My future bride and I went to the Nassau Coliseum in July, 1980 to see the mighty Van Halen at the height of their superpowers. Before the internet, we would read music magazines and newspapers and find out that lead singer David Lee Roth was on all sorts of fantastic adventures during the band’s breaks. We were led to believe that David Lee Roth did live life like there was no tomorrow and stories of him rock climbing in far off lands or doing some sort of exotic martial arts stuff with samurai swords were numerous and just created an extraordinary legend and myth about the larger than life band. I am not exactly sure how I pulled it off, but we had great seats for this concert, on the side of the stage on Eddie Van Halen’s side just a couple of rows off of the floor. The band was explosive and David Lee Roth was every bit the rock star, to the point where my then girlfriend was standing on top of her chair screaming at Mr. Roth’s every gyration making me to be almost invisible. It was so much fun, and Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony provided rock and roll joy to all in attendance. Eddie VH passed recently after a number of long illnesses but the band’s music and the memories of these mammoth tours live on.

Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love

Rock on!

GQ