14th anniversary of the Balance Tour
Fourteen years ago today, Van Halen’s Balance tour kicked off in Pensacola, Florida.
The 1995 tour was jokingly dubbed the “Ambulance” Tour by Eddie because of the hip and neck injuries sustained by himself and brother Alex.
The band added a new element to their stage show on this tour: the Jumbotron. Initially Alex’s idea, this was the band’s first time touring with a video production. The Jumbotron was a giant screen, similar to a television set, located above Alex. This was only the second time the setup had been used in arenas. Barbara Streisand was the first to use it in this manner. A six-man video team using four operating cameras and three point-of-view (POV) cameras, two of which were located on Al’s drum kit, filmed the band, the crowd, and more, projecting the images onto the giant screen. The MTV-banned “Amsterdam” video was also shown on the Jumbotron and at the end of each show, the Balance cover twins would appear, saying their goodbyes to the audience.
Alex drank a homemade garlic and carrot drink each night before taking the stage, that had a tendency to leave a rather garlicky-smell all around him and his drum kit. This practice made Al the butt of many jokes. His solo featured a segment where he played against a recording of himself, showering the crowd with a rather Latinesque treat.
Edward brought “Franky” out on the tour during the first leg, but ended up not using it for unknown reasons. Edward also played one of his Ernie Ball Music Man guitars from time to time. Early in the tour, Edward began to experience intense pain in his hip, which was later diagnosed as Avascular Necrosis. It was common to see him standing relatively still for most of these shows, even sitting on a red, white and black striped stool on more than one occasion. By tour’s end however, he was much more active, either getting used to the pain or doing a hell of a job masking it. His solo featured several Roth-era song teasers including the verse section to “Mean Street” and the intro to “Runnin’ with the Devil”, as well as a nod to the 5-note communication sequence from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The final leg of the tour featured the guitarist following in Al’s footsteps: he also played against a recording of himself.
This tour featured the band opening for Bon Jovi on the European leg of their tour. The reasoning behind this move was that the band needed to broaden their European fan base. What better way to do it then play alongside Bon Jovi, who are downright huge in Europe? A plethora of other bands also shared the bill on Van Halen’s European dates, including Thunder, Ugly Kid Joe, Crown of Thorns, Slash’s Snakepit, The Pretenders, Otto, Little Steven, and others.
The band grossed a staggering $32.7 million in support of Balance. Other top grossing acts for the year included the Eagles with $56.6 million, the Grateful Dead, R.E.M., and Page & Plant.
TYPICAL SET LIST:
- The Seventh Seal
Runaround
Top of the World
Amsterdam
When It’s Love
You Really Got Me
BASS Solo
Aftershock
DRUM Solo
Can’t Stop Lovin’ You
Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love
Feelin’
Eagles Fly
GUITAR Solo
Why Can’t This Be Love
Finish What Ya Started
Right Now
Panama
Dreams
MERCHANDISE from the Balance tour available from Van Halen Store:
Eddie Work Shirt, Navy
Filed under: Merchandise, Van Halen
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March 11th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Sixteen song set, wow, that is short.
Can that be right? Too long ago to remember. I do remember not liking that set list, and I can see why. They have better album cuts than those to play just in the Sam catalog.
March 11th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
I saw this when they played in Goffertpark in Nijmegen (yep, Eddie’s town of birth) and when I arrived home they broadcasted parts on Dutch tv. I gave it a 6 out of 10. Didn’t do that much for me.
Last year I sam VH in Vancouver and Calgary (I live in BC now). That was something else 9.5 out of 10 (10/10 if MA was there).
March 11th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Thanks to link the videos from my youtube page. Definitely a great your.
March 11th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Don’t Tell Me was on the setlist as well, unless — just like Mark — my memory serves me wrong.
Ironically, the song I most remember from that show was Eagles Fly. The band delivered an emotional performance of it.
And I agree with Mark that when I look back at the setlist it seems subpar.
March 11th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Funny, I remember them doing Big Fat Money After The Seventh Seal.
March 11th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Awesome album…but man, this was the Tour that officially declared the Dave era OVER. 3 classic songs in the setlist, and one of them was YRGM!?! That was a band moving away from their past. And then ironically enough, a year later, Sam was out and Dave was back in…for a whole 5 minutes…lol.
March 11th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
The were so good musically on that tour. I have a copy of the Toronto show that was played on television. My favorite show ever.
March 11th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Nice little report. I was so miserable that Dave was not in the band that I didn’t go and see the show when it hit Sweden. A little stupid I guess since 3/4 were right at least…
Must say the 2007/2008 tour setlist beat this one by miles. But the could have played around with it a bit. Heard Wolfie wanted to but not the other 3…
March 12th, 2009 at 4:30 am
Balance IMO is one their most underated albums. I LOVED that album and tour but THEY SHOULD NEVER OPEN FOR BON FGUCKIN JOVI!!!!!!!!! Jovi don’t even belong sharing the same fucking stadium as the MIGHTY Van Halen. That just PISSSSEDDDD me off to no end!!
