If you didn't live through it, you missed out. This is what rock in the 80's looked and sounded like. VH was the king of the hill in their day. There was no one quite like them. This is one of those moments when the band is on fire and all of them are living inside the timing and rhythm of the song. It's hard to beat. Long live the mighty VH.
That is why Eddie was so pissed at Sammy Hagar. He felt that Sammy "stole" Michael from him. His bass playing was okay, but his backing vocals, harmonizing with Eddie, was a constant In all forms of Van Halen, until he wasn't there. A signature of VH's sound throughout.
This particular Van Halen show still resonates with the fans and arguably one of their best shows ever performed… They filmed 3 songs, “hear about it later “, “So this is love, and “unchained”. If I had a time machine, this is where I would teleport myself.
Oh, yes!!!! MTV was the 1st time I saw VH in concert and was Blown away at 16 ... was a fan since rwd at 13. Awesome!!!! Saw them twice in ‘82 and in ‘84 w/Roth and again in ‘13 in New Orleans. The Greatest of All Time!!!!!!
Great comment, but one thing I have to take an exception to is the "one of their best shows ever" There is NO Doubt this video is one of the best live videos EVER, but as far as it being "ONE of their B 9:03 est EVER".... you can't tell that, unless you're a Van Halen "Deadhead", I'm sure the MAJORITY of VH's shows just from 1978 to even 1984 were fantastic. I Unfortunately didn't get to see them with Roth, I missed out on the 1984 tour(stupid reasons why), my brother got to see them on this(Fair Warning) tour, (still has the T-shirt, never been worn) Anyway from what I can gather and what I've read, this time MIGHT be the bands Uhhh..... we'll say "Exuberance Peak", didn't want to sound to Corny by saying ENERGY Peak, any way from what I've read, and gathered, they hadn't "fallen off" at this point meaning the drugs & booze interfering with them being in Top Gear performance wise, the band were relatively still "Good Friends"??? even though Eddie was supposedly wanting to join KISS not too long before this Period, and seemingly not liking this album too much (he loved Unchained, one of his favorite hooks) because it was "Too Dark" (it's MY favorite VH album, 2nd album I ever bought) and the album at the time of release was not selling well, in fact they had to give some "Payola" to get more rotation time on the radio and "Push" so as to hopefully get more sales, hard to believe that now, But..... Besides ALL OF THAT.... their years from at least 78' to 83' to me seemed to be the their peak performance era where you would be hard pressed to see Van Halen LIVE and not walk away thinking you just saw the Greatest Rock n Roll Performance in Your LIFE.... In their manager Noel Monk's book he started the book by noting the date 1982, and explaining how and why that time was most likely the Peak for the band, as far as Performance, band attitudes, "EXHUBERANCE", etc. after that, it all really started going downhill, and to the bands credit, they left all of that garbage off stage for the most part and still played the majority of their 1984 shows to their Peak. Luckily, they STILL enjoyed turning it out on stage.
@@mikeystarr775 yes Mikey!! You picked about one of the only ones, I was racking my brain trying to think. Joe Elliot is indeed badass live and he’s a much better singer than diamond Dave, to b fair......(Didn’t dress or joke like Dave but that’s OK)
David Lee Roth had an extensive martial arts background when he was younger. He could do those moves like they were second nature to him. It made him quite a showman when he incorporated those moves into the concert.
@@tyronethornton7322 Also a lifelong study of Kenjutsu and Kenpo (iirc). Seems to have granted him a level of focus and in-the-moment stream-of-consciousness type way of being that made him a very entertaining and deeply philosophical artist. May not have had the vocal range anywhere near the best, but goddamn if he wasn't the most entertaining Frontman out of anyone in the 70s and 80s
This is from a show that VH was headlining in 1981. Lynyrd Skynyrd lost three members in a plane crash four years prior. Both bands played many festivals, but never together. Love the show, brother!!!
That’s not testosterone, my friend. That’s pure joy! One of their best songs ever in a never ending list of hits! Those are all women up front going crazy.
As an old dude who was at these concerts, I get so much happiness seeing your reaction and the smiles!! Thank you!!! Shows have never been like this since then. What a wonderful time in the world!!!!!
Van Halen’s golden years were 1978 - 1984 when they truly were rock gods and no one and I mean no one could touch them or even come close in terms of their charisma, energy and musicality. There was some kind of alchemical magic in the combination of David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen on the stage at the same time. There are very few bands/ musical duos that have that kind of synergy, John Lennon and Paul McCartney in the Beatles, Morrissey and Johnny Marr in The Smiths and EVH and DLR and that’s about it, I think.
The mighty Van Halen's prominence began at around the time when the mighty Led Zeppelin's prominence was beginning to fade. Same with Aerosmith and Ted Nugent. And the height of both Deep Purple and Black Sabbath's popularity had faded years earlier. Van Halen's rise to prominence in 1978 was also before bands from Europe began to take root here in America -- namely the Scorpions, Judas Priest, AC/DC and Iron Maiden. And 80's Hair Metal bands Motely, RATT and Dokken (and the like) were still years away from mainstream popularity. Van Halen really had no competition in 1978. They quickly became rock music's Gold Standard. The only rock band who was close to Van Halen's greatness in 1978 and 1979 was UFO. (but they would also soon be on the decline)
The absolute BEST rock band that will ever exist. And the all time greatest legendary mind blowing music changing playing of Eddie. No one can or will ever do this again.
4 Icons in this one.. drummer, guitar, bass, and of course vocals..All were showmen and absolute "kings" in the late 70s early 80s. I bet you hear snippets of their music everywhere. Try their earlier stuff from their first album.. self titled. Much Love and Thanks for your work!
No Jamal Van Halen were headling in 81 - I saw their 1st headling tour in the music hall in Houston Texas in 1979- 6000 seats..they blew the roof off the place!..great reaction again sir!!!
I just watched someone else react to the very same video..... all I wanna say is....Jamel.... thank you for respecting the music we grew up with, you get it....it was the 80’s and it’s a live Van Halen concert....you’re awesome man!!
