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Balance Tour
Balance Tour
Balance Tour
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Balance Tour
Tour by Van Halen
Location
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • North America
Start dateJanuary 27, 1995
End dateNovember 5, 1995
Legs7
No. of shows135
Van Halen concert chronology

The Balance Tour was a concert tour by American hard rock band Van Halen in support of their tenth studio album Balance.

Background

[edit]

The tour was dubbed the "Ambulance" Tour by Eddie Van Halen due to his hip injury caused by avascular necrosis, and his brother, drummer Alex Van Halen wearing a neck brace for most of the tour, due to rupturing three vertebrae in his neck.[1] Consequently, Eddie was a lot more static on stage.[2] This would be the group's last tour with Sammy Hagar on vocals until 2004.[3][4] The opening night in Pensacola, and a combination of footage from the two Toronto shows were broadcast on Pay-Per-View.[5]

The band had not performed any shows as an opening act in over a decade, but on this tour they opened for veteran act Bon Jovi for several sold-out dates at stadiums due to Bon Jovi's huge appeal overseas. Collective Soul, Skid Row, Our Lady Peace,[5] and Brother Cane opened for Van Halen on the North American legs of the tour.

Reception

[edit]

Joe Ehrbar, a correspondent from the Spokesman Review, gave the performance he attended at The Gorge a positive review. He opened his review, talking about the state of the band with their injuries, suggesting that it be renamed "Van Handicapped", adding that Alex Van Halen didn't seem so enthusiastic about performing that night. After acknowledging the state of the band, he noted that the band gave an amazing performance with youthful energy and a steady stream of their hit songs, with the show getting better and more climactic. While he stated that the band was notorious over the years for delivering sloppy concerts, they had performed impeccably tight that night.[2]

