
Then about a minute later, more people started screaming "WAAAH, WOOOOOH".
After a few minutes all of us were screaming, getting stoked for the VAN HALEN show as thankfully we had a very patient and experienced New Jersey transit driver.
We got the MEADOLANDS arena in EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY as I had good seating near the stage on the floor.
When the lights went down the MEADOLANDS arena everyone went apeshit as VAN HALEN took the stage. Everyone was standing, fans on the floor on TOP of their seats.
I don't remember all of the set list, VAN HALEN performed their hits, some material from "5150" as EDDIE VAN HALEN alternated between guitar and keyboards.
When VAN HALEN performed the instrumental guitar solo "ERUPTION", the MEADOLANDS arena went crazy as the fans chanted "EDDIE, EDDIE, EDDIE, EDDIE". ]
Alex Van Halen, (VAN HALEN drummer) and MICHAEL ANTHONY (VAN HALEN bassist) did amazing solo's too).
VAN HALEN sprinkled in some SAMMY HAGER tunes in the set list.
SAMMY HAGER and EDDIE VAN HALEN were drinking something out of a bottle on stage, as HAGER stated we (the audience) weren't loud enough.
However, VAN HALEN were VERY loud as the stage was covered in Marshall amps.
BACHMAN TURNER OVERDRIVE opened the VAN HALEN show, however I got to the show after their set.
Overall, it was a great show, and I would have loved to have seen VAN HALEN again.
My only regret was missing VAN HALEN'S DAVID LEE ROTH re-union as I was to young to have seen them in the 80's and ROTH left the band in 1985.
Word has it, a VAN HALEN re-union tour was being planned in 2019 with the band's ORIGINAL lineup including bassist MICHAEL ANTHONY and vocalist DAVID LEE ROTH.
The 2019 VAN HALEN original lineup re-union tour was scrapped after EDDIE VAN HALEN got sick.
ITP V.020 would like to offer condolences to EDDIE VAN HALEN'S family, friends, band mates and fans world wide.
EDDIE VAN HALEN was an influential, innovator, a SPECIAL talent as his music will live on for generations.
Shred in peace EDDIE VAN HALEN, we love and miss you.
EDDIE VAN HALEN, guitarist of Pasadena, California, U.S.A. rock legends VAN HALEN passed away to throat cancer 10/6/2020 at 65.
VAN HALEN unleashed "A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRUTH", 2/7/2012 via INTERSCOPE.
PHOTO BY ROBERT YAGER
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/
"EDDIE, EDDIE. EDDIE. EDDIE" !!!!!!!!
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