Back when I was still in high school, they had their first annual lip sync contest, and I decided to enter, even though I was the shy, outcast dude, and I did "Jump," by Van Halen, and when I got there, the gymnasium was packed. I got up on the drum riser and did the leg split jump that David Lee Roth does, and the crowd went nuts!! This was back in 1984, so I was a lot younger and more limber, so it was easy for me to do jumps like those. That is a good memory though.
This was a three night in a row-sold out concerts. Just Van Halen. They filmed the first two nights and the camera crew had difficulty’s . They got it on the 3rd and finale night. 3 songs were recorded., so this is love, hear bout it later, and unchained. All are awesome!
I love how he's doing and says "damn" and his smile turns quickly to what in the world is going on right here right now? That fire gong blew his mind and he stares into the camera as to say"are you kidding me" I'm still saying that. I get goose bumps Everytime I watch this performance. It will never get old van Halen is the best ever The End
One other thing too is that Dave and the guys ran around all night like this singing, kicking, yelling, at the top of their lungs! You have to be in a shape to pull it off! I have a tremendous appreciation for their contribution to the music landscape
How old we are: My brother and I listened to the album several times before we ever saw them perform, even on TV. This was only on the rock radio stations, and not mainstream on TV. Late 70s.
I love the kid, but you are so right. I was surprised how well wolf covered these past years, but MA was the harmony. F that up and nobody cares about it. Nail it and you got a rock band. 😉
David Lee Roth has extensive martial arts training. His voice is gone now, but he's still in great health and shape. I believe he also does some martial arts training now.
fredfukkinbear kikkinnigass yep, he lives a pretty sweet life and loves japan. He taught me how famous our moon is. I love Ed so much. I saw them 2016 and it just killed me when Dave said (to the greatest guitarist and noisemaker ever) “Hey Ed, were in Kansas, make an ATV sound, yeah!” Ed nailed it.
While old school, when VH appeared it was radical when compared to soft rock and AOR that dominated stadiums and radio stations around 1978. Short in your face songs, the minimal line up of trio + a singer. They pretty much opened the door for 80's hair metal.
This was Van Halen at their best. David Lee Roth-one of the premiere frontmen in Rock Eddie Van Halen-played like it was his birthright Alex Van Halen-one of the hardest hitting druumers Michael Anthony-Attacked the bass strings and still got a great sound. Van Halen's performance in Oakland was a Van Halen concert in 1981 while Lynyrd Skynyrd's performance was at a festival in Oakland in 1977, months before the plane crash.
I was at this Van Halen concert in 81. This concert was at the what was called “Oakland Colosseum” the indoor venue... Van Halen had no opening act that night, it was just 2+ hours of pure Van Halen.... One of the best concerts ever, totally ELECTRIC ⚡️ ⚡️⚡️... The Lynyrd Skynyrd concert was July 4th of 77, at a Day on the Green, which was at the outdoor Oakland Coliseum. Lynyrd Skynyrd, Santana, Peter Frampton, and The Outlaws played this Day on the Green... 👍😱
this was when Van Halen RULED.... 'Fair Warning' is my favorite album of theirs, it was the one that the silent tween girl with the crazy eyes i was sang silently just moving my lips, to keep everyone away... that and 'The Wall'. *pleeeeeaaasssse more Pink Floyd* ?!
Fair Warning was the "Guitar Album" Ed wrote it "After Hours" when the band went home! There was alot of Anger and......well......a certain White Powder that fueled the late night sessions! Fair Warning had the Fewest Albums sold and it's right up there with 1984 and the Debut Album Eddie,Alex,Dave,and Mike were THE BEST!
Gina Whoever you know it! Saw them in 16, they brought the gong but never lit it or hit it. I’d love to see a VH family tour of small venues and large bars.
"Free Bird" in Oakland was in '77 so it was about 4 years prior to this show by VH. Also, this was an indoor arena show vs. the outdoor daytime stadium show Skynyrd played at. Excellent question and keep up the great work man. Peace!
Lynyrd Skynyrd was before, when Halen did this they were a global superpower and they were headliners of their own tours, only their tours, Van Halen rarely shared the stage, they were too big.
True. I saw VH for the 1984 tour. The "warm up band" wasn't even on the main stage. They were setup on the floor of the LA (Inglewood) Forum. Right in the middle of their set the guitar handler kicks on VH's amps and starts tuning Eddie's guitars at a volume way louder than the poor band's setup. Aside from the really shitty handicapped seating arrangements, it was a pretty awesome show. Eddie did his main solo and another cool one on his little guitar when they played "Little Guitars."
THE MIGHTY VAN HALEN............I was at this concert in OAKTOWN 1981!!!!! A different time. A wild place...Long gone..........If you were not alive during this time you really don't have any idea of how big VH and the Bay Area was..............
I find myself not even trying to describe the era anymore, There is no words or comparisons that will help people understand what the f I’m talking about lol Crazy times, fun and a little scary !
I saw them on that tour in Sheffield England, we had no idea who they were, we went to see Sabbath and left the concert instant converts. Amazing. They blew the electrical panel in the concert hall, great band to see.
@@Fred4662 wow! You witnessed something that even rock stars talk about! Brian may said he went to see his friend tony and got there early and saw Van Halen! He said it was like seeing Hendrix for the first time! He was completely blown away by Edward.
The thing I always loved about the band is that they looked like they were having fun. All the metal/hard rock bands up to that point always looked so serious. Van Halen was the party, and they knew it!
If you or anyone is wondering why the footage doesn't align with the audio or why Edward is playing the black and white guitar one moment and then the next he's using his signature Frankie red and white guitar is because the audio is from the 3rd night in Oakland while the video footage is from all three sold out nights. They edited the footage together. Yes my man, they was having fun on stage. They was the ultimate party band. Dave smoked the joints the fans threw on stage and drank Jack Daniels straight from the bottle while one the best Colombian coke money could buy. His voice suffered from it no doubt. He was faaar from perfect live but IMO he's the greatest frontman of all time. He never considered himself a singer, he said he was an entertainer, and entertain he did! Thank you for your reactions to The Mighty Van Halen. Cheers, brother!
