Van Halen – Fresno 1978-79 films

For the late 70′s, recording was not an option as I was a wee lad of 8 years. My brother and I gambled on a solution for late 90 and 2000′s for recording audio. Security would do their frisking bullsh+t to try and stop tapers. We attended so many concerts we got to identify the security guys and knew which line to go into. if we got busted, we had a card ready with contact information and if they let us through, they got one of the first copies of the show as a thanks. Sometimes it worked, some times it did not.

PT5150: Awesome stories. Thanks for sharing them.

Do you have any ticket stubs or photos from the VH concerts?

We would love to see them if you do. Cheers.

I have all the ticket stubs(well most of them)..Idont see a way to attatch files,but I have a google page connected to my S8S YT channel,I will post some of the stuff there

Single-8,
Welcome to VHT! I’m so glad you found this site and I hope you will see that this site has die hard VH fans that appreciate the stuff that people like yourself film or record.

I loved reading all the information you’ve been telling everybody here about the audio/video recording you have done. Just hearing the details of how it was done and the great lengths you went through is incredible. I know now it’s a little easier to sneak the equipment in compared to the big bulky stuff you had in that time.

kaloway: The ticket stubs piss me off$7.50 to see a concert as opposed to $175 today…

Don’t look at my Mahogany Rush & Trooper Ticket Stub…$2.96…2 dollars 96 cents…

I really enjoyed the sound quality of the VH shows in Fresno (78 & 79) & Oklahoma City(78).

What type of audio recorder was used for these shows ? It sounds like a professional deck . In the ’80′s, you could get a similar sound with a Sony WMD6. General admission on the floor netted the best quality sound. Did you record any shows (audio) in the ’80′s ?

mrmojohalen: I really enjoyed the sound quality of the VH shows in Fresno (78 & 79) & Oklahoma City(78). What type of audio recorder was used for these shows ? It sounds like a professional deck. In the ’80′s, you could get a similar sound with a Sony WMD6. General admission on the floor netted the best quality sound. Did you record any shows (audio) in the ’80′s ?

the Oklahoma show, like others I recorded, were done using a JVC Super ANRS Cassette recorder with a pair of E-V condenser Pro Mics.(PL-76′s). the van halen shows were done with sony recorders, 1978 was recorded with AKG dynamic mics, and 1979 was the first show that newer AKG condensers were used. In 1981 I bought the Sony TCD-5M and that was used until 1991 when I started using a sony DAT recorder, then I switched to a Denon DAT as the Sonys were unreliable. Then I started using an Aiwa MiniDisc from 2002 until 2007 when I switched to Zoom SD card machines…I have fresno shows from November 1976 up to November 2011….that’s 35 years…

single-8: I have all the ticket stubs(wellmost of them)..Idont see a way to attatch files,but I have a google page connected to my S8S YT channel,I will post some of the stuff there

Do you have a link for your YT channel..Can’t find it..?
Thanks

Welcome to the forum! Your footage is incredible!!! a who’s who of arena rock in the 70′s!!! I saw most of those shows as a youngster and seeing that footage brought back some great memories! I can thank my sister for being able to see all of these great bands. She is 5 years older than me and around this time frame she was in high school 75-79. My my mom would take her and a couple of her friends to the concerts. My mom did not want my sister to be at the shows alone so she would by extra tickets for me and her and we would go sit on the side of the arena. I saw most of these shows at the Jefferson Civic Center or Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham Alabama. Great Stuff!

In my humble opinion your VanHanlen footage is better than both productions that Warner Brothers put out! INCREDIBLE that 78 stuff is mind blowing. The AC/DC is killer, Loved the Boston, UFO, Aerosmith, it goes on and on !!!!!!