6 Years Ago Tonight ...

**I Coulda Hada VH** · 10.04.21, 07:43 PM

Van Halen took the stage for the last time. I was not there, but I'm pretty sure Brett and Van Squalen were.

**mike zack** · 10.04.21, 08:21 PM

I wish I somehow knew that would be the last one. I would have made the trip for sure.

**JMJ** · 10.04.21, 08:44 PM

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**DJ Work'in Hard** · 10.04.21, 09:08 PM

**Van Squalen** · 10.04.21, 11:05 PM

Yeah, I've been thinkin' about this all day. I was there. 4th row pit. It's funny, the week after the show, Brett and I were jawin' about this last gig on these very forums, both of us musing aloud something felt a little final about it at the time. Obviously it wasn't about any pending health issues for anyone, it was more about how it appeared like it was the last Dave outing, in some way, to some degree. It was classically vague, of course, per Van Halen tradition. I even had an extra seat up front, offered to the webbie who was farther up in the stands, but he was with his wifey and didn't want to leave her high n' dry. But it was a solid gig. Dirty Movies live. Drop Dead Legs. Light up the Sky. Little Guitars. Even a wee little bit of Humans Being. My only lament was the dropping of Simple Rhyme in the set, though I'd seen live front row in San Bernardino earlier on the tour. After 30 years of Van Halen'ing, after 3 prior near misses at tossed guitar picks straight from Eddie himself, I finally managed to get one from him in a mad scramble in the pit, my hand first, at last, closing in on the long sought keepsake. I've posted these before, more than once, but seeing as how Dave's news hit this week, plus the anniversary tonight, plus the other dreaded one on Wednesday...I'll sling a few up again.

I mused on it at the time, it even came up in my facebook memory feed today when I posted live in 2015 from the Bowl, how I was wondering right then and there if it was The Last Van Halen Show, and now of course we all know it was. Weird. Things trail and flow forward and backward sometimes, in this strange river of life. Anyway...sure do miss ya, Eddie.

**Van Squalen** · 10.04.21, 11:26 PM

**Raldo** · 10.05.21, 02:32 AM

Great pics!!

**rvk5150** · 10.05.21, 02:40 AM

After dinner and getting some things done around the house I sat down in the living room; fired up the screen; and put this on. Minutes later my wife and daughter came in and sat with me....just in silence enjoying the show; what a great gig.

**jetm** · 10.05.21, 05:17 AM

Amazing pictures! Thanks for sharing them.

**Edword** · 10.05.21, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by Van Squalen

Yeah, I've been thinkin' about this all day. I was there. 4th row pit. It's funny, the week after the show, Brett and I were jawin' about this last gig on these very forums, both of us musing aloud something felt a little final about it at the time. Obviously it wasn't about any pending health issues for anyone, it was more about how it appeared like it was the last Dave outing, in some way, to some degree. It was classically vague, of course, per Van Halen tradition. I even had an extra seat up front, offered to the webbie who was farther up in the stands, but he was with his wifey and didn't want to leave her high n' dry. But it was a solid gig. Dirty Movies live. Drop Dead Legs. Light up the Sky. Little Guitars. Even a wee little bit of Humans Being. My only lament was the dropping of Simple Rhyme in the set, though I'd seen live front row in San Bernardino earlier on the tour. After 30 years of Van Halen'ing, after 3 prior near misses at tossed guitar picks straight from Eddie himself, I finally managed to get one from him in a mad scramble in the pit, my hand first, at last, closing in on the long sought keepsake. I've posted these before, more than once, but seeing as how Dave's news hit this week, plus the anniversary tonight, plus the other dreaded one on Wednesday...I'll sling a few up again.

I mused on it at the time, it even came up in my facebook memory feed today when I posted live in 2015 from the Bowl, how I was wondering right then and there if it was The Last Van Halen Show, and now of course we all know it was. Weird. Things trail and flow forward and backward sometimes, in this strange river of life. Anyway...sure do miss ya, Eddie.

It's funny you say that. I had the same feeling. I just knew. There was just a feeling, a tremor in the Force, if you will. I wasn't even supposed to go to the show. I had decided against it for the first time ever. I figured it would be the same show as last time, and with ticket prices what they were, I'd pass this time. But, very unexpectedly I was surprised with tickets to the show, and SMACK in front of Edward. He was 8 feet from us and I spent all night smiling back at him. Valerie was about a dozen seats away. Ed acknowledged me/us a few times. It was like being in the living room with him just playing. He even did an Eddie jump right in front of us. The only one he did that night, and I think one of only a handful on the tour. The guy was 60. I was amazed, and he got AIR. I found one crappy shot of it online, but it's clear he's up there. Still had some gas in the tank. It was a wonderful goodbye. I remember watching them walk off stage. Ed waived at me and winked. I watched him mill around off to the side of the stage for a minute talking to (I think Matt Bruck) and then disappear out of sight. I took a minute to take it all in. The feel, the sights and sounds. My sister said, "Let's go". But, I said to hold on, that we weren't going to get to do this again. I had a pronounced feeling of sadness. I really did know there wouldn't be a next time, whatever the reason. In my bones, I felt it. When something means so much to you, when someone has been such a profound and inextricable part of your life, you really do unconsciously key into things, vibes. And, that night I knew I was seeing Van Halen's last lap. I just thank the fates that delivered me to seat at Ed's feet for my last time.

**MF5150** · 10.05.21, 06:47 AM

Very weird. Similar experience for the Toronto show regarding unexpected tickets.

cabo_brent and I found ourselves a week before the show without tickets. We did the same in 2012 and we scored 2nd row in front of Ed days before the show.

So a week before the 2015 show, he posted on Twitter as a joke, with #VanHalen, if anybody was selling tickets to please contact him.

And some random guy messaged him saying he had two front row seats he couldn’t use and he was willing to offload em quickly for cheap.

$250 per ticket later and we were right in front of Eddie on Aug 7, 2015.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Edword** · 10.05.21, 06:54 AM

I was 8/9/15.

**MF5150** · 10.05.21, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by Edword

I was 8/9/15.

Didn’t you see the last show?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Jedi McFly** · 10.05.21, 07:09 AM

My last show was just a few weeks before this, September 15th. I had a feeling this would be the last ride, so my wife splurged on a front row seat for me. Just like the other lucky folks here, I ended up directly in front of Ed. And I scored the only pick he threw out all night.