This Forum was my idea, and it's not getting a ton of action (insert jokes herehttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif). So before Brett and the boys send the hit squad to dump me in the river, let me relate my one time on a rock and roll stage.

When I'm 17 or so, a buddy named Greg calls and says he knows my brother has a bass guitar and wants to know if he (Greg) can use it for his band to play a battle of the bands at our high school. I said I'd have to ask him, and my buddy informs me that he not only wants the bass, he wants me to play it. Now I had a guitar at the time, but I could barely play that. Greg had heard me play the riff from Crazy Train (I love that riff) and assumes from that that I can play guitar, and therefore bass.

So against my better judgement, I say yes. Now, put me in front of ten people and I clam up, but there is going to be around 400 people at this battle of the bands.

So we get together in the drummers basement to rehearse. We're going to do Gloria by Van Morrison, Cocaine by Clapton, and Highway to Hell by AC/DC. AKA, easy three chord songs. Greg shows me how to play this repeating riff for Gloria, which is the same through the whole song (or at least, our version). Now, our version of the song was about 12 minutes long, and I'd never played bass, so suffice it to say my left hand was in a ton of pain (luckily I'm right handedhttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif). Turns out we can only play 15 minutes so we dropped Gloria in favor of All Right Now by Free. Incidentally, the chorus of All Right Now is so basic, yet I couldn't play it and sing back up vocals, I was that pathetic. Oddly though, I was able to play and sing backup on the chorus of Highway to Hell.

Anyway, we rehearsed three times and then played this thing. The night before my Mom sends me and my brother out with the VISA card because I wanted a suit jacket to wear over my Levi's.http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/rolleyes.gif

Anyway, we start with All Right Now, and when the drums kick in I do this stupid jump in the air and I'm so nervous I keep checking the volume on the bass. Then we do Cocaine (the school asked us for songs and lyrics before we played, so I'm not sure why they let us do this one). Then we ended with Highway to Hell, before which the singer says "this is a song for all you lovers out there".

When we finish, the crowd (in my memory I swear) goes nuts. Really, they probably didn't, but that's selective memory for you. The last band that played ended with Ain't Talkin Bout Love, and they were just smokin'. Then they announced the winner, and it was us. We won $250, and then we broke up on that high note and never played again. Boring story, but it's all true.

I remember they video taped this thing, but I've never seen it, and frankly I think that that's best. If I ever come across the tape, it'll be a toss up between shooting the tape or shooting myself.http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

BTW, the name of the band??

THIS AIN'T KANSAS, WE AIN'T DOROTHY, AND THIS AIN'T THE WIZARD OF OZ

That is a great story! I loved it man!

------------------
2711 Don't ever drink anything you can't see through.

LMAO Awesome story Glenn, I especially like the idea of breaking up at the high point, I think I quit 4 (cover) bands that wayhttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

LOL nice story Glenn!! http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

------------------
Nobody Rules These Streets at Night but me, The Atomic Punk!!!!!

"Take it off, Take it off, Yeah!"

E.B.A.S

LMAO man http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

Top Glennie, he's the King!

------------------
A little zen... Headed your way...

They don't remember the place
But they remember the face

JJ Cale did a great version of Cocaine,too.http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif


------------------
Check out these a here blues: www.fatpossum.com (http://www.fatpossum.com)

Speakin' of cocaine,I remember playin' in a hoops tournament with an in-house band in the corner of the gymansium. The first tune I hear 'em playin' sounds like Cale's "Cocaine." So I'm bustin' threes thinkin' this is goin' to be pretty cool.

Alas,they changed the lyrics to a christian rock song--"...whatcha gonna do,Je Sus!" Ugh!!!!!!It was awful!!!!!!


Anywayz,Glenn,was the singer talkin' about his pants gettin' lumps when the bassman thumps and jumps?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!???

