8/11/1979 Asbury Park, NJ (photo: Mark Weiss)
8/11/1979 Van Halen – Asbury Park, NJ (Photo: Mark Weiss)
8/11/1979 Van Halen – Asbury Park, NJ (Photo: Mark Weiss)
8/11/1979 Van Halen – Asbury Park, NJ (Photo: Mark Weiss)
8/11/1979 Van Halen – Asbury Park, NJ (Photo: Mark Weiss)
8/11/1979 Van Halen – Asbury Park, NJ (Photo: Mark Weiss)
8/11/1979 Van Halen – Asbury Park, NJ (Photo: Mark Weiss)
8/11/1979 Van Halen – Asbury Park, NJ (Photo: Mark Weiss)
8/11/1979 Van Halen – Asbury Park, NJ (Photo: Mark Hanion)
8/11/1979 Van Halen – Asbury Park, NJ (Photo: Mark Hanion)
8/11/1979 Van Halen – Asbury Park, NJ (Photo: Mark Hanion)
8/11/1979 Van Halen – Asbury Park, NJ (Photo: Mark Hanion)
8/11/1979 Bootleg cover
8/11/1979 Van Halen ticket – Asbury Park, NJ
8/11/1979 Van Halen ticket – Asbury Park, NJ
8/11/1979 Van Halen ad – Asbury Park, NJ
8/11/1979 Van Halen – Asbury Park, NJ
I had the opportunity to see Van Halen 8/11/79 at Convention Hall. A friend of my mom called the week of the show, as her son was going and had an extra ticket. I’d heard of Van Halen, but didn’t know any of the songs besides “You Really Got Me”, so I passed on it. My excuse, “I only know one song”! … I know, STUPID …
45 years later, I STILL regret that decision 😔
I was there, with 2 of my best friends.
We spent the whole day at the beach and roaming around Asbury Park. After spotting what was obviously a tour bus in the back lot of The Empress Hotel on Ocean Ave (a few blocks south of Convention Hall) we started loitering in front of the hotel (even sneaking in to use the lobby bathroom…beer!) After a few mins, Eddie himself strolled out!! He was fumbling around for a match to light his cigarette, when my friend Pat stepped in with his lighter. He looked like a Rockstar but couldn’t have been more “everyman”. Talking casually with 3 stoned, starstruck teenagers in their concert t-shirts (mine was Led Zeppelin). A limo pulled up for him and off he went, likely to sound check.
Dave and Alex literally charged out and into a second car minutes later, passing by quickly. Concert was awesome…how I wish to go back to that day, if only. RIP EVH.