The real Van Halen, for those who don't know.

It pains me to think of it, but in the time between my first discovering Van Halen and now, two generations of young guitarists have grown up almost completely oblivious as to their importance in shaping the sound of the past 30 years in rock music. What's more worrying is that if the lost generation, who grew up thinking a guitar hero is someone who is good at a computer game, was for some reason vaguely aware of Eddie and the boys, it was more likely they were familiar with 'Why can't this be love' than 'Everybody wants some'.Yes folks, Sammy Hagar has finally been laid to rest in his role as interim vocalist with one of the biggest American rock bands of all time and triumphant the return of the one and only David Lee Roth. This, I fully appreciate, is not news hot off the proverbial press to anyone other than those living under a stone for the past year. What should however come as a nice surprise, to those with a merely passing interest in music of this sort, is that the band who gave the world spandex, the on-stage music video cliché and the kind of guitar hero who actually plays a guitar, have 30 years down the line lost none of their famously accessible sound.Roth promised in the pre-tour press conference that this is not a reunion, but a reformation of the group - with a Japanese and European tour to follow a new album and it appears to be going according to plan, after the group was forced to add more dates to the first north American tour with the original line-up in 20 years.The only false credential to the status of the group's full reformation is the loss of original bass player Michael Anthony. To the purist, Anthony's replacement, Edward Van Halen's son Wolfegang, for all his clear ability to play the bass much better than Anthony, just doesn't stand and the torch of victory on a popular Dave Lee Roth fan-site, which has campaigned for a return of 'Classic' Van Halen, remains unlit.I have to admit to a tear in my eye when I first saw Dave and Eddie in the same frame, as I stared at the tiny figures in the distance standing beneath a huge video display. A stage as large would dwarf a lesser front-man, who seems to need more room, even at his age. The leg kicks are more choreographed than ever these days, but they don't stop being entertaining. I witnessed synchronised head bobbing at a Manic Street Preachers concert once, which physically sent me from the bar until the end of the gig and emotionally to the back of the queue in my previously fairly high respect of the group. The same behaviour in karate-kick form from Mister Roth felt right - like an old sweater that, despite it's faded colours and sagging neck-line, nevertheless cuddles you warm when nothing else will do.In short, if you haven't already, get tickets to go see Van Halen live with David Lee Roth. If you just can't find them for a reasonable price, I can say from this evidence they certainly have enough energy and renewed enthusiasm for one more tour in them yet - so stay tuned! Van Halen heard we missed them, and they are back!