Tour dates

[edit]
List of 1995 concerts[6]
Date City Country Venue
January 27, 1995 Arnhem Netherlands Luxor
January 30, 1995 Milan Italy The Factory
January 31, 1995
March 11, 1995 Pensacola United States Pensacola Civic Center
March 12, 1995 Jacksonville Jacksonville Coliseum
March 14, 1995 St. Petersburg ThunderDome
March 17, 1995 Miami Miami Arena
March 20, 1995 Orlando Orlando Arena
March 22, 1995 New Orleans Lakefront Arena
March 24, 1995 Dallas Reunion Arena
March 25, 1995 San Antonio HemisFair Arena
March 26, 1995 Houston The Summit
March 28, 1995 El Paso Special Events Center
March 29, 1995 Albuquerque Tingley Coliseum
March 31, 1995 Las Vegas Thomas and Mack Center
April 1, 1995 Phoenix America West Arena
April 2, 1995 San Diego San Diego Sports Arena
April 4, 1995 Inglewood Great Western Forum
April 5, 1995
April 14, 1995 Rosemont Rosemont Horizon
April 15, 1995 Auburn Hills The Palace of Auburn Hills
April 16, 1995
April 18, 1995 Fort Wayne Allen County Memorial Coliseum
April 19, 1995 Lexington Rupp Arena
April 21, 1995 Fairborn Ervin J. Nutter Center
April 22, 1995 Cleveland Gund Arena
April 23, 1995 Charleston Charleston Civic Center
April 25, 1995 East Rutherford Brendan Byrne Arena
April 26, 1995 Uniondale Nassau Coliseum
April 28, 1995 Philadelphia CoreStates Spectrum
April 29, 1995 Worcester Worcester Centrum
April 30, 1995 Providence Providence Civic Center
May 2, 1995 Buffalo Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
May 3, 1995 Rochester Rochester Community War Memorial
May 5, 1995 Quebec City Canada Colisée de Québec
May 6, 1995 Montreal Montreal Forum
May 7, 1995 Albany United States Knickerbocker Arena
May 13, 1995 Oakland Oakland Coliseum Arena
May 14, 1995 San Jose San Jose Arena
May 15, 1995 Sacramento ARCO Arena
May 24, 1995 Paris France Le Zénith
May 26, 1995 Bremen Germany Weserstadion1
May 27, 1995
May 28, 1995 Nijmegen Netherlands Goffertpark1
May 30, 1995 Essen Germany Georg-Melches-Stadion1
June 1, 1995 Chemnitz Sportforum1
June 3, 1995 Munich Olympiastadion
(Rock im Park)
June 4, 1995 Nürburg Nürburgring
(Rock am Ring)
June 6, 1995 Berlin Waldbühne1
June 7, 1995
June 10, 1995 Basel Switzerland St. Jakob Stadium1
June 11, 1995 Zeltweg Austria Waldstadion1
June 13, 1995 Barcelona Spain Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc1
June 14, 1995 Madrid Palacio de Los Deportes
June 15, 1995 Lisbon Portugal Estadio Jose Alvalade1
June 17, 1995 Roeselare Belgium Rock Werchter1
June 18, 1995 Lahr Germany Flughafen Lahr1
June 20, 1995 Paris France Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy1
June 21, 1995 Cardiff Wales Arms Park1
June 23, 1995 London England Wembley Stadium1
June 24, 1995
June 25, 1995
June 27, 1995 Newcastle Gateshead International Stadium1
June 28, 1995 Sheffield Don Valley Stadium1
June 30, 1995 Roskilde Denmark Darupvej
(Roskilde Festival)
July 15, 1995 Holmdel United States Garden State Arts Center
July 16, 1995
July 18, 1995 Cuyahoga Falls Blossom Music Center
July 19, 1995 Noblesville Deer Creek Music Center
July 21, 1995 Bonner Springs Sandstone Amphitheater
July 22, 1995 Maryland Heights Riverport Amphitheatre
July 23, 1995
July 25, 1995 Tupelo Tupelo Coliseum
July 26, 1995 Antioch Starwood Amphitheater
July 28, 1995 Tinley Park New World Music Theatre
July 29, 1995 East Troy Alpine Valley Music Theater
July 30, 1995 Minneapolis Target Center
August 1, 1995 Clarkston Pine Knob Music Theatre
August 2, 1995
August 4, 1995 Bristow Nissan Pavilion
August 5, 1995 Camden Blockbuster-Sony Music Entertainment Centre
August 6, 1995 Old Orchard Beach The Ballpark
August 8, 1995 Mansfield Great Woods
August 9, 1995
August 11, 1995 Burgettstown Coca-Cola Star Lake Amphitheater
August 12, 1995 Columbus Polaris Amphitheater
August 13, 1995 Cincinnati Riverbend Music Center
August 14, 1995 Uniondale Nassau Coliseum
August 15, 1995
August 18, 1995 Toronto Canada Molson Amphitheatre
August 19, 1995
August 20, 1995 Ottawa Frank Clair Stadium
August 22, 1995 Wantagh United States Jones Beach Theater
August 23, 1995
August 25, 1995
August 26, 1995 Hartford Meadows Music Theatre
August 27, 1995 Scranton Montage Mountain Performing Arts Center
August 29, 1995 Columbia Merriweather Post Pavilion
August 30, 1995 Richmond Classic Amphitheatre
September 1, 1995 Raleigh Walnut Creek Amphitheater
September 2, 1995 Charlotte Blockbuster Pavilion
September 3, 1995 Atlanta Coca-Cola Lakewood Amphitheatre
September 11, 1995 Edmonton Canada Northlands Coliseum
September 13, 1995 Vancouver Pacific Coliseum
September 15, 1995 Portland United States Civic Stadium
September 16, 1995 George The Gorge Amphitheatre
September 17, 1995 Boise BSU Pavilion
September 19, 1995 Salt Lake City Delta Center
September 20, 1995 Greenwood Village Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
September 22, 1995 Valley Center Kansas Coliseum
September 23, 1995 Ames Hilton Coliseum
September 24, 1995 Moline MARK of the Quad Cities
September 26, 1995 Memphis Pyramid Arena
September 27, 1995 Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center
September 29, 1995 The Woodlands Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
September 30, 1995 Austin South Park Meadows
October 1, 1995 Dallas Coca-Cola Starplex Amphitheatre
October 3, 1995 Oklahoma City Myriad Convention Center
October 4, 1995
October 6, 1995 Phoenix Desert Sky Pavilion
October 7, 1995 Devore Blockbuster Pavilion
October 8, 1995 Fresno Selland Arena
October 11, 1995 Reno Lawlor Events Center
October 13, 1995 Sacramento Cal Expo Amphitheatre
October 14, 1995 Mountain View Shoreline Amphitheatre
October 15, 1995 Irvine Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
October 25, 1995 Tokyo Japan Yoyogi National Gymnasium
October 26, 1995
October 27, 1995
October 29, 1995 Fukuoka Kokusai Center
October 30, 1995 Osaka Osaka Castle Hall
November 1, 1995 Tokyo Nippon Budokan
November 2, 1995
November 4, 1995 Honolulu United States Neal S. Blaisdell Center
November 5, 1995
  • ^Note 1 The band opened for Bon Jovi at these shows.

