Summer Tour 2004 (Van Halen)

The Van Halen Tour 2004 was a North American concert tour by hard rock band Van Halen.[1] It was the band's first tour since 1998 and saw the return of lead singer Sammy Hagar, who left the band in 1996 after tensions with lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen.[1][2]

Van Halen Tour 2004
Tour by Van Halen
Start dateJune 11, 2004
End dateNovember 19, 2004
Legs4
No. of shows80
Van Halen concert chronology
Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, and Eddie Van Halen performing during 2004.

Tensions between Hagar and Eddie Van Halen were rekindled before the rehearsals for the tour even started, and continued until the last show.[3] The 2004 tour marked the last time that Hagar would ever perform with Van Halen.[3] Some points of contention between the two included Eddie's increased struggles with substance abuse and Sammy Hagar’s promotion of his personal Cabo Wabo tequila brand.[1] The tour also signaled the declining relationship of bassist Michael Anthony with Eddie and Alex Van Halen.[4] During the 2004 tour, Anthony was forced to lose his licensing rights to the band and to take a pay cut due to tensions with the Van Halen brothers.[4][5]

While commercially successful, the tour generally received poor reviews from critics, with some alleging that the band was sloppy, unfocused, and past their prime.[6][7] The tour’s legacy has been similarly poor as well, especially regarding the off-stage developments involving Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony.[4] Nick Deriso of Ultimate Classic Rock called the tour “disastrous."[4]

Background

The 2004 tour was the first time that Van Halen had played together since 1998, with then lead singer Gary Charone.[1] In 2004, Van Halen reunited with Sammy Hagar, their second lead vocalist from 1985–1996, who had split with the band due to tensions with Eddie Van Halen.[2][5] Hagar claimed that the 1996 split resulted from disagreements over recording new tracks for the movie Twister, after he was exhausted from touring in support of the band’s album Balance.[8] According to Hagar, he was then informed that the songs the band had recorded would be released without his vocals and were not going to be used for the Twister soundtrack, but for a greatest-hits album, which Hagar opposed.[8] However, Eddie Van Halen claimed that the tensions with Hagar stemmed from the singer’s decision to produce his own “solo best-of set,” which increased tensions when Hagar then refused to partake in the Van Halen greatest hits release.[2]  Van Halen turned to David Lee Roth, the band’s first lead singer, to replace Hagar as the band's lead singer.[8]

The 2004 reunion tour resulted after Sammy Hagar decided to call drummer Alex Van Halen in 2003 and “hit it off like old times."[9] After Hagar then called lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen, the band was once again reunited.[9]

Originally, the band planned to release a full-length album, titled The Best of Both Worlds, which would have featured the instrumentals from the aborted second album with Gary Cherone, with Hagar on vocals.[5] This plan was abandoned because Eddie Van Halen was only able to complete three of the tracks.[5] They decided to release a new compilation double album featuring three new songs, which was to be followed by a reunion tour.[5] The new songs were "It's About Time", "Up for Breakfast" and "Learning to See". Initially, 28 dates were announced, but the tour was extended to 80 across five months.[5]

Michael Anthony originally thought that the tour would expand to Europe, Japan, and South America, but the idea was abandoned because of Hagar's feud with Eddie Van Halen.[1]

Controversies

Hagar’s reunion with the band, and relationship with Eddie Van Halen, began well.[9] In August 2004, Hagar said that he and Eddie Van Halen were going to “Pretend like it [the feud] never happened. We’re going to rise above it.”[9] In an early review of the tour, Hagar was described as “undeniably delighted to be back together” with Van Halen.[9] However, Hagar and Van Halen’s feelings of good ended up being short-lived.[2]

Hagar accused Eddie of drinking too much, despite Eddie's denials: "It was horrible to know a person that was in that kind of shape."[5] In his memoir, Hagar wrote that during the tour Van Halen was “unkempt, hunched over, frighteningly skinny” and “drinking wine straight out of a bottle."[4] Van Halen was reported to have collapsed during the tour as well, in addition to playing poorly due to his struggles with substance abuse.[4] Eddie Van Halen said that he was “an alcoholic” and that in 2004 he became a “very angry drunk,” although he claimed that Hagar’s memoir was “definitely embellished."[10]

Another point of contention during the tour was Sammy Hagar’s promotion of his Cabo Wabo tequila brand, to the displeasure of Eddie Van Halen.[1] Bassist Michael Anthony said that “he [Eddie Van Halen] was never happy about that, the whole Cabo Wabo thing.”[1] Anthony claimed that Sammy independently contracted with arenas to sell the tequila, which “would create some tension onstage and offstage."[1] Hagar claims he was told by the Van Halen brothers, before the tour, that he would not be allowed to promote his Cabo Wabo tequila, so he purposefully “got a Cabo Wabo tattoo” on his arm and “wore short sleeves." [11]

The tour also caused controversy with Michael Anthony, the band's longtime bassist (performing with them until 2000 when they went on hiatus, but still officially a member in 2004).[5] Anthony was hired as a touring musician rather than a 'real' member of the band, resulting in being paid a reduced commission.[5] Initially, the Van Halen brothers did not want him on the tour at all, but Sammy Hagar refused to tour without him.[5]

The tour also resulted in a legal dispute between Van Halen and the Baltimore Orioles.[12] The Orioles had contracted Van Halen to perform a September 2 concert at Oriole Park at Camden Yards for $1.5 million, in addition to 80 percent of ticket and merchandise revenues.[12] However, the Orioles later canceled this deal, causing Van Halen to file a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, suing for at least $2 million.[13] Van Halen argued that they lost potential revenue in the Baltimore area from a non-compete clause and that they had to rearrange the 2004 tour for the show that the Orioles’ reneged on.[14]

Reception

According to Pollstar, the tour grossed $54.3 million, making it the sixth highest grossing tour of 2004.[15] Pollstar reports that the tour had an average ticket price of $99.12 and sold 1,054,238 tickets over 83 shows.[15] However, according to Billboard Boxscore, the tour grossed nearly $40 million.[16]

Critical reception for the tour was generally negative, with some reviews alleging that the tour was a watered-down version of the band’s past versions.[17] Jason Bracelin, of the Houston Press, wrote that “In their prime, the guys in Van Halen were as sticky, sweaty, and accident-prone as the best keggers. Now, they’re hard-rock parental units approaching their fifties, and so are many of their fans."[17] Kyle Munson, of The Des Moines Register, wrote that Van Halen sounded “sloppy” and alleged that Hagar seemed more focused with signing autographs than singing.[18] However, Doug Fox, after a performance in Salt Lake City, wrote that the future of Van Halen “seems to be on firmer ground as well with the return of Hagar."[19]

Legacy

Overall, the tour’s long term reputation has been similarly poor, being described as both “Disastrous” by Nick Deriso of Ultimate Classic Rock and “Ill-Fated” by Andy Greene of Rolling Stone.[3][4] The tour also is notable for its lasting damage on the relationship between lead singer Sammy Hagar and lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Sammy Hagar, in his memoir, wrote that after the 2004 tour, his relationship with Eddie Van Halen was “irretrievably broken."[4] By the end of the tour, Anthony and Hagar reportedly used “different jets, different hotels, different limos, different security details" from the Van Halen brothers.[4]

The tour also signaled the declining relationship between bassist Michael Anthony and the band.[4] Allegedly, Alex and Eddie Van Halen did not want to tour with Anthony, while Hagar insisted upon his presence in the band.[4] Anthony ended up being forced to relinquish his Van Halen licensing rights in addition to a pay cut.[4] Anthony claims he accepted the deal because he thought it may have been the last time the band would ever perform together.[3] In 2006, Eddie Van Halen fired Anthony from the band and replaced him with his son, Wolfgang Van Halen.[20]

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

Tour dates
Date[21][22] City Country Venue Support Act(s)
First leg
June 11, 2004 Greensboro United States Greensboro Coliseum Silvertide
June 13, 2004 Hershey Hersheypark Stadium
June 14, 2004 Richmond Richmond Coliseum N/A
June 14, 2004 Buffalo HSBC Arena Silvertide
June 16, 2004 Philadelphia Wachovia Center
June 17, 2004
June 19, 2004 Worcester Worcester Centrum
June 20, 2004
June 22, 2004 East Rutherford Continental Airlines Arena
June 23, 2004
June 25, 2004 Washington, D.C. MCI Center
June 26, 2004 Albany Pepsi Arena
June 28, 2004 Hartford Hartford Civic Center
June 29, 2004 Burgettstown Post-Gazette Pavilion
July 1, 2004 Noblesville Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
July 2, 2004 Cleveland Gund Arena
July 3, 2004 Toronto Canada Air Canada Centre
July 6, 2004 Louisville United States Freedom Hall
July 7, 2004 Columbus Value City Arena
July 9, 2004 Grand Rapids Van Andel Arena
July 10, 2004 Detroit Joe Louis Arena
July 11, 2004 Auburn Hills The Palace of Auburn Hills
July 19, 2004 Chicago United Center Shinedown
July 20, 2004
July 22, 2004 Saint Paul Xcel Energy Center
July 23, 2004 Ashwaubenon Resch Center
July 25, 2004 Oklahoma City Ford Center
July 26, 2004 Kansas City Kemper Arena
July 28, 2004 St. Louis Savvis Center
July 29, 2004
July 31, 2004 Omaha Qwest Center
August 1, 2004 Denver Pepsi Center
August 3, 2004 Salt Lake City Delta Center
August 5, 2004 Phoenix America West Arena
August 6, 2004 Paradise Mandalay Bay Events Center
August 7, 2004
August 10, 2004 San Jose HP Pavilion at San Jose
August 11, 2004 Sacramento ARCO Arena
August 13, 2004 Oakland Oakland Arena
August 14, 2004 Fresno Save Mart Center
August 16, 2004 Anaheim Arrowhead Pond
August 17, 2004 Chula Vista Coors Amphitheatre
August 19, 2004 Los Angeles Staples Center
August 20, 2004
Second leg
September 2, 2004 Baltimore United States Oriole Park at Camden Yards N/A
September 3, 2004 Atlantic City Borgata Events Center Laidlaw
September 5, 2004 Biloxi Mississippi Coast Coliseum
September 9, 2004 Tampa St. Pete Times Forum
September 11, 2004 Sunrise Office Depot Center
September 12, 2004 Columbia Colonial Center N/A
September 13, 2004 San Juan Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum Vivanativa
September 14, 2004 Charlotte United States Charlotte Coliseum N/A
September 15, 2004 Greenville BI-LO Center
September 16, 2004 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena Shinedown
September 17, 2004 Atlanta Philips Arena Laidlaw
September 18, 2004 Cincinnati U.S. Bank Arena
September 20, 2004 Moline MARK of the Quad Cities Rose Hill Drive
September 21, 2004 Champaign Assembly Hall
September 23, 2004 Houston Toyota Center
September 24, 2004 North Little Rock Alltel Arena
September 25, 2004 Dallas American Airlines Center Mrnorth
September 28, 2004 San Antonio SBC Center
September 29, 2004 Lubbock United Spirit Arena
October 1, 2004 Paradise Orleans Arena
October 2, 2004 Albuquerque Journal Pavilion
Third leg
October 19, 2004 Portland United States Rose Garden Arena Rose Hill Drive
October 20, 2004 Spokane Spokane Arena
October 22, 2004 Seattle KeyArena
October 23, 2004 Vancouver 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 United States Fargodome Mrnorth
November 3, 2004 Milwaukee Bradley Center
November 4, 2004 Ames Hilton Coliseum
November 6, 2004 Valley Center Kansas Coliseum
November 9, 2004 Montreal Canada Bell Centre
November 10, 2004 Hamilton Copps Coliseum
November 11, 2004 Fort Wayne United States War Memorial Coliseum
November 13, 2004 Rapid City Don Barnett Arena
November 14, 2004 Bozeman Brick Breeden Fieldhouse
November 16, 2004 Nampa Idaho Center
November 18, 2004 Tucson AVA Amphitheater
November 19, 2004

References
  1. MICHAEL ANTHONY Speaks Candidly About VAN HALEN's Past And Future Archived 2008-06-24 at the Wayback Machine; Blabbermouth, March 17, 2006
  2. Giles, Jeff. "The Day Sammy Hagar Split from Van Halen." Ultimate Classic Rock, 16 June 2016, https://ultimateclassicrock.com/sammy-hagar-splits-van-halen/.
  3. Greene, Andy (8 August 2013). "Van Halen Reunite With Sammy Hagar in 2004". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  4. Deriso, Nick. “When Van Halen Mounted a Disastrous Reunion with Sammy Hagar.” Ultimate Classic Rock. 11 June 2015. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/sammy-hagar-van-halen-reunion-2004/
  5. Elliott, Paul (October 2013). "What do you do with $80 million? Anything you want!". Classic Rock #189. p. 48.
  6. Bracelin, Jason. "Feels Like Old Times; with Sammy Hagar Back on Stage, Van Halen Trudges on." Houston Press, Sep 23 2004, ProQuest. Web. 18 Nov. 2020.
  7. Munson, Kyle. "Headline: Van Halen Squeezes Out More Notes." Des Moines Register, Nov 06 2004, ProQuest. Web. 15 Nov. 2020 .
  8. Hochman, Steve. "Stunned Hagar Says Growing Tension Led to His Firing." Los Angeles Times, 28 June 1996, www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-28-ca-19283-story.html.
  9. GEORGE Varga SPECIAL TO, RAVE!. "Sammy Hagar's Return to Van Halen has Turned into a Mutual Admiration Summer Tour." Daily Breeze, Aug 20 2004, p. K19. ProQuest. Web. 15 Nov. 2020.
  10. Klosterman, Chuck. "Billboard Cover: Eddie Van Halen on Surviving Addiction, Why He's Still Making Music and What He Really Thinks of David Lee Roth (and Other Past Van Halen Bandmates)." Billboard, MRC Media, 19 June 2015, www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6605231/eddie-van-halen-addiction-david-lee-roth-touring.
  11. “How I Did It: Sammy Hagar.” Inc. Editorial. Inc, November Issue. https://www.inc.com/magazine/201311/liz-welch/sammy-hagar.html
  12. Wydeven, Reg. "Orioles, Van Halen Bicker about Broken Contract Agreement." The Post - Crescent, Sep 04 2004, ProQuest. Web. 15 Nov. 2020 .
  13. "Van Halen Sues Orioles Over Stadium Concert: Salt Lake Telegram." Deseret News, Aug 21 2004, p. A02. ProQuest. Web. 15 Nov. 2020 .
  14. Harris, Chris. "Van Halen Get To Play Ball Against The Orioles ... In Court." MTV News, 12 Aug. 2005, www.mtv.com/news/1507482/van-halen-get-to-play-ball-against-the-orioles-in-court/.
  15. "2004 Top 100 Tours." Pollstar, 2017, www.Pollstar.com/Chart/2017/03/2004YearendTop100Tours_485.pdf.
  16. Waddell, Ray. "Exclusive: Van Halen Reuniting With Roth For Tour." Billboard, MRC Media, 24 Jan. 2007, www.billboard.com/articles/business/1055749/exclusive-van-halen-reuniting-with-roth-for-tour.
  17. Bracelin, Jason. "Feels Like Old Times; with Sammy Hagar Back on Stage, Van Halen Trudges on." Houston Press, Sep 23 2004, ProQuest. Web. 18 Nov. 2020.
  18. Munson, Kyle. "Headline: Van Halen Squeezes Out More Notes." Des Moines Register, Nov 06 2004, ProQuest. Web. 15 Nov. 2020 .
  19. Fox, Doug. “‘Hear About it Later:’ Van Halen rocks Delta Center.” Daily Herald. 6 Aug. 2004, https://www.heraldextra.com/lifestyles/hear-about-it-later-van-halen-rocks-delta-center/article_eca555a3-394b-59fe-9ad4-0359b3981773.html
  20. Kielty, Martin. "Wolfgang Van Halen Was Ready for Michael Anthony's Return." Ultimate Classic Rock, 17 Nov. 2020, https://ultimateclassicrock.com/wolfgang-van-halen-michael-anthony-return/
  21. "Van Halen Tour Dates 2004". web.archive.org. 2007-02-18. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  22. "Van Halen Tour: 2004". www.vharchives.com. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
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