Confession: I Have a Bad Feeling About the Van Halen Single 'Tattoo'

As promised, Van Halen released tour dates yesterday and you can see them below. The band also announced  A Different Kind of Truth as their new album and that the song "Tattoo" is the first single. The full version of the song will be released Tuesday, January 10. The full album is out February 7.

I waited all freaking day to hear the 30 second teaser snippet of "Tattoo." I'm serious. I was slammed at work and didn't want to have to listen quick and leave it as an afterthought. So while everyone else was listening, I abstained so I could come home, hit play a couple times and really think about the preview for awhile. And after all that, I ended up disappointed. Granted, the only thing we have to go on now is a 30 second sample... but still. I love me some Van Halen. I have no idea what I was expecting... but it wasn't the flat vocals and weirdo lyrics in "Tattoo."

Now, "She's The Woman" is another story entirely. The band recorded a demo of the tune way back in the late 70s and it just never made it on to an official album... until now. Like "Tattoo," "She's The Woman" will be on A Different Kind of Truth. Of course, the modern version is different. Here's that 70s demo, by the way:

Here's the band doing "She's The Woman" on Thursday night in New York City:

Anyway, I hope I'm being overly pessimistic. And I'm sure once I hear the full version of "Tattoo" I'll like it more. I'll be buying the single on Tuesday for sure.

The tracklisting for A Different Kind of Truth:

1. Tattoo
2. She’s The Woman
3. You and Your Blues
4. China Town
5. Blood and Fire
6. Bullethead
7. As Is
8. Honeybabysweetiedoll
9. The Trouble With Never
10. Outta Space
11. Stay Frosty
12. Big River
13. Beats Workin’

Here's the tour dates. Kool and the Gang will provide support.

Feb. 18 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
Feb. 20 – Auburn Hills, MI – The Palace Of Auburn Hills
Feb. 22 – Indianapolis, IN – Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Feb. 24 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Feb. 28 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Mar. 01 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Mar. 03 – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Arena
Mar. 05 – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
Mar. 09 – Buffalo, NY – First Niagara Center
Mar. 11 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Mar. 15 – Montreal, QCBell Centre
Mar. 17 – Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre
Mar. 21 – Ottawa, ON – Scotiabank Place
Mar. 24 – Atlantic City, NJ – Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall
Mar. 28 – Washington, DC – Verizon Center
Mar. 30 – Pittsburgh, PA – Consol Energy Center
Apr. 01 – Rosemont, IL – Allstate Arena
Apr. 10 – Sunrise, FL – BankAtlantic Center
Apr. 12 – Tampa, FL – Tampa Bay Times Forum
Apr. 14 – Orlando, FL – Amway Center
Apr. 16 – Jacksonville, FL – Jacksonville Veterans Mem. Arena
Apr. 19 – Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena
Apr. 21 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Apr. 25 – Charlotte, NC – Time Warner Cable Arena
Apr. 27 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
May 01 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
May 05 – Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome
May 07 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
May 09 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
May 11 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place
May 17 – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre
May 19 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
May 22 – Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center
May 24 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center
May 27 – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena
Jun. 01 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center
Jun. 03 – Oakland, CA – Oracle Arena
Jun. 05 – San Jose, CA – HP Pavilion At San Jose
Jun. 12 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center
Jun. 14 – San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena
Jun. 16 – Phoenix, AZ – US Airways Center
Jun. 20 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
Jun. 22 – San Antonio, TX – AT&T Center
Jun. 24 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
Jun. 26 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Arena

Comments

[Bob]

Vh actually did more than one demo of She's the Woman back in the day. The song was also a staple of their club sets since about 1976. wolfie is absolutely tearing up the bass in that live version, something that MA couldn't do in a zillion years. finally, I haven't heard Tattoo because Universal Music Group, in their infinite quest to still act like record labels are a necessary part of today's music industry, have blocked the Youtube clip on copyright grounds...Stupid!

[JN]

If it is between the Chickenfoot tour and this one, I choose Chickenfoot. Will be a better tour with better bands. Kool and the Gang? are you Feckin kidding me?

These clips don't excite me at all.

[Metalboy!]

The song "Tattoo" is pretty cool. I wish Dave could sing a little better but the music frickin' ROCKS! Eddie's blazin' and Wolfgang and Alex are all over it.

But, alas, the video is totally half-arsed! If they had just put a little more into it, that could have made a bigger deal out of the debut of the single and the album.

Tattoos are such a great topic. Imagine what could have been done for the video, visually. The possibilities are endless.

A golden opportunity missed.

[Metalboy!]

p.s. Obviously, these guys aren't believers in plastic surgery.

[Him]

. . . just read your post here, Metalboy!, after reading and praising your post after the single was released. The "squat" comment was solely, and purposefully, directed at me. Meta-communication, I suppose.

But my reason for posting was simple: I was taken with the fact that so many others were so willing to write big in such a small (though important and enjoyable) venue. I guess it is the bluster of opinion with no constraint, the willingness to eke out a bit of misdirected passion when there are no stakes at risk.

To clarify, I enjoy the give-and-take and can see that we have worked up to a bit of rapport. I may critique your style and bravado every now and again, holding court for an audience of one (or two or three) on issues over which I exert zero control. But I am not so oblivious that I can't turn the scalpel back on myself when it seems warranted.

In fact, your posts stand out more and more as yelling towards a cause and arguing with a purpose. Which seems fitting given the title of this rather anonymous venue.