# Van Halen 1978 World Tour

The 1978 World Tour was the first concert tour by American hard rock band Van Halen. The world tour, which was in support of their debut album, covered mainly North America with 125 shows in the United States and two shows in Canada, 38 shows in Europe, and seven shows in Japan. At 172 shows total over a 10-month period, the tour was one of the band's most extensive overall. Throughout the tour Van Halen was mostly a supporting act for bands such as Black Sabbath and Journey, however, Van Halen headlined shows in Europe and Japan.

## Background
### First North American leg

       See also Infinity Tour
Van Halen started their first leg opening for acts Montrose and Journey. Herbie Herbert, the manager for Journey at the time, recalled bringing guitarist Neal Schon of Journey along with him to go see the band in New York to a sold out audience of 3,500 people.

### Opening for Black Sabbath

       See also Never Say Die! Tour (Black Sabbath)
"We did 23 shows in 25 days," recalled Eddie Van Halen regarding the European leg. "I didn't know they had that many places! But to meet Tony Iommi when I was so into him was really incredible." David Lee Roth summed up the experience as "a real shot in the ass". The Liverpool Empire Theatre date was attended by future members of Apollo 440 – who, in 1997, issued an adaptation of Van Halen's 'Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love' as 'Ain't Talkin' 'bout Dub'.
"We had a great time with the Sabbath guys…" recalled Alex Van Halen. "It was really special because Ed and I were big fans of the band. Every time they came to LA, I was out there in the audience, fighting tooth and nail to get to the front so I could get my eardrums destroyed. But I learned a lot from them about audience participation… One time, we were up near Leicester, about half an hour before showtime, and Ozzy and Bill Ward were out there on the front lawn with the punters, having a beer. I thought, 'Fuck me, none of this star-type shit.' I was really impressed."
"Ozzy used to tell a funny story…" recalled onetime Osbourne sidekick Don Airey. "Sabbath had done a tour for a year [sic] with Kiss… and it nearly killed him because Kiss had been so good. And he said, 'We're never doing that again. Next tour, we just want a bar band from LA. That's all we want.' And then he got to the first gig. Ozzy said they walked in as 'Eruption' was going on. Ozzy said, 'We just went into the dressing room. We sat there going, That was incredible… and then it finished, and we were just too stunned to speak. Then there was a knock on the door and the best