New amateur video: Front row from Van Halen’s 2007 tour

September 24, 2010 98 Comments

Longtime VHND reader, Craig N., wants to share this with all fellow fans:

“After reading the most recent news of the fan meeting DLR on VHND and being told we will be hearing from Van Halen in the next 7-8 months, I could not help but think back to the 5 awesome shows I saw in 2007. I want to share this great video I took in October of 2007 in Toronto from the first row floors. This video truly captures the chemistry and magic that Eddievan Halen and David Lee Roth have!”

Filed Under: Van Halen Tagged With: 2007 tour, Beautiful Girls, David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, footage, reunion, Somebody Get Me a Doctor, Spoonful, Van Halen, Video

Tom

I think they were and still are amazing.Wolfie went out playing to sold out crowds at the age of 17 and didnt miss any notes,never missed his backup vocals,never had a hint of stage fright.Playing with what may be the best live band in the history of rock and roll and music altogether.He filled in some huge shoes and did an amazing jobHe is just finding his sound and groove.Even if Michael Anthony was back in VH,it wouldnt be the same.Just look at the 2004 tour.The chemistry was gone.He and the VH brothers just didnt connect anymore,but he did it for the fans and they did it for closure and to see if it would work again I suppose,which it didnt.Life goes on,and all we know is VH is up to something and so is Chickenfoot.We can expect new music from both next year,so lets celebrate that and not dwell on the past.
http://www.glance-music.nl Jero

They look so damn happy! Ed and Dave are…….just STELLAR!
Dooley

Tom said:

“Even if Michael Anthony was back in VH,it wouldnt be the same.Just look at the 2004 tour.The chemistry was gone.He and the VH brothers just didnt connect anymore…”

All that’s true, Tom. But the main reason it didn’t work in 2004 was because at the time Ed was a drunk, and not a pleasant one. Since then, he’s gone through re-hab and is obviously in a much better place today. Good for him.
freddiegirl

I agree about the ticket situation, Phil. It blows that true fans cannot get ahold of front row seats any longer. One of the things I thought was really cool about Ron Artest (yes, I am a hard-core Laker fan..) was that he gave away floor seats on the Hip Hop stations here for the playoff games. When asked why he was doing that he said that he wanted to see real Laker fans on the floor and not just celebrities. I thought that was real cool!

Now on the subject of Craig N.’s footage thanks so much for sharing it with the rest of us! Very awesome! I miss Mikey as well but things are what they are. It will be interesting to see how Wolf does on the new album if Eddie doesn’t play the bass parts himself.
Where’s Dave?

That was then, this is now. Why haven’t we seen Ed and Dave together since the tour? The band was at there best chemistry during the 1993 Live, Right Here, Right Now tour. They played there ass off the show that I saw and they had a blast doing it. That is still my favorite concert of all time, from any band.
Bluesbro

There comes a time in every mans life when you need to keep your shirt on … and dude, it is that time.
http://gswoerner@hotmail.com Jim

Chemistry. Who cares about chemistry. It’s not about that. It’s about playing with someone you want to play with. It’s obvious that the band wants Dave as the singer, and vice versa.
Roth-A-Holic

Please….PLEASE….no more idiotic comments in here like “the band was at their best chemistry in 1993″……what kind of true Van Halen fan is going to believe that?

Go watch the ’81 Oakland footage…..then tell me what version of Van Halen had the “best chemistry”…….JESUS.
DJ

Live without a Net had the best chemistry….and without a doubt, Ed’s best guitar playing. The best songs? Not at all, but live that is when they peaked. This is okay….They had some magical moments on the last tour, but too few and too far between.

I am still hopeful for the next one.. I think Ed has been playin that guitar quite a bit over the past few years. I am sure Wolfie has matured as a bass player…

will it ever be 1984 or 86 again…sorry people…aint happenin… but you’ll get a few glimpses of it.
http://www.vhnd.com Pat G.