I'll share my first time on stage with a band. So I'm a freshman in High School and I joined this band from my school. The guitarist was a senior and could shred. The bassist and drummer were seniors too. The rhythm player was a sophmore and at this time all I did was sing and tinker with the guitar. In this band, I'm not touching the guitar. Well, we played at this birthday party, so the house backs up to a big hill, its got ledges about fifteen feet deep each rising about six feet. I'm playing with some seniors for a friend of theirs bday who's also a senior, I'm nervous as shit. The first tune we play is Break On Through by The Doors. Now at this time, I know about Jack Shit concerning classic rock, so I had only heard what they had sung to me. So naturally I sang it wrong, not out of tune but not the same notes and phrasing as Jim. After this, I made them dub me a copy of Best Of The Doors. We did a smokin' version of Johnny B. Goode though. Singing that song was probably the highlight of my carrer as an amateur musician. The crown was pumped, they loved it, we were clickin'! It was awesome! I can't remeber ever playing in a band where everything from each member was clicking like that. Yeah, in two peice acoustic sets and stuff or power trios, but this was a full blown band. Two guitarist, bassist, drummer and singer, five peeps, hitting together. We closed that night with Born To Be Wild, and a little funny for you peeps. The previous singer had screwed up on the last chorus and come in to early. Well they gave him so much shit about it he left. They were always coming in early in rehersal and stuff, and I had seen them play when he did this, so I understood what was going on when we'd do it in rehersal. So we're closing the night, and Neil gets thru his solo, and we come in on getcher motor runnin'.... When it gets to the chorus, we all came in early, then corrected ourselves, and the bassist and rhythm player are cracking so hard they can't even finish! It was like Bor... Born To Be Wild!

------------------
Diamond Mafia!
It's Showtime!

Cool story Glenn. I know what you mean about playing in front of 10 people and claming up.

------------------
"Honey, arn't you gonna catch a cold dressed like that?" - Dave
"We're not in the music business, we're in the business of making music." - Edward
"Yeah, I saw a yard gnome once...it didn't scare me." - Space Ghost

Great stories Glenn and House! http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

I actually purchased some running tights, and a pirate shirt for my first time on stage, also for a talent show.

Our name was Maximum Impact, which came from a Roth quote. We did "I'm Insane" by Ratt, and "Ain't Talkin..."

I'm like Glenn, I remember the crowd and judges going apeshit for us, but some goodie twoshoes won with a lilting rendition of "Over the Rainbow"

That was the last talent show I ever did, rigged I tell you, RIGGED!

------------------
RLRR LRLL

The first show I ever played many moons ago, I wore an old Van Halen t-shirt. I broke two strings went through three guitars and made an ass of myself. I have NEVER worn a VH shirt at a show again, superstitious.

------------------
Webmaster
VHLinks.com - Your Van Halen Internet Resource Guide
http://www.vhlinks.com

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Brett:
The first show I ever played many moons ago, I wore an old Van Halen t-shirt. I broke two strings went through three guitars and made an ass of myself. I have NEVER worn a VH shirt at a show again, superstitious.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Bro, that's a story that badly needs to be told.http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif



------------------
The Michael Jordan of Van Halen websites!!!
www.vhlinks.com (http://www.vhlinks.com)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 1984:
great stories! wehn i was young my mom was so proud that i could play guitar she made me play panama for everyone. i remeber being 15 and playing panama for a group of old ladies.-lol needless to say they ddin't share the same appreciation.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Were you using the ole lines,"...and I'll get her,and her,and her, AND HER!!!?"


Great stories,fellas,and it's cool that I'm not the only superstitious mug out there...

That's totally cool 1984 that you got that kind of support from yer ma! She's sounds like a great parent!

------------------
RLRR LRLL

great stories! wehn i was young my mom was so proud that i could play guitar she made me play panama for everyone. i remeber being 15 and playing panama for a group of old ladies.-lol needless to say they ddin't share the same appreciation.

------------------
when eddie van halen was 12 he spent long hours practicing fast finger movements, when he was 14 his parents bought him a guitar.

Great story Glenn. I started very much the same way - having to play and act like you were a tight rock band right off the bat. My first performance was at the closing concert on the day I left school. I had to play through this shit amp and the faggy "soundman wannabe" wouldn't let me turn it up. Man I hated that guy...

------------------
RD

Great stories!

Glenn had the best story I thought.
Rock On Glenn!http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

------------------
Right Now you're reading my post!
Here's a shot heard 'round the world...
Sometimes I just want to do nothing...
Kicking back ain't kicking you...