Every band section is doing something weird and funky. Alex's timing is strange, Mikey's playing a strange line, and Eddie's chords are strange as hell...but everything matches up together, and it all synchs up with the vocal lines before diverging again into the regular timing, bass notes, and chords with "size five dress". Rick Beato, I think, did a video on this song, breaking down the parts and showing us what makes Unchained such an ear-teasing tune.
@@bayareathrasher666 yep I always thought this was shot in Baltimore Civic Center 1982.......I'm sure the year is right....but the venue is probably wrong, maybe it was Oakland I know that this was one of the first MTV videos I ever saw when MTV was still in its' infancy. I was a little 6 year old kid at the time...but hell, I was even doing those DLR moves in the mirror....my Mom thought i was silly
@@furnitureconsortium It was Oakland. There's another song (maybe Ain't Talkin' Bout Love") where Dave mentions he's wearing his "new Oakland scarf", given to him by a fan at some point earlier in the show.
The Lynyrd Skynyrd show was a Day on the Green 1977 in the baseball stadium. LS was not the headliner, Peter Frampton was. Skynyrd stole the show that day, IMO. The lineup, in order of appearance was: The Outlaws, Santana, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Peter Frampton. This mighty Van Halen concert was across the parking lot in the indoor arena.
Just want to say that your videos are the best! You are such a huge fan of music and love your reactions to great songs. Very positive and uplifting and always puts me in a good mood! Keep doing what you’re doing exactly the way you do it and one day you’ll be at 1 million subscribers, I’m sure of it! Thanks for the awesome videos!
This is my favorite VH album also. If you like this then you gotta try Mean Street!! Really you can’t go wrong with anything from this album. But Mean Street kicks off this album and never looks back from there.
Awesome Van Halen song you selected! They used to play that video on cable channel VH1 Classic Rock three times a day back in the late 90's. I enjoyed it every time back in the day when it came on, when I was a teen planted in front of the TV sometimes all day constantly looking for old and new music to learn and enjoyed.
Dave was, at best, the second-best singer on stage here (Mike Anthony is a terrific singer), but there's no doubt Dave is the best showman who has ever been a member of Van Halen.
Sylvius the Mad Don’t take your Dave hate and what MA’s background vocals add to VH get in the way of common sense. MAs voice is good for what it does. Have you ever heard him sing lead? It’s not so great.
It was physically impossible for Dave to do the vocals....Dave was never a great singer but He was a showman/cheerleader/ and the Master of Ceremonies all wrapped into one guy jumping off the Drum Riser and doing Karate Demonstrations... Good God Van Halen was the BEST!!!!! =VH=
@@heikkidtw5992 Did Autograph get booed off stage there, like they did in Ohio ? Damn...I like Autograph, but that rabid crowd wanted The Mighty Van Halen and Nothing else. Threw bottles and all kinds of shit at Autograph.
Same here. Kemper Arena Kansas City. It wasn't Autograph some band I think something "animals". They only got through 2.5 songs. Lead singer yelled "f you Kansas City" and the crowd erupted in applause. I was 9th row second show on Ed's side. I had no idea what I was about to witness.
@@shaunclifton5281 Ha! I was there too. Can't remember if it was Cincinnati or Dayton. The drummer from Autograph was hanging out near us in the crowd hitting on girls after they got booed from the stage and was just getting heckled mercilessly. I also recall not being able to hear VH for most of the set because the crowd was screaming so loudly. Some time later I heard Autograph on the radio and it took me a while to remember were I heard the name before.
The show was at the Oakland coliseum where as the Lynyrd Skynyrd show was a "Day on the Green" show which is next door at the Oakland stadium where the Oakland Raiders play. I live in the area and drive past there all the time. @5:48
@@alanthorne3921 Eddie did come in a little early but didn't miss a beat getting back in. Makes me feel better about my flubs knowing Eddie occasionally had them
This concert was part of a three-night stand for Van Halen in the Oakland-Alamda County Coliseum (or whatever it is called these days...the one next to the ballpark). So this was likely a concert consisting of Van Halen with an opening act. Three nights in a row. I saw these guys on the "1980 World Invasion Tour". I'm so glad I saw them when I did. Hell, I was only 16. If I had seen them a couple of years later, I'd have been too messed up to remember it! :P I had the t-shirt from that show for AGES before it finally got too threadbare to wear. I think it might even be back in the closet still.
Now that's a cymbal!! I saw ZZTop a few years ago, and they were getting pretty old. I mean Billy Gibbons was a roadie for Jimi Hendrix. But they had those moving belts on the stage like you see in airports. Made for some really entertaining movement when they would walk on them, in either direction. Walking with it they'd fly across the stage, walking against it and they looked like they were doing the greatest moonwalk ever! And Extreme opened up for them. You've got to have some guts to have Extreme open for you, have to be confident in your skills. Cause Extreme has at least a couple of virtuosos. Nuno Bettencourt and Gary Cherone.
At Texas Jam 1 in 1978 they opened the all day concert in August in 105 degree heat & over 100,000 people. No one knew who they were. But everyone did after their set. It was nuts. I was 18 and it was the biggest show with the most iconic bands there. Aerosmith, Heart, Ted Nugent, Eddie Money, Frank Marino, and so many more. There were hundreds carried off on stretchers from heat exhaustion. They used fire hoses but it only did the first 100 ft of people any good. Me & 2 buddies showed up in cut off jeans. That was it. And during the show the crowd was a show. Awesome day I’ll never forget. You need to play some Ted Nugent from the 70’s 80’s. He’s still going strong at 71 yrs old now.
I hope some fellas in here will back me up when I request a very underrated band called XYZ who's dirty guitar player has the most insane guitar tone I think I've ever heard, I hope som Van Halen fans know what I'm talking about. So dirty yet so clean. The song "Face down in the gutter" is so god damn catchy and that riff is so raw you'll want to bite the head off an innocent rabbit so I hope you'll listen to that song. Trust me, a random comment amongst other comments.
