The VH Trade Site Forums Archives

[pauliekcpa]

Hey all, I haven't posted anything meaningful in awhile, so here goes:

I have (had) always considered myself a "Dave era" guy. Unfortunately, I never saw VH with DLR. Saw them in '86 in Fort Wayne and 1988 MOR at the Silverdome was the last time. I was never into Sammy solo and although I liked the "new" VH, it still wasn't the real thing.

That being said, I was totally blown away on Sunday at the Palace. Sammy being 56 years old (or so) can friggin belt it out. The guy has still got pipes. DLR, Robert Plant etc. just can't do it like they used to but Sam sure can.

And Ed is still Ed. The reason so many of us picked up the guitar. Go see him again and you'll be reminded why you dug him so much in the first place.

They sounded great and looked like they were as happy to be there as we were to see them. So spend the $, see the show and then listen to the boot later.

By the way, a special thanks to some excellent people that got me going on boots a few years back, especially FullBugAZ Neil, Blu (of course), Jerel at the Vault and all the other folks I can't remember right now! And thanks to Scott for the board here, too! :dance:

Paul

[blu]

Glad you had a good time!!!!!!!

VH; it's all good!

[nast2112]

I was at this show, too. I thought it was great. Ed's two-handed pseudo-Mean Street intro was a bit sloppy (he even said so...). Anyway... looking forward to a new tour.

Chris

[TJStaar]

I was there too. It was a great show in my book. Even cooler was that I downloaded it 2-3 days later and was able to re-live it on CD. Modern technology rocks!

[rhoadsfanz5150]

I was there, I met Eddie the night before at the townsend hotel in Birmingham. It was a good show. If anybody could torrent it, I would be forever grateful.

[ekru]

rhoadsfanz5150 wrote: I was there, I met Eddie the night before at the townsend hotel in Birmingham. It was a good show. If anybody could torrent it, I would be forever grateful.

You met EVH at the hotel... tell us stuff. what was that like? (In 1984, he gave me a pick when I met him & Valerie in Detroit ... any similar tales to tell?)

[rhoadsfanz5150]

Long story, you have been warned.

It was July 10th I think, VH was playing the Joe Lewis Arena that day. I called up a buddy of mine to camp out for VH. I was 16 at the time, and a huge VH fan. We got to the hotel we THOUGHT he was going to stay at, at about 9-10 am. It turns out VH was staying there, thats good, because I live within walking distance of the hotel. Anyway, after a few hours, there were 20 people total tops. I eventually met this Metro cab driver who introduced me to the bassist of REO speedwagon, he signed my wolfgang guitar, his name was bruce hall, and was a nice guy, very cool. A few hours passed, it was getting hotter and hotter. Finally these guys came out, VH security, and kicked us off the block, saying it was Private Property. We were a quiet bunch and were minding our own business. Anyway, we moved across the street. At about 4' o clock there were SUV's lined up, about 3 of them. I remember that this tall bald guy was Eddies driver. Finally the band came out, RUNNING to their cars, avoiding all contact with about the 10 or so people left, it was quite humorous in a sad way. so I stood on top of my dad's friends car holding up my wolfgang guitar proudly. Eddie gave me a thumbs up, it was so surreal seeing my guitar hero giving me a thumbs up and making eye contact with me, i was in awe. But, they drove off rather fast. NOTE: Sammy did not leave the hotel with the rest of VH or even return with them, so even then , I think they were on the outs. I was devestated that Eddie didn't sign my guitar, my friend had a sign up for us. I wasn't about to give up though. I AM NOT A STALKER , please keep in mind i was respectful of VH the whole time, and this is only one of the 2 times i have EVER camped out for a celebrity. My friend said he heard Ed say that he would sign our guitars once he get back, I didn't hear it, but who knows. Once I got home I made a sincere fan letter about how much ed's playing inspired me. I called my friend and we had dinner at 11 at the hotel he was staying at. This way, they couldn't kick us out, because we were pay8ing customers (very smart). So we waited an hour and my friends dad kept in contact with one of the hotel people letting us know when they were coming back. The waiter kept on checking in on us, making sure we were eating :). So, I see these guys walk through the door, and it was alex, mike, and ed. they were walking so fast, and I was in shock. So, I, like an idiot, yelled "Eddie, Eddie", I then realized I sounded like any other fan, he probably gets that all the time. Okay, eddie was in the elevator, I was just outside of it. I said "eddie, can you please sign my guitar?" He said "I can't", the elevator doors then closed. I didn't stop the elevator doors or anything, I respected his privacy, left it there. One of the security guys, the same one who wanted us off the block, asked us to leave, BUT, we said to him that he couldn't kick us out, we were paying customers. So he said "oh, okay", sheepisly and walked away :). I then asked one of the crew if they could give my letter to Mr. Van Halen. The guy said which one, they're two. I felt like an idiot and said "Eddie please", so then he flags over this curly haired dude, he's in his late 20's, and gives him our letters. The curly hair dude said, are those your guitars? We said yeah. The dude took our guitars up to eddies room!!!! So I was sitting in the lobby, feeling sick to my stomach. I waited 40 minutes nothing happened. Then, this security guy, the guy who tried to kick us out, asked us our names, Eddie was personalizing his signiture to us. About 20 minutes past, and two guys came out of the elevator. 1 was the curly haired dude who was holding my friends guitar, and the other EDDIE VAN HALEN!!! EDDIE WAS HOLDING MY GUITAR, AND HANDED TO ME!!! I couldn't believe it. Eddie was quiet and didn't say a word, but he didn't have to do that, it was sooo cool of him. I outreached my hand, and he shaked it. My letter, I almost forgot, I grabbed it from the table, and handed it to him. I think he was touched by it, he looked at it, and his whole face lightened up. Before he left, he outreached HIS hand, and offered to shake my hand. How could I refuse, eddie wanting to shake my hand, and I shaked it. That was one of the best days of my life, and amazing.

[ekru]

right on. thanks for sharing your treasured memories, bro ... a nice tale, that!

:thumb: :cool:

[rhoadsfanz5150]

No problem :thumb: I haven't heard of many people meeting Eddie on the 2004 tour.

[TopJimmy78]

rhoadsfanz5150 wrote: I was there, I met Eddie the night before at the townsend hotel in Birmingham. It was a good show. If anybody could torrent it, I would be forever grateful.

I will try and get that up tonight or tommorow, awesome VH story as well dude :thumb:

[rhoadsfanz5150]

Thanks alot man, I really appreciate it, theres nothing like having your first concert on CD, ecspecially if its Van Halen :).

[TJStaar]

Great story Rhoadsfanz5150! Me and my buddies camped out at the backstage area at Cobo in 1980 and 1981 and never saw any of the guys come and go. Good for you for beating the odds!