Box office score data

[edit]
List of box office score data with date, city, venue, attendance, gross, references
Date
(1995) 		City Venue Attendance Gross Ref(s)
March 17 Miami, United States Arena 11,748 $331,231 [7]
March 24 Dallas, United States Reunion Arena 15,367 $414,160 [8]
April 22 Cleveland, United States Gund Arena 16,406 $477,710 [9]
April 25 East Rutherford, United States Bryne Meadowlands Arena 17,628 $491,780 [10]
April 26 Uniondale, United States Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 15,323 $444,930
April 28 Philadelphia, United States CoreStates Spectrum 15,846 $453,738 [9]
May 6 Montreal, Canada Forum 12,689 $339,225 [10]
July 21 Bonner Springs, United States Sandstone Amphitheatre 18,000 $461,651 [11]
July 22–23 Maryland Heights, United States Riverport Amphitheatre 39,898 $971,866
July 28 Tinley Park, United States World Music Theatre 20,543 $609,880
July 29 East Troy, United States Alpine Valley Music Theatre 24,572 $722,315
August 11 Burgettstown, United States Coca-Cola Star Lake Amphitheatre 23,250 $528,920 [12]
August 18–19 Toronto, Canada Molson Amphitheatre 30,215 $735,661
August 20 Ottawa, Canada Civic Center Arena 14,327 $356,859 [13]
September 11 Edmonton, Canada Northlands Coliseum 13,987 $376,878 [14]
September 16 George, United States The Gorge 18,500 $518,350 [15]
September 24 Moline, United States Mark of the Quad Cities 9,967 $362,346 [16]
September 29 The Woodlands, United States Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 13,007 $373,940 [14]

Personnel

[edit]

Additional musician

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Balance Tour

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Balance Tour was a concert tour by the American hard rock band Van Halen, undertaken in support of their tenth studio album, Balance, which was released in January 1995 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The tour, which marked the band's final outing with lead singer Sammy Hagar until a brief 2004 reunion, commenced on March 11, 1995, in Pensacola, Florida, and concluded in early November 1995 after over 130 performances across North America and Europe, grossing approximately $32.7 million. Nicknamed the "Ambulance Tour" by guitarist Eddie Van Halen due to severe injuries sustained by him and drummer Alex Van Halen—Eddie suffered from hip pain caused by avascular necrosis, while Alex played with a neck brace after rupturing three vertebrae—the trek featured a dynamic setlist blending new tracks like "The Seventh Seal" and "Can't Stop Lovin' You" with classics such as "Jump," "Panama," and "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love." Notable incidents included Eddie's April 1995 arrest at Burbank Airport for carrying a loaded pistol, resulting in a $1,000 fine and probation, as well as a memorable September 20 show in Denver amid a freak snowstorm that led to onstage snowball fights. The tour also incorporated innovative elements like a Jumbotron screen for enhanced visuals, proposed by Alex, and a charitable initiative that collected 360,000 cans of food for USA Harvest, underscoring its blend of high-energy rock spectacle and personal challenges that foreshadowed the band's lineup changes.

