News from the ’82–’83 VH Soundboard Recordings Provider

I’ve been in touch via email with By-Tor X-1 (his Dime handle), the person behind the incredible 1982 Van Halen soundboard releases. For those unfamiliar but interested, I wanted to share some insight and updates.

Roy, one of Van Halen’s sound engineers, recorded a huge number of shows from the 1982/1983 tours. These are set to be released on their respective anniversaries throughout the rest of this year and into early next.

The Van Halen collection alone cost By-Tor over $22,000. While not everyone can contribute, even modest donations can help offset the investment. If you’re able, please consider supporting his efforts here:
https://ko-fi.com/musicmediaarchives

About the 1981 Fair Warning soundboards:
Unfortunately, several tapes that were available for sale appear to have gone to a “higher bidder,” raising some suspicions about the seller’s practices. Reportedly, this seller has sold digital copies of tapes to others behind buyers’ backs—but for some reason refuses to do so with the Van Halen tapes.

By-Tor is currently at a dead end in recovering these. We’re hoping that by raising awareness, some of them might still be located or salvaged. Here are the tapes believed to be lost:
• 1981-05-15 – Providence, RI [SBD]
• 1981-06-04/05 – Seattle, WA [OAM]
• 1981-06-18 – Fresno, CA [OAM]
• 1981-07-18 – Uniondale, NY [OAM]
• 1981-07-20–22 – Philadelphia, PA [SBD]
• 1981-07-28–30 – Largo, MD [SBD] (possibly two tapes or shows)
• 1981-10-09 – San Antonio, TX [OAM]
• 1981-10-20 – Omaha, NE [OAM]
• 1981-10-24/25 – Orlando, FL [???]
• 1982-07-05 – Unknown location (likely Zoetrope Studios) – Diver Down rehearsals [SBD]
• 1982-10-27 – Montreal, QC [SBD]
• 1982-12-09/10 – Hollywood, FL [SBD]

A sample of the Providence 1981 show was recently released by Empress Valley (EV) (https://musicloverjapan.com/) as a bonus track on their San Diego 1978 bootleg (which By-Tor originally liberated). You can hear that sample here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Crd-efK3HYY

This has led to speculation that EV may have acquired the lost tapes. The way the sample starts and ends mid-performance is similar to the preview files once available from the original seller, suggesting EV may have either purchased the tapes or at least acquired those samples. In either case, it’s worth keeping an eye on their site in case they begin releasing 1981 soundboards.

As for the elusive “holy grail” recordings: By-Tor’s theory is that Roy likely handed over many tapes (or copies) to the band during his tenure. In a radio interview last year, Michael Anthony mentioned that the sound engineers recorded every show from the Dave era and that he still had many of them. So it’s entirely possible some of these recordings still exist in private hands.

My personal view: The so-called “holy grail” is just one among many amazing soundboards from the 1981 tour. And as we’ve now confirmed their existence, it’s clear there are multiple recordings from that tour that deserve attention and appreciation.

Lastly, the Rockford show drops this Sunday, with many more to follow.

I’ve also asked By-Tor about the possibility of any 1980 Women and Children First soundboards, since high-quality recordings from that tour are in very short supply.