Van Halen launches tour, books more shows

Veteran rockers Van Halen --who will hit the stage tonight for their first concert in 22 years with original frontman David Lee Roth at the helm--have booked some more dates for their in-demand roadtrip.

The group--whose lone Boston date sold out in 20 minutes, according to organizers--has added a second show in the region, this time in Worcester, MA, just west of Boston. Meanwhile, sellouts on the Southern California band's home turf have resulted in just-added second nights at Los Angeles' Staples Center and Anaheim's Honda Center.

Tickets for the Worcester show are scheduled to hit the box office tomorrow (9/28), while those for the SoCal rollovers are already on sale. In addition, tickets are scheduled to roll out Saturday for the band's trio of early December performances in Canada. Details are included in the itinerary below.

Tonight, Van Halen launches its outing with a performance in Charlotte, NC. So far, the group has booked about 40 shows that stretch into late December.

Van Halen's original, Roth-fronted lineup rose to fame in the late '70s and early '80s, but Roth split from the group in 1985 and embarked on a solo career. Sammy Hagar took his place and released four chart-topping albums with the band between 1986 and 1995, but split from the group in 1996. Former Extreme frontman Gary Cherone briefly fronted the band for a lone 1998 album and tour.

After Cherone's 1999 departure, the group lay dormant for about five years, during which time Eddie Van Halen successfully battled oral cancer, and split from his wife of 20 years, actress Valerie Bertinelli.

In 2004, Van Halen recorded three new songs with Hagar, which appeared on a best-of compilation, and mounted a reunion tour. That outing ended in another bitter split up between Hagar and guitarist Eddie Van Halen.

During the three years since that tour ended, rumors have swirled almost non-stop that Roth and the band would reunite; Roth himself was among those fueling the rumors, as the loquacious frontman often said publicly that he believed such a reunion was inevitable.

Earlier this year, the group announced a summer tour with Roth, but had to scrap those plans when Eddie Van Halen entered a rehab facility.

Ironically, the band's imminent tour with Roth won't be an actual reunion of the band's original lineup; founding brothers Alex and Eddie Van Halen have replaced original bassist Michael Anthony with Eddie's 16-year-old son, Wolfgang Van Halen.

Anthony, meanwhile, will head out next month on a 60-date tour with Hagar and Hagar's solo band, The Wabos, who will launch the run with a series of performances at Hagar's Baja, Mexico nightclub, the Cabo Wabo Cantina. The outing is expected to stretch into next July.

Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year. Only Hagar and Anthony attended the ceremony.

[Note: The following tour dates have been provided by artist and/or tour sources, who verify its accuracy as of the publication time of this story. Changes may occur before tickets go on sale. Check with official artist websites, ticketing sources and venues for late updates.]
 tour dates and tickets
September 2007
27 - Charlotte, NC - Charlotte Bobcats Arena
29 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum

October 2007
1,3 - Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
5 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
7 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre
10 - Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena
12 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre
14 - Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Field House
16 - Rosemont, IL - Allstate Arena
18 - Chicago, IL - United Center
20 - Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena
22 - Auburn Hills, MI - Palace of Auburn Hills
24 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
26 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
28 - St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
30 - Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Garden

November 2007
1 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
3 - E. Rutherford, NJ - Continental Airlines Arena
6 - Worcester, MA - DCU Center (on sale 9/28)
8 - Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
10 - Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
13 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
20 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
23 - Glendale, AZ - Jobing.Com Arena
25 - San Diego, CA - Cox Arena
27 - Sacramento, CA - Arco Arena
29 - Fresno, CA - Save Mart Center

December 2007
1 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden
3 - Seattle, WA - Key Arena
5 - Vancouver, British Columbia - General Motors Place (on sale 9/29)
7 - Calgary, Alberta - Pengrowth Saddledome (on sale 9/29)
9 - Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place (on sale 9/29)
14 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
16 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion at San Jose
18, 20 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
22 - Oakland, CA - Oracle Arena

 tour dates and tickets
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