Background

Album Context

Balance, the tenth studio album by American rock band Van Halen, was released on January 24, 1995, through Warner Bros. Records. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, marking the band's fourth consecutive number-one release during the Sammy Hagar era and underscoring its commercial success upon launch. Key singles from Balance, including the lead single "Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)" and the ballad "Can't Stop Lovin' You," along with "Amsterdam," played a central role in bridging the album to the subsequent tour, with their themes of introspection and relationships influencing the live presentations of new material. The production of Balance was marked by significant personal challenges for the band, particularly for guitarist , who recorded the album sober for the first time after years of struggles with . This shift contributed to a more mature and lyrical sound on the record, reflecting a band dynamic in transition as members navigated recovery and creative evolution. While Eddie had long-term hip degeneration from years of intense stage performances, the acute issues would surface early in the tour. The Balance Tour functioned as the principal promotional platform for the album, integrating its singles into live sets to drive sales and fan engagement. Marketing efforts featured tie-ins such as tour-exclusive merchandise, including apparel and accessories emblazoned with Balance-inspired artwork and logos, which extended the album's visual identity to concert venues. Additionally, promotional video releases for singles like "Can't Stop Lovin' You" amplified the tour's reach through television and early music video outlets, enhancing the album's thematic promotion of balance amid personal turmoil. In 2025, to mark the album's 30th anniversary, an expanded edition was released on August 15, featuring remastered audio, B-sides, and unreleased live tracks from the era.

Announcement and Planning

The Balance Tour was officially announced in February 1995, shortly after the release of Van Halen's tenth studio album Balance on January 24, 1995, serving as the catalyst for the supporting trek. The band promoted the upcoming dates through a series of media appearances and promotional events, including a brief European album launch mini-tour in late January featuring intimate "secret" club performances in Arnhem, Netherlands, and Milan, Italy, which helped build anticipation ahead of the main itinerary. Planning for the tour involved strategic routing decisions to cover extensive North American legs—spanning four phases from March to October—along with select European dates in the summer, totaling 131 shows overall. Budget allocations emphasized elaborate production elements, such as a large video screen for enhanced visuals and the automated lighting system to support the band's high-energy rock performances. In early 1995, the band members conducted rehearsals at Eddie Van Halen's in his home, focusing on adapting the new Balance tracks for the live stage while integrating them with classic material to create a dynamic set. This preparatory phase allowed the group to refine arrangements for songs like "Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)" and "," ensuring seamless transitions and amplified guitar-driven arrangements suited to arena environments.

Tour Details

Itinerary and Venues

The Balance Tour commenced its primary North American leg on March 11, 1995, at the Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, Florida, and concluded on November 5, 1995, at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii, encompassing approximately 130 dates focused predominantly on North America alongside a limited number of European performances in early 1995. The itinerary was structured in multiple phases to accommodate varying venue types and regional demands, allowing the band to reach diverse audiences while navigating logistical challenges such as travel and scheduling. The spring 1995 leg, running from March to May, consisted of arena-based shows primarily in the southeastern and , with serving as the opening act for many dates to build momentum for the album promotion. This phase emphasized intimate indoor settings to recover from initial health setbacks, setting a foundation for larger-scale events later in the year. Summer 1995 brought a shift to and amphitheater venues, particularly in and , where the tour expanded to accommodate bigger crowds in outdoor environments during warmer months, including a co-headlining stint with for many European dates. Highlights included high-capacity sites that highlighted the tour's growing spectacle, blending rock energy with broader production elements suited to open-air acoustics. The fall 1995 leg returned to indoor arenas across and , providing consistent staging amid cooler weather and wrapping up the extensive run in a tropical finale. The Pensacola Civic Center, with its 10,000-seat capacity and versatile design for sports and concerts, marked an energetic launch despite early band illnesses, while the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena, seating around 8,200 and renowned for its central role in Hawaiian performing arts, offered a memorable close to the itinerary with its modern facilities and island locale.

