Blimp Time-Hop: Van Halen Hit The Ground Runnin’ At A Packed CCCC

38 years ago today, Van Halen returned to Portland for a third time. On May 16, 1981, the ‘Noize Boyz’ brought their Fair Warning Tour to Blimpville unleashing new songs live like Unchained, Mean Street and Hear About It Later.

It was their second show as a headliner with a capacity crowd at the CCCC. The first sellout there was on August 10, 1979. There were 82 shows on the 1981 North American tour and 79 of them were sold out! This is Van Halen at their most ferocious…all killah, no fillah!

It was also the last time the original line-up of Eddie, Alex, Michael and Dave played here. Van Halen returned to Maine in August of 1986 for two nights with their new lead singer Sammy Hagar. David Lee Roth followed with an appearance as a solo artist 3 months later.

They rocked it wicked hahd that early 80s night! Heavy Friggin' Duty!

Here's 3 songs from the Oakland show about a month after they conquered Portland! Hear About It Later, So This Is Love, and Unchained!

Gone are the days of Mikey chugging Jack Daniels straight from the bottle and Alex banging a gong in flames. Fortunately, we can feel the fire of all the past glory right here.

"Change, nothin' stays the same."