I'm sure plenty of you have met Mike sometime in your life. I, sadly, have never had that luxury, but those of you who've been attending shows regularly since 1981 probably have some cool stories you'd like to share.

One of these days, I'd like to meet the man, shake his hand and perhaps just chill with him sometime. He's probably the only member of Van Halen, past or present, I'd like to meet personally.

I did, briefly at a meet & greet back in Sydney in 1998 along with Ed, Al & Gary.

Yup at a (uggh) VH 3 album party. AL was a cock, Gary too, Ed was baked but very cool. One thing bout bands: usually the guy with the least amount of pull in the band is 'the fan Favorite" cuz really no one else want's his time. Tthe other "star's" are busy. Ringo, fan fav, Jason Newstead, Fan Fav, Larry Mullin, fan fav etc. Mike was the most grascious, remembered my name, spoke a while, very cool guy, smiling, happy to be there.

I've met Mikey twice...first time was in Toronto in '98 for the meet and greet at Sam The Record Man as part of the VHIII release promo...second was last summer on The Other Half tour with Sammy at Darien Lake, ran into him backstage before he came on to play when i had the onstage tickets...autographed my t-shirt...Kevin Dugan gave me one of Mike's picks because it was my birthday...also was lucky enough to get his autograph during the '04 tour five star package at soundcheck...cool dude.

I met him at NAMM a couple years back, like everyone elses experience he was very cool and took a couple of minutes to chat with me (and everyone else there).

8 years ago, I worked at the same school that his daughter was attending. Believe or don't both his girls attended public school, which said a lot in my book. To me he could've sent his girls anywhere, but he sent him to the local public schools seemingly so they could "be" just like all the other kids. Anyways.
He would pick his daughter up pretty often from school, and was so fuckin' cool. He looked amazingly enough.....like a parent doing his parental duty. Imagine that???!!? Anyhow, I got to shake his hand, and tell him how much I dug Van Halen. After that, I saw him on several other occasions most notable checkin' out a volleyball game with his wife in our school gym. As hard as it was I just left him alone because I totally wanted to drill his brain about VH (Gary hadn't been announced yet.) But, for me it was exciting everytime I saw him. Not just because it was Michael Anthony....but moreso because here was a famous rocker in one of the biggest bands in the world, and he was actually fuckin' cool.....and oh my gosh being a great Dad. I'll never forget it....:thumb: Oh yes....he did sign my Fair Warning, Diver Down, VHII, and the Live Right here Right now CD's because they were the only ones I had in my car at the time.

Met him 3 times.

Once at a Meet and Greet at the LA Forum for the "Balance" tour. Got a picture with the whole band, very cool.

Met him again (with Top Timmy) at the Atomic Punks show in 2003 when he jammed with them at the House of Blues in Anaheim. Actually got a chance to talk to him, sitting backstage and even got to plink around on his bass a little.

The last time was totally coincidence. Saw him at Disneyland (I know he loves Disneyland) maybe a year later. He was with his entire family, I went up to him and said "Hello" real fast. He was really cool that time as well, said he remembered me from the Punks show.

Always very cordial, very friendly, and happy to talk to fans.

This thread needs some pics, IMO..

It's funny but I've had more words with Ed than I have any other member of the band.

I got to shake Mike's hand thanks to the 5 star in Indy '04.

He was the ONLY ONE around backstage after the soundcheck to meet the fans.

During soundcheck, Eddie came out and the first thing he said was..."It's hotter n shit" (which it was).

He rambled about some stuff which I couldn't understand because of everyone yelling "Eddie" and trying to get his attention.

Later, some guy handed him a pick and he became facinated with it. Not sure what kind it was, but the pick had Eddie's strict attention.

Someone also handed him a bottle of wine, which he took and sat on Al's drum kit.

Eddie also answered somebody's question about smoking, so he went into his "smoking didn't cause the cancer, it was a metal pick" defense.

After soundcheck, Al signed a few autographs, stage left and that was it.

AL was a cock, Gary too,

What happened here? I thought Gary was a laid back kinda dude?

