There is no better feeling than out vinyl digging and find something unexpected like a bootleg. Make that bootleg Van Halen and make there be two different ones there by Van Halen and that is why I love collecting. Those little surprises and the first one I already reviewed.. It is a soundboard recording from April 3, 1978 and recorded at the Pogo’s Night Club and Discotheque in Wichita, Kansas. The other bootleg I found was Van Halen’s Destruction in Dallas. Recorded on November 18, 1982 at Reunion Arena in Dallas, TX in front of a sold out show of over 19,000 screaming fans. This recording is a soundboard recording, although not a great one. The sound is really low, you can hear everything, but you really have to turn it up and it never gets loud enough for me which does detract from the show a little.

But Michael Anthony, Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen due to all out and I am sure the fans had a great time at the show. This was the Diver Down/Hide Your Sheep 1982 Tour. Now, the copy I have of this bootleg is on 2 LPs and both colored. We get a beautiful red one for Sides A/B and a white on for Sides C/D. The track list appears to be accurate from what I’ve seen and the last three songs on Side D are actually demos of songs that have not seen the light of day on any release.

The album opens up with an enthusiastic introduction from the announcer and the band goes in to “Romeo’s Delight” with Eddie’s guitar throwing riffs out like they were candy. Dave “woahing” and screaming as he forgot the fucking words (as he tells the crowd). Someone might be a little hammered already and we are only at the first song. Not a good sign of things to come. Sound quality wise, the sound is a little hollow for the instruments. And I have it cranked and still hard to hear the instruments. Dave is clear, Eddie’s guitar is clear, but the rest not so much. Oh, and the backing vocals are pretty loud too.

After the song ends, the rip right in to “Unchained” as that riff from Eddie is unmistakable. Dave isn’t so much as singing as spouting the words. But the backing vocals sound better than Dave. Then they go blasting in to “The Full Bug” off their current album at the time ‘Diver Down’. There is some great harmonica work on the song and you can hear the crowd screaming. Not a bad track.

The band then rips through a couple classics like “Runnin’ With the Devil” and “Jamie’s Cryin'”. It was flawless, well as flawless as can be with Dave seemingly a little hammered. Eddie’s playing was lethal and what you’d come to expect. They finished off Side A with “Little Guitars” and I have to say, they killed at usual and Dave was even on point which is nice to hear.

Side B kicks off with “Where Have All The Good Times Gone” and the sound is a little flat and lifeless for me. I don’t feel the energy. The band is playing their hearts out, but not a favorite song for me so doesn’t hit well for until the seamlessly go in to “Hang ‘Em High” as the guitars are brutal and the energy picks up. They guitar sound on the ending of the song reminds me a little of “Hot for Teacher” (random).

Eddie then shows off a little with “Cathedral”, no denying he is the king. Then with “Secrets”, Dave shows why he is the best front man. He’s lyrically deliver was smooth, cocky and slick. Classic Dave. “Everybody Wants Some” shows how David has just gotten more comfortable and maybe less drunk, but he had the crowd dangling on his finger tips. The band rocked it out as usual. Finally we close out the first LP with “Dance the Night Away” and it sounds like you expect. The backing harmonies, spot on and for this song that is key as there are lot of backing on this one. Dave spits the lyrics as only Dave can. More greatness from the boys.

LP 2 kicks off with Dave screaming “Somebody Get Me A Doctor” and then the band played wildly before kicking in full force. The song also had part of “I’m So Glad” mixed with it. Eddie’s guitar work was interesting, with plucking, picking, hammering, whatever it was but it was cool. Eddie’s guitar gets all distorted and crazy, the drum beat has that familiar tone and after “interlude” the slam right in to their fantastic version of “Pretty Woman” and man it kicks some major ass. And if that wasn’t fun enough, we then get Eddie doing what only Eddie can do and that is deliver nothing short of magical guitar work as he finally get his guitar solo…WTF!! I swear he goes so fast, with such a fury and at such a high pitch you think his guitar is going to EXPLODE!!! It is nuts!

After flipping over to the final side, we slowly transition to the last song of the show (before the encore) and that is “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” and the boys have played this one so many times that it is as you’d expect…well almost. Dave doesn’t quite hit all the right lyrics, leaves out a few words here and there, but you don’t really notice (ok, I noticed). They came out for the encore it was more of the same Van Halen antics as they whipped through “Bottoms Up” as Dave got the crowd singing along on “Bottoms Up”, Alex pounding away, Michael’s backing vocals great as usual and Eddie…well being Eddie…what else would he do. Then they blasted through “You Really Got Me” with a rendition of “Happy Trails” right in the middle to close out the show.

Two of the demos, “Glitter” and “Gentlemen of Leisure” are believed to be 2 of their earliest demos in circulation. They are believed to be from around 1973/1974 and from the pre-Van Halen band Mammoth. If that is the case, then Mark Stone would be on bass and not Michael Anthony. Jim Pewsey was on keyboards for Mammoth. David released them on Dave TV on davidleeroth.com in 1998. The last demo is called “Angel Eyes” and was the first track off their Cherokee Demo which is from 1974. So, again this is probably Mammoth and I read contradictory info that is probably is Michael Anthony and not Mark Stone on bass…but it is really hard to say without checking with the guys.

“Glitter” opens with some really cool Eddie riffing, Dave struts through the vocals. It’s a cool song and one I hadn’t heard before. This isn’t quite the same style as what we are used to hearing, but you can hear some really talent. The song ends abruptly and goes in to “Gentlemen of Leisure” and again, it’s what you’d expect. More killer playing be Eddie and Dave doing Dave. A rough recording, but not real bad. Guitar is front and center, the other instruments are mixed real far down, except I can hear the bass well enough. This one cuts of quickly as well. Then with “Angel Eyes”, you actually get Dave playing an Acoustic guitar believe it or not. A softer ballad and really nice actually. They thought about including it on Van Halen II, but decided against it which is shame. A cool track.

I will say, I don’t like this one as much as that earlier show I picked up, but it is still a pretty cool show. I think my favorite part is the demos thrown on the end as I am a huge fan of unreleased demos. The show itself was not the best quality for a soundboard, in my opinion, as I had to turn the volume way up to get a decent enough sound. Dave seemed a little drunk at first, but got better as the show went on. Eddie was as awesome as ever, but the other instruments were not as strong in the mix. The backing vocals were pretty killer, like only Michael Anthony can. My Overall Score is a 3.0 out of 5.0 Stars. However, I am glad I have it and still recommend it for any Van Halen diehard fan. We don’t have any official live albums from Dave’s early years, so I will take them where I can get them.