October 2, 2007

VAN HALEN's Opening Concert, September 27, 2007: 'Rock Gods Deliver' - Magazine -

Debut Concert Performed to Sold Out Crowd

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- With a blazing and defiant guitar run, rock legends lit the torch on the opening night of one of the most highly anticipated tours in rock history. More than 18,000 fans, including those lining the rafters, stood on their feet at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena, as original lead vocalist took the stage with the . It was a celebration more than 22 years in the making.

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"For more than two hours, the gods delivered," writes Rolling Stone magazine's Mark Kemp.

Guitar innovator , his drum legend brother Alex, and Eddie's 16-year-old son Wolfgang on bass joined Roth for the festivities, breathing new, invigorated life into a jaw-dropping canon of material.

The Hollywood Reporter noted, "for one perfect night in Charlotte, Van Halen was nothing short of spectacular."

The blistering delivery of hit after hit played out like the soundtrack to countless sun- drenched summers and a wealth of more to come. Starting with the familiar strains of the band's groundbreaking interpretation of ' "," VAN HALEN weaved in and out of its catalog, pairing iconic anthems like "," "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" and "Panama" along with other fan favorites including "Runnin' With The Devil" and "Jamie's Cryin'." All of this was delivered amid a myriad of fanning laser lights, an earth rumbling onslaught of sound and a stage-spanning screen perfect for capturing Eddie Van Halen's intricate fret work.

Roth, who Rolling Stone describes as evolving with "style, grace and his eternally smart sense of flamboyant irony," pranced and preened like a possessed flamenco hitting the notes with a power and precision like never before.

Jim Farber of the New York Daily News cites Eddie Van Halen as displaying his innovative style at the top of his game. "More than 25 years since he first pioneered his two-hands-on- the-fretboard approach," Farber wrote, "Eddie remains a technical wonder. Again, last night he did loop-do-loops around the melodies, and peeled into wheelies in the choruses."

USA Today reporter Mike Snider says , armed with sticks and pulse thumping grit, "continued to stoke the ban's fire." And Rolling Stone recalls that the headband-shrouded arsenalist "pounded his kit with a constant smile."

All eyes were on Wolfgang Van Halen who, according to Jane Stevenson of the Toronto Sun, "displayed a confidence and musicianship well beyond his age, even venturing out on the band's S-shaped catwalk by himself to get closer to the crowd." Wolfgang's spirited delivery echoes the timeless youthfulness found in the band today and tomorrow. The cradle will rock, indeed.

Up to the show's sparkling confetti-laden encore, VAN HALEN "filled the arena with energy rarely generated since, well, the band's previous forays," says USA Today.

At the launch of this momentous occasion, VAN HALEN proved not only can you go home again, but it sometimes elicits the sweet sound of new beginnings.

And the capacity crowd in Charlotte answered the age old question. Yes, everybody wants some. Shows in other cities including LA and New York sold out in minutes.

A complete list of confirmed dates is attached and more information and tickets are available at http://www.LiveNation.com. Individuals who have the Citi(R) / AAdvantage(R) card, the official credit card of the tour, will be offered access to purchase preferred seats to all U.S. shows.

Fans can enjoy the ultimate VAN HALEN experience including concert pre-show parties, backstage access, premium seating and more. For additional details go to http://www.iloveallaccess.com. Fans are encouraged to also check in at http://www.van- halen.com for additional information.

VAN HALEN remains one of the most important and influential bands of all time. Formed in in 1974, the band quickly won a loyal hometown fan base with their electrifying live shows. From the moment they released their self-titled 1978 debut , VAN HALEN shook the foundations of rock, thanks largely to Roth's peerless showmanship, Eddie Van Halen's revolutionary guitar virtuosity and their songwriting abilities. It changed forever.

The band's first album proved one of the biggest selling rock debuts, with key tracks like "," "Running with the Devil," "Jamie's Cryin'," "You Really Got Me" and "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" leading the way. The next year, the band followed up with "Van Halen II," which included the hit "Dance the Night Away."

Subsequent like "" (1980), "Fair Warning" (1981) and "" (1982), along with worldwide touring, solidified the band's reputation for innovative and unparalleled live performances. Classic VAN HALEN tracks from the early '80s include "Everybody Wants Some," "Unchained," "And The Cradle Will Rock," "Beautiful Girls," "Mean Street" and "" just to name a few.

With their sixth album, released in, and titled "1984," VAN HALEN rose to stratospheric heights. Recorded at Eddie Van Halen's 5150 Studios, the multi-platinum smash yielded one of Van Halen's signature hits, "Jump," which remained #1 on the Billboard charts for an astounding five weeks straight. Other hits from the album include "Panama," "" and "I'll Wait."

The band's record of achievement is hard to top. Presented with two Diamond Award RIAA Certified Status' for their albums "Van Halen" and "1984", VAN HALEN joins an elite short list of two time Diamond Award honorees in the history of the music industry. The Diamond Award is presented to an artist for album sales of 10 million or more units. They are also in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the most #1 hits on Billboard's chart than any other band in history.

Inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame in March of this year, VAN HALEN has produced a treasured body of work that fans will admire for decades to come.

VAN HALEN TOUR North American Dates

Sep. 27 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Bobcats Arena Sep. 29 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum Oct. 01 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center Oct. 03 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center Oct. 05 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena Oct. 07 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre Oct. 10 Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena Oct. 12 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre Oct. 14 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Field House Oct. 16 Chicago, IL Oct. 18 Chicago, IL Oct. 20 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena Oct. 22 Auburn Hills, MI Palace of Auburn Hills Oct. 24 Minneapolis, MN Oct. 26 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center Oct. 28 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center Oct. 30 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden Nov. 01 Washington DC Verizon Center Nov. 03 E. Rutherford, NJ Continental Airlines Arena Nov. 06 Worcester, MA DCU Center Nov. 08 Uniondale, NY Nassau Coliseum Nov. 10 Montreal, QC Bell Centre Nov. 13 New York, NY Madison Square Garden Nov. 20 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center Nov. 23 Glendale, AZ Jobing.Com Arena Nov. 25 San Diego, CA Cox Arena Nov. 27 Sacramento, CA Arco Arena Nov. 29 Fresno, CA Savemart Center Dec. 01 Portland, OR Rose Garden Dec. 03 Seattle, WA Key Arena Dec. 05 Vancouver, BC General Motors Place Dec. 07 Calgary, AB Pengrowth Saddledome Dec. 09 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place Dec. 14 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center Dec. 16 San Jose, CA HP Pavillion at San Jose Dec. 18 Anaheim, CA Honda Center Dec. 20 Anaheim, CA Honda Center Dec. 22 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena Dec. 28 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena Dec. 30 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena ***PLEASE NOTE ALL DATES/CITIES SUBJECT TO CHANGE***

About Live Nation

Live Nation is the world's largest live music company. Our mission is to inspire passion for live music around the world. We are the largest promoter of live concerts in the world, the second-largest entertainment venue management company and have a rapidly growing online presence. We create superior experiences for artists and fans, regularly producing tours for the biggest superstars in the business, including , The Police, , U2 and Coldplay. Globally, we own, operate, have booking rights for and/or have an equity interest in more than 160 venues, including House of Blues(R) and Fillmore(R) music venues and prestigious locations such as Nikon at Jones Beach in New York and London's Wembley Arena. Our websites collectively are the second most popular entertainment/event websites in the United States, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. In addition, we also produce, promote or host theatrical, specialized motor sports and other live entertainment events. In 2006, we connected nearly 60 million fans with their favorite performers at approximately 26,000 events in 18 countries around the world. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol "LYV."

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