US Festival 83'

**DanHalen** · 07.24.02, 03:04 PM

I was watching a VH1 episode of driven about Motley Crue today and they spoke about the US Festival and how Van Halen was the headliner. VH1 had footage of Motley Crue playing at that festival and I was wondering if anyone knew if there was footage of Van Halen's set at that festival.

**charlie** · 07.24.02, 03:14 PM

Their whole set was proshot and you should be able to trade for it. Theres also several versions on CD. Check the VHTrading page.

**dropdeadlegs** · 07.24.02, 03:15 PM

Yeppers! there is footage of VH at the US Festival '83. Several months after the festival took place there was a special on TV featuring most of the big acts who played and Van Halen was one of them. I lived in Montreal at the time and I can't recall what station it was broadcast on or what the official name of the special was. It definitely wasn't Much Music as they were still at least a year from going on the air. I still have some video snippets of it on a cassette that must be close to 18 years old.

**theodore templeman** · 07.24.02, 03:20 PM

Is there footage?!?!

Is there ever!

Van Halen's notorious drunken stumbling raucous (yet still brilliant!) US Festival spectactle is a thing of legend.

It's pretty easy to find. Someone will post a link.

**paragliderIB** · 07.24.02, 03:37 PM

I realize its a bootleg, but what is the quality like on the US festival tape? The VH boots that I have really have horrible sound quality and shots from the nose bleed section (and they look like they were shot with super-8 vid). I would be willing to pay for a good copy.

**Joe5150** · 07.24.02, 03:45 PM

Originally posted by dropdeadlegs:
Yeppers! there is footage of VH at the US Festival '83. Several months after the festival took place there was a special on TV featuring most of the big acts who played and Van Halen was one of them. I lived in Montreal at the time and I can't recall what station it was broadcast ...

It was on "Showtime" cable network. They did 90 minutes for each of the four days of the '83 US Festival; two to three songs of each band.

**Wolfman** · 07.24.02, 04:03 PM

Originally posted by paragliderIB:
I realize its a bootleg, but what is the quality like on the US festival tape? The VH boots that I have really have horrible sound quality and shots from the nose bleed section (and they look like they were shot with super-8 vid). I would be willing to pay for a good copy.

There's a pro-shot tape that has both good audio and video quality - I imagine someone would be more than happy to set you up if you check out the Bootleg forum. There's also a great tape from the same tour called "Latin Assault" from Argentina. Just as good in quality, and features the one and only time Ed ever played from Mike's side of the stage. [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

[ July 24, 2002, 03:04 PM: Message edited by: Wolfman ]

**dropdeadlegs** · 07.24.02, 04:17 PM

Originally posted by paragliderIB:
I realize its a bootleg, but what is the quality like on the US festival tape? The VH boots that I have really have horrible sound quality and shots from the nose bleed section (and they look like they were shot with super-8 vid). I would be willing to pay for a good copy.

The one I saw and taped off of TV in '83 or early '84 was professionally shot. The actual video casette I taped it on is the shits because video doesn't hold up particularly well, especially after 19 years.

**Lem Motlow** · 07.24.02, 11:16 PM

Somewhere, I have a Beta tape (yes Beta) of the 3 songs broadcasted on cable. Runnin' With the Devil, Pretty Woman and You Really Got Me- complete with Dave shaking his ass in the buttless chaps.

My Beta machine shot craps many years ago so I haven't seen this for a long time. Would love to get my hands on the whole concert- anyone burning DVDs yet?

**Hangman** · 07.25.02, 12:18 AM

[quote]Originally posted by Wolfman:

Originally posted by paragliderIB:
There's a pro-shot tape that has both good audio and video quality - I imagine someone would be more than happy to set you up if you check out the Bootleg forum. There's also a great tape from the same tour called "Latin Assault" from Argentina. Just as good in quality, and features the one and only time Ed ever played from Mike's side of the stage. [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

I have both on VHS

**VH2001** · 07.25.02, 06:42 AM

Originally posted by ouncie33:
Hope I don't offend anyone, but I can tell you that I was at the US festival and VH was so bad that I don't know why anyone would want a tape of it!