Production and Staging

The production of Van Halen's Balance Tour in emphasized a high-tech, immersive that blended innovative video and elements with the band's signature high-volume sound, creating a "living room comfort" themed design intended to foster an intimate yet grand arena experience. The setup featured an elaborate configuration with multiple platforms to accommodate the band's dynamic movements, complemented by large LED screens including a prominent positioned above Alex Van Halen's for displaying live performance footage, crowd interactions, and thematic visuals such as animated effects tied to songs. This design was costly and complex, requiring a substantial to manage the equipment across 131 dates primarily in arenas, with adaptations for occasional larger venues by scaling video and coverage to maintain visibility and impact. Lighting innovations played a central role, utilizing the Autopilot system—one of the first automated setups employing infrared and ultrasonic sensors for cueing, making Van Halen only the second band after ZZ Top to adopt it—which allowed for precise, dynamic illumination synchronized with the music without manual intervention from technicians during performances. Sound reinforcement highlighted custom amplification rigs tailored to each member's tone; Eddie Van Halen relied on a wet-dry-wet configuration powered by Peavey 5150 amplifier heads through three cabinets, delivering his characteristic overdriven guitar sounds with clarity and power. Michael Anthony's bass setup included three Ampeg SVT-300 heads driving two Ampeg SVT-810E cabinets, ensuring a robust low-end presence, while keyboards were managed off-stage by Alan Fitzgerald using sampled cues to support atmospheric elements. A six-man video crew operated seven stage cameras—four handheld for general coverage and three point-of-view units, including two mounted on the drum kit—to feed real-time content to the Jumbotron, enhancing the audience's connection to the band's energy. Crew responsibilities extended to efficient setup and teardown, with the production traveling via multiple semi-trailers to handle the gear, enabling daily arena turnarounds despite the tour's demanding schedule and occasional weather challenges, such as a snowstorm in that required on-site adjustments to lighting and video feeds. These technical elements underscored the tour's reputation as a pinnacle of 1990s rock , balancing with sonic fidelity to amplify Van Halen's live prowess.

Performances

Setlists

The Balance Tour setlists typically featured 18 to 20 songs, drawing heavily from the 1995 album Balance while incorporating staples from earlier Van Halen records to balance new material with audience favorites. Performances opened with high-energy tracks from Balance, such as "The Seventh Seal" in early shows, transitioning into a mix of mid-tempo rockers, solos, and anthems, before closing with explosive classics. This structure allowed the band to showcase Sammy Hagar's vocals and Eddie Van Halen's guitar work across a roughly two-hour runtime. A representative typical setlist, based on aggregated data from multiple concerts, followed this order:
  1. (Balance)
  2. Big Fat Money (Balance)
  3. Runaround (For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge)
  4. Top of the World (Balance)
  5. Amsterdam (Balance)
  6. Bass Solo
  7. Aftershock (Balance)
  8. Why Can't This Be Love (5150)
  9. Drum Solo
  10. Can't Stop Lovin' You (Balance)
  11. Feelin' (Balance)
  12. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love ()
  13. Right Now ()
  14. ( cover)
  15. Eagles Fly ( solo track)
  17. Jump ()
  18. Dreams (5150)
  19. ()
This lineup included approximately six to eight songs from Balance, representing about 40-50% of the set, with the remainder pulled from prior albums like For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge and 1984. Instrumental solos for bass, drums, and guitar provided extended showcases, often bridging newer tracks to fan-favorite hits. Setlists evolved across the tour's legs, with early 1995 performances emphasizing Balance material—such as opening with "The Seventh Seal" and including deeper cuts like "Not Enough" or "Mine All Mine"—to promote the album, comprising roughly half the songs. By mid- to late 1995, adjustments shifted toward proven hits in response to audience preferences and band health issues, with openers like "Right Now" becoming more common and songs such as "Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)" from Balance appearing in about 50% of shows. Encores consistently featured high-impact closers, usually "You Really Got Me," "Jump," and "Panama," to energize crowds before the final bow. Variations also included occasional substitutions like "There's Only One Way to Rock" (a Hagar cover) in over 60% of concerts or "Poundcake" from For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.