I got to meet Mike on his hot sauce tour in December 2005. I was first in line at the Hard Rock and waited 3 and a half hours for him. Couldn't have been a nicer, awesome dude. He shook my hand and I thanked him for 30 years of great music. He said glad you enjoyed it and signed my still unopened bottle of hot sauce. He also astounded by my CVH shirt and commented how cool it was. Made me turn to Kevin and show him - couldn't care less, he didnt look like he wanted to be there.
I'm happy that I got to meet my hero and shake his hand.

I gotta say, Mike and Al did sign the drawing I'd done of the band. I had asked Mikey if he was having fun (after the soundcheck), he looked around the arena and said "what do you think?". I wanna be doing what you do Mike!!!

This thread needs some pics, IMO..

Sure... tell me how and I'll share some pix from the Livin' it up tour last year...

I met him in '95 at a guitar shop...asked him if Van Halen was going to play any surprizes or covers on the two nights in a row they were playing in St. Loons...he said,"You'll have to come to both shows then:D..."...I DIDN'T GO TO EITHER!:D...someone had him sign their guitar?...and a lot of people had him sign bottles of JD...:D

I've never had a chance to yet, but I've talked to some people who have met him.

Brett, you need to post photos PRONTO.

I had Rings tickets twice on the '04 tour (Mike's side, of course). By my annoying sig you know that I gave him bracelets each time. At the first show he gave me a red pick. He remembered me at the second show, and gave me his beer (I still have the cup). Almost a year later, I had on-stage tickets for Sammy and I threw another bracelet to Mike. It hit him right in the chest just before he went onstage. He looked at it, and immediately started looking for me, RECOGNIZED ME, and gave me a big smile and a "What is UUUUUUUUUUUUUP!!!!!" I love that so much!!! My GOD, the man can pick me out of a crowd. During the show he pointed at me and smiled big a couple times. The guys next to me were like, "He KNOWS you!" Very impressed.

Dougie sent up two Mr. T picks for me. Later we managed to get Mike's attention while he was at the little tiki bar next to our riser, and he came over and gave me a hug.

I have a huge smile on my face just remembering all this.

MIKE RULES!!!

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4334/mikebracelet0jx.pnghttp://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4272/edmike819hr9.pnghttp://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1387/mike35xu.jpg

Here are some pictures of Mike with my bracelets. The first one is from my first 04 show in Grand Rapids, MI. The second is from Chicago. (Geez, it's tiny!) The last is from May 05 at Sammy's show, and you can see me on the right side of the picture. White t-shirt, red bag on my waist.

Can someone show me how to post some pics here?

Get yourself a free account at www.imageshack.com

When you upload a picture, it will give you a few different links. Pick "Direct Link" and paste it in your message, like this:

directlinkhere

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w203/Pumpkinhead2007/kevin_duganphndugispectrum.jpg
Pumpkinhead and Dugie, Weezer 2001
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w203/Pumpkinhead2007/Haga001copy.jpg
Pumpkinhead, Michael, & Dugie, 2006 - The Other Half
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w203/Pumpkinhead2007/Haga006copy.jpg
Pumpkinhead, Michael, & Dugie, 2006 - The Other Half
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w203/Pumpkinhead2007/Haga007copy.jpg
Pumpkinhead, Michael, & Dugie, 2006 - The Other Half
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w203/Pumpkinhead2007/Haga031copy.jpg
Michael Anthony - Bass solo
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w203/Pumpkinhead2007/Haga038copy.jpg
Sammy & Michael - Running with the Devil
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w203/Pumpkinhead2007/Haga045copy.jpg
Mad Anthony - Pumpkinhead, did you get that??????????

Just some stills from the video timeline. Michael, Dugan, Lorett, & myself were hanging out for most of the day, just having some fun!

Awesome pics and i am jealous as all fuck. :D

Cool pix....PH, Thanks for sharing. :thumb:

Also met him on the hot sauce tour in SF at the Hard Rock. Signed whatever you put in front of him and happy to do so. Very appreciative, like Sammy to all his fans. Down to earth and very approachable.

I got to shake Mike's hand thanks to the 5 star in Indy '04.

