Summer Tour 2004 (Van Halen)

Van Halen Tour 2004

Tour by Van Halen
Start date	June 11, 2004
End date	November 19, 2004
Legs	3
No. of shows	80 played
Van Halen concert chronology

The Van Halen Tour 2004 was a North American concert tour by hard rock band Van Halen. It was the band's first tour since 1998 and saw the return of lead singer Sammy Hagar who left the band in 1996 on bad terms.

History

In 2004, Van Halen reunited with Sammy Hagar, their second vocalist from 1985–1996. The original plan was to release a full-length album, titled The Best of Both Worlds. It would have featured the instrumentals from the aborted second album with Gary Cherone, with Hagar on vocals. This plan was abandoned because Eddie Van Halen, in the condition he was in, could only complete three of the tracks. They decided to release a new compilation double album featuring those three new songs on it as their first move. This was followed by a reunion tour, featuring these new songs among others on the set list. The new songs were "It's About Time", "Up for Breakfast" and "Learning to See". Initially 28 dates were announced, but this was extended to 80 across five months – all of which were performed.

The tour included many controversies, some leading to Hagar's permanent departure following the tour. Michael Anthony, longtime bassist for the band (performing with them until 2000 when they went on hiatus, but still officially a member in 2004) was hired as a touring musician but not a 'real' member, being paid a reduced commission. Initially the Van Halen brothers did not want him on the tour at all, but Hagar refused to tour without him. Hagar also accused Eddie of drinking far too much, despite Eddie's denials: "It was horrible to know a person that was in that kind of shape."

The tour grossed almost $55 million and Pollstar listed Van Halen in the Top 10 grossing tours of 2004. However, Rolling Stone revealed that promoters did not actually profit from the tour, losing money. This was largely attributed to overpriced tickets of up to $250 slowing down ticket sales. Concerts were met with (usually) positive reviews from critics and fans, though some did notice Eddie's alcohol abuse. Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie's young son, would join the band for rhythm guitar during the instrumental "316". In 2006, Wolfgang joined Van Halen permanently, replacing Anthony on bass.

Throughout the tour, reports of Eddie's alcohol abuse cropped up in reviews. In the band's first Chicago show, Eddie tripped over his guitar cable multiple times. 18 times it actually became unplugged and a guitar tech had to chase Eddie around the stage keeping things together. Eddie later stopped in the middle of a guitar solo, lying down and simply saying "I'm sorry folks, I done run outta gas". Eddie did however, recover and finish the solo. The other major event occurred on the final date of the tour, in Tucson, Arizona, when Eddie finished the set by smashing his guitar, sending shrapnel into the audience and running off stage.

The tour consisted of three legs, with the first two being in the United States (with the exception of a single date in the first leg in Toronto), and the third was a mixture of American and Canadian dates. By playing a date in Puerto Rico, Van Halen became the first rock act to ever play at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum, one week after the venue's inauguration.

The tour was extended repeatedly, leading to a "Summer" tour lasting until late November. This was not originally planned.

There were rumors that the tour would expand to Europe, Asia and South America into 2005. However, the idea was shot down, particularly because Hagar was dissatisfied with the band dynamics – Eddie did not like all the promotion for Hagar's Cabo Wabo business in the tour, and while travelling, the Van Halen brothers were on one jet and Hagar and Anthony in another to avoid fights. To date, neither Hagar nor Anthony has performed with Van Halen again.

Setlist

Typical Setlist

1. "Jump"
2. "Runaround"
3. "Humans Being"
4. "Up for Breakfast"
5. Bass Solo
6. "Somebody Get Me a Doctor"
7. "Poundcake"
8. "It's About Time"
9. Drum Solo
10. "Top of the World"
11. "Unchained"
12. "Why Can't This Be Love"
13. "Eagles Fly"
14. "Deeper Kinda Love"
15. "Learning to See"
16. "Best of Both Worlds"
17. Guitar Solo
18. "Dreams"
19. "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love"
20. "Right Now"
21. "You Really Got Me"
22. "Panama"
23. "When It's Love"
24. "Runnin' with the Devil" (occasionally with Michael Anthony on vocals)
25. "The Seventh Seal" (occasionally)
26. "Finish What Ya Started" (occasionally)

Personnel

• Sammy Hagar – lead vocals, guitar
• Eddie Van Halen – lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
• Wolfgang Van Halen - rhythm guitar (during "316")
• Michael Anthony – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Alex Van Halen – drums, percussion

