After a very successful and fun performance at Cafe Wha? in New York’s Greenwich Village to select press invites (I wasn’t invited! Boo!), Van Halen have announced an extensive US Tour behind their upcoming album “A Different Kind Of Truth.” The tour kicks off on February 19th in Louisville and will grind to a halt on June 26th in New Orleans. I honestly couldn’t be more pumped to see this tour and album become a reality. The band tested the waters a few years ago with a full on US tour which many people didn’t think would even happen. Once it did happen we all sat waiting for the ego machine to explode which never happened to everyone’s amazement.
Diamond Dave, Eddie and Alex have managed to make it through a full tour, a break and the recording process of a new album. I feel like we just may be seeing Van Halen the way we’ll see them for the next while. I’ll be honest and say that just like anyone else, I’d love nothing more to see the FULL family up there with Michael Anthony on bass. After seeing a few of the clips with Wolfie on bass, I have to say that the kid held his own and did an amazing job. I mean, his dad is Eddie Van Halen after all so I highly doubt he’d allow his kid to be a slouch in the band that bares their last name. Mike’s energy and presence will be sorely missed but what the hell? We still have Diamond Dave and Edward running the show so that right there more than justifies Mike’s absence.
I’m really psyched to see just how a new Van Halen album will sound in 2012. When I go back and listen to that classic Van Halen stuff, I feel like the “1984” album is what destroyed the band. I hope they will be going back to that more classic hard rock sound of stuff like “Women and Children First” and “Van Halen I & II.” Lose the keyboards and all that fluffy shit you were doing with Sammy Hagar and just rock the fuck out like you guys used to. I also hope that with this maybe Diamond Dave will experience a resurgence in his popularity and maybe hit us with a great solo album in the vain of “Skyscraper” or “A Little Aint Enough.” The sky is the limit for Van Halen and I just hope that they can keep it together, deliver the goods and once again show everyone just how it’s done.
Van Halen 2012 Tour Dates:
2/18 – Louisville KY – KFC Yum Center
2/20 – Auburn Hills MI – The Palace Of Auburn Hills
2/22 – Indianapolis IN – Banker’s Life Fieldhouse
2/24 – Chicago – United Center
2/28 – New York – Madison Square Garden
3/1 – New York – Madison Square Garden
3/3 – Uncasville CT – Mohegan Arena
3/5 – Philadelphia – Wells Fargo Center
3/9 – Buffalo NY – First Niagra Center
3/11 – Boston MA – TD Garden
3/15 – Montreal QC – Bell Centre
3/17 – Toronto ON – Air Canada Centre
3/21 – Ottawa, ON – Scotibank Place
3/24 – Atlantic City NJ – Boardwalk Hall
3/28 Washington DC – Verizon Center
3/30 – Pittsburgh PA – Consol Energy Center
4/1 – Rosemont IL – Allstate Arena
4/10 – Sunrise FL – BankAtlantic Center
4/12 Tampa FL – Tampa Bay Times Forum
4/14 – Orlando FL – Amway Center
4/16 – Jacksonville FL – Jacksonville Veterans Mem. Arena
4/19 – Atlanta GA – Philips Arena
4/21 – Greensboro NC – Greensboro Coliseum Complex
4/25 – Charlotte NC – Time Warner Cable Arena
4/27 – Nashville TN – Bridgestone Arena
5/1 – Tulsa OK – BOK Center
5/5 – Tacoma WA – Tacoma Dome
5/7 – Vancouver BC – Rogers Arena
5/9 – Calgary AB – Scotibank Saddledome
5/11 – Edmonton AB – Rexall Place
5/17 – Winnipeg MB – MTS Centre
5/19 – Saint Paul MN – Xcel Energy Center
5/22 – Kansas City MO – Sprint Center
5/24 – Denver CO – Pepsi Center
5/27 – Las Vegas NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena
6/1 – Los Angeles CA – Staples Center
6/3 – Oakland CA – Oracle Arena
6/5 – San Jose CA – HP Pavilion At San Jose
6/12 – Anaheim CA – Honda Center
6/14 – San Diego CA – Viejas Arena
6/16 – Phoenix AZ – US Airways Center
6/20 – Dallas TX – America Airlines Center
6/22- San Antonio TX – AT&T Center
6/24 – Houston TX – Toyota Center
6/26 – New Orleans LA – New Orleans Arena
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