Do you remember when Eddie Van Halen played the very first Farm Aid in Champaign, Illinois?

It was a sad day in music with the passing of Eddie Van Halen. It's helped to reminisce with friends about all our Van Halen memories. I remember at an eighth-grade dance the song "Jump" was played at least ten times.

I was the youngest kid by three years on my block growing up. The older boys were always cool to me. I was an only child, so they treated me like a little brother. They got me into football and good music. One of them introduced me to Van Halen. At the first listen, I was hooked and a fan from then on. It changed my life.

Luckily, I was able to see them live several times. Some of my favorite concert moments are seeing them for the first time during the 5150 tour. Monsters Rock at Alpine Valley was really cool. Finally, catching David Lee Roth on the reunion tour. Of course, the final tour which I didn't know would be the last time.

There were some shows that I wasn't able to make it too. I really wanted to go to the 1984 show but it just didn't work out. The other one was the debut of Eddie Van Halen and Sammy Hagar playing together at the very first Farm Aid in 1985 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.

I was excited because the show was aired on TV. It was Sammy's solo band and Eddie came out to jam on one song, "Rock n Roll" from Led Zeppelin. If you never got a chance to see it, well, now you can. If did, then enjoy the flashback. That's when they announced Sammy was joining the band.

Video: Sammy Hagar & Eddie Van Halen - Rock and Roll (Live at Farm Aid 1985)

I've been jamming Van Halen all day. Long live Van Halen. RIP EVH.


 

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