Wait a damn minute. You people demanded that Van Halen get rid of the Red Rocker and reinstate Diamond Dave.
Sure Michael Anthony had to step down so as to get replaced by Eddie's boy Wolfgang on bass - but doesn't that make for better rock?
Not according to slow-as-molasses ticket sales here in the Southland where none of the four Van Halen shows at Staples or the Honda Center have sold out. [Update: The first Staples show now appears to have sold out - you're welcome VH] [Update 2: it looks like Both Staples shows have now sold out, youre welcome again Van Halen]. ,
The only other sold out Van Halen shows on their tour are in the East Coast: the Garden in Boston, the Continental Airlines Arena in Jersey, the Nassau Coliseum in NY, and Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. Two additional dates are going on sale Monday for two shows at the MGM in Vegas.
The dates themselves could be the cause. Van Halen swings through LA and Anaheim during the holiday season. Their first show at Staples is the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and they return to LA on 12/14 and rock the OC on 12/18 and 12/20. Or the fact that most of the seats are $149 a pop could make people tentative about splurging since they havent heard a) any reviews of the new show b) any new songs c) any positive buzz.
Plus no one has ever heard of their opening act Ky-Mani Marley. They'd have been better off with support from Nerf Herder.
Needless to say, if you always wanted to see David Lee Roth sing with Van Halen, good seats are available.
After the jump some video of the band during their final rehearsals in LA, and from some of their first shows from the road.
"Everybody Wants Some" - rehearsal
"I'll Wait" - Philly
"Panama" - Philly
I see knickers.
