Van Halen Perform At The Billboard Music Awards

The mighty Van Halen got the first performance slot at the Billboard Music Awards - I guess they technically opened the show, but Taylor Swift premiered her new music video first, so maybe they didn't really? At any rate, the band sounded tight and David Lee Roth did pretty well on the vocals. For what it's worth, the guys sure looked like they were having fun.

If you missed it, their performance of "Panama" is below.

Comments

[Ace Steele]

Well, EVH is better than he was on Hollywood Blvd. , but poor Dave... out of tune, out of timing, & delivering like a Tourrette's outpatient. Stick a fork in him, he's done.

[Bob]

the problem these days with Diamond Dave is that he's trying too hard. He seems to be trying to prove that he still has a high vocal range, so he tries to hit notes that are way higher than the ones in the songs' original melodies. The problem is that he can't actually hit those notes, so he ends up singing out of tune. He'd actually be doing himself a favor by sticking to the original vocal melodies which, in most cases, I think he still has the pipes to pull off. He gets himself in trouble when he tries to do too much.

[Rokkett]

You know, I don't really get why people are so eager to bash Roth.. He sounds great in this video compared to a lot of clips from the reunion tour or even from the ADKOT tour. Sure he's having a hard time with the high notes but off time? Sheesh he isn't even off time, DLR has ALWAYS been like that. The word skipping? Always been there and comparing to past performances ( the 90's/Sammy&Roth tour)he's doing good and they even fit into the DLR persona. Sure he can't be as flamboyant as he was in his heyday but I think it suits him as he knows he's old. Give DLR a break. For so many years we all wanted this to happen (don't lie you know you did) and now it's here. VH2015. Sounding good.

[Gary]

Eddie sounds a whole lot better than he did years ago when he was blind drunk for most of the decade.These guys were it for me from 1978 to about 1985. I saw them on their Diver Down and 1984 tours. Let's just say I prefer to remember them that way and leave it at that.

[GNR]

Hey... at least you know they are singing and playing, live !!!

I liked it and had it cranked.

[Metalboy!]

I'm with Rockett & GNR! I actually think this was the best he sounded out of the trilogy of "First Time Live" TV appearances and everyone seems generally firing on all pistons and having a great time. Eddie just CRANKS and has never looked better!

That said, I thought the "Ellen" appearance was the coolest overall for the band as a whole as it really captured them up close and personal.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond Dave! May you let your Freak Flag Fly Forever. A true original and an inspiration!

[Metalboy!]

p.s. As I mentioned here previously, I saw them blow Ted Nugent off the stage at Capitol Centre, Largo, MD in the Spring of 1978 and at the same venue, now long gone, in the Summer of 1981. Finally, now, after all the B.S., I'm going to try and see 'em comin' up in Mid September in Tampa.

[fletch]

I missed this performance, as I was in Philly with my son at The Who/Joan Jett tour. (Which, BTW, Johnny Dee from Britny Fox/Doro was about 7 rows in front of us). I was telling my son a lot of personal stories about the Philadelphia venues- how my older brother saw The Who on their "farewell tour" in 1982 at the 'ol JFK (now The Link), how he also saw Van Halen in 1984 at the 'ol Sprectrum (now the venue we were currently seated in- Citizen Bank Park), but my mom (his grandmother) thought I was too young to attend and said that I'll be old enough to see Van Halen when they tour next time around (D'oh!)- but I did see instead, Van Hagar back-to-back nights and a few months later David Lee Roth/Cinderella and then David Lee Roth/Poison. How my dad used take me, as a young kid, to see WWF here and years later, I saw many a glam band here that he now sees on the festival circuits.

Anyway, when The Who took the stage and after playing a few songs, I said to Nick, "Do you see that lead singer up there, Roger Daltry...well, he's only a few years younger than your grandpa" (who is currently hospitalized, and whose prognosis isn't good). I continued, "I hope that when I am that age, I still have the strength, energy, attitude, endurance, mindset (and many more adverbs) to continue on the way that he is able to, and the way that Pete Townsend in able to and the way that Joan Jett was able to earlier. (Nick thought that Joan Jett and the Blackhearts were phenomenal).

And to the posters and readers of this site..."And the way that dave, edward and alex continue on. We're not getting younger, but it sure beats the alternative. I'd like to stick a fork into some of the above comments".

[fletch]

^^^I meant the Wells Fargo Center.

[Him]

I concur: he sounds better than he has and he has never sounded particularly good (this is not Halford . . . a vocalist second and an entertainer first, not a singer, is what DLR brings to the table). And that is my two cents as a rather critical fanboy, at least as of late.

Rokkett, I can't help but believe it was intentional, that "break" comment. Either way, "one break . . . coming up!"