Notable Shows

The Balance Tour kicked off on March 11, 1995, at the Pensacola Civic Center in , marking a high-energy debut for new songs from the album despite challenges faced by . Frontman performed while battling the flu, and guitarist took the stage sober for the first time in his career, drawing a capacity crowd of over 9,000 fans. The show was professionally filmed for an special, capturing the debut performances of tracks like "" and "," which energized the audience and set a tone of resilience for the tour. One of the tour's standout performances in terms of scale occurred on June 24, 1995, at Wembley Stadium in London, England, where Van Halen opened for Bon Jovi before a crowd exceeding 70,000—the largest audience of the tour. This stadium show highlighted the band's ability to command massive venues, with Eddie Van Halen's intricate guitar work shining through despite his ongoing hip injury. Media reports noted the electric atmosphere, amplified by the group's tight execution of hits like "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" amid the roar of the international crowd. The European leg in 1995, including the Wembley date, represented Van Halen's return to the UK after a two-year absence since their 1993 Right Here Right Now Tour appearances in Birmingham and Sheffield, thrilling long-time fans with a blend of classic anthems and fresh material. Other notable continental stops, such as the open-air concert in Nijmegen, Netherlands, on May 28, 1995, drew tens of thousands and featured dynamic interactions with support acts like Bon Jovi, underscoring the tour's global reach. Throughout the tour, Eddie Van Halen's extended guitar solos became a highlight, often weaving in teasers from the David Lee Roth era such as riffs from "Mean Street" and "Runnin' with the Devil," which elicited enthusiastic fan responses documented in contemporary reviews. These improvisational moments, showcased in pieces like "316" and "Eruption," were praised for their technical prowess and emotional depth, with media coverage emphasizing how they bridged the band's past and present despite physical strains on the performer. Fan accounts from shows like the Toronto pay-per-view broadcast, filmed August 18–19, 1995, described the solos as transcendent, contributing to the tour's reputation for memorable live musicianship. In 2025, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the album, released Balance (Expanded Edition) on August 15, featuring remastered audio and unreleased live tracks from the tour, including selections from the performances.

Reception and Impact

Critical Response

The Balance Tour received generally positive critical attention for its high-energy delivery and the band's tight musicianship, with reviewers highlighting 's ability to deliver dynamic live shows despite the physical challenges faced by members during the run. In a analysis, the tour was described as featuring strong performances across more than 130 dates, captivating audiences with a blend of and new material from the Balance album. Critics particularly praised Eddie Van Halen's guitar work, noting his innovative solos and restrained yet lyrical playing style that emphasized fitting the songs' structures over excessive flash. A concert review from the tour's Dallas stop lauded Van Halen's extended instrumental showcases, including Eddie's "Calm Before The Storm" solo, as standout moments that energized the crowd. In a Guitar World interview tied to the tour's launch, Van Halen discussed evolving his approach to guitar performance, focusing on emotional depth and collaboration, which contributed to the shows' artistic impact. Some feedback was mixed, with occasional complaints about Sammy Hagar's vocals appearing strained during certain high-note sections, particularly when affected by illness. For instance, during the March 24, 1995, performance in , Hagar's delivery on "Can't Stop Loving You" was critiqued as forced due to the flu, though his handling of solo material like "Feelin'" was highlighted as a strong point. Later legs of the tour drew notes on production elements feeling somewhat dated compared to contemporary spectacles, though these did not overshadow the core entertainment value. Media coverage included several interviews where the band reflected on the tour's evolution, emphasizing its role in promoting Balance while reviving fan favorites. In the Guitar World feature, Eddie Van Halen shared insights into the creative shifts during rehearsals, underscoring the tour's focus on live spontaneity and family moments, such as his son Wolfgang joining him onstage for a guitar segment that elicited massive crowd enthusiasm. These discussions portrayed the tour as a pivotal, if transitional, chapter in Van Halen's live legacy.