You've talked about working sports games before. This song may have been one of those that got blurbs of it played over loudspeaker when a team scored points or a turnover.
You got a great live performance. Usually David isn't as coherent i.e. he's usually drunk. I agree with Nineteesswirl in that Michael and Alex are hugely underrated. I think Alex is one of the best drummers around.
Ratpack Rebel Sammy joining created a new band. Sammy and the label wanted it to be Van Hagar. Eddie said no. Van Halen will always be Roth Incarnation.
Sam was great before Van Halen, with Van Halen, and still is AFTER Van Halen. They really needed him, simply because Dave was a hard act to follow. There wasn't a better choice at the time and it's all thanks to Claudio Zampolli
bt nonsense I’m not speaking for him....but for myself, Dave didn’t evolve into something that would have made the 2007 tour better. Sammy needed to be on this tour. Saying this- no one could have been in early VH but DLR.
If you didn't live through it, you missed out. This is what rock in the 80's looked and sounded like. VH was the king of the hill in their day. There was no one quite like them. This is one of those moments when the band is on fire and all of them are living inside the timing and rhythm of the song. It's hard to beat. Long live the mighty VH.
Facts. I never understood why people always tried to compare VH to AC/DC back then. Two different sports!
Michael Anthony on bass and harmony vocals... Absolute rock legend.
Absolutely!
Those "tea-kettle" harmonies are legendary!
And, a class act! 🌟
@@k_spats Definitely. Michael's been treated unfairly in the past, IMO, but it didn't make him bitter. Always takes the high road.
That is why Eddie was so pissed at Sammy Hagar. He felt that Sammy "stole" Michael from him. His bass playing was okay, but his backing vocals, harmonizing with Eddie, was a constant In all forms of Van Halen, until he wasn't there. A signature of VH's sound throughout.
David Lee Roth - one of the best rock frontmen ever for sure!
For my money Dave and Freddie Mercury were in a class alone
I heard Chuck Norris went to David Lee Roth for Karate lessons
True, but nowadays not so much
THE ultimate frontman of all time!!! Every stage was his bitch =D
What about axl rose
This particular Van Halen show still resonates with the fans and arguably one of their best shows ever performed… They filmed 3 songs, “hear about it later “, “So this is love, and “unchained”.
If I had a time machine, this is where I would teleport myself.
Oh, yes!!!! MTV was the 1st time I saw VH in concert and was Blown away at 16 ... was a fan since rwd at 13. Awesome!!!! Saw them twice in ‘82 and in ‘84 w/Roth and again in ‘13 in New Orleans. The Greatest of All Time!!!!!!
Great comment, but one thing I have to take an exception to is the "one of their best shows ever" There is NO Doubt this video is one of the best live videos EVER, but as far as it being "ONE of their B 9:03 est EVER".... you can't tell that, unless you're a Van Halen "Deadhead", I'm sure the MAJORITY of VH's shows just from 1978 to even 1984 were fantastic. I Unfortunately didn't get to see them with Roth, I missed out on the 1984 tour(stupid reasons why), my brother got to see them on this(Fair Warning) tour, (still has the T-shirt, never been worn) Anyway from what I can gather and what I've read, this time MIGHT be the bands Uhhh..... we'll say "Exuberance Peak", didn't want to sound to Corny by saying ENERGY Peak, any way from what I've read, and gathered, they hadn't "fallen off" at this point meaning the drugs & booze interfering with them being in Top Gear performance wise, the band were relatively still "Good Friends"??? even though Eddie was supposedly wanting to join KISS not too long before this Period, and seemingly not liking this album too much (he loved Unchained, one of his favorite hooks) because it was "Too Dark" (it's MY favorite VH album, 2nd album I ever bought) and the album at the time of release was not selling well, in fact they had to give some "Payola" to get more rotation time on the radio and "Push" so as to hopefully get more sales, hard to believe that now, But..... Besides ALL OF THAT.... their years from at least 78' to 83' to me seemed to be the their peak performance era where you would be hard pressed to see Van Halen LIVE and not walk away thinking you just saw the Greatest Rock n Roll Performance in Your LIFE.... In their manager Noel Monk's book he started the book by noting the date 1982, and explaining how and why that time was most likely the Peak for the band, as far as Performance, band attitudes, "EXHUBERANCE", etc. after that, it all really started going downhill, and to the bands credit, they left all of that garbage off stage for the most part and still played the majority of their 1984 shows to their Peak. Luckily, they STILL enjoyed turning it out on stage.
Funny thing about the signature move no other Rockers had Dave's athleticism and most looked foolish trying copying him .
And they ALL tried to copy him. Bret Michaels, Joe Elliot, Vince Neil (maybe), and etc.
@@mojodojo5533 Amen !
Young Diamond Dave was Untouchable.
Joe Elliot was cool doing it
@@mikeystarr775 yes Mikey!! You picked about one of the only ones, I was racking my brain trying to think. Joe Elliot is indeed badass live and he’s a much better singer than diamond Dave, to b fair......(Didn’t dress or joke like Dave but that’s OK)
There's really only one word necessary to describe the Mighty VH on this tour: UNTOUCHABLE!!!
👏👌💪✌👏
David Lee Roth had an extensive martial arts background when he was younger. He could do those moves like they were second nature to him. It made him quite a showman when he incorporated those moves into the concert.
@@tyronethornton7322 Also a lifelong study of Kenjutsu and Kenpo (iirc). Seems to have granted him a level of focus and in-the-moment stream-of-consciousness type way of being that made him a very entertaining and deeply philosophical artist. May not have had the vocal range anywhere near the best, but goddamn if he wasn't the most entertaining Frontman out of anyone in the 70s and 80s
2nd dan in karate isn't that extensive. Everybody at least gets to 2nd dan. 3rd or 4th is impressive tho but he never got that far.
This is from a show that VH was headlining in 1981. Lynyrd Skynyrd lost three members in a plane crash four years prior. Both bands played many festivals, but never together. Love the show, brother!!!
I think it was a 3 night gig...maybe 2? I know it wasnt just one show then moved on.
So much testosterone at this concert. It’s flying all over the place.