He was the ONLY ONE around backstage after the soundcheck to meet the fans.

During soundcheck, Eddie came out and the first thing he said was..."It's hotter n shit" (which it was).

He rambled about some stuff which I couldn't understand because of everyone yelling "Eddie" and trying to get his attention.

Later, some guy handed him a pick and he became facinated with it. Not sure what kind it was, but the pick had Eddie's strict attention.

Someone also handed him a bottle of wine, which he took and sat on Al's drum kit.

Eddie also answered somebody's question about smoking, so he went into his "smoking didn't cause the cancer, it was a metal pick" defense.

After soundcheck, Al signed a few autographs, stage left and that was it.

The person that handed Eddie the pick was me !!! It was actually a seashell my son found on the beach in Florida that was shaped exactly like a guitar pick . I never thought I would get anyway near Eddie to give it to him but the opportunity presented itself and I took it. He gave me the pick he was using at the time. He seemed shocked that someone would give him something instead of wanting something from him. I tried to explain what it was to him at the time but he could not hear a word I said.

Great pics Pumkinhead. I met him 3 times, VH III m&g, Atlantic City 5 star and Worcester Rings his side of the stage. During the solos he would come out and meet everyone on his side of the stage.

Didn't so much as meet him, but he did get a few of us pleasantly buzzed in Albuquerque. Some pics mine, I think that Theres Only One Way took a couple of these, too.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c204/timmac/Mike.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c204/timmac/mike1.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c204/timmac/DSC00070.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c204/timmac/DSC00110.jpg

Met Mike a couple times. Had the Five Star deal in Portland in 2004 and he signed the F.U.C.K. booklet for me. Seemed like he didn't mind hangin' out for a few moments.

Met Mike again in spring 2005 down in Tahoe after the Friday night show with Sammy. My wife and I went to dinner at one of the places there and Mike and his gang showed up a bit later. Was able to chat with him some as he saw me wearing my VH stuff. He was really cool. Took this picture with him. Doesn't look too great...since I'm over 6-6 and he's pretty short and I had to lean over and look awkward.

Anyway...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a25/ChargerDave/MichaelAnthonyinTahoe.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a25/ChargerDave/MichaelAnthonyinTahoe.jpg[/QUOTE]

Max Headroom!!

Sure... tell me how and I'll share some pix from the Livin' it up tour last year...


http://www.vhlinks.com/vbforums/showpost.php?p=738355&postcount=19

Me and sisca met him at the 2004 Dallas Five-Star thing. These are a couple of the pics that Matt Bruck took for the ILAA deal:

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/6012/meandsisca1vn9.jpg

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/3082/meandsisca4kb0.jpg

I didn't get a pic WITH Mikey but snapped this one while we were talking:

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/3486/mikeydallassoundcheck20xh0.jpg

REAL nice guy. Funny as all hell, too. Someone asked, "How come you're singing the old Dave stuff?", referring to the fact that Sam was a no-show at soundcheck and Mikey sang the them, "Does he not know the words?" And Mikey says as he winks, "No that's the 'OTHER' guy!" LOL! ;)

...and he signed my BOBW CD:

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/3893/mikeyautographwx2.jpg

:thumb:

Cool pics there six!

Cool pics there six!

Thanks! Yeah, we had a good time that night...LOL! :D

Me and sisca met him at the 2004 Dallas Five-Star thing. These are a couple of the pics that Matt Bruck took for the ILAA deal:

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/6012/meandsisca1vn9.jpg

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/3082/meandsisca4kb0.jpg

I didn't get a pic WITH Mikey but snapped this one while we were talking:

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/3486/mikeydallassoundcheck20xh0.jpg

REAL nice guy. Funny as all hell, too. Someone asked, "How come you're singing the old Dave stuff?", referring to the fact that Sam was a no-show at soundcheck and Mikey sang the them, "Does he not know the words?" And Mikey says as he winks, "No that's the 'OTHER' guy!" LOL! ;)

...and he signed my BOBW CD:

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/3893/mikeyautographwx2.jpg

:thumb:

Looking damn fine there Bill and Mike.. legends!!!:devil:

Looking damn fine there Bill and Mike.. legends!!!:devil:

:D

I was WONDERING when you were gonna show up around here again...:wtf: ;)

:D

I was WONDERING when you were gonna show up around here again...:wtf: ;)

Why chocolate boy... did ya miss me? ;) I'm around.. cant get rid of me that easily :D

Ive never met the man but during The Other Half set at Darien Lake on 7/7/06...I was yelling at Mike the whole timewhile on stage!....MIKEY MIKEY....even during Sams set I saw him standing in his little bass area and I gave him the thumbs up and he kind of looked at me to tell me not to point at him.:p

Then while he was on stage at the end of Judgement Day I yelled MIKEY! And of course he looked at me...and I motioned for him to wear my 5150 Cowboy Hat....he looked at it and he came over to his amps which I was right behind....and he put it on....played a little bit...then signed it.....

I also gave him a pat on the back when we got to walk on stage during BOBW....

You KICK ASS Mikey! Keep on doin' what your doin....:thumb:

I met Mike and Alex(sort of) back in 1982, in Las Vegas. I was a student at UNLV at the time and worked at several hotel venues to earn beer money. Over the years I mostly worked at boxing matches, but did some security at a dozen or so concerts. Unlike today where they have plenty of large concert venues on the strip, plus the Thomas and Mack center, the Aladdin Theater inside the Aladdin hotel was the only place to hold a concert. It has been torn down, but was a great place to catch a show . It only held 2,500 or so and the sound was great. Due to union rules (I wasn't in the union) we could only work 5 hour shifts. Anyway I had to secure the "green room" that had the band and crews food and drink. The road crew was cool but all business and were in and out constantly. Late that afternoon, Mike and Alex showed up, I wasn't allowed to talk to them but screw it... it's my boys. Alex made some comment about the beer and left the room. As he walked by me he only gave me a glance as I slowly spit out "what's up Alex?"

Then Mike asked me where a phone was located. After some small talk he asked me how I liked living in Vegas and if I needed tickets for the show. Then someone from the management yelled down the hall and said the sound check was going to be moved back. Later found out that both ED and Roth were no shows for the sound check. I worked up till 2 hours before the show and was walking on air. That night was the second best VH show I ever attended, I've seen them 18 times. It was like they were playing in your living room. Two years later I worked the 1984 show at the Thomas and Mack, located on the UNLV campus. I worked during that show at the stage, so I didn't have the chance to get close to them before or after the show.

Without a doubt the most down to earth Rock Star I ever met. I've been around quite a few bands and I would only put the members of Kansas and Ronnie James Dio up there with Mike.

He is a Class act!

Peace.

July 06' during the stage march on Sammy's tour, my brother and I high fived him while playing BOBW, he loved it as much as we did, then sammy grabbed me and we sang a part of the second verse together. Still flying from that! We were on the back of the riser and Mike was walking by down below, my brother yelled for him, and Mike gave the VH sign and my brother said "no way, not good enough", so Mike walked up the riser and it was high fives for everybody! Just an awesome guy!

I met him in a Burger King in Barstow Cali on a family vacation right after the 5150 tour........He was really cool and approchable.......He took a pic and signed my BK reciept!

I had the picture blown up to a poster and put it in my room!

I was wearing Dokken T-shirt and he was ribbing me about a little after I told him VH was my favorite.....Althouh he said he liked them too.

Then I showed him I actually had 5150 on my Sony Walkman and all was good.

Highlight of my older teens

I've met him multiple times since '98 in Japan.

Very, very down to earth. I have never met another celeb, with the exception of Gary Cherone, who was more personable than he was/is.

The last time was totally coincidence. Saw him at Disneyland (I know he loves Disneyland) maybe a year later. He was with his entire family, I went up to him and said "Hello" real fast. He was really cool that time as well, said he remembered me from the Punks show.

Always very cordial, very friendly, and happy to talk to fans.

Heh. No shit.