Commercial Performance

The Balance Tour achieved significant commercial success, grossing approximately $32.7 million across more than 130 shows in and . Average ticket prices ranged from $25 to $35, reflecting the band's strong draw in arenas and stadiums during the mid-1990s rock market. This revenue positioned the tour as one of the top-grossing acts of , underscoring Van Halen's enduring popularity despite internal challenges. Attendance was robust, with the tour attracting large crowds at arenas and stadiums. The tour was also chronicled in a special filmed during shows in August 1995, featuring 14 songs and instrumental showcases. Billboard's reports captured weekly grosses for prominent markets, demonstrating consistent performance. These examples illustrate the tour's market impact, with higher grosses in larger venues driving overall success.

Controversies

Internal Tensions

During the Balance Tour, interpersonal conflicts within escalated, primarily stemming from creative differences between vocalist and guitarist over setlists and song selections. Eddie advocated for incorporating more pre-Hagar era classics, such as "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" and "," to appeal to longtime fans, while Hagar resisted, favoring a greater emphasis on material from the band's recent albums like and . These disputes reflected broader artistic visions clashing, with Hagar later describing the album's recording sessions— which carried over into tour preparations—as a period where "if I said black, Eddie said white," underscoring constant opposition. Substance-related incidents compounded these tensions, as Eddie's ongoing struggles with alcohol and drugs affected rehearsals and overall band dynamics. Hagar has attributed much of the friction to these issues, noting in interviews that created chaos and impaired collaborative efforts during the mid-1990s. One notable event occurred in April 1995, when Eddie was arrested at Burbank Airport for attempting to board a flight with a loaded .25-caliber , resulting in a $300 fine and one year of probation, as well as the postponement of their April 8 show in , which was rescheduled to May 13. While not directly tied to substances, the incident highlighted the erratic behavior amid Eddie's personal challenges, further straining group cohesion. Tensions intensified in the latter part of the tour in late 1995 and continued into early 1996, particularly as Eddie's health deteriorated due to in his hip, leading to visible limitations like using a cane onstage and reduced performance energy. Hagar expressed frustration with Eddie's decisions to continue touring despite these issues, viewing them as prioritizing financial gains over well-being and family time; Hagar sought a break post-tour for personal reasons, but Eddie pushed for immediate new recordings. These clashes spilled into daily operations, including strained band meetings marked by heated exchanges over scheduling and priorities, and practical adjustments like Hagar and bassist Michael Anthony flying on a separate plane to avoid Eddie. Such rifts foreshadowed deeper divisions, though the tour pressed on with over 130 dates.

Tour Conclusion and Aftermath

The Balance Tour concluded on November 5, 1995, at the in , , marking the final performance with as lead vocalist. Although the tour had faced multiple cancellations earlier due to health setbacks—including Hagar's vocal strain and injuries to Eddie and —it wrapped up without further postponements at that point. Post-tour tensions, which had been building throughout the outing, culminated in 's departure from . In June 1996, Hagar was informed via a phone call from that his services were no longer needed, effectively ending his eight-year stint with the group. The announcement was formalized shortly after, prompting to seek a replacement; by October 4, 1996, they revealed , formerly of Extreme, as the new frontman. The immediate aftermath saw Van Halen entered a period without live performances in 1997, during which they recorded their next album, . This break was commonly portrayed in contemporary media coverage as the definitive close to the "Hagar era," shifting focus toward the band's next chapter with Cherone.

Personnel

Band Members

The Balance Tour, supporting Van Halen's 1995 album Balance, featured the band's core lineup of on lead vocals and guitar, on guitar and backing vocals, Michael Anthony on bass and backing vocals, and on drums. Sammy Hagar served as the energetic frontman, delivering powerful vocals and contributing guitar work, including acoustic segments such as a solo introduction to "Eagles Fly" that highlighted his solo artist roots and connected with audiences during intimate moments of the high-energy shows. Eddie Van Halen, the band's guitarist and primary songwriter, performed his signature solos and riffs while also handling keyboard parts on tracks like "Jump," though offstage support assisted with synth samples to allow focus on guitar; his participation was impacted by hip pain from , often requiring him to stand on one leg or use a cane offstage. Bassist Michael Anthony anchored the rhythm with steady lines and layered backing vocals that bolstered the harmonies, drawing from his long tenure with the band since 1974. Drummer drove the tour's explosive percussion despite health challenges, performing in a neck brace after sustaining three ruptured vertebrae from an offstage , yet maintaining the precise grooves central to Van Halen's sound.

