It was this day in 1984 that Van Halen played a show in Montreal, Canada. At the time, that show was not anything unusual — just your typical life-changing concert by The Mighty Van Halen.
But that one performance is now legendary. Why? Because it’s the only performance from that tour that has been recorded in its entirety for anyone to see. It’s the only full show from their 1984 tour that has circulated for bootleg collectors and YouTube-watching Van Halen enthusiasts.
If you were lucky enough to attend a show on the 1984 tour, you can relive the memories of the show you saw. If you discovered Van Halen after Dave left the band, you can see what their biggest tour was all about. Despite the iffy quality of the ancient, shoulder-mounted VHS camera that some guy smuggled into the venue, it is still an amazing and priceless document of rock history.
Watching the epic intro to this concert never gets old…
First, Eddie’s unmistakeable riffage erupts and fills the darkened arena, causing thousands of exuberant screams from the crowd.
Spotlights appear, frantically and chaotically swirling around the stage and crowd, as if operated by a crew who’s gone totally insane. The crowd grows even louder!
The maniacal introduction yelled over the PA…. “Hello, Montreal! Are you ready??! I give you… The Mighty… Van Halen!!”
Fixed spotlights appear, illuminating THE GUITAR GOD of a generation, now in his position as he hits the opening chords of “Unchained”. At this time, the crowd is the loudest crowd anyone has ever heard. They can’t believe that none other than EDDIE VAN HALEN is in the room with them… right there, on stage!
Just when the audience can’t handle any more awesomeness, all the stage lights blast on, illuminating the largest Van Halen stage ever assembled, as THE ROCK “N” ROLL FRONTMAN of a generation is literally AIRBORNE… making an incredible flying leap off the drum riser!
And then what might be our favorite part — the loud audible gasp from the sold-out crowd, which comes a second after Dave comes into view and you can tell everyone is caught off-guard by what they are seeing … Van Halen on stage, cranking out “Unchained,” with Dave flying through the air…
Holy fuck, what an opening to a rock show! Absolutely unbeatable! This is The Mighty Van Halen!
We’ll always have Montreal.
Watch the full concert, embedded above.
SETLIST
Unchained 00:00
Hot for Teacher 04:20
Drum Solo 08:16
On Fire 11:00
Runnin’ With the Devil 14:06
[Dave talking to crowd] 17:17
Little Guitars 20:35
Cathedral 24:53
House of Pain 27:03
Bass Solo 31:03
Jamie’s Cryin’ 35:22
I’ll Wait 38:49
[Tai Chi Solo & Keyboard Instrumental] 43:54
Everybody Wants Some!! 45:46
Girl Gone Bad 54:35
1984 59:35
Jump 1:00:41
Guitar Solo 1:05:04
Oh, Pretty Woman 1:19:25
Panama 1:22:39
You Really Got Me 1:29:57
Growth 1:37:07
Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love 1:37:50
