Last week, when word surfaced that a David Lee Roth fronted Van Halen had played an intimate show at New York’s Cafe Wha? to kick off a reunion tour, it almost didn’t seem real to me. I mean, David Lee Roth strutting around a stage again after all these years? SAY WHAT?! Last I’d heard he was living on the Lower East Side and was working as a paramedic.
But then today the band released the video for “Tattoo” — the first single off of their new album, A Different Kind of Truth, which goes on sale next month — and it all suddenly seemed very real. There he is strutting around a stage again. Like a boss, no less. For the band — which now consists of Roth, guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen and bassist Wolfgang Van Halen (the son of Valerie Bertinelli and Eddie Van Halen) — it’s their first song with Roth in 27 years. There’s a good chance many of you reading this weren’t even born inside of that time span.
Watching this made me feel both young and old at the same time, if that makes any sense at all. Perhaps it will do likewise for you. Enjoy.
And FYI, here’s the full list of Van Halen 2012 Tour dates:
2/18/12 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center January 16
2/20/12 Detroit, MI The Palace of Auburn Hills January 14
2/22/12 Indianapolis, IN Bankers Life Fieldhouse January 14
2/24/12 Chicago, IL United Center January 14
2/28/12 New York, NY Madison Square Garden January 14
3/1/12 New York, NY Madison Square Garden January 14
3/3/12 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena January 14
3/5/12 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center January 14
3/9/12 Buffalo, NY First Niagara Center January 14
3/11/12 Boston, MA TD Garden January 14
3/15/12 Montreal, QC Bell Centre January 14
3/17/12 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre January 14
3/21/12 Ottawa, ON Scotiabank Place January 14
3/24/12 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall TBA
3/28/12 Washington, DC Verizon Center January 14
3/30/12 Pittsburgh, PA Consol Energy Center January 14
4/1/12 Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena January 14
4/10/12 Fort Lauderdale, FL BankAtlantic Center TBA
4/12/12 Tampa, FL St. Pete Times Forum TBA
4/14/12 Orlando, FL Amway Arena TBA
4/16/12 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Arena TBA
4/19/12 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena TBA
4/21/12 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum TBA
4/25/12 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena TBA
4/27/12 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena TBA
5/1/12 Tulsa, OK BOK Center TBA
5/5/12 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome TBA
5/7/12 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena TBA
5/9/12 Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome TBA
5/11/12 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place TBA
5/17/12 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre TBA
5/19/12 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center TBA
5/22/12 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center TBA
5/24/12 Denver, CO Pepsi Center TBA
5/27/12 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena TBA
6/1/12 Los Angeles, CA STAPLES Center TBA
6/3/12 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena TBA
6/5/12 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion TBA
6/12/12 Anaheim, CA Honda Center TBA
6/14/12 San Diego, CA Viejas Arena TBA
6/16/12 Phoenix, AZ US Airways Center TBA
6/20/12 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center TBA
6/22/12 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center TBA
6/24/12 Houston, TX Toyota Center TBA
6/26/12 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena TBA