Support Acts

The Balance Tour employed a rotating roster of support acts to open for across its North American and European legs, with selections emphasizing and alternative bands that aligned with the headliners' energetic style. emerged as the primary opener for the initial U.S. leg from March to May 1995, supporting at 35 shows and helping to build momentum for the tour's launch following the release of Van Halen's Balance album. As the tour progressed into its summer U.S. phase in July and August, took over as the main support act for 34 dates, bringing a edge that appealed to younger audiences and complemented Van Halen's sound. In the fall U.S. leg from September to October, handled 18 shows, while appeared for 13 performances, often in key markets to leverage their established fanbase. Other brief appearances included for two dates and for one, primarily during transitional European stops. These support acts typically performed sets lasting 30 to 45 minutes, providing a dynamic warmup that integrated seamlessly into the tour's high-energy format without overlapping 's headline performance. Notable instances of shared billing occurred during the European leg, where co-headlined festivals with acts like , allowing for collaborative stage presence in select multi-band events.

References

  1. https://www.vhnd.com/balance-tour/
  2. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/van-halen-balance-tour/
  3. https://www.vhnd.com/2014/01/24/van-halens-balance-released-on-this-day-in-1995/
  4. https://www.redrocker.com/discography/balance/
  5. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/van-halen-balance-roundtable/
  6. https://www.guitarworld.com/features/1995-guitar-world-interview-eddie-van-halen-regains-his-balance
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kh_AGh3Gqs
  8. https://www.rhino.com/article/van-halen-celebrates-balances-30th-anniversary-with-expanded-edition-rarities-unreleased
  9. https://www.vhnd.com/2015/01/27/20-years-ago-van-halens-secret-gig-in-holland-videos-photos-interviews/
  10. https://www.chmetal.info/tourdates/Van.Halen_1995.htm
  11. https://www.vharchives.com/vhtour1995
  12. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/eddie-van-halen-balancing-act-70925/
  13. https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/van-halen?year=1995
  14. https://www.setlist.fm/stats/van-halen-2bd68066.html?tour=7bd64abc
  15. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/van-halen/1995/neal-s-blaisdell-arena-honolulu-hi-bd3490e.html
  16. https://www.vhnd.com/2009/03/11/14th-anniversary-of-the-balance-tour/
  17. https://www.vhlinks.com/vbforums/threads/64540-Balance-Tour-Rig-Marshall-heads
  18. https://www.harmonycentral.com/forums/topic/1040214-did-evh-use-his-sig-music-man-model-guitar-on-quotbalancequot-what-effects/
  19. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/van-halen-set-list-evolution/
  20. https://www.setlist.fm/stats/average-setlist/van-halen-2bd68066.html?tour=7bd64abc
  21. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/van-halen-1995-toronto-pay-per-view/
  22. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/van-halen/1995/goffertpark-nijmegen-netherlands-73d24e29.html
  23. https://www.vhnd.com/2025/06/25/van-halens-balance-expanded-with-unreleased-live-tracks-rarities/
  24. https://www.gotinterviews.com/van-halen-concert-review-dallas-tx-march-24-1995/
  25. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/van-halen-boyz-ii-men-top-tours-1995-7849595/
  26. https://www.grunge.com/257643/what-really-caused-sammy-hagar-and-eddie-van-halens-feud-in-the-90s/
  27. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-04-21-me-57112-story.html
  28. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-28-ca-19283-story.html
  29. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/sammy-hagar-splits-van-halen/
  30. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/15-years-ago-van-halen-release-iii/
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