Performing live with Roth on the mike for the first time in more than 23 years, VAN HALEN proved its timeless catalog of hits still packs the punch it did decades earlier. Each night, the band treated the capacity audiences to a dream set list of more than two hours of VAN HALEN gems plucked from their original era. Favorites including “Jump,” “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” “Panama” and more, received a jolt of vivacity and spirit.
“We send our thanks to the countless new and longtime fans that helped make this tour our most successful,” said VAN HALEN in a joint statement. “We also send special gratitude to the tireless efforts of the VAN HALEN touring crew, Live Nation and the media, as well as opening acts Ky Mani Marley and Ryan Shaw,” the band went on to say.
Jason Garner, Chief Executive Officer of North American Music at Live Nation commented, “The VAN HALEN tour swept through the country, thrilling fans who grew up with their music and converting a new generation seeing them for the first time. It was an honor to work with their management team in connecting Eddie, David, Alex and Wolfgang to their fans.”
Now that the final bits of confetti have fallen, VAN HALEN has their sights set on bright horizons with exciting developments on the way.
ABOUT VAN HALEN At this moment, someone somewhere is listening to VAN HALEN.
More than 30 years after emerging from the sun-soaked backyard parties of Los Angeles and the clubs along the city’s fabled Sunset Strip, VAN HALEN remains one of the most important and influential bands of all time. The timeless music continues resonating today from countless car radios and mp3 players to VAN HALEN’S sold-out arena concerts.
When VAN HALEN formed in 1974, the band quickly won a loyal hometown fan base with their electrifying live shows. Upon releasing their self-titled 1978 debut album, VAN HALEN shook the foundations of rock, thanks largely to the band’s songwriting abilities blending hard rock gusto with danceable party-hearty anthems. The album became one of the biggest selling rock debuts of all time 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 fiery fretwork of Eddie Van Halen, often imitated, but never duplicated, revolutionized rock guitar, placing him alongside such luminaries as Hendrix, Clapton and Page. Soon, a legion of budding guitarists was driven to pick up the instrument, attempting to replicate the finger-tapping technique he made famous. Lead vocalist David Lee Roth’s unabashed stage presence and sex-charged swagger created a template for hard rock frontmen to come. Don’t forget Alex Van Halen’s thunderous drumming and signature style. VAN HALEN changed rock music forever.
Just one year after its first release, the band followed with Van Halen II, armed with the hit single “Dance the Night Away” and a roster of instant rock radio classics including “Beautiful Girls” and “Somebody Get Me a Doctor.”
Subsequent discs 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. And the definitive cuts kept coming, including “Everybody Wants Some,” “Unchained,” “And The Cradle Will Rock,” “Little Guitars” and “Mean Street,” 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 multiplatinum smash yielded VAN HALEN’s #1 single and biggest hit, “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. VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame in March of 2007.
As new generations discover VAN HALEN, the youthful exuberance found within the music continues to serve as a rock ‘n’ roll right of passage. The proof lies within the latest era of VAN HALEN, which includes Eddie Van Halen’s 17-year old son Wolfgang on bass.
Wolfgang Van Halen joined Eddie, Dave and Alex on the band’s acclaimed 2007/2008 North American tour. Sold-out crowds and charmed critics helped make it the most successful tour of the band’s history. It also found VAN HALEN raking in accolades including a People’s Choice Award nomination and the opportunity to headline the prestigious Tiger Jam XI, the annual Tiger Woods-hosted event that benefits his Tiger Woods Foundation.
VAN HALEN continues embarking on its new beginning, and the fans are sure to be listening to the band’s treasured body of work for decades to come.
ABOUT LIVE NATION:
Live Nation is the future of the music business. With the most live concerts, music venues and festivals in the world and the most comprehensive concert search engine on the web, Live Nation is revolutionizing the music industry: onstage and online. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “LYV.” Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.livenation.com/ under the “About Us” section.
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:
SOURCE: Live Nation
CONTACT: Janie Liszewski of High Profile Media, +1-818-461-2971,
[email protected], for Live Nation
Web site: http://www.livenation.com/
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