Seriously, is there any other guitar hero you want to come back from the dead other than Eddie Van Halen?  I have loved this man since 1979.  I was eight years old when my neighbor Wayne stopped me on the street, and asked me “Had I ever heard the world’s best fucking guitar player?”  (Yes, in the hood eight year olds talked this way.)  Being a true fan of rock music, I said “No, play me the tape!”  …. and the explosive Running With The Devil came alive on the mean streets of Madison Heights.   As a teen I was unable to score tickets to the 1984 tour … sadly, I was called 13 out of 14 for free tickets.  So I missed out on the Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth dynamic.  1986 was my first show, and while I have always been a Sammy Hagar fan, it just wasn’t the same.  Again, saw them in 2005.  Not the same.  Finally, 2007 saw my dreams come true.  Eddie and Dave together again.  I had the worst concert seats ever, as I had to buy tickets via phone while on vacation.  

Here is the recap of the show the night I saw it:

VAN HALEN CONCERT @ the Palace of Auburn Hills

October 22, 2007

The 1st time I heard Van Halen was the summer of 79. I was walking to Wildwood Park and Wayne Carson rolled up on his bike and made me listen to the entire Van Halen (1) tape. I was impressed as hell. Tonight, I am still that impressed. I had such a good time at the show, and as I told my friend Becky after Eddie’s guitar solo, I had quite a hard -on!!!

The set list was the same as in the paper … so those who care already know what they were playing. DLR was a hoot … trying to do all of his old spins and high kicks and not making it, but not looking like a total ass. His voice was still good. Poor overweight Wolfie got pelted in the face while walking the circular stage with a t-shirt. He played bass just fine, by the way. Alex was always enjoyable, and Michael Anthony was really missed. He has such a great high voice, and at the beginning of the show, you could really hear MA’s absence. The stage was simple, with a center pit filled with man-child die hard fans. They had a VH blimp flying around before and after the 1st and last songs.

Eddie, love of my teenage girl life, still rocked the house with his replaced hip and all. Shirtless, looking decent for an old guy, he was jumping around and having a blast, and totally loving it that his son was on stage with him. Eddie played the loudest, most fucking awesome guitar solo I’ve ever heard live in concert, and yes, I have seen Pete Townsend, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimmy Page, Geddy Lee, Joe Perry, and just about every worthy guitar player in my lifetime play…

Eddie was awesome, so much more into it than when I seen him in 1986 and 2005. The Palace was filled with a silent crowd in literal awe at his solo. I watched the men on the main floor just jump for joy and play air guitar, do the Wayne’s World “I’m not worthy” bow, and clap and head bang like they were 17 again. It was such a beautiful thing to see.

The Palace was such a sausage fest – I never waited in line for a bathroom, that was how few chics were there. But it was great, great, great, and I’m so glad I had my crappy seats, and that it only took me 15 minutes to get home!!!

The end was the best, Dave was waiving a huge banner in an eerie light, the disco ball was kicking light everywhere, and they released tons of that cool shiny thick confetti and the entire stadium lit up like it was New Years in NY while they played Jump. It was such a nice moment in my life, and I’m glad I waited 23 years to see them play together. I love VH so much!!!! My heart is happy tonight my friends ….

There is a reason this tour made $93 million for the band … it rocked!!!

I am hooked.  I have spent years loving this man, not only as a rock star who was my teen crush, but as an inovator.  Not only can the man play the hell out of a guitar -in my opinion has the most unique sound of any guitar hero in the world; but he has the gift of creativity.  Remember all those cool VH videos?  The guitars?  The VH symbol?  Eddie has now taken that gift and created his own website, where fans can buy anything EVH.  Please visit the link here.

According to Rolling Stone, Eddie is also planning a new album and writing music.  We can only hope for another tour with DLR.  And Eddie is getting married in June to his publicist/girlfriend/stunt woman/actress Janie Liszewski. He proposed on vacation in Hawaii, and of all places a Tiffany & Co. 

Good luck Eddie Van Halen …. I hope this is your year!!!!

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