Van Halen Tee Shirts – The David Lee Roth Years

Ain't Talkin' Bout Hagar - Van Halen circa Diamond Dave

Inarguably, the David Lee Roth years of the band Van Halen were the best.  The first six albums of VH during the years 1977 – 1984 gave to the world anthems like “Running with the Devil”, “Unchained”, and “Panama” and proved not only Eddie Van Halen’s unassailable guitar virtuosity but David Lee Roth’s L.A. party lothario/game show host frontmanship as well.  It also established a rock iconography all their own.  Almost like a rock and roll sitcom/variety show, California style. 

Led Zeppelin – The Last Two U.S. Shows – July 23rd and 24th, 1977

There was bound to be some shit started that day.  Led Zeppelin, who had been touring for almost 4 months at that point, hit Oakland, CA with the weight their name suggests.  But San Francisco was Bill Graham’s turf, and anyone at the time could have told you that he refused to take shit from anyone, period.  It was his way or get the fuck out of town and don’t come back, ever.  Dude killed a guy with his bare hands in the Korean War.  To make matters worse, Zeppelin were employing an ex-wrestler thug with Mafia connections by the name of John Bindon as security.   Add drugs and alcohol to the mix and you have the makings of Altamont ’77.