IN THIS ISSUE:
(24 pages)

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR (1/2 page)

RIGHT NOW (1 page)
Current VH News

NEW VH LOGOS (1 page)
Drawings by fans

PHOTOS (16.5 pages)
Tons of photos from all 3 eras of the band!

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (2 pages)
Our review of Dave's 1999 tour, plus reviews by fans.

NEW MERCHANDISE (1 page)

CENTERFOLD
The Outdoor stadium photo shown in the Diver Down CD.

BACK ISSUE
Band drinking and playing poker on a boat with hot babes!

DAVE'S 1999 TOUR!
By Jeff Hausman

Why are we reviewing this year's David Lee Roth tour in the Official Van Halen magazine? Well, to us at The Inside, and to all of the millions of Van Halen fans around the world, Van Halen will always be six people, not four. Dave and Sammy will always be a part of Van Halen. So this year when David has embarked on his first world tour in five long years, it's big news to most fans, and worthy of coverage. Besides, when Valerie Bertinelli herself recently encouraged fans on the internet's Van Halen Mailing List to go out and catch Dave's tour, we knew it was safe to write about the tour in case some of you missed out.

Everyone with any sense knows that David Lee Roth was THE rock 'n' roll frontman which all others were measured against during his years with Van Halen. He was the perfect compliment to the talented trio- the perfect lead singer for them at that time. And he has rarely gotten the credit he deserves for being a main architect that helped build the plane that Sammy, and now Gary, pilot. He was extremely important in helping them build up from just a backyard party band into the biggest and best band in the world in 1984. All the girls wanted him, and all the guys wanted to be like him. All other rock bands wished they had a lead singer like him, but none of the clones could hold a candle to him.

But the David Lee of the 1990s wasn't quite the same, was he? Still very much an entertainer, but maybe not the lion-maned rock 'n' roll god of the '80s. All his fans had heard that Dave's voice wasn't quite what it used to be. Maybe it was a good thing that Roth wasn't in Van Halen anymore. Maybe he wasn't quite up to par with Van Halen. Well, that might have been true even just a couple years ago, but after attending several of his concerts this year, we are shocked and very pleased to announce that Dave is back, and is better than we could have possibly imagined! People simply can't believe how good he looks and sings.

His voice is literally better than it has been in 15 years. Rumors that he can't sing simply do not hold truth anymore. Apparently Dave knows he has been taking heat from some fans for his lack of vocal strength and he must be doing something for it - because he sounds better than even our 1984 tour bootlegs!

The short haired, suit wearing, Las Vegas David Lee Roth doesn't exist anymore. The David Lee Roth of 1999 is much, much closer to the David Lee Roth we remember from his glory years in VH. It feels like his current tour is a follow-up to one of his 1980s tour. He is still as hilarious and politically incorrect as ever, which is a hugely refreshing change from the bland, ordinary, uninteresting lead singers of the 1990s. When he hits the stage, a nearly two hour long smile comes across the faces of everyone in the crowd.

His martial arts background is evident in his spinning karate kicks and high energy performance. During "Jump" the crowd got to witness Dave's famous baton-like twirling of the mic stand, as if the 1984 tour had ended only yesterday. His legendary leaps from the drum riser are also a real treat to see, especially for the younger fans, who have only seen them in cherished bootlegs or photographs.

To those of you who didn't bother to go see Dave because you are hoping and waiting for a reunion tour, don't hold your breath. Just do yourself a favor and go see him next year. You'll be glad you did.

Backstage one night, as Dave was finally leaving after hanging out with dozens of fans back at "Club Dave", one fan shouted, "David! You're a real-life superhero!" People smiled and laughed, but it was clear to everyone there that the comment wasn't too far from the truth.