Van Halen goes Country!

**WhoHalen** · 07.21.02, 04:27 PM

I live in southeastern Ohio, which happens to be the home of the "Super Bowl of Country Music", Jamboree in the Hills. Anyways, I was working security for this 4 day festival and I happened to see Kenny Chesney (sp?) and a couple guys in his band jamming to some ATBL! Well, I made my way over to him and after I told him I liked his band

, we talked some Van Halen. He said he really loved VH and he and his band jam some old-school VH all the time! He said he met Eddie in '95 after a concert, but that he didn't know anything about the current hiatus. As his band took the stage, he said to stick around for the show. I did, and just before his final number, his guitarist jumps up on center stage and starts noodling around. Next thing I know, he starts playing the main riff from ATBL!!! Now, the paid attendance at this shindig was 106,000 today and the whole place, I mean the WHOLE place went freaking nuts!!! I could see directly out into the audience and everyone was jumping up and down screaming! The band only did the intro riff and Dave's "I've been to the edge..." part, but it was really cool...

It's amazing how much people DO still recognize and love Van Halen. It kinda makes me think that VH still does have a legacy to fulfill, whether it be with Sam, Dave or a 4th singer.

I gotta go wash the stench of country music off now.

[ July 21, 2002, 06:53 PM: Message edited by: WhoHalen ]

**Lead Synth** · 07.21.02, 06:44 PM

Awesome story!!

I wonder if they break out the VH on a regular basis, or it was just special for this show?

**WhoHalen** · 07.21.02, 06:50 PM

Good Question! I should have asked him, but he did say that they liked to jam some VH every now and then. I don't know whether that means on stage, or just noodlin' around though. It was still kinda neat to hear because a country music concert was the last place I would have expected to hear VH live.

[ July 21, 2002, 06:52 PM: Message edited by: WhoHalen ]

**Lem Motlow** · 07.21.02, 10:53 PM

Almost made it worthwhile, huh?

**Halenizer** · 07.22.02, 06:45 AM

Maybe Eddie will read this and get off his ass and get VH going again. There's a pot of gold out there for you, Eddie! Good story....country is cool now with all the new influences like Kenny Chesney, Brooks and Dunn,etc.

**swampash** · 07.22.02, 07:33 AM

Checkout a group called Boy Howdy, from about 15 yrs ago. Two brothers who were 'old hippie' guitar rippin mo fo's! Although they made their name with soppy country ballads, they did VH's version of "You Really Got Me" on their first album. It runs at ninety miles an hour complete with Eruption style fretboard tapping, monster speed riffing, all done with 'clean' Tele sounding guitars. Our band used to tour with them and witnessed them play this live every night, it was a huge crowd pleaser.

**JTCanavera** · 07.22.02, 04:36 PM

Got the opportunity to go to a backstage party after a Kenny Chesney show. Best of Vol. 1 was crankin' in the CD player. After that he put U2's Greatest Hits on.

**DiverDowninKY** · 07.22.02, 05:09 PM

I've never heard any of his songs...but I did happen to see as I was flipping channels that CMT(I think) is gonna air one of his concerts tonight.

Maybe he played it that night and they will air it. [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

[ July 22, 2002, 05:09 PM: Message edited by: DiverDowninKY ]

**Lites5150** · 07.22.02, 07:17 PM

OK I know, I;m out of the loop, but who the fuck is Kenny Chesney?

Is he the one with the orange hooded sweatshirt that gets killed in every episode of South Park?
[img]graemlins/bounce.gif[/img]

**mikeno55** · 07.23.02, 07:38 AM

Originally posted by Lites5150:
OK I know, I;m out of the loop, but who the fuck is Kenny Chesney?

Is he the one with the orange hooded sweatshirt that gets killed in every episode of South Park?
[img]graemlins/bounce.gif[/img]

No, man. Kenny was killed and was replaced by Tweak now!