A story from Sweden (van halen related)

**Lodewijk5150** · 12.20.06, 09:19 AM

Merry Christmas fellow vh-fans.

Since the first time I got my guitar actually not that long ago, september the 19th of 2005 on my birthday (18), i've been crazy in Van Halen. First time I went to realize this was when I two days later heard the solo in MJ's Beat It.

Well enough of this. After this I've been looking up all the irrelevant facs we all know about the band, conflics songs, solos, you name it

Every friday or saturday before going out my friends and I are singing loud to VH everything from Why Can't This Be Love to Dreams, to Ain't Talkin' Bout Love. I try hard to make them love the band as I do, and many of you reading this.

And to the relevant fact now. I've been updated from this forum, and my question to you guys is, if you think its worth for me to go all the way to the U.S from Sweden this summer and see the band, if they appear (with or without MA).

It will be a hell'o'wa trip and I'm going down alone (if none of my friends will follow) and see them and travel over the atlantic, just for one day to see them. _I'm NOT fanatic_ I'm just a great fan and I wonder how they are live, i'll never be able to see the great(est) rock 'n roll band live.

And at last, is there any recommendations you might give me If i'm going, where I will travel and so on. Because they'll never come to Europe for what it seems now

Happy Christmas! Rock hard!

**kowski** · 12.20.06, 09:40 AM

It's really up to you...it is worth your time and money to travel halfway across the world to see them? If you can afford the airfare and accomodations, and you want to go on a bit of an adventure, then go for it. And you're right, it doesn't seem like they are going to be playing in Europe any time soon.

**atomic_punk** · 12.20.06, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Lodewijk5150

It will be a hell'o'wa trip and I'm going down alone

I can join you..

**ED-A-HOLIC** · 12.20.06, 10:49 AM

I've done it a couple of times and it's defenetly worth it.
I live in Mexico City which helps, but I will do it again this summer.

I tell you You will have the time of your LIFE.

Start saving and try to go to the most shows you can.

**MF5150** · 12.20.06, 11:19 AM

With Mikey... YES!!! Without Mikey, well, I wouldn't spend a shit load of money on a plane ticket then spend a shitload of money for accomodations and a high priced concert ticket to see Ed, Al, Dave, and Wolfie: 3/4 of Van Halen.

**Lodewijk5150** · 12.20.06, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by atomic_punk

I can join you..

Wouldn't be too bad =)

**perticelli** · 12.20.06, 01:19 PM

its worth it if you are a guitar player and want to see the greatest in person. i would splurge for very close seats as well.

Try for NY or Philly or Jersey and those of us from those area's can help u out wirth details

**jgdrag** · 12.20.06, 05:18 PM

You only live once. Are you going to talk about how you could of see Van Halen or are you gotta talk about WHEN you went to see Van Halen to your buddies? If you have never seen VH live, well, that's a no brainer.

**vhrocker** · 12.21.06, 01:45 AM

DO IT !!!!!!

**uncle ted** · 12.22.06, 01:08 PM

hey,

i'm from brasil and i did that for the 2002 sam and dave tour... it was worth every single $$$ i spent.

back in 2004 i got married, we thought about having our honeymoon in the us to check the tour... it really didn't sound as exciting to wife as it sounded to me... so we headed to another direction.

now i have a little kid (3 months old), i'd really consider leaving him and the wife for a rock-n-roll weekend if vh can arrange the reunion. i know my wife will be a bit pissed off, but i think it's a lifetime oportunity. i'd rather see the 4 original members... but we, as vh fans, can't have it all.

my advice: GO!!!

**be_deviler** · 12.22.06, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by uncle ted

now i have a little kid (3 months old), i'd really consider leaving him and the wife for a rock-n-roll weekend...

At least you're only considering it after three months. Most of us old farts actually did leave them for that kind of weekend, and it didn't take *that* long!

**Rovus** · 12.22.06, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by Lodewijk5150

And to the relevant fact now. I've been updated from this forum, and my question to you guys is, if you think its worth for me to go all the way to the U.S from Sweden this summer and see the band, if they appear (with or without MA).

It will be a hell'o'wa trip and I'm going down alone (if none of my friends will follow) and see them and travel over the atlantic, just for one day to see them. _I'm NOT fanatic_ I'm just a great fan and I wonder how they are live, i'll never be able to see the great(est) rock 'n roll band live.

And at last, is there any recommendations you might give me If i'm going, where I will travel and so on. Because they'll never come to Europe for what it seems now

Hey mate, you know me. Firstly, I can give you some advice but in the end, it's up to you to make that decision.

I'm also looking to go and see the band over in the States - if a tour materialises - with or without Michael Anthony. At this stage, I'm NOT all that excited about going over but I've got nothing to lose. I've never seen the band live and would treat something like this as a pilgrimage. Naturally, I would prefer Mike there and still can't fathom having a 16 year old on-stage, no matter how good he's built up to be. Still, it's not enough to sway me away from not going. Just the mere fact that I've never seen the band live is enough to make me go. I never saw the band here in Australia in 1998 with Gary but I wasn't a fanatic at that time nor did I have any notion that they were out here touring. In 2002, I thought about seeing the Sam & Dave tour but couldn't get away cause I just started a new job. In 2004, I said to myself that I'm going over to see them and ended up buying a ticket for one of the Los Angeles shows. However, in the end, I decided to give it a miss. I had a plan to go and save considerable money by staying with family friends but it was not to be. If I went it would've set my finances back considerably. Now, I'm sort've regretting not going.

Remember, the likelihood that this band will continue on making music and touring seems, at this stage, very slim indeed. That's why I'm going this time irrespective of what happens and already have 2 other Aussie Linkers who are coming with me. I'm looking at Los Angeles because it's easier for me travel-wise. If you go there also, we'll catch up for a few beers.

**belikemike** · 12.24.06, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by Lodewijk5150

Merry Christmas fellow vh-fans.

And to the relevant fact now. I've been updated from this forum, and my question to you guys is, if you think its worth for me to go all the way to the U.S from Sweden this summer and see the band, if they appear (with or without MA).

It will be a hell'o'wa trip and I'm going down alone (if none of my friends will follow) and see them and travel over the atlantic, just for one day to see them. _I'm NOT fanatic_ I'm just a great fan and I wonder how they are live, i'll never be able to see the great(est) rock 'n roll band live.

And at last, is there any recommendations you might give me If i'm going, where I will travel and so on. Because they'll never come to Europe for what it seems now

Happy Christmas! Rock hard!

Hopefully a little advice that could help you out. First, pick a region where they have several shows close together on consecutive (or almost consecutive) nights. If you're gonna fly all the way over here, I'd recommend you catch more than one show for sure.
I'd look at somewhere on the east coast (NY, NJ, Philly) are close enough together to easily travel between by rental car, or train, or something like that.
For the 2004 tour, I hit San Jose, Sacramento, Oakland, and Fresno. Four shows in five days. It's very easy to get to those destinations if you fly into either Oakland or San Francisco. You could also hit something like Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
In a perfect world, if it were me, I'd wait to see some reviews of the shows before I made a commitment like that. Then buy tickets. But if tickets are really selling fast, you could always buy the tickets and then dump them on Stub Hub if reviews are bad, or you can't make it or whatever.
Hope this helps you some.

Merry Christmas!!!