You have offended!! [img]graemlins/irked.gif[/img]

That was classic VH at their best!!
That is one of the best shows I have ever seen,
even thought I only saw the tape.

Maybe you were just that fucked up at the time,
that you didn't know any better?!?! [img]graemlins/wtf.gif[/img]

Of course, I guess I have to take what your saying with a grain of salt,
considering your favorite album is FUCK, and favorite song is Poundcake! [img]graemlins/scared.gif[/img]

[ July 25, 2002, 05:48 AM: Message edited by: VH2001 ]

**ouncie33** · 07.25.02, 09:45 AM

Originally posted by VH2001:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by ouncie33:
Hope I don't offend anyone, but I can tell you that I was at the US festival and VH was so bad that I don't know why anyone would want a tape of it!

You have offended!! [img]graemlins/irked.gif[/img]

That was classic VH at their best!!
That is one of the best shows I have ever seen,
even thought I only saw the tape.

Maybe you were just that fucked up at the time,
that you didn't know any better?!?! [img]graemlins/wtf.gif[/img]

Of course, I guess I have to take what your saying with a grain of salt,
considering your favorite album is FUCK, and favorite song is Poundcake! [img]graemlins/scared.gif[/img] [/QUOTE]No, I wasn't messed up when I saw it. Dave was however and couldn't even sing or remember the words. You couldn't possibly mean it when you say that this is the best concert that you've ever seen. I've never heard anyone else say that about VH's performances at the US festival.

**VH Freak** · 07.25.02, 10:00 AM

I have that video and I thought that VH sounded and looked great. Dave forgets the words ON PURPOSE....that's his schtick. I still don't know how Eddie can play so brilliantly while being fucked up. Hell...I can't even tie my fuckin shoes when I'm wasted.

**ouncie33** · 07.25.02, 10:13 AM

Originally posted by VH Freak:
I have that video and I thought that VH sounded and looked great. Dave forgets the words ON PURPOSE....that's his schtick. I still don't know how Eddie can play so brilliantly while being fucked up. Hell...I can't even tie my fuckin shoes when I'm wasted.

DLR was actually slurring his words during the songs. I remember after VH was finished and we were leaving everyone we passed was talking about how bad VH's performance was. Believe me, I was and still am a huge fan. It always bothered me to have to say that VH sucked at the US festival but they did. As for forgetting the words on purpose, what's the point? People go to concerts to hear the songs sung from beginning to end. Some months before the US festival I saw VH in concert for the first time. David didn't forget the words that time. Yes he did talk a lot but he sang the entire songs. That concert was an awesome VH performance.

**VH2001** · 07.25.02, 10:32 AM

Originally posted by ouncie33:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by VH2001:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by ouncie33:
Hope I don't offend anyone, but I can tell you that I was at the US festival and VH was so bad that I don't know why anyone would want a tape of it!

You have offended!! [img]graemlins/irked.gif[/img]

That was classic VH at their best!!
That is one of the best shows I have ever seen,
even thought I only saw the tape.

Maybe you were just that fucked up at the time,
that you didn't know any better?!?! [img]graemlins/wtf.gif[/img]

Of course, I guess I have to take what your saying with a grain of salt,
considering your favorite album is FUCK, and favorite song is Poundcake! [img]graemlins/scared.gif[/img] [/QUOTE]No, I wasn't messed up when I saw it. Dave was however and couldn't even sing or remember the words. You couldn't possibly mean it when you say that this is the best concert that you've ever seen. I've never heard anyone else say that about VH's performances at the US festival.[/QUOTE]You're right - Dave was fucked up!
On the same US Festival tape, they have MTV's Mark Goodman interviewing
Dave backstage before the show and he is pretty ripped!
And, early on in the show, you can sorta notice it.

As for Dave forgetting the words, unless I'm mistaken, the US Festival show
might have been where this first happened to him.
If so, I think because he was so fucked up, that he really did forget the words
at one point. If anyone can confirm this, please do!

I think if this was the case, he has done it since then as an act, which in my opinion grows old.
It's classic when it happens spontaneously, but not on purpose.

I, honestly do think this is a classic VH concert and one of their best. IMHO [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]