You sure that's testosterone? 🤣🤣🤣 Sure it's not something else? A pearly, translucent moisture perhaps? 🤣🤣🤣
That’s not testosterone, my friend. That’s pure joy! One of their best songs ever in a never ending list of hits! Those are all women up front going crazy.
As an old dude who was at these concerts, I get so much happiness seeing your reaction and the smiles!! Thank you!!! Shows have never been like this since then. What a wonderful time in the world!!!!!
Concerts were massive back in the day. This was just a Van Halen show in the 80's … Lol...
DLR was once asked what belt he was. He said I have a black belt in rock n roll!
Those first six albums were some of the best rock albums you'll find from ANY decade. Awesome!
'DIAMOND DAVE'
Wrestlers dressed like that AFTER David Lee Roth.
👍🏾
@@jamelakajamal Dave stole his style from a guy named Jim Dandy from Black Oak Arkansas, you should check them out too. Hot and Nasty, Jim Dandy etc.
I know Black Oak.
Idk if I ever saw them.
@@Chevymetal69z28 facts Jim Dandy was the OG
so true
the sound on Ed's guitar back in "81 was unmatched. Nobody was even close.
Van Halen’s golden years were 1978 - 1984 when they truly were rock gods and no one and I mean no one could touch them or even come close in terms of their charisma, energy and musicality. There was some kind of alchemical magic in the combination of David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen on the stage at the same time. There are very few bands/ musical duos that have that kind of synergy, John Lennon and Paul McCartney in the Beatles, Morrissey and Johnny Marr in The Smiths and EVH and DLR and that’s about it, I think.
Me wise magic
The mighty Van Halen's prominence began at around the time when the mighty Led Zeppelin's prominence was beginning to fade. Same with Aerosmith and Ted Nugent. And the height of both Deep Purple and Black Sabbath's popularity had faded years earlier. Van Halen's rise to prominence in 1978 was also before bands from Europe began to take root here in America -- namely the Scorpions, Judas Priest, AC/DC and Iron Maiden. And 80's Hair Metal bands Motely, RATT and Dokken (and the like) were still years away from mainstream popularity. Van Halen really had no competition in 1978. They quickly became rock music's Gold Standard. The only rock band who was close to Van Halen's greatness in 1978 and 1979 was UFO. (but they would also soon be on the decline)
Love how you're smiling, Jamel! That's what Van Halen was all about in their prime - nothing but smiles all the time!
I wish I could have been old enough to attend one of those old school Van Halen concerts. 🤘🏻🤘🏻
The absolute BEST rock band that will ever exist. And the all time greatest legendary mind blowing music changing playing of Eddie. No one can or will ever do this again.
4 Icons in this one.. drummer, guitar, bass, and of course vocals..All were showmen and absolute "kings" in the late 70s early 80s. I bet you hear snippets of their music everywhere. Try their earlier stuff from their first album.. self titled. Much Love and Thanks for your work!
YES THE MIGHTY VAN HALEN
Mighty, Immortal VAN HALEN 🤘
Damn right fellas
I saw them in Memphis in 1981 and I was 15. It was my first concert and Van Halen was the only act and played over 2 hours. An amazing show.
this was their show, no other bands except one opening act. their stage set up at the time was the biggest production in rock
Bro, the opening riff with all that tasty flange on Eddie's guitar still gives me goosebumps. 💯
What is interesting too, is that flanger seems to toggle in and out through the whole song. Very tasty textures.... (ON the album version)
Alex’s snare drum 🥁 is just colossal. What absolute power and control in those four! R. I. P. Eddie
No Jamal Van Halen were headling in 81 - I saw their 1st headling tour in the music hall in Houston Texas in 1979- 6000 seats..they blew the roof off the place!..great reaction again sir!!!
RIP to Eddie! One of the Best on guitar!
Yesss!! One of my favorite old rock bands as I grew up with them, not to mention one of my favorite songs!
I just watched someone else react to the very same video..... all I wanna say is....Jamel.... thank you for respecting the music we grew up with, you get it....it was the 80’s and it’s a live Van Halen concert....you’re awesome man!!
Back when I was still in high school, they had their first annual lip sync contest, and I decided to enter, even though I was the shy, outcast dude, and I did "Jump," by Van Halen, and when I got there, the gymnasium was packed. I got up on the drum riser and did the leg split jump that David Lee Roth does, and the crowd went nuts!! This was back in 1984, so I was a lot younger and more limber, so it was easy for me to do jumps like those. That is a good memory though.
This was a three night in a row-sold out concerts. Just Van Halen. They filmed the first two nights and the camera crew had difficulty’s . They got it on the 3rd and finale night. 3 songs were recorded., so this is love, hear bout it later, and unchained. All are awesome!
ROTH is 1 of the *BEST* front man of all time.
yes but not singer
Not better than Freddie Mercury
@@michaelscott4639 do Dave's better
@@laineridley2143 Freddie was a better musician. Dave sometimes lost musicality in pursuit of showmanship.
@@michaelscott4639 Different for sure Freddy was a singer beyond all
The first frontman so acrobatic and athletic. A real lion of the show.
I love how he's doing and says "damn" and his smile turns quickly to what in the world is going on right here right now? That fire gong blew his mind and he stares into the camera as to say"are you kidding me"
I'm still saying that. I get goose bumps Everytime I watch this performance. It will never get old van Halen is the best ever The End
“Blue eyed murder in a size five dress”
Only Dave can come up with that!!
@@bobreich3534 True. Dave's lyrics are clever as fuck!
One other thing too is that Dave and the guys ran around all night like this singing, kicking, yelling, at the top of their lungs! You have to be in a shape to pull it off! I have a tremendous appreciation for their contribution to the music landscape
How old we are: My brother and I listened to the album several times before we ever saw them perform, even on TV. This was only on the rock radio stations, and not mainstream on TV. Late 70s.
Can’t beat those harmonies with Michael Anthony singing the highs. Sorry Wolf. And can’t beat the Diamond Dave VH day’s.
