Van Halen & Prince tributes live at the Athens!
BY SANTI GABINO JR.
Flashy stage costumes, high-energy choreography and electrifying guitar solos are just a few of the ways you could describe legendary rock band Van Halen! At 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 26, relive both David Lee Roth’s and Sammy Hagar’s glory days as lead vocalist when Best of Both Worlds, The Ultimate Van Halen Tribute Band takes the stage!
Born in 1955 in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen moved to California with his family in the early 1960s. Like many young children, Eddie and his brother, Alex, were first introduced to music by taking classical piano lessons. Going into their teenage years, Eddie began learning and favoring guitar over piano, while Alex began holding his own on the drums.
In 1974, the Van Halen brothers hooked up with vocalist David Lee Roth and bassist Michael Anthony to form Van Halen. Thanks to Eddie’s signature guitar sound and Roth’s unique vocals and flamboyant stage presence, they quickly became a regular fixture on the Los Angeles rock scene.
Their first break came in 1977, when Kiss bassist Gene Simmons heard them at a local club and financed their first recording session. The following year, Van Halen signed with Warner Bros. and released its self-titled debut album, which featured the hit single “Runnin’ With the Devil.”
Eddie’s electric-guitar solos and Roth’s tongue-in-cheek antics launched the album to platinum status within six months of its release.
Over the years, Van Halen went through a few lineup changes, most notably Sammy Hagar replacing Roth as the lead vocalist in 1985. However, brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen, known for their powerful, drum- and bass-laden musical performances, remain always at the band’s core.
Through the years, Van Halen released 12 studio albums and sold more than 80 million records worldwide with hits such as “Jump,” “Panama,” “Hot for Teacher,” “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love,” “Unchained,” and many more!
In 2007, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In fact, Eddie Van Halen’s innovative guitar playing, in particular, has often been compared to that of another rock legend, Jimi Hendrix.
So, for the evening of May 26, get ready to squeeze into your leather pants, don your best bandana, choose your accessories in bulk, and make sure that your air-guitar skills are on point, as Best of Both Worlds, The Ultimate Van Halen Tribute Band, storms into the Athens Theatre in DeLand!
Switching gears, from his unique blend of funk, rock and soul to his over-the-top fashion sense and boundary-pushing lyrics, the music of one-named-wonder and rock icon Prince will be under the spotlight on Saturday night! Lace up your purple boots, don your ruffled shirt, and let your inner Prince flag fly as the Athens Theatre welcomes A Tribute to Prince Starring Sir Jac at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 27.
Prince Rogers Nelson (named after his father’s jazz band, the Prince Rogers Trio), known simply as Prince, was born in Minneapolis in 1958. He began his music career in the late 1970s, and quickly gained a reputation for his unique sound and electric energy. Throughout the 1980s, Prince became a superstar, releasing a string of critically acclaimed albums including Rain, Sign o’ the Times, 1999, and the Academy Award-winning Purple Rain.
His music was marked by his distinctive falsetto vocals, virtuosic guitar playing, and provocative lyrics that often explored themes of sexuality, spirituality and social justice. He was also known for his flamboyant stage presence and iconic fashion sense, which included high-heeled boots and bold makeup. He was a trailblazer in challenging traditional notions of masculinity and femininity.
Apart from singing, Prince was also a prolific songwriter. In fact, some of the most recognized pop/rock songs in history were written by him, including “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor, “Manic Monday” by The Bangles, “The Glamorous Life” by Sheila E., “I Feel for You” by Chaka Khan, and “Stand Back” by Stevie Nicks.
In 2004, the first year he was eligible, Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The evening of May 27, hop in your Little Red Corvette, Let’s go Crazy, and get ready to party like it’s 1999 with A Tribute to Prince Starring Sir Jac!
Please note: This Prince tribute concert contains suggestive music and dancing. Parental discretion is advised.
Tickets for all shows, along with more information, can be found at www.AthensDeLand.com or by calling the box office at 386-736-1500. Box-office hours are 1-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, and 1 1/2 hours before live performances.