Iconic Shot: Their potential was evident even then

c/o Van Halen News Desk, original source unknown

Last night Van Halen played a warm-up gig at Café Wha? in New York’s West Village in lieu of their upcoming 45-city tour to support “A Different Kind of Truth,” the band’s first album since 1998 and their first with legendary frontman David Lee Roth in 27 years.

Reminiscent of my September 9 post that also featured these four lads from Pasadena, the shot featured above was taken in 1978 during a promotional appearance for Van Halen’s debut album. Their eponymous release eventually went diamond (domestic sales of 10 million+) and would set the tone for an additional five groundbreaking albums with DLR at the helm before he parted ways with the group under questionable circumstances in 1985.

Although bassist/co-founding member Michael Anthony has been out of the band since the end of the ’04 reunion tour with Sammy Hagar (replaced two years later by Eddie’s son, Wolfgang), fans by all accounts seem more than satisfied – downright giddy in some cases – to see this otherwise “original” lineup return to the road once again with a new album set for release next month.

Considering the present state of the genre’ – AC/DC and Metallica notwithstanding – a return to form by one of the greatest of all Rock bands is both highly anticipated and long overdue.

Still-shot, borrowed respectfully, from the online promo for their upcoming tour.