I love the kid, but you are so right. I was surprised how well wolf covered these past years, but MA was the harmony. F that up and nobody cares about it. Nail it and you got a rock band. 😉
David Lee Roth has extensive martial arts training. His voice is gone now, but he's still in great health and shape. I believe he also does some martial arts training now.
fredfukkinbear kikkinnigass yep, he lives a pretty sweet life and loves japan. He taught me how famous our moon is.
I love Ed so much. I saw them 2016 and it just killed me when Dave said (to the greatest guitarist and noisemaker ever) “Hey Ed, were in Kansas, make an ATV sound, yeah!” Ed nailed it.
1981 Van Halen were the Undisputed Kings of the Rock Arena circuit!!!!!!
Pure power. Period. What a raw ass sound! Wow.
Rest in peace Eddie Van Halen you were such a legend 🕸💀🤘🖤🎼😎🖤🎸😢☠️⚰️🕷🎧
While old school, when VH appeared it was radical when compared to soft rock and AOR that dominated stadiums and radio stations around 1978. Short in your face songs, the minimal line up of trio + a singer. They pretty much opened the door for 80's hair metal.
This was Van Halen at their best.
David Lee Roth-one of the premiere frontmen in Rock
Eddie Van Halen-played like it was his birthright
Alex Van Halen-one of the hardest hitting druumers
Michael Anthony-Attacked the bass strings and still got a great sound.
Van Halen's performance in Oakland was a Van Halen concert in 1981 while Lynyrd Skynyrd's performance was at a festival in Oakland in 1977, months before the plane crash.
I was at this Van Halen concert in 81. This concert was at the what was called “Oakland Colosseum” the indoor venue... Van Halen had no opening act that night, it was just 2+ hours of pure Van Halen.... One of the best concerts ever, totally ELECTRIC ⚡️ ⚡️⚡️...
The Lynyrd Skynyrd concert was July 4th of 77, at a Day on the Green, which was at the outdoor Oakland Coliseum.
Lynyrd Skynyrd, Santana, Peter Frampton, and The Outlaws played this Day on the Green...
👍😱
this was when Van Halen RULED.... 'Fair Warning' is my favorite album of theirs, it was the one that the silent tween girl with the crazy eyes i was sang silently just moving my lips, to keep everyone away... that and 'The Wall'. *pleeeeeaaasssse more Pink Floyd* ?!
Fair Warning was the "Guitar Album"
Ed wrote it "After Hours" when the band went home!
There was alot of Anger and......well......a certain White Powder that fueled the late night sessions! Fair Warning had the Fewest Albums sold and it's right up there with 1984 and the Debut Album
Eddie,Alex,Dave,and Mike were THE BEST!
Also: Eddie's first released use of keyboards on songs. [Note: "Sunday Afternoon In The Park" and "One Foot Out The Door" 🧡💜💜💜💜💜💜 🔥 🤘 🤘]
🧡💜🔥🔥🔥
Best, heaviest VH album!!!!
@@michaelehlert9 I wholeheartedly agree.....Matter of fact.....Gonna listen to the 33 minutes of pure perfection right now!
Gina Whoever you know it! Saw them in 16, they brought the gong but never lit it or hit it.
I’d love to see a VH family tour of small venues and large bars.
Jamel, thanks for that reaction. Youre cool, man.. Glad you like the Old School Rock-n-Roll.. Rock on!!😎😁
"Free Bird" in Oakland was in '77 so it was about 4 years prior to this show by VH. Also, this was an indoor arena show vs. the outdoor daytime stadium show Skynyrd played at. Excellent question and keep up the great work man. Peace!
Lynyrd Skynyrd was before, when Halen did this they were a global superpower and they were headliners of their own tours, only their tours, Van Halen rarely shared the stage, they were too big.
True. I saw VH for the 1984 tour. The "warm up band" wasn't even on the main stage. They were setup on the floor of the LA (Inglewood) Forum. Right in the middle of their set the guitar handler kicks on VH's amps and starts tuning Eddie's guitars at a volume way louder than the poor band's setup. Aside from the really shitty handicapped seating arrangements, it was a pretty awesome show. Eddie did his main solo and another cool one on his little guitar when they played "Little Guitars."
The Lynyrd Skynyrd video was probably from 1976 in Oakland....not the same year as this....81.
I saw VH in '84. Any band that opened for them got shredded by the audience. I remember that clearly!
THE MIGHTY VAN HALEN............I was at this concert in OAKTOWN 1981!!!!! A different time. A wild place...Long gone..........If you were not alive during this time you really don't have any idea of how big VH and the Bay Area was..............
I wish I was with you....
I find myself not even trying to describe the era anymore, There is no words or comparisons that will help people understand what the f I’m talking about lol
Crazy times, fun and a little scary !
Scariest thing ever heard?...."Your up next" - David lee Roth to the guys in Black Sabbath after opening for them in '78!
I saw them on that tour in Sheffield England, we had no idea who they were, we went to see Sabbath and left the concert instant converts. Amazing. They blew the electrical panel in the concert hall, great band to see.
@@Fred4662 wow! You witnessed something that even rock stars talk about! Brian may said he went to see his friend tony and got there early and saw Van Halen! He said it was like seeing Hendrix for the first time! He was completely blown away by Edward.
Ozzy said Van Halen blew them off the stage every night that tour. Amazing
Jimi Hendrix opened for the Monkees for a few shows......imagine that crowd LOL!
@@jasonrackawack9369 They actually boo'd him! lol
The thing I always loved about the band is that they looked like they were having fun. All the metal/hard rock bands up to that point always looked so serious. Van Halen was the party, and they knew it!
I couldn’t agree more !
Great reaction! I still get chills watching this performance so I'm really glad you picked this one. Love it!
Damn I miss the young DAVID LEE ROTH.
I miss the young me.. Lol
I just miss the 80's
Me too
@@dannyirish6526 Agreed 100% Danny ! 🤘
Saw VH Live in the early 80's Dave was the Greatest frontman! Eddie was my inspiration to play guitar. Unchained was in Guitar hero game Jamel!
