Van Halen: 2008 concert rider revealed
The Smoking Gun web site has obtained a copy of the concert rider for Van Halen's 2008 U.S. tour, which concluded about five months ago. According to the site, the Van Halen rider specified that a "study room" be set up backstage for a musician and his tutor (in this case, bassist Wolfgang Van Halen, who was 16 when the tour launched). Each band member got his own dressing room, according to the rider, which notes that lead singer David Lee Roth's abode had to be free of any floor covering since, "Mr. Roth practices martial arts in his dressing room, and in order to do this there can be no rugs or carpeting of any sort." Additionally, Diamond Dave's dwelling "Should Be As Far Away From" dressing rooms occupied by bandmates Wolfgang, Alex and Eddie Van Halen. Check out the document from The Smoking Gun.
Nearly a million fans journeyed from all over the world to witness Van Halen's reunion tour, which kicked off in September of 2007 in Charlotte, Nc and wrapped up June 2, 2008 in Grand Rapids, Mi. Van Halen, featuring Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen and Wolfgang Van Halen, delivered their bombastic live assault performances to legions of loyal fans at 75 arena concerts throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Performing live with Roth for the first time in more than 23 years, Van Halen proved its timeless catalog of hits still packs the punch it did decades earlier. Each night, the band treated the capacity audiences to a dream set list of more than two hours of Van Halen gems plucked from their original era. Favorites including, "Jump", "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love", "Panama" and more, received a jolt of vivacity and spirit.
Van Halen performing "Panama" live in 2008: