Van Halen
Rosemont Horizon
Chicago, IL
May 16, 1998

Set List

Photographs by Bill O'Neill - © 1998

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Review by Dawn Biers - Rocker2@Worldnet.att.net

Van Halen rocked Chicago! I just got home and I am so pumped. The guys put on a steller show. The old stuff was so incredible to be able to see live. I was very impressed. Eddie pulled off a few new tricks and it was very cool to see him play the piano. Also, Mike sang "Sombody Get Me A Doctor." Alex was wearing his neckbrace, but it did not slow him down one bit.

I was surprised about Gary's performance, I had aprehensions, but he put all of that to rest. The man has a great voice, period. I have seen them 21 times since 1984 and I would see them 21 more!!!! Don't miss them when they come to your town!

I am speechless, I literally have nothing that I can say that isn't positive. If there was, the only thing was that the PA system was a little off, so you couldn't understand everything Gary said. I did not like VH3 but this show changed my mind. The lights were unreal, they were running and jumping everywhere, the set list was awesome. Eddie played on a purple and then a blue Wolfgang for most the night, then for Panama, he had a Chicago Bull logo smoking a cigarette right under the strings, between the pickups, it was awesome.

Gary held the crowd and Eddie-- well, it's all in a memory now and words just can't explain it. Let me tell you, it was well worth missing prom tonight for this one.. My ears are still ringing!!!

All I can say is WOW! Van Halen absolutely kicked ass in Chicago, hometown of Michael Anthony.

The concert was opened by Kenny Wayne Sheppard and, after a good set (finished with a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Chile"), the familiar elephant roar was heard.

The first song, "Unchained," was great. Wonderful opener. "Without You" and "One I Want" both sounded better than their album versions. The rest of the set list was pretty much the same as the ones from earlier on the tour.

Highlights from the show: Michael Anthony's vocals on "Somebody Get Me a Doctor," Alex's drum solo (the new thing with the backing tape kicked ass), Gary's hanging from the light racks on during the intro to "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" (just after "Right Now"), and Eddie's monster jobs on "Mean Streets," "Humans Being," and his guitar solo (not to mention his vocals on "How Many Say I").

Some thoughts: whoever says Gary isn't the man for the job is obviously deaf and blind. Gary is the frontman Van Halen (and true Van Halen fans) have been waiting for for years. You can't help but be drawn in to his stage presence (he's all over the place) and he has one hell of a voice. For those who thought that he couldn't handle the Hagar stuff, listen closely and think about it: if he sounded just like Sammy, you'd not like it either (he's got to make his own stamp on the music after all). Of course, he blows Roth's vocals out of the water.

Eddie was fantastic, highly impressive! One of the funnier moments in the set came when he mimicked his own hip injury by limping across the stage and holding his hip. Michael Anthony looked happy to be back in front of his hometown fans and took full advantage, often stealing the show with his backing vocals and easily tearing the roof off the place with his leads on "...Doctor" (the crowd went NUTS!!!).

One bad thing: Alex played great, but he looked like he was going to die out there (his neck must be killing him). I hope that he can get that fixed up after the tour. All in all, DO NOT MISS THIS TOUR!!! Regardless of whether or not you liked VH3, check them out live. You get to hear the classics and the new songs sound so much better live too.

"Somebody get me a shot!!!"

Unbelievable...unfuckingbelivable. After being scared by the "Live at the 10 Spot" show...I had my doubts tonight... but Van Halen did what they always do...kicked my ass.

This was the 4th time seeing VH...my first time on the '93 RHRN tour. I never thought anything would live up to that show. That was changed tonight.

With the sound of an elephant screeching, VH burst onto the stage with "Unchained" and blew the crowd away tune after tune. I haven't heard such cheering since I last saw 'Tallica at Rosemont.

Everytime Eddie would begin a solo...the crowd was giddy with Van Halen Joy. The crowd was LOUD...not quite a full house but damn close! Only the shitty seats were left...

I had the wind knocked out of me hearing "Romeo Delight," "Somebody Get Me a Doctor," and, scary enough, "How Many Say I." Eddie's piano playing was EXCELLENT...very impressive.

Gary...the man has pulled this off with style. One thing, Gary...stop touching yourself...at least in public.

Thanks again, Van Halen...you proved to me why you're the reigning gods of rock 'n' roll!!!

LONG LIVE VAN HALEN!!!

Unbelievable. That's the only word to describe the Van Halen show tonite at the Rosemont Horizon. Chicago was primed & ready & Van Halen certainly did not disappoint.

If you have any reservations about Gary Cherone, drop them. The man simply ROCKS!! He really lays it all out on stage, holding nothing back.

Eddie rocked, as you would expect, but tonite there was something special in the air. He looks great with the long hair back, and seemed to have so much fun up there you couldn't tell if it was 1998, 1988, or 1978. The man is a performer in every sense of the word.

There is no rhythm duo comparable to Michael Anthony & Alex Van Halen. Michael's lead on Get Me A Doctor was awesome. Alex's solo is from another dimension.

These guys are THE BEST...if you miss this show, you'll definitely regret it. I can't wait until the return.

The BEST CONCERT I HAVE EVER BEEN TOO!!!!! Man, I could not believe what I just saw. The whole show was superb. Pretty much all of the other reviews of the earlier show reviews explain this show well.

Gary was awesome. The group was very tight. I particularly enjoyed when Gary pulled Michael across the stage by his hair. It's amazing how energetic he was! He was all over the stage jumping on top of speakers rolling across the floor, jumping onto the drums, you get the picture. I thought it was funny during Why Can't This Be Love when Michael stole the chorus away from Gary. Gary then gagged him and the Eddie started singing! I haven't seen the band having this much fun with this much energy for many years. They really worked the crowd.

Michael and Alex's solos were spectactular as expected. Eddie broke into the solo during A Year to the Day which included some interesting new riffs, all of Eruption and 316 and then finally ended back into a Year to the Day.

The Chicago Fans got a real big kick out Eddie playing a black guitar (a Wolfgang I think) with the Chicago Bulls logo painted on it smoking a cigerette during Panama!

For those of you who thought Van Halen was dead, you must see this concert... if anything, the new lineup has energized Eddie and the others. Go to the concert and you too will be truely amazed! Expect the album to hit the charts once the guys return from Europe and tour the USA.

Awesome job guys!

IT ROCKED!!!!!!!!!!! Eddie had a Chicago Bull with a cigarette hanging out of the mouth painted on his wolfie while he played PANAMA!!

Gary is incredible....couldn't keep my eyes off him. They did a GREAT job and the whole place was into it. Eddie also sang How Many Say I. Now granted, the crowd was kinda just letting it sink in, but it was great to see him try it for the second time.

Sound was great, and EVERYONE was singing along to When it's Love, Why can't this be love, Dreams, Fire in the Hole, Without you, Somebody get me a Doctor, Right Now, Panama, Jump, Dreams. It was loud with the fans just SCREAMING!! Mean Street rocked too! "EVERYONE SAY 'FAIR WARNING!!"

They went on really fast after Kenny Wayne Shepard..(didnt dig him too much)...they just got up there and started blasting UNCHAINED!! Romeo Delight was cool too. Chicago Loved Van Halen!!

WOW!!! WHAT A SHOW!!! This was my fourth time seeing Van Halen and it was the absolute best. This was the best concert I've ever been to!!! The guys showed that they still know how to rock. As soon as the lights went down the crowd went wild and it didn't stop for the rest of the night.

Hearing the older tunes (..Doctor, Romeo Delight) mixed in with the new ones was a real treat. A high point for me was when the crowd welcomed Gary by chanting his name at the beginning of "Mean Street." Tonight Chicago became a Van Halen town.

To all the naysayers: Go see the tour and then make your decision. You won't walk away disappointed!!

HOLY SHIT. The show was amazing. MUCH better than Live At The 10-Spot. Eddie was wearing big ass huge Jnco pants, I thought he had a skirt on. Also during Panama, he played a guitar with a Chicago bulls logo on it. Whats with Gary's dyed hair? Who's he trying to be? I cant believe they didnt play Dance The Night Away, Feel Your Love Tonite, or Dirty Water Dog, and still wasted time playing When Its Love, Dreams, Year To The Day, and How Many Say I. Other than that, no complaints really, they played to a packed house, everyone was standing the whole time except during Year To The Day and How Many Say I.

Heres my highlights: Mean Street- KILLER, Romeo Delight- EXCELLENT, MR CHERONE, Somebody Get Me A Doctor- Somebody let Mike sing lead more!, Humans Being- WOW. It woke me up after they played Dreams. Now somebody again explain to me why Dreams and When Its Love are such popular songs?

Great Show guys, can't wait to see you at Alpine Valley on September 9th.

From the opening of "Unchained," 'til the closing of "Jump," I felt a true feeling that Van Halen is very content right now. It seems as though a burden has been lifted off their shoulders. Especially, Eddie and Michael. You can see it in their eyes that they are *really* enjoying playing the music from their past. And when they were playing the new music from III, you can tell this is just the tip of the iceberg. They have always been great live, but they had a swagger last night. Almost as though they were saying, "The best is yet to come." It really was an experience you have to see for yourself. It cannot be put into words. They pull out all the stops.