Maybe it's time for YOUR reunion tour Glenn? http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif

zab zabby zooby doo waaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh
to the top

any mo stories,people?

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Brett:
The first show I ever played many moons ago, I wore an old Van Halen t-shirt. I broke two strings went through three guitars and made an ass of myself. I have NEVER worn a VH shirt at a show again, superstitious.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I'm still waiting for this story to be told in greater detail.http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif



------------------
The Michael Jordan of Van Halen websites!!!
www.vhlinks.com (http://www.vhlinks.com)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Glenn:
Originally posted by Brett:
The first show I ever played many moons ago, I wore an old Van Halen t-shirt. I broke two strings went through three guitars and made an ass of myself. I have NEVER worn a VH shirt at a show again, superstitious.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I'm still waiting for this story to be told in greater detail.



Word to that Glennhttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif ...

Psst ... Hey! ... Brett? ... C'mon Man, This Is NB! ...WAKE UP!

(NB's version of "Dream Is Over"-F.U.C.K)

*I* also "Hope you get to read this message"-Eminem ...

"You Got's To help Me On That Password!"
Brother!

Yup Yup!, ... This is No Bozo's your
Magestyhttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

"nobozosou812@netscape.net" is my e-mail. To change on my "No Bozo's" registryhttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif

Also, On a serious note ...

Glenn or Brett(And I don't know if this is the right forumn to talk about it but, ...http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/rolleyes.gif

"If this room is going out of Threadness Glenn?" Than I must have this to say In The Long Run-"Stairway" LZ

What does it take to get to the top? *I* mean to the top of VHL?

In Moderator terms? ... Does it take 1) Eruption Status (NB has that), 2)Halenization (If there ever was a word), and or "Votes?", by other membershttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif

RIGHT NOW, ... Ed is playing stairway!w/RB(robert plant) on a "Napster Boot"

"And If That Ain't A Bunch Of Bullshit? I don't Know What Is? LOL Let's Get With OU812!" -Sammy Hagar(RHRN)

Oh Yah, I forgot to write my first time "Onstage", ...

Oh well?, ... Next post!

(*I* hope DIF gets to read this)

Word!, ...

*StoneKingMeister*


[This message has been edited by Halenized (edited November 25, 2000 at 04:05 AM).]

Somebody Get Me An Interpreterhttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif

------------------
The Michael Jordan of Van Halen websites!!!
www.vhlinks.com (http://www.vhlinks.com)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Glenn:
Somebody Get Me An Interpreterhttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I bet he had a good buzz last night!http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif

Oh wait?, ... That was me!http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif

Word, ...

Glenn, you can't understand it at all?http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/eek.gif







------------------
*StoneWeiserKing*

"Broken Down 'n' Dirty Dressed In Rags" -DOA

"Chronic Bud Smoker Of VHForums"

"Mugambi Baby Freak"

I'm reading your mail dude, I'm just sticking to my policy of excessive vagueness.http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif



------------------
The Michael Jordan of Van Halen websites!!!
www.vhlinks.com (http://www.vhlinks.com)

Whatever Glenn, ...

Yah I was a little to excessive(NB saying he was halenized) on that one outrageous post, but it's all good Glenn!

See I have found out that words don't hurt in the forums but posts do! http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/eek.gif If you could understand the "potnishness"-DIF from it all. LMAO ...

See like right now, I'm tore as fuck and am going to tell you a little story about a funny thang that happened "My First Time Onstage"! ...



------------------
*StoneWeiserKing*

*Chronic Bud Smoker Of VHForums*

It all happened? ... (NB thinks and scratches his chin) a long ... long ... long ... time ago in a place far ... far ... away ... http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif J/K(justkidding)

It was for a high shcool dance at school when I was a junior. We weren't the openning band but our school rivalrys band was and they, first off had a totally different style than us. LOL ...

But it was all good. It wasn't a "battle of the bands" or anything but, ...

All I remember was ...

1) Not doing soundcheck http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/eek.gif
2) Tuning my High "E" 1/2 step higher than standard pitch http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/eek.gif
3) Getting all the chicks afterwards ...