I saw the video and Ed and Dave looked great. Another point, was that the original “frankenstein” or one of the copies??? JUst curious. The world needs new VH music. Wolfie may grow into his role in the band, but he will NEVER have Mike’s vocal chops and/or stage presence, no matter what his daddy thinks. I am sure him being there is keeping Ed sober, which is awesome, but Mike not being involved anymore, it doesnt feel right. You can hear Mike’s vocals on all of the Roth-era albums. Wolfie has got a long shadow to step out of. I wish the boy luck, he needs it.
lucky

Awesome clip. I saw them and thought they sounded great. Wolf looked a bit bored with the whole gig when I saw them, at least that was my impression, and what I see in the clip above. I don’t want to slag the kid, as he has enormous shoes to fill. I hope he does well and adds something new to the band.

Oh well, lets bring on the new stuff.
bsc

As always it’s an awesome thing to see Eddie on stage.. But, I would like to say to the comments about Eddie been sloppy.. yes toward the end of the first leg of the tour he was. Idk if he was drinking or whatever.. anyways just watch him after the break they took. In like may or so of 08. His playing was flawless and Fast as hell. I saw ‘em the first show and toward the very end and His playing was great. On par with how good his playing was on the Balance tour. (Watch the Toronto solo from the 95 tour)Really makes me anxious for the new album cause you know with his hand healed Ed’s on top of his game!!
OnlyClassicVH

As far as sloppy playing goes, who’s perfect 24/7?
I listen to boots everyday while I’m working out & their were some times back in the day that he wasn’t on his A game and I’m talking about back in 81-84.

One thing that is constant is Al! Say what you want but when the timing was off Alex would bring it back!
http://VHND HIKER MAN

CANT WAIT FOR THE NEW MUSIC AND A NEW TOUR, IT WILL BE WAY COOL TO SEE VAN HALEN AGAIN, I STILL THINK THE BALANCE TOUR, AND THE 2004 FOR TOUR’S WERE GREAT, THE OLD TOUR’S I SAW WERE IN MY DRINKING DAYS SO I DONT REMEMBER MUCH ABOUT THOSE SHOWS BUT I HAD A LOT OF FUN.
MICAL VEE

@Where’s Dave?….The 1993 Right here right now set list was so fuckin’ boring!!! VH was at the top of their game in 1981 Fair Warning!!!! Obviously you didn’t catch that tour!!! Too bad for u!!!
Ed

Wow. I can’t wait any longer!!! EVH and DLR are the best LG and LS combo ever. OK, maybe Plant and Page are up there as well, but I grew up on VH!! What does everyone think?
Chris Van Harley

OMG Yes! Makes me want the Blu Ray from the tour sooo bad. Very awesome. Now, put a guitar in Wolfie’s hands and get Michael Anthony back in and the Mighty VH will truly be the MIGHTY VH!
little big toe

-I find it humorous with all that comments regarding MA not being there and “something missing”. I have felt “something is missing” ever since 1986.

-Amen to my VH brother Roth-A-Holic. The Coliseum footage confirms the best rock ‘n’ roll chemistry of all-time. 1993… please, talk about a band going through the motions.
halenguy51

Fuck mike, that kid may be young but he holds his own hell he did just fine yeah his voice may not be as high but im sure it will be there soon. And remember if it was not for him we would not have any VH right now he got ed back in 5150 to record.
Jason wolff

Unfortunately, everybody is replacable in this band except for Ed and Alex.
patrick

ed,alex and wolf sound pretty good here and dave roth did ok.
Scott

Great quality video! Would love to see the whole thing if at all possible. Yeah, it would be nice to see MA back in the band and make it a full-blown reunion, but let’s face it, how can you fire your own kid?
NIxter

Bring Michale Anthony back!
J5150C

Of course you can’t replace Ed, he IS VH!!
Diamond Dean

Seriously 1993?????? right here right now ????? yr got to be kidding me , its the most boring , predictable set ever !!!!!! awful , gees is SPANKED IN N OUT , considered great ??? wld u prefer to hear MEAN STREETS , LIGHT UP THE SKY? hello, terrible set list , LWOAN was a million times better , 81 OAKLANDS a million times better then that.

