Last Friday, the Los Angeles Times reported that the long anticipated reunion of Van Halen's (more or less) original lineup has been cancelled. Following the January announcement that the hair-metal demigods would finally ascend to the musical Valhalla that is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the promise of the band's reunion with original frontman and rock icon David Lee Roth has dissipated, as if inevitably. Tough break, perhaps, for those looking forward to finally seeing Roth (who was named "the most obnoxious singer in human history" by The Rolling Stone Record Guide) strut around an amphitheatre stage in a too-tight cat suit and bust into some arthritic high-kick acrobatics. But fear not, classic rock fans, for although this Van Halen tour may be shelved indefinitely, you can revel in the fact that we are living in the age of the classic rock revival.
Yes, 2007 will see "reunion tours" of some of the most popular names in stadium rock. A reunion by tepid British prog-rockers Genesis kicks off in June, albeit without the group's esoteric original lead vocalist and flautist Peter Gabriel, and the early 80's three-piece The Police will take the stage in Vancouver on May 28 for the first of its umpteen reunion shows. Furthermore, as if hell itself has indeed frozen over (again), The Eagles are reported to be releasing their first studio album of new material since 1979. Well, big deal, right?
For classic rock fans-and I cringe even using the term "classic rock": two relatively benign words that when combined inexorably conjure up caustic images of bands like Foreigner and Kansas squawking a bunch of shitty songs that, for whatever reason, people gave a damn about 20 or 30 years ago-it is kind of a big deal. The problem is that these Best Buy sponsored "rock" concerts neglect a substantial demographic, namely me (and people like me).
Of these recently reformed groups, The Police are really the only ones I'd be interested in seeing (they're amazing and nobody can convince me otherwise-listen to Zenyatta Mondatta if you don't believe me). But for Christ's sake, I'd have to start selling surplus organs on eBay.de or weaseling my way into the wills of dying, affluent women (a chapter in my personal history I'm not eager to revisit) just to afford a ticket. Tickets for the July 26 Police show at the Bell Centre (the July 25 show is sold out) start at $59 for nosebleeds and the only decent floor seats I could find would set me back $95 each. And those seats are behind the stage. Behind the stage.
2008 Woodie Awards
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