I remember it like it was yesterday. I was in 7th grade and Van Halen were out on the road with a new lead singer named Sammy Hagar. I had no idea about this group Montrose he used to sing for (also produced by Ted Templeman, the band had a direct influence on VH), but I did know the “Red Rocker” sang “I Can’t Drive 55,” and he certainly didn’t have the gigolo-samurai touch of Diamond Dave. We had already dealt with Kiss taking off their make-up, and now this amazing group would never be the same. Do you remember what side YOU were on in the Diamond Dave verses Van Hagar days? We where DLR all the way, even though we still kept up with the new 5150 album, because Eddie was still an amazing guitarist. But more important than the MTV hype surrounding the “Live Without A Net” concert that year, was the fact that I had dived deep into the back catalog and was beginning to understand how (again like Kiss) I’d never get the chance to experience this classic line-up on stage. I could only the stared at the back of Diver Down and lament.

The late 90s brought the opportunity to see the original Kiss back in make-up and there was hype and hope that VH would reunite as well. One Gary Cherone disaster later and it looked as if the H would stand for Hagar forever more. That was until Jim Dandy came to the rescue in the form of Wolfgang “Wolfy” Van Halen. He learned how to play the bass and instead of busting out with his dad’s old bell-bottoms and polyester wardrobe, he made his pops take the old band out of the garage and back to the arenas. Both Dave and Eddie didn’t look nearly this good last year, and it was easy to see these guys got in the kind of shape needed to take over the rock scene again. I didn’t get to see the first Staples show back in November, but who cares, I think it was the same set, and it really was a dream come true - even if we were in the nosebleeds. I went to this one with my girlfriend and my friend Jeremy and even though he wasn’t from Oceanside, New York like I was, he was right back in 7th grade with me! Musically, we probably saw a better band then we could have back in 1985-86. Dave is actually singing as opposed to just grunting and yelping, he could jump and kick like a teenager, and the showman went through about 4 costumes. Eddie is muscle-and bones and his shredding yields for no one. Alex’s signature bass-drum gets you “Hot For Teacher” all over again, and Wolfy did a god job keeping up with the old guys contributing both bass and backing vocals. It does say a bit for this “younger generation” that the the most out of shape person on the stage was the kid. No offense to the boy of course, we all owe him a drink.

(these shots are from my “heavy metal bathroom,” where VH never broke up!)

(so much for collecting your ticket stubs)

As far as the setlist it’s pretty much what most everyone else got, even with the additional “covers” they throw in (the set already included the Van Halen-ized versions of “You Really Got Me” and “Pretty Woman,” but “Romeo Delight” featured a little jam on the Who’s “Magic Bus,” while “Somebody Gets Me a Doctor” teased with a bit of “Spoonful,” by Cream - another group that had an obvious influence VH.

I lifted the Setlist from Van Halen Tour 2007-2008 Blog

01. You Really Got Me (from Van Halen, 1978)
02. I’m the One (from Van Halen, 1978)
03. Runnin’ With the Devil (from Van Halen, 1978
)04. Romeo Delight (from Women and Children First, 1980)
05. Somebody Get Me a Doctor (from Van Halen II, 1979)
06. Beautiful Girls (from Van Halen II, 1979)
07. Dance the Night Away (from Van Halen II, 1979)
08. Atomic Punk (from Van Halen, 1978)
09. Everybody Wants Some (from Women and Children First, 1980)
10. So This Is Love? (from Fair Warning, 1981)
11. Mean Street (from Fair Warning, 1981)
12. Pretty Woman (from Diver Down, 1982)
13. Drum Solo
14. Unchained (from Fair Warning, 1981)
15. I’ll Wait (from 1984, 1984)
16. And the Cradle Will Rock (from Women and Children First, 1980)
17. Hot for Teacher (from 1984, 1984)
18. Little Dreamer (from Van Halen, 1978)
19. Little Guitars (from Diver Down, 1982)
20. Jamie’s Cryin’ (from Van Halen, 1978)
21. Ice Cream Man (from Van Halen, 1978)
22. Panama (from 1984, 1984)
23. Guitar Solo (incl. “Women in Love” intro, “Cathedral”, “Eruption”)
24. Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love (from Van Halen, 1978)
Encore
25. 1984 (from 1984, 1984)
26. Jump (from 1984, 1984)

Here are some YouTube clips of the night: