Forty years ago today, (Saturday, Sept 6th, 1980) Van Halen played the very first “Roklahoma” (Different from the “Rocklahoma” festivals held in Oklahoma today). Roklahoma was a rock festival held for a few years at Owen Field at the University of Oklahoma. The bands kicked off at noon and were, in order of appearance, Sammy Hagar, Pat Benatar, Van Halen, and the Doobie Brothers.
We have some exclusive stuff from the show— the setlist, a ticket, an “Access All Areas” backstage pass, and some KILLER photos, all shown below. Unfortunately, we don’t know much else about the unique event. All we’ve heard is that the attendance was 28,000, Van Halen got the biggest crowd reaction by far, most of the crowd left after Van Halen’s performance, and the Dobbie Brothers played a fine but anticlimactic set. Van Halen played a slightly abbreviated setlist because of all the bands playing.
If anyone out there was at this event, please share your memories in the comments section! For all of us who weren’t there… pictures are worth a thousand words! Must have been yet another KICK-ASS, whiskey-soaked, and humorous, and LOUD set by The Mighty Van Halen!
SETLIST:
Drum Solo
Bright Lights, Big City
Guitar Solo
Concert review provided by Rodney “GA5150” Carr.
