Van Halen performed a mix rarities and classics – including a pair of live debuts – at the launch of their North American tour in Seattle on Sunday.
“This is by far the best setlist I've made for us,” teased bassist Wolfgang Van Halen earlier this week. “Can't wait for everyone to hear it. Y'all are gonna flip.”
The band opened their 2015 road trip at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn with “Light Up The Sky” from 1979’s “Van Halen II” – its first performance in 35 years – while sprinkling the rarities throughout the 26-song set, including the “Women And Children First” tune “In A Simple Rhyme” (first time since 1978), and 1978’s “Feel Your Love Tonight”, which appeared for the first time since 1998.
Van Halen also delivered the live debuts of the “Fair Warning” track “Dirty Movies” and the “1984” album cut, “Drop Dead Legs.”
Billed as a greatest hits tour in support of their latest release, “Tokyo Dome Live In Concert”, the show also featured a selection of classics from the group’s original era with frontman David Lee Roth alongside two songs from 2012’s “A Different Kind Of Truth.”
“First show of the tour went amazing!,” posted Wolfgang after the show. “Thanks so much for a killer show, y'all! On to Portland.”
The group’s 2015 tour continues Tuesday at Ridgefield, Washington’s Amphitheater Northwest.
On July 10, Van Halen will expand their 2015 remastered reissues with the release of four albums: "Van Halen II”, “Women And Children First”, “Fair Warning” and “Diver Down.”
The band launched the series in March with the release of newly remastered versions of their groundbreaking self-titled 1978 debut and their 6th album, “1984.”
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