The total crowd(I have it on videotape) must of been about 300-400 people!

VH songs that "Chop Logic" played were, ...
1) Girl you really got me

This was in 92', ... We played mostly originals which were "grunge".

Cool Thread too Glenn!

I hope it stays in the forum.http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif



------------------
*StoneWeiserKing*

*Chronic Bud Smoker Of VHForums*

Well...this is interesting, to say the least. Diggin' out of the past...http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/eek.gifhttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

8th grade...leading up to Halloween. The Cable Guy had been out for a while and I was pretty adept at the "Somebody To Love" performance Jim Carrey did.

One thing led to another and pretty soon I was doing all these odd performances where I would roll around, screaming "Don't you want somebody to llllllllllove?" many a time. Hell, I didn't even know the whole song.

Halloween came around, and we were doing a dance thing where they had brought in a karaoke machine on our request. http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/cool.gif After a while, I had my name thrown in, and pretty soon, well, I was on there, screaming my lungs out "DON'T YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO LLLLLLLOVE" over and over again. Most of the people were crowding around; one person I distinctly remember was just standing there looking at me like I was having an epileptic seizure or something.

After that performance I was supposed to retire it, and I did for a while. Then my voice went through a change (hey, that's puberty for you) and now I couldn't do that thing if I tried. http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/tongue.gif

Great stories, Glenn & No Bozos. And Brett...Glenn ain't the only one waiting for your story. http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gifhttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/cool.gif

------------------
Right Now, it's safe to add one (1) to my post count.
Right Now, strange is beautiful (http://realm.htmlplanet.com).
Right Now, I'm a Dirty Faced Kid.
Right Now, Van Halen needs to HURRY UP AND SAY SOMETHING.
Right Now, I must be going.

Sizzlin' to tha top!!!!!!

Modulate Daddy Modulate!!!!!!

Top

Why is NB's stuff under his tag all "weirded" out? ...

g-man where are ya buddy? I need some answers dawg!http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif lol ... but seriousley I need to know since I used to be NBhttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif ...

------------------
"broken down n' dirty dressed in rags" -DOA

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Eyes of the Night:
Why is NB's stuff under his tag all "weirded" out? ...

g-man where are ya buddy? I need some answers dawg!http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif lol ... but seriousley I need to know since I used to be NBhttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif ...

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I think it automatically does that to the previous posts of anyone who changes their username.http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif



------------------
The Michael Jordan of Van Halen websites!!!
www.vhlinks.com (http://www.vhlinks.com)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Glenn:
I think it automatically does that to the previous posts of anyone who changes their username.http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Cool. That's the first time I've seen it do that.http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/eek.gif

http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif



------------------
Broken Down n' Dirty Dressed in Rags

Check out that "316/Wolfie" thread you started in 101, it's the same there too.http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif

------------------
The Michael Jordan of Van Halen websites!!!
www.vhlinks.com (http://www.vhlinks.com)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Glenn:

Check out that "316/Wolfie" thread you started in 101, it's the same there too.http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hey Glenn, not under my user name but where the (edit,profile, and e-mail are.http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif

On this thread there's a bunch of "yahoo" shit with "ALT=enter" bunch of crap on it. That was what *I* was talkin' bout cause I don't see it even in "316/wolfie"?http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/smile.gif




------------------
Broken Down n' Dirty Dressed in Rags

Hey Glenn, check my second time ever onstage!http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/wink.gif

It was later that week after my first but it was outside.http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/eek.gifhttp://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/cool.gif

http://users.bigpond.net.au/goo/vhlinks/eyes1.jpg

http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/biggrin.gif

------------------
Broken down n' dirty dressed in rags

"It's like somebody stealing your car and coming back the next week saying, hey check out my new car!" -EVH talkin' bout his two-hand tapping technique

In high school, I used to get together and jam on Nirvana songs and stuff like that with these two guys I knew, but we never played in front of other people, so we can't really say we were a "band."

