March 1st 2004 – Wolverhampton Civic Hall
Original date cancelled and rearranged due to illness
Don’t be daft, no way would Dave Lee Roth be coming to Wolverhampton!!! That was my initial reaction when my buddy Steve told me about this gig. It’s got to be a tribute band or something, Wolverhampton is hardly the hub of rock and rock geniuses (no offence).
True it was, DLR was coming to town…well, Wolverhampton! Just doable from Leicester for an evening gig and I met Steve there as he was coming from a different direction.
I’ve probably written this elsewhere, but I never have seen Van Halen with David Lee Roth singing, which is a shame, but Sammy Hagar is a fantastic if different replacement and you know what, Roth is such a showman, there isn’t really enough room on stage for another ego….so solo (with band) is not a band option.
Didn’t make it in time for the support band and it was a wet old night outside so ran to the hall. Little bit wet and steamy when I got there, walked in to see I was probably the youngest there at a mere 29!!! On further inspection there were a few young ‘uns, but they had all come with their folks who had probably said “you’ll thank me in years to come for introducing you to Diamond Dave”…….some of those dads who brought their daughters, may have changed their minds within 30 seconds of Dave’s banter and when he plays Hot For Teacher!!!….that’s Diamond Dave for you!
Mr Roth strode confidently on stage sporting short hair! What! where’s the long flowing locks Dave?!? It wasn’t the only thing that had changed, the spandex was still on show, but when he bent down it was apparent this god of rock…….has a bald patch!! Now, I get it’s not uncommon in men, but it was something we needed warning about in our rock icon!!
“Hot For Teacher” gets the night started after Dave’s had a chat with the crowd, pure rhythm and blues rock and roll and onto the timeless Van Halen classic, “Panama”. I could go home now, two classics to start….but it’s raining and we’re having fun, so no point!
Dave’s on form, high leg kicking and running around, hard to believe he is actually 41 (which seemed REALLY old to us back then).
To actually see DLR in a small venue is a real treat and to be 6 or 7 rows away and feel the energy is something I thought I’d missed out on (last time I saw him was Monsters of Rock 1988 and we were miles away). He was playing up to his audience as you would want and expect.
This set mixed Van Halen classics, covers and David’s own superb solo work to give a full rounded look at his career and style. Dave was having so much fun, laughing and singing hard and fast and the more zany songs (Just a Gigolo and Going Crazy).
He doesn’t need Van Halen, they probably don’t need him back…Diamond Dave is perfect on his own. Great evening….and ended with a fantastic mix of “Ice Cream Man” leading into “Ain’t Talking ’bout Love”………finishing with an encore of Jump.
The trip back to Leicester will be a good one….even though the rain has got worse!
Set List
Hot for Teacher (Van Halen song)
Mean Street (Van Halen song)
Just Like Paradise
Runnin’ With the Devil (Van Halen song)
You Really Got Me (The Kinks cover)
California Girls (The Beach Boys cover)
Somebody Get Me a Doctor (Van Halen song)
And the Cradle Will Rock… (Van Halen song)
Just a Gigolo / I Ain’t Got Nobody (Louis Prima cover)
Unchained (Van Halen song)
Goin’ Crazy!
Shoo Bop (Steve Miller Band cover)
Panama (Van Halen song)
Dance the Night Away (Van Halen song)
Yankee Rose
Ice Cream Man (John Brim cover)
Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love (Van Halen song)
Encore: Jump (Van Halen song)
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