Tour dates

Date	City	Country	Venue
First North American leg
June 11, 2004	Greensboro, North Carolina	United States	Greensboro Coliseum
June 13, 2004	Hershey, Pennsylvania		Hersheypark Stadium
June 14, 2004	Buffalo, New York		HSBC Arena
June 16, 2004	Philadelphia		Wachovia Center
June 17, 2004
June 19, 2004	Worcester, Massachusetts		Worcester Centrum
June 20, 2004
June 22, 2004	East Rutherford, New Jersey		Continental Airlines Arena
June 23, 2004
June 25, 2004	Washington, D.C.		MCI Center
June 26, 2004	Albany, New York		Pepsi Arena
June 28, 2004	Hartford, Connecticut		Hartford Civic Center
June 29, 2004	Burgettstown, Pennsylvania		Post-Gazette Pavilion
July 1, 2004	Noblesville, Indiana		Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
July 2, 2004	Cleveland		Gund Arena
July 3, 2004	Toronto	Canada	Air Canada Centre
July 6, 2004	Louisville, Kentucky	United States	Freedom Hall
July 7, 2004	Columbus, Ohio		Value City Arena
July 9, 2004	Grand Rapids, Michigan		Van Andel Arena
July 10, 2004	Detroit		Joe Louis Arena
July 11, 2004	Auburn Hills, Michigan		The Palace of Auburn Hills
July 19, 2004	Chicago		United Center
July 20, 2004
July 22, 2004	Saint Paul, Minnesota		Xcel Energy Center
July 23, 2004	Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin		Resch Center
July 25, 2004	Oklahoma City		Ford Center
July 26, 2004	Kansas City, Missouri		Kemper Arena
July 28, 2004	St. Louis		Savvis Center
July 29, 2004
July 31, 2004	Omaha, Nebraska		Qwest Center
August 1, 2004	Denver		Pepsi Center
August 3, 2004	Salt Lake City		Delta Center
August 5, 2004	Phoenix, Arizona		America West Arena
August 6, 2004	Paradise, Nevada		Mandalay Bay Events Center
August 7, 2004
August 10, 2004	San Jose, California		HP Pavilion
August 11, 2004	Sacramento, California		ARCO Arena
August 13, 2004	Oakland, California		Oakland Arena
August 14, 2004	Fresno, California		Save Mart Center
August 16, 2004	Anaheim, California		Arrowhead Pond
August 17, 2004	Chula Vista, California		Coors Amphitheater
August 19, 2004	Los Angeles		Staples Center
August 20, 2004
Second North American leg
September 3, 2004	Atlantic City, New Jersey	United States	Borgata Events Center
September 5, 2004	Biloxi, Mississippi		Mississippi Coast Coliseum
September 9, 2004	Tampa, Florida		St. Pete Times Forum
September 11, 2004	Sunrise, Florida		Office Depot Center
September 13, 2004	San Juan	Puerto Rico	José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum
September 16, 2004	Jacksonville, Florida	United States	Veterans Memorial Arena
September 17, 2004	Atlanta		Philips Arena
September 18, 2004	Cincinnati		U.S. Bank Arena
September 20, 2004	Moline, Illinois		MARK of the Quad Cities
September 21, 2004	Champaign, Illinois		Assembly Hall
September 23, 2004	Houston		Toyota Center
September 24, 2004	North Little Rock, Arkansas		Alltel Arena
September 25, 2004	Dallas, Texas		American Airlines Center
September 28, 2004	San Antonio, Texas		SBC Center
September 29, 2004	Lubbock, Texas		United Spirit Arena
October 1, 2004	Paradise, Nevada		Orleans Arena
October 2, 2004	Albuquerque, New Mexico		Journal Pavilion
Third North American leg
October 19, 2004	Portland, Oregon	United States	Rose Garden Arena
October 20, 2004	Spokane, Washington		Spokane Arena
October 22, 2004	Seattle		KeyArena
October 23, 2004	Vancouver, British Columbia	Canada	Pacific Coliseum
October 25, 2004	Edmonton		Rexall Place
October 26, 2004	Calgary		Pengrowth Saddledome
October 28, 2004	Saskatoon		Credit Union Centre
October 30, 2004	Winnipeg		Winnipeg Arena
October 31, 2004	Fargo, North Dakota	United States	Fargodome
November 3, 2004	Milwaukee		Bradley Center
November 4, 2004	Ames, Iowa		Hilton Coliseum
November 6, 2004	Valley Center, Kansas		Kansas Coliseum
November 9, 2004	Montreal	Canada	Bell Centre
November 10, 2004	Hamilton, Ontario		Copps Coliseum
November 11, 2004	Fort Wayne, Indiana	United States	War Memorial Coliseum
November 13, 2004	Rapid City, South Dakota		Don Barnett Arena
November 14, 2004	Bozeman, Montana		Brick Breeden Fieldhouse
November 16, 2004	Nampa, Idaho		Idaho Center
November 18, 2004	Tucson, Arizona		AVA Amphitheater
November 19, 2004

External links

• Van-Halen.com – The official Van Halen website
• Van Halen NewsDesk
• [1] Stufish