If HAGAR sang the VH classics well he may have got respect , but no he got what he deserved ,( BRIAN JOHNSTON sings all the ACDC classics).

A concert is meant to be exciting , unpredictable , yr meant to go ” WOW i cant believe they played that , WOW i cant believe they improvised so much on that song” Not , wow they played the whole current album exactly the same with the odd done a million times songs as well , thats what they became with HAGAR , then next tour by topping it off by starting with a ballad , yes RIGHT NOW , yikes

Tell me wld ya prefer starting a concert with UNCHAINED, HOT FOR TEACHER then RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL, OR POUNDCAKE , JUDGEMENT DAY and SPANKED????
kchamz

Was at this – an awesome night at the ACC. I was about 14 rows behind you with other three buddies. Appreciate the memory and can’t wait for the new stuff due out next year.
http://vhnd.com nautica5150

I was at that show!! Oct ’07, they were on fire!
dude

While I love VH as much as the next guy or girl, I sometimes wonder if maybe we’d be better off without any more tours or CDs. Dave and Ed look in good shape but there is no denying that they just aren’t young men anymore. That’s just life, of course. I just hope what comes out in 2011 is solid yet not overreaching and that any tours are fun (mistakes welcome) rather than exhibits in the limits of time. That goes for all us old fans!
Jason wolff

J5150C

My point is , ufortunately , Dave, Mike, Wolfie, Gary and Sammy are all obviously very replacable. I think this is why we wait so long for new music. I think they all go their separate ways after the show.
http://www.WRSounds.com Danny Wissert

Although I’m a die hard Sammy Hagar/Van Halen fan, I always loved these songs, Dave’s a great singer no doubt, But Dave does not have it anymore for hitting that high note, But Sammy does. I love Sammy. I like Dave. If both could work it out which I really think they can now, All we need is Eddie to work things out with Sammy & Mike now, Then we can have an all-star Van Halen reunion with Sammy, Dave, Eddie, Mike & Alex. That would cover THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS 2 cd album. I garentee and you know it’s true, That, that concert/tour would rule of ALL TIME! Then Sammy & Dave can share Leads and put together THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Part 2. Just like they called Sammy & Dave in 2002, The Tag Team Heavyweight Champions Of Rock & Roll. Come on!!! All the Sammy & dave fans have to do is pull together and tell Eddie… “We want this before your all too old to do so.” If you agree with this comment, Gimme A HELL YEAH! reply back.
http://www.WRSounds.com Danny Wissert

Oh and add this to my last comment… Post this message on every VH board, site, email, etc. So Eddie, Sammy, Dave, Mike, Alex & all the others will have every chance to see the fans requests/petitions for this to happen. “DO IT, RIGHT NOW! IT’S YOUR TOMORROW!”
Art Vandelay

I’m a huge fan..particularly of the Dave era. I dunno..that felt a little…awkward?

Diamond Dean, why would you try and put all VH blame on Hagar? It’s the band dude. Not one guy. I’ve seen VH several times…at least four or five with Dave and Hagar and once with Gary. Hagar sang songs from the classic era….Gary did a few more, but Dave didn’t do any of the other two singers stuff, so I was a little disappointed being a fan of some of the things from everyone.

Never have understood why fans of “only” Dave stuff try to lay all their frustrations on Hagar. Any decisions were made as a band. He wasn’t ever Captain Van Halen doling out the orders. And PLEASE don’t give me that stupid “he said, he said” 3rd graders argument anymore. That’s lame beyone belief.
D.O.A.

Danny,

I like the idea, and would go see it in a heartbeat. I just don’t see it happening my friend.

I don’t imagine those two can share a stage.
Top Jimmy

Ok, maybe it’s just power of suggestion, but I swear that his tone sounds better with that guitar. 99.9% sure it’s a replica but it’s much closer to his old brown sound than the wolfgang.
dude

VH BOBW TOUR would be the ultimate farewell tour. But first we need a double album – one side DLR, one side SH. One big huge celebration of the entire Van Halen experience (and it would help end all the fighting and bad blood). I’m a much bigger fan of DLR days but I recognize Sammy as a great singer and someone who did the band good for most of his tenure. Do I wish it had been DLR for those years instead? Sure. But the Sammy-era had its moments, too. Anywho, just waiting for something from the VH camp.
Diamond Dean

ART VANDALAY

sorry mate , not laying the blame on HAGAR , even though it may sound it , i blame EDDIE even more so ,

Dave probably cldnt do hagar stuff n thats fine , but ive always thought M.Anthony cld of sang the hagar stuff .