March 12th, 2009 at 6:55 am
THANK YOU SAM FOR GETTING KICKED OUT OF VH!!MIKE TOO..NOW WE CAN GET ON WITH SOME REAL TUNES..
March 12th, 2009 at 7:00 am
ROTH AND THE HALENS WILL KICK OUR ASSES THIS SUMMER…
March 12th, 2009 at 7:35 am
I always thought they sounded great with Sam..With Sammy They are the ‘musicians’ Van Halen,good professional sound….But with Roth they are “THE MIGHTY VAN HALEN”….Over the top and on top of their game …( although i went to 2 shows with Roth 2 nights apart and they sounded totally different each night-One night Eddie was on and sounded great and the next night Eddie sounded a little….wobbly…anyone else have this experience?)
March 12th, 2009 at 8:04 am
Went to philly shows for that tour. They sounded great!!!! I think it was the last time they band sounded good. . .
March 12th, 2009 at 9:16 am
RHRN: Live in ‘93 was my last tour with VH before the two shows I saw in ‘07/08. (Yes, it was quite a hiatus!) They played a killer version of Eagles Fly then too. Sammy started out solo with an acoustic and during the first refrain the band kicked in. Al’s monster drum beats with Ed’s chunky rhythm really pushed the song into high gear while still retaining its emotional core. Way cool.
I skipped the Balance and VH3 tours, and am very glad I avoided ‘04 completely. The two shows (MKE and CHG) were awesome though!
March 12th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Man, I would have loved to see “Aftershock” played live. That is one of my favorite Sam-era songs…I was hoping they’d do it in 2004, buuuuut no.
March 12th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Eddie started playing a Peavey Wolfgang prototype on this tour, his main axe was the Music Man.
March 12th, 2009 at 11:05 am
There is no rational explanation for what I am about to state: The “Balance” tour show I attended, is the best concert I have ever seen.
Yes, ever. And I have seen a LOT of concerts.
Believe me, I realize how ridiculous that sounds. By all rights, it’s not even the Van Halen tour that should have been the Holy Grail must-see: “Fair Warning.” (I did miss that tour, so maybe that’s why.)
Still, by all rights, the Balance tour shouldn’t have even been the best tour of the Sammy era. Tensions were starting to run high in the band, band members were ailing, it featured an odd choice for the opener and, as has been discussed here — looking back, the setlist doesn’t jump out at you as something special.
I recognize that there are many completely valid reasons why this tour wouldn’t even rank among the top 10 of Van Halen tours alone. And yet, I honestly have never come away from a show more energized and wowed by what I had just witnessed.
I will add one disclaimer: This was the night when I first had the opportunity to go backstage and meet the band — and especially the biggest single influence of my musical listening habits, Eddie. This was before the show. Looking back, I recognize that the high of that experience likely colored my entire perception of that evening. Maybe it was because I had great floor seats on Eddie’s side. And maybe it was a coincidence of happening to catch one of the best shows of the tour. I don’t know. I just relish the whole experience of the evening.
The tour leg I saw had the band opening with “Right Now” — which, when you think about it, is kind of a bizarre song to open with. It started with the keyboard intro, then Alex took the stage first, joining in on the cymbals. Eddia and Mike were playing their intro parts off stage, until they ran out with Sammy at a key point. It was totally unlike typical Van Halen show openers — lights out, followed by a cacophony of jam (which I absolutely love by the way). This was a weird way to open — and yet, it worked.
Also, I must say that I had never cared for the song “Big Fat Money.” That is, until I saw it performed live that night. Eddie was bouncing back and forth and jumping around like nobody’s business at the beginning of that song, and the live performance gave it an entirely different feel. For the first time, I “got” that song. Anytime I hear it these days, it never ceases to bring a smile to my face.
And the rest of the show was absolutely fantastic.
Again, I can’t fully explain why that’s the best show I’ve ever seen. I’ve been waiting for another one to beat it. But so far, nothing has.
March 12th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Oh, big surprise, more merchandise advertising from VanHalenStore.com. VHND, I think we all know you own the van halen store, and I think we all know where to get the VH stuff, please stop pushing it as news.
March 12th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Hey DOOOOOSH, check this out - from consumerist.com:
The Wall Street Journal reported today that for many big name concert events, the people behind a good deal of the really expensive secondary market tickets are the artists themselves, along with their agents and promoters. Recent concerts where the artists and promoters resold tickets on the secondary market and split the profits with Ticketmaster include Neil Diamond, Bon Jovi, Celine Dion, Van Halen, Billy Joel, Elton John, and possibly Britney Spears. More ยป consumerist.com
No wonder EVH supported the Ticketmaster merger. PUT OUT SOME NEW MUSIC AND DVD FOR REASONABLE $$$$.