The summer after my junior year, I was asked to play all by myself at "Lawn Chair Night," which was a weekly thing for all the old people in my hometown to go and sit in the park in their lawn chairs. It wasn't my first time playing live, but it was definitely the biggest crowd. All I had was an Ensoniq synthesizer going through my little amp, and one shitty mic which was put though the mains. I played and sang 3 of my originals.

The two guys who had been in the band with me were watching that night and later they told me that my voice was way too high in the PA and it sounded like shit. http://www.vhforums.com/vhlforum/smilies/frown.gif Oh well, gotta appreciate honesty. Morals: 1. Get a freakin' soundcheck and 2. Always ask for a freakin' monitor!

------------------
http://maya.iuma.com &lt;-- My Stuff
http://www.vhvault.com/1989 &lt;-- My Van Halen Page

[This message has been edited by Lead Synth (edited January 01, 2001 at 08:51 AM).]

I'll tell you a couple of stories about the band I'm in.

Our first performance was a talent show at our bassist's church (I play guitar). We played Enter Sandman, which although being the most over-covered song ever, was a good start for a garage band. Everything else was little girls singing Jesus songs and dancing. We lost horribly, we quite appalled the all elderly panel of judges.

Second time we played was at a little clean place called cafe 22. It's a school sponsored, "keep em off the streets and thus off drugs" teenage hangout kind of deal. I'd never been there, I live 20 miles away. Anyway, the bassist and I had a solo section in the middle of the set, he played Anesthesia, melt it into Hendrix's third stone, then my solo. During third stone, I threw my guitar (Wolfgang Special) on the floor to shake it by the whammy bar. Cool sound, tried it out at rehearsal. 10 seconds into it, the bridge popped out. So the audience is looking at me and I've got a big WTF thing going on. But I fixed it, still in tune. That show had a path of destruction, a table, chair, 2 bass strings, and their was water everywhere.

BUMP :D

My first time onstage, I was a drummer, which is how I started.
I was an animal, I was smokin', I was a monster. I knew the crowd loved me.
About a week later I got kicked out of the band.
Apparently I sucked.
I guess no one wants a drum solo in every song.
Glenn, you've gotta find that video.

One of the first gigs I had was in front of 5000 people graemlins/scared.gif I was 9 and playing bass. I think everybody thought it was great that a 9 year old could get up in front of 5000 people and play.

All I have to say is, thank god for house lights!

These are all great stories:)

I like the name of Glenn's band...and they even beat out the guys who did Ain't Talkin Bout Love! What was that kick you did Glenn? Was it what I like to call...Eddie's panama kick? lol I bet it was graemlins/thumb.gif I'm glad this thread was bought back up...it was even better on the rebound! ;)

awesome, gotta respect the church concert performance of enter sandman. :cool:
that made me fall off my chair. :D

Originally posted by laner:
awesome, gotta respect the church concert performance of enter sandman. :cool:
that made me fall off my chair. :D AMEN, laner!

My first live gig was pretty uneventful...Played sax on a version of 'Yesterday.'

My best gig story is probably the time I did Music Man...I was in the barbershop quartet and we are out there gettin' our funk on...I look at my friend in the orchestra pit and she is nudging the chick beside her and they are pointing and laughing at me..."WTF is up?" I start to think...Then, I can hear a bit of crowd noise...low mumbles and snickers...Then, most of the orchestra pit turns and stares at me while concelaing outright laughter...

I know what is wrong, but am praying it's something else...

I'm trapped in front of this full auditiorium and have to carry my part on 'Lida Rose'...

Then, a small voice from the crowd says,"Daddy, his zipper is down..."

I was supposed to carry a set piece offstage after the song...

I didn't carry that set piece offstage after the song...

I ran offstage, zipped myself back up and finished the gig...

Thankfully, the tighty whiteys kept the show G rated family entertainment...

Originally posted by homeunit:
One of the first gigs I had was in front of 5000 people graemlins/scared.gif I was 9 and playing bass. I think everybody thought it was great that a 9 year old could get up in front of 5000 people and play.

All I have to say is, thank god for house lights!Wow homeunit!! Tell us more man. Did 5000 people come to see the 9 years old prodigy? ;) :D

Serious man, 5000 peeps!! Insane! graemlins/scared.gif