Hagar still should have sang those dave classics, runnin with the devil etc , but he chose not ,
Dooley

dude:

That would be wonderful, but I don’t think anyone should
“bet the farm” that it would actually happen.
http://VHND HIKER MAN

SAMMY DID SING VAN HALEN CLASSICS, SONGS LIKE RIGHT NOW, HUMANS BEINGS, DREAMS, CABOWABO, NEED I SAY MORE
Art Vandelay

Dean…did I not just say two things: 1) He did. I saw them multiple times. 2) Why are you saying HE should have? It’s a band. CLEARLY there’s different input from all members and management.

My suggestion is supported by the fact that the latest re-union glossed over ANY material from the other singers. Certainly that was not a Dave thing, but a choice by the band.
dude

Dooley:

Right about that. But a fella can dream on a rainy Monday!
skutch

I saw them four times that tour and loved every show. Quit arguing you fags. This show rocked and Wolfie is a stud.
Tim

@Garrett: I was also at that St. Louis show. Unbelievable. DLR even made a remark about it being their best show of the tour…and he wasn’t bullshitting. Ed was ON FIRE that night. Never missed a note. Anyone that thinks they still can’t bring it needs to go to YouTube and watch clips from that show. I know Unchained and Hot for Teacher are up there as well as his solo.

I think it’s interesting that the last two lead singers (Cherone and Hagar) both remarked they would have rather gone on the road first before recording because they felt it would have helped in retrospect. Now Roth enters the picture and they appear to be taking that route. So far so good, let’s just hope their new CD can meet all of our high expectations!
StJames888

I saw the 2007-2008 show twice – first time in Philly (1st night) and then after the break in Atlantic City; The first time, which would have been the 3rd show of the tour, I’d stipulate Wolf’s pedigree and professionalism, knowing he had his father and uncle’s Alex and Dave backing him, he looked a little green around the gills; sure he played and sang fine, but he looked like he was still trying to get his brain wrapped around playing for 20,000 fans, which is only human. I mean going from playing in dad’s 5150 studio to playing an arena with no build up whatsoever (eg: clubs, mid size halls etc)is a HUGE task to ask anyone, no matter how talented; it’s a tall order. I think he did fine; it showed in A.C. He was much more relaxed after several months on the road, and probably many groupies later (lol), he got his wings and now can go full speed. I am sooo looking forward to the new record and tour, Wolf will have matured even more, plus with the backlog of ideas in the 5150 vault, I think the new album will be golden; hopefully they’ll finally get to recording Big Trouble (perchance to dream right?) I can’t wait till next summer to hear those magic word “I give you: THE MIGHTY VAN HALEN!!!!”
AMPSTRINGSGUITAR

Ed and Dave,Ed and Sammy,Ed and Gary,Ed and anybody.Its all good.Check out Ed ripping out a solo on you tube.Letterman 95 not enough.Amazing.Ed will never lose his magic.
phillster

NEED I SAY MORE?-I`d prefer it if you said less.
J-Dub

AMPSTRINGGUITAR, you’re right on. Any Van Halen is kickass Van Halen to me. Dave, Sammy, Gary…love them all. And I downloaded that Not Enough video a few days ago, been one of my favorites for some time. Check out Gary and Eddie doing Josephina acoutically in Japan. Good stuff.
AMPSTRINGSGUITAR

J-Dub.Couldnt agree with you more.That has got to be the most under rated song He Has ever wrote.That is an incredible performance. Van Halen 3 deserves way more respect.That is my favorite tune off the album.Only Ed can get that tone out of an electric guitar.He makes it look so easy.Great Stuff!
Jo

If the could only bring Michael back into to band…