March 12th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
C’mon man, they had their good moment’s with Sammy and now it’s history. I’m looking forward to see what’s coming next from the studio, with Wolfgang and DLR in the mix. It might just surprise us all.
March 12th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Now that’s a decent post from you SCAR, I agree!
March 12th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Right on Scar. I think the New Van Halen is gonna Rock.
March 12th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
i saw the 95 tour three times. twice in orange county, ca and once in vegas. granted the setlist could of been better musically, it was the best and cleanest i have seen and heard vh sound live. i have seen every tour since fair warning and felt 1995 was the best sounding production i’ve heard from vh…
March 12th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
OMG did “balance” suck….
Such a boring unimaginative mess.
How anyone would want to blast ” big fat money” over “Panama” is beyond me…
March 12th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
The leg of the tour I saw later in the year had a much better set list…same as the Toronto broadcast, but expanded. Opening with “Right Now” was a cool choice, and I liked the bit where Ed & Mike sang the second verse to “Why Can’t This Be Love.”
March 12th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
I live for the improvs and the song extensions. The harmonic stuff Ed did at the end of Right Now live— with sam, and while the keys faded out. love it.
If I could have a mix cd just of that, plus the ‘86 ‘5150′ solo slow down, maybe end it with the ‘83 somebody get me a doctor jam which had some pre-1984 girl gone bad? yeah i’d be set for life.
March 12th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Saw ‘em in Barcelona, ‘95. Olympic stadium. Ugly Kid Joe, the Pretenders, ‘Halen and Bon Jovi. If I recall, it was over seven hours long. Fire crackers overhead in the summer night sky at the very end. I was about ten feet from the stage. Mike acknowledged me a few times for screaming along with all the lyrics.
By far the best overall concert experience for me.
March 12th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
I was lucky enough to be at one of their secret shows in Europe during january that year.. It was great.. Hey, can you believe: no digital cameras back then, no internet.. It seems centuries ago
March 13th, 2009 at 3:01 am
Balance tour Camden, New Jersey! Awesome show!!!
March 13th, 2009 at 6:57 am
I was extremely excited to see one of my guitar heroes finally on the For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge tour. Do no even remember who opened that show. Anyway, Sammy was on, Alex was on, Mike was on that night, Eddie….was drunk and fumbled through his solo. I want my money back on that show. Also, I remember at the beginning of the encore “Rock n’ Roll”, Sammy saying to Ed on stage that finally they are starting to rock on this one. I love the music with all three singers and wish the NEW VH the best but will not be buying any further CDs which F.U.C.K. was the last one I purchased. Hopefully, Chickenfoot does well as all those musicians are very good. And of all the singers that they have had….the new Extreme CD is not bad.
March 13th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Saw 3 shows on that tour. Good fucking times.
March 14th, 2009 at 10:51 am
I was fortunate enough to see the show at Target Center in Minneapolis that summer. The monks that did the intro to “The Seventh Seal” were performing in St. Paul the next night, so the came to the arena to do the show intro. Pretty awesome.
For better or worse, they played all of the vocal songs off of Balance that night, with the exception of “Take Me Back (Deja Vu).” Very good show. Better than 2004, not as great as the F.U.C.K. tour, though.
March 14th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
I also saw that show at the Target Center in Minneapolis….. They taped that Toronto show….. I have it on a DVD !! But - No solos??
“Right Now” I am watching it ….
March 14th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Take me back, happened just like that, Deja Vu. What an album, what a tour, what a band. Thanks for reminding us VHND. Let’s get on back to Amsterdam, light em up!!!!!!!
March 15th, 2009 at 5:35 am
Does anybody really care about the 14 anniversary of this album?? The Van Hagar era is dead and buried! Buy the Chickenfoot cd if your into Sammy…Balance is an awesome album…but NOT Van Halen…..The original is always the best! Let’s talk about some new music and where the hell is that cd/dvd of the 2007/2008 tour???..Let’s get moving boy’s!!
March 17th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
This was such a great tour…I even got to see the night they taped in Toronto…
Sometimes I think of it as a sad album given that it was kind of dark, and the vibes coming off the boys weren’t positive, but when I hear that great guitar tone in “Don’t Tell Me” and those soaring vocals, well…there’s no 1-2 punch around that can boast such power up front.
So many great tunes…”Seventh Seal” still sounds so powerful cranked up, and “Amsterdam” still makes me smile with “…light ‘em up!”
What a great band that was…and though I loved the 3 new tunes on BOBW, I’m glad Sammy moved on…otherwise I would have had a lot LESS music to listen to over the years!
March 19th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Wow, what a garbage setlist and show that was.
maybe 2 or 3 good songs on that whole setlist.