The wife and I met him Disneyland as well. We were waiting in line for Pirates and as the line was working it's way through the queue, lo and behold he and his wife were standing right in front of us one lane over. I said "Hey Mike" and he gives me a once over to see if he knows me. He does not. He sticks his hand out, I shake it, I introduce my wife, he shakes her hand, he indroduces his wife, we shake her hand, we small talk a little, the line moves and thats that.

Great guy. I've met a few celebs in my time and without a doubt the two coolest were Dom Deluise and Mike. Just regular guys that are class acts.

I met the whole band when they did an in store appearance at the Virgin Mega Store in NYC. At signings it is always very rushed, so I just shook his hand and he signed my CD. His hot sauce appearance at the Hard Rock in Boston got cancelled because of a big snowstorm. I didn't know about the cancellation until I showed up there. It wasn't snowing that bad at that point, but the storm really picked up as the day went on. I was told Mike had to get out town before the airport closed due to the storm. An employee had me fill out a form with name, address, etc. and said we would receive something in the mail. I never did. Kinda bummed about that, but no big deal.

I met Mike a few times at the Costco in Azusa, CA. I was a manger there and Mike and his family shop there as they live in nearbye Glendora Heights. Usually it was just his wife and daughters that came in but Mike came in a few times and I got to talk with him. He was very cool and answered any question I asked him. In 2002 I was front row at Universal Amphitheater for the Sam & Dave tour. When Mike came out he had two Corona beers, he drank one and came to the end of the stage to give the other to the crowd. He handed me the beer, gave me a funny look and said "Costco'? It was funny because I just just seen him a few days before at work. Mike rocks!

I did, briefly at a meet & greet back in Sydney in 1998 along with Ed, Al & Gary.

Same here but mine was in NYC on St. Patrick's Day 1998.

What happened here? I thought Gary was a laid back kinda dude?



Yeah Al was the coolest. I talked with him for a bit. Talked about the bad weather in California (El Nino). You must have caught him on a bad day.

Cool pics and stories people!

I got to meet Mike on his hot sauce tour in December 2005. I was first in line at the Hard Rock and waited 3 and a half hours for him. Couldn't have been a nicer, awesome dude. He shook my hand and I thanked him for 30 years of great music. He said glad you enjoyed it and signed my still unopened bottle of hot sauce.

Speaking of hot sauce, and related stuff, my wife made some homemade chili for him before we left for the show in Fukuoka back in 1998.

This stuff was HOT!!! I mean, when she was cooking it, we had to open all the windows and the sliding glass door to the balcony to air the place out because we were both getting very teary-eyed, and it was hard to breathe.She kept coming out of the kitchen every few minutes because she couldn't stand to be in there.

I'm thinking, "HA! We finally got him! He'll never be able to eat this!" because he had always said that he'd yet to eat any chili that was too hot for him.

We get to the venue, and get backstage for our Mn'G and to hang with the band prior to the beginning of the show. My wife hands him the chili. He's beyond thrilled, and he tells her he'll wait until after the show.

The band finishes the gig, they all towel off and come back to the dining area. It's obvious Mike is a Starvin' Marvin at this point, so he grabs his jar of chili, and pours it over some chips, and downs it as though it was fucking ice cream. "Ehh..it's not that hot!", he says.

We just stood there in disbelief. Unbelievable!

but he did give me a high five when I was onstage in AC a few years ago. he also posed for a picture just before the encore.

The only one I have met is Gary Cherone. My brother ran a bar in Boston and Gary came in to see his friend's bad. I recognized him immediately. But it took a few minutes to get the nerve to walk up a talk to him. I told him what a huge VH fan I was and that I thought he did a pretty good job as lead singer. He was pretty cool about it. All he said was "that was a tough gig."

but he did give me a high five when I was onstage in AC a few years ago. he also posed for a picture just before the encore.

The only one I have met is Gary Cherone. My brother ran a bar in Boston and Gary came in to see his friend's bad. I recognized him immediately. But it took a few minutes to get the nerve to walk up a talk to him. I told him what a huge VH fan I was and that I thought he did a pretty good job as lead singer. He was pretty cool about it. All he said was "that was a tough gig."

I bet if Gary hadn't had surgery around that time and Ed wasn't calling the shots Gary would've blown us away on that album.