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RIP and prayers to his family. Legendary guitar player in a legendary rock band. One of my regrets back in the day is never seeing the original band play live.

The GOAT of the guitar world.

Legendary. May he rest in peace.

Link to a bootleg of the show I caught as a 13 year old at the Cincinnati Gardens.

https://www.themightyvanhalen.net/1984/0...i-gardens/

(10-07-2020 08:02 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Link to a bootleg of the show I caught as a 13 year old at the Cincinnati Gardens.

https://www.themightyvanhalen.net/1984/0...i-gardens/

That's awesome! I see in the photos and media section, tickets were $12.50. Was that standard for the time?

Pretty standard. The Gardens was an interesting venue. Large but low rent.

Outside they had tents set up selling things. As a 13 year old I bought a $5 VH branded switchblade from a vendor, threw it in my pocket and walked into the concert. Different times.

I was in grade school and I believe it was a school night. WTF were our parents thinking? Lol

I think there was a band called Autograph or something that opened for them that tour.

(10-07-2020 11:19 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Pretty standard. The Gardens was an interesting venue. Large but low rent.

Outside they had tents set up selling things. As a 13 year old I bought a $5 VH branded switchblade from a vendor, threw it in my pocket and walked into the concert. Different times.

I was in grade school and I believe it was a school night. WTF were our parents thinking? Lol

I think there was a band called Autograph or something that opened for them that tour.

In '84 it would have been with Diamond Dave and yes Autograph was the opening band. Both got quite negative reviews, especially Autograph, from Cliff Radel, but that's not really surprising I guess.

From the archives: Van Halen rocked Cincinnati Gardens

Funny that when the Van Halen's were in their youth, Ed started on the drums and Alex played guitar. They ended up switching and the rest is history.

I remain a big fan of the first four albums, less on the subsequent Diver Down and 1984. The latter two started to lose the edge and attitude of the first four albums. After Dave left, I didn't really listen to Van Hagar. It just wasn't my cup of tea. If I had to pick one album only it would be Fair Warning that starts off with attitude from the first track and rocks through to the last track.

I went to that show and had a blast...listening to it again today brought back great memories....but even as a 13 year old I disliked 1984.

I bought their first album when I was like 10 from Swallens on Red Bank in Fairfax. Was hooked the first time I heard Atomic Punk. Once it got more radio and MTV friendly I moved on.

I do remember the first time I ever heard Eruption and it was like something from another planet. I didn't know it was possible to play a guitar in that manner before hearing that solo. Come to think of it, it may have been the first time a guitar solo was specifically recorded as a track for an album. Innovative stuff in 1978.

Played song repeatedly in high school to honor young women of "ill repute." My hand is raised...

Played song repeatedly at max volume level and cueing the opening of the song at strategic points while cruising with high school buds. My hand is raised...




"Whohooo! Take a look at this. Hey man, that suit is you. Whoo wee. You'll get some leg tonight for sure. Tell us how you dooo!"

"Come on Dave, give me a break."

"Hey, hey, hey hey. Onnne break...comin' uuup!"