If you or anyone is wondering why the footage doesn't align with the audio or why Edward is playing the black and white guitar one moment and then the next he's using his signature Frankie red and white guitar is because the audio is from the 3rd night in Oakland while the video footage is from all three sold out nights. They edited the footage together. Yes my man, they was having fun on stage. They was the ultimate party band. Dave smoked the joints the fans threw on stage and drank Jack Daniels straight from the bottle while one the best Colombian coke money could buy. His voice suffered from it no doubt. He was faaar from perfect live but IMO he's the greatest frontman of all time. He never considered himself a singer, he said he was an entertainer, and entertain he did! Thank you for your reactions to The Mighty Van Halen. Cheers, brother!
Keep our Eddie alive. Best rock n roll band. Full of great talent. 👍
Love it.....didn’t even get started and noticed DLR doing what he does! Great reaction!
THE best band and David Lee Roth is the GREATEST frontman to ever live!!
I agree
Pure fun from Van Halen . Have a great Christmas. Thanks for the videos.
You are thinking of the song "Everybody wants some" from the movie "Better off Dead". Very similar hook and sound.
I was looking for this comment specifically. If you hadn't said it I would have. Glad someone else knows their trivia. 👍
Awesome movie.
Lane Meyer!
Exactly!
That pre-chorus section is pure prog rock with its timing musically, Eddie decided to solo over it as well, which was ballsy as hell.
Every band section is doing something weird and funky. Alex's timing is strange, Mikey's playing a strange line, and Eddie's chords are strange as hell...but everything matches up together, and it all synchs up with the vocal lines before diverging again into the regular timing, bass notes, and chords with "size five dress". Rick Beato, I think, did a video on this song, breaking down the parts and showing us what makes Unchained such an ear-teasing tune.
This show in Oakland was several years later.
Fair Warning Tour!
@@bayareathrasher666 yep
I always thought this was shot in Baltimore Civic Center 1982.......I'm sure the year is right....but the venue is probably wrong, maybe it was Oakland
I know that this was one of the first MTV videos I ever saw when MTV was still in its' infancy. I was a little 6 year old kid at the time...but hell, I was even doing those DLR moves in the mirror....my Mom thought i was silly
@@furnitureconsortium It was Oakland. There's another song (maybe Ain't Talkin' Bout Love") where Dave mentions he's wearing his "new Oakland scarf", given to him by a fan at some point earlier in the show.
The Lynyrd Skynyrd show was a Day on the Green 1977 in the baseball stadium. LS was not the headliner, Peter Frampton was. Skynyrd stole the show that day, IMO. The lineup, in order of appearance was: The Outlaws, Santana, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Peter Frampton. This mighty Van Halen concert was across the parking lot in the indoor arena.
Subscribed! I love how you pause the video to give your reaction so you don't miss a beat. Love it!!
Just want to say that your videos are the best! You are such a huge fan of music and love your reactions to great songs. Very positive and uplifting and always puts me in a good mood! Keep doing what you’re doing exactly the way you do it and one day you’ll be at 1 million subscribers, I’m sure of it! Thanks for the awesome videos!
Dude you gotta do Van Halen: Mean Streets
It'll melt your face off
Also, how tight is that rhythm section
Loved It, J!!!!
Time for BOSTON "WE'RE READY"
"PARTY"
"SMOKIN'"
"MORE THAN A
FEELING"
"LONGTIME"
"ROCK AND ROLL
BAND"
"COOL THE ENGINES"
This is my favorite VH album also. If you like this then you gotta try Mean Street!! Really you can’t go wrong with anything from this album. But Mean Street kicks off this album and never looks back from there.
Awesome Van Halen song you selected! They used to play that video on cable channel VH1 Classic Rock three times a day back in the late 90's. I enjoyed it every time back in the day when it came on, when I was a teen planted in front of the TV sometimes all day constantly looking for old and new music to learn and enjoyed.
In honor of Eddie! Thanks Jamel! 👍🏻 Love your reactions!
Dave was, at best, the second-best singer on stage here (Mike Anthony is a terrific singer), but there's no doubt Dave is the best showman who has ever been a member of Van Halen.
Sylvius the Mad Don’t take your Dave hate and what MA’s background vocals add to VH get in the way of common sense. MAs voice is good for what it does. Have you ever heard him sing lead? It’s not so great.
It was physically impossible for Dave to do the vocals....Dave was never a great singer but He was a showman/cheerleader/ and the Master of Ceremonies all wrapped into one guy jumping off the Drum Riser and doing Karate Demonstrations...
Good God Van Halen was the BEST!!!!! =VH=
My 1st concert was VH in 84. My life was never the same after that.
Same here..cobo hall..detroit...autograph opened..
@@heikkidtw5992 Did Autograph get booed off stage there, like they did in Ohio ? Damn...I like Autograph, but that rabid crowd wanted The Mighty Van Halen and Nothing else. Threw bottles and all kinds of shit at Autograph.
Same here. Kemper Arena Kansas City. It wasn't Autograph some band I think something "animals". They only got through 2.5 songs. Lead singer yelled "f you Kansas City" and the crowd erupted in applause. I was 9th row second show on Ed's side. I had no idea what I was about to witness.
@@shaunclifton5281 Ha! I was there too. Can't remember if it was Cincinnati or Dayton. The drummer from Autograph was hanging out near us in the crowd hitting on girls after they got booed from the stage and was just getting heckled mercilessly. I also recall not being able to hear VH for most of the set because the crowd was screaming so loudly.
Some time later I heard Autograph on the radio and it took me a while to remember were I heard the name before.
@@akl4130 Damnnn, I MISS those days. I would hate to be a kid now with rap shit.
The show was at the Oakland coliseum where as the Lynyrd Skynyrd show was a "Day on the Green" show which is next door at the Oakland stadium where the Oakland Raiders play. I live in the area and drive past there all the time. @5:48
About a minute in and he is rocking the neck-move --- Love it and welcome back to the 80S Jamel-Jamal --- Thank you for posting
I like how they (Dave) screwed up the beginning and had to grab the opening riff again to remind him before the verse, lol....
