Van Halen
Entertainment Centre
Newcastle, AU
April 23, 1998

Set List

Review by Mick Quain - mquain@maintain.com.au

If you read all the reviews, they say that Van Halen is good. They say they are excellent. They say they are incredible.

Don't believe it. They are simply better than words can describe. We have waited two years for this, since reading that they were coming to Oz on the VHND. We weren't dissapointed.

Eddie's hip stayed in place. Alex's head did not fall off!

Van Halen continued their onslaught with an excellent show at Newcastle last night. It was pouring rain outside but that did not dampen anyones enthusiasm to go apeshit when the band broke into Unchained.

Gary is a great front man for this band. The only disappointment to me was that he did not sing enough. He makes all the old tunes sound just as good while adding his own personal touch. The guy can definately dance. He really got the crowd moving

Eddie...what can you say but simply amazing. I was in a great position to see him play and the guy just blew me away. The best guitarist I have ever seen.

Alex's drum solo and playing were awesome. What was with the neckbrace??

Michael played with power and even got to sing a song (Somebody Get Me A Doctor).

Overall, one of the best shows I have ever seen. The support were great (The poor) but somebody should have a chat with guy in charge of the microphone volume!!!

I hope I don't have to wait another 20 years to see these guys again!!!!

City: Melbourne/Canberra/Sydney/Newcastle

People can call me selfish, arrogant, nieve or whatever, but what I have witnessed over the past week was the most unbeleivable spectacle I have ever seen in my life.

Van Halen 4 times in 7 days.

I had seen them previously overseas with Sammy, but that does not even come close to what they have now become with Gary. I am not going to reinterpret every part of the 4 concerts , but what I will say is that they are fuckin white hot!

I have nothing but admiration and praise for the guys and most of all Gary who has carried, and unfortunatley will have to continue carrying the ghosts of the past on stage with him every night. But this guy is nothing short of exceptional, a true professional, an incredible singer and performer and above all a genuine human being.

Seeing them with Gary looks so natural and it sounds so right, the set list is nothing short of awesome and the musicianmanship is unexplainable.

I hope people in Oz got as much happiness seeing them as I did and to all the people overseas be prepared for Van Halen III because it will blow your mind, these guys are gonna stick it up a lot of people who have doubted and dissed them over the past couple of years believe you me. You could see the fire in Cherone's eyes during the Sydney Concert, they were on show to the world and they let everyone on this planet know that THIS IS VAN HALEN.

After waiting 12 years for Van Halen to grace the shores of Australia, I was very excited to be able to see the greats live in my very own backyard at Newcastle. The wait was worth every second as the concert was ABSOLUTELY AWESOME. The sets were fantastic as the boys played a full range of songs from Van Halen I, 1984, 5150, ou812 right up to the new one Van Halen III.

Gary's showmanship was great as he, and Eddie, had the crowd eating out of the palms of their hands and they could do nothing wrong in their eyes. The lighting effects for the concert were great especially during "Fire in the hole" when it appeared as though the whole stage backdrop was ablaze with fire.

The solos from Eddie and Alex were at the usually greatness, although I personally would have liked to have seen Mike perform "Ultra Bass" as well just to show those in the crowd that he is also an awesome guitarist.

That's all for now, but I hope to see the boys in Australia again, hopefully not in another 12 years.