The new Van Halen had a busy week with live rehearsals and VIP guests were the firsts to be thrilled with it... from Scott Ian (Anthrax) to Wes Scantlin (Puddle of Mud), passing by Kirk Hammett (Metallica) to John 5 (Marylin Manson), Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne) and Steve Lukather, among some other 500 guests or so.


About the second rehearsal (on the 16th), Scott Ian said:

"I went to see Van Halen rehearse last night. They were fucking amazing (ear-boners).

Seriously, the hair on my arms was standing up. Dave sang great, Eddie was shredding, Alex is a fucking monster and Wolf was perfect. Great on bass and hit every high note. The set list was 2 1/2 hours of the best shit. I'm The One, Atomic Punk, Romeo Delight, Somebody Get Me A Doctor, Mean Street, Unchained and so many more.

Do whatever you gotta do to get tix to see this. FINALLY!!!!!

A real full blown arena rock act!!!!! It's like listening to the soundtrack of America since 1978. THE KINGS ARE BACK!!!!!!!"

About the September 18th rehearsal, Steve Lukather, a long Van Halen friend, said:

"I have seen the future !
It's not "NEW"... It's fucking VAN HALEN!!

I was invited to a loose rehearsal for the new tour last night. It was NOT the "fab: dress rehearsal, it was one where in a big arena they were rehearsing for the upcoming tour. Now Ed and Al are dear friends of mine for alomost 30 years, same "valley" upbringing as me, and I have always loved VH and the music, but also more cause I really love these guys as friends. Our kids grew up together, we live near each other etc.
Fuck all that.

I saw and HEARD REAL ROCK N ROLL! It took me back... I had a fucking tear in my eye. They are Baaaack! If this ain't the rock n roll event of the year then I fucking will be your septic tank salesman! Ed KILLED, Alex, never better (dig the drum solo!). Any doubts about Wolfie are laughable, he played and sang all the high parts and made Alex's groove more deep than ever in the history, 16 years old, look out for THIS kid!, and I gotta say, Dave brought it! I admit, I was a bit "Oh fuck I hope this is good" but fucking A if Dave didn't deliver! (even thought there were maybe 100 people hangin out watching).

I brought my 20 year old son who is a HUGE fan... the sound and vibe of this band brought me back to 1978 and like a fine wine tasted better than ever! The SET LIST?? It's gonna KILL YOU! GREAT production but it's ALL about the band not flashy images of bullshit artsy fartsy crap, it's the BAND and Dave is really the cat that can front VH. He sang his ASS off and was really cool. No cheese here guys, this is filet Mignon!

If you don't see what I saw last night, and that's WITHOUT a massive arena crowd that will tear the roof off..well then you might as well be dead! Nothing fake here guys, nothing shallow or jive... just the best rock n roll band that the USA has got! Whatever they are charging go see it !

They were having FUN! There was some humour but not in a cheesy way, VH way. Damn, there IS hope yet!"

That same concert received the following comment by Wes Scantlin:

"The VAN HALEN experience was incredible. I felt like I was all like a 12 or 13-year-old kid again, watching them for the first time.

They all looked really, really good, man, and they were all playing really, really well. I don't know how Eddie does half that stuff on the guitar. David Lee Roth was, you know, he was being Dave, man, and it was really, really cool.

If you wanted to see VAN HALEN with David Lee Roth again, man, this is your chance. They were rocking it hardcore."