S Genetti Actually Its Ed who stuffs up .He comes in to early .Sorry to be pedantic.But yeah they pull it off
@@alanthorne3921 Eddie did come in a little early but didn't miss a beat getting back in. Makes me feel better about my flubs knowing Eddie occasionally had them
Fun fact: Eddie Van Halen gave Dime Bag Darrell one of his famous guitars to be burried with him. RIP
The Bumblebee Guitar from VH2....👍👍👍
I got to see Van Halen back in Dallas a couple times in early 1980s. Totally awesome concerts. They are one of my favorites
One of my all time favorite Van Halen videos. I used to have this recorded on VHS and would play it daily as a kid. Loved your reaction !
Love me some Diamond David Lee Roth! That hair!!
David Lee Roth is who all those WWF and WWE guys based their characters on
This concert was part of a three-night stand for Van Halen in the Oakland-Alamda County Coliseum (or whatever it is called these days...the one next to the ballpark). So this was likely a concert consisting of Van Halen with an opening act. Three nights in a row.
I saw these guys on the "1980 World Invasion Tour". I'm so glad I saw them when I did. Hell, I was only 16. If I had seen them a couple of years later, I'd have been too messed up to remember it! :P
I had the t-shirt from that show for AGES before it finally got too threadbare to wear. I think it might even be back in the closet still.
Now that's a cymbal!!
I saw ZZTop a few years ago, and they were getting pretty old. I mean Billy Gibbons was a roadie for Jimi Hendrix. But they had those moving belts on the stage like you see in airports. Made for some really entertaining movement when they would walk on them, in either direction. Walking with it they'd fly across the stage, walking against it and they looked like they were doing the greatest moonwalk ever! And Extreme opened up for them. You've got to have some guts to have Extreme open for you, have to be confident in your skills. Cause Extreme has at least a couple of virtuosos. Nuno Bettencourt and Gary Cherone.
VH 1,2, Woman and children first , Fair Warning, get em, love em, it will never hapoen again.
The VH 6 pack with Roth is Untouchable!
Every 80s rock band was listening to, and trying to sound like Van Halen.
VH actually debuted in 1978....
@@richevans609 They didn't stop in 78 rofl. Are you really that dense?
@@Tijuanabill They debuted in 1978......Are you that dense....Check when the 1st album came out with Roth lol
@@Tijuanabill No shit sherlock.....
They Technically aren"t an 80's band....
At Texas Jam 1 in 1978 they opened the all day concert in August in 105 degree heat & over 100,000 people. No one knew who they were. But everyone did after their set. It was nuts. I was 18 and it was the biggest show with the most iconic bands there. Aerosmith, Heart, Ted Nugent, Eddie Money, Frank Marino, and so many more. There were hundreds carried off on stretchers from heat exhaustion. They used fire hoses but it only did the first 100 ft of people any good. Me & 2 buddies showed up in cut off jeans. That was it. And during the show the crowd was a show. Awesome day I’ll never forget. You need to play some Ted Nugent from the 70’s 80’s. He’s still going strong at 71 yrs old now.
This song is a total explosion. When you crank this up with a good stereo/speakers, its like a sonic boom:)
I hope some fellas in here will back me up when I request a very underrated band called XYZ who's dirty guitar player has the most insane guitar tone I think I've ever heard, I hope som Van Halen fans know what I'm talking about. So dirty yet so clean. The song "Face down in the gutter" is so god damn catchy and that riff is so raw you'll want to bite the head off an innocent rabbit so I hope you'll listen to that song.
Trust me, a random comment amongst other comments.
matt hansen The main riff on the song “Inside Out” is all-time greatness, especially when it comes back in after the solo.
You've talked about working sports games before. This song may have been one of those that got blurbs of it played over loudspeaker when a team scored points or a turnover.
I first heard this on WPLJ in NY in 1981. I heard of VH, but didn't know this album would make me a fan of them 4 life. My fave band in ALL music.
Just gonna say, VH has a deeep catalog. Tons of great stuff! Looking forward to future videos
You got a great live performance. Usually David isn't as coherent i.e. he's usually drunk. I agree with Nineteesswirl in that Michael and Alex are hugely underrated. I think Alex is one of the best drummers around.
The movie was “Better off Dead”.
No that was Everybody Wants Some...ua-cam.com/video/kz6Kcz62onA/v-deo.html
Keep reacting to my favorite tunes, and ima gonna keep watchin !!👍😊 Merry Christmas all! 🎄
THANK YOU!!!!!! I was one of the many who requested this. You made my day.
Sammy Hagar is good, but he would NEVER be able to replace Diamond Dave.
Ratpack Rebel Sammy joining created a new band. Sammy and the label wanted it to be Van Hagar. Eddie said no. Van Halen will always be Roth Incarnation.
I love'em both but under Roth they never had a #1 album. Every album they had under Hagar was #1 on the charts.
Roth = better frontman
Hagar = better vocalist
Love them both...
Ratpack Rebel and yet... he did
Sam was great before Van Halen, with Van Halen, and still is AFTER Van Halen.
They really needed him, simply because Dave was a hard act to follow.
There wasn't a better choice at the time and it's all thanks to Claudio Zampolli
As much as I do hate and did hate Dave... He truly is one of the best front men. Ever....
So then, why the hate?
bt nonsense I’m not speaking for him....but for myself, Dave didn’t evolve into something that would have made the 2007 tour better. Sammy needed to be on this tour. Saying this- no one could have been in early VH but DLR.
One of my all time favorite Van Halen songs. This song came out when I was in grade 8 and I absolutely loved it!!!
Saw them when I was a kid. Saw them live on their most recent tour. Definitely beyond time to hang it up
Noooo, you shoulda did Van Halen - Mean Street (but they probably wont let you upload the studio version, which is the best version)
Other reactors have uploaded it, so here's hoping.
Do mean street next by van halen next or some ZZ Top reactions
Got to see them at home in Baton Rouge around 1980. Up against the barricade right in the front. Awesome show!
DUDE I JUST LIKE THE LOOK ON YOUR FACE MAN some of this stuff back then smoked I'm glad to see this. Thanks