Mean Street

Umlaut returned to the neighborhood in the 408 where he grew up this weekend and took a walk around the old block. During the walk I noticed this vintage piece of sidewalk graffiti that I had NEVER noticed before:

"Van Halen Rules"

This ancient etching is only a block from the house where I grew up and it must date from the 80's because what kid after that time would feel so passionately about Van Halen to scrawl it in wet cement?? I wish I could take credit for this but I cannot... It's so bizarre that I've never seen this before.. actually it's eerie. In the time before I discovered Iron Maiden, Umlaut worshiped Van Halen and I saw them twice in 1980 and 1981...

'Unchained' filmed at Oakland Coliseum Arena - June 1981

TEN DOLLARS
(From the Umlaut Archives)

Anyway, Van Halen hasn't been one of my favorite bands since the Fair Warning (1981) album. Meanwhile, back in the 21st Century... "This is home... This is Mean Street..."

I Ain't Going There

Rolling Stone has posted the 1st photo of the "reunited" Van Halen... with their 15-year old bass player and sans Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth's golden locks.


I was WAY into Van Halen when I was 16-years old, but a Van Halen reunion without Michael Anthony's vocal harmonies is total bullshit, man... Plus, VH '07 is going out with a 15-year old on bass who's only been playing for a year?? "Classic" VH was all about the bullshit, larger than life Rock Star swagger... and they're passing the Jack Daniels bass to a pimply-faced teenager who's gonna be on Summer vacation? WTF..

Anywho, I'm happy to remember VH the way they were the last time I saw 'em and leave it at that:

Oakland Coliseum Arena - June 1981

$8.50 and $10.00
(From the Umlaut Archives)

$10 in 1981 = A golden ticket to Arena Rock.
$10 in 2007 = One Arena beer.

I ain't going there, dyaknowwhatimean?

1980 Tour Program
(From the Umlaut Archives)

"Somebody give me a shot..."

Random Rock Star Moment #13: Eddie Van Halen

Note: This Random Rock Star Moment was told to Umlaut by a friend of this person, who we'll call "Jamie".

Jamie works at one of the major airports in the S.F. Bay Area as part of the ground staff. Earlier this year after guiding a private jet to the gate she was approached by a guy who had been on the plane. The guy said that his boss had seen her on the tarmac and wanted to meet her. She asked who his boss was and the guy answered "Eddie Van Halen".

Jamie was, like, "Whatever!" and told the guy she wasn't single and not interested. The guy went back onto the plane.

A couple of minutes later Eddie Van Halen walked off the plane. He handed her a note and said something like "If you're ever single again, call me".. Then the former Guitar God made his way to the terminal.

"Oh, whoa, whoa, Jamie's cryin'..."

The End.

Eddie circa 1978... When he ruled The School.

Jaime's Cryin'

Van Halen - Largo, Maryland - 1982 (vidcap from bootleg DVD)

A midget roadie brings David Lee Roth a bottle of Jack Daniels onstage to toast the crowd with. The band then launch into 'Jamie's Cryin'.

If Dave Matthews did this kinda shit I might not consider him a mortal enemy.

Thanks to Drunk Ted for the Van Halen DVD hook up. Flipside 4-Ever, my brutha.

From Flipside (Issue #80) - Sept/Oct 1992

"C'mon Dave, gimme a break... One break, comin' up.."

Romeo Delight

As a footnote to a spirited and classic BBQ debate this weekend (complete with air guitar), this post is dedicated to Joey Acid King.


Women & Children First Tour. One of the best concerts I saw in high school. It was David Lee Roth's 26th birthday and they wheeled a giant cake onstage with a stripper inside (natch!)... Roth also announced that the show was being recorded for a live album (It was never released..). The guys sitting next to my friend did lines of coke off a pocket mirror.


Fair Warning Tour. The only thing I can remember about this gig is that the sound sucked. However, if you ever see the video for 'Unchained' it was filmed at these Oakland shows.

"I'm takin' whiskey to the party tonight.. and I'm lookin' for somebody to squeeze.."

P.S. By 1982 I was *over* Van Halen and all about Iron Maiden.