Van Halen Sales Off to Strong Start

[MrRant]

By Ray Waddell

 

NASHVILLE (Billboard) - There are a number of solid arena tours out this spring and summer, including those by Eric Clapton (news), Britney Spears (news), Rod Stewart (news), Eagles, Prince, Madonna (news - web sites), Metallica (news - web sites) and Van Halen.

 

The last of these launched with impressive on-sales last week, surely easing the minds of some promoters who ponied up artist guarantees of $750,000 to $1 million, according to sources.

 

Band manager Irving Azoff would not confirm the figures.

 

An on-again, off-again rumor for much of the first part of this year, the Van Halen reunion with Sammy Hagar (news) on vocals is now shaping up as a solid top 25 tour for 2004. The tour opens June 11 in Greensboro, N.C., at the Greensboro Coliseum.

 

"I knew it would blow out," Azoff says. "Van Halen is rocking."

 

Azoff says the tour will ultimately consist of four legs of 22 shows each.

 

 

Reuters/Billboard

[BUTT]

Well, that's good to hear. They probably would have sold more tickets if they have brought Roth back, but I like them more with Sammy and they don't want to deal with Roth's ego anymore. That said, I probably won't be going to see them because I don't feel like dropping $50 or more on a concert. Speaking of VH,

 

 

isn't Eddie looking a bit like Ozzy lately?

[haVoc]

Are they actually back together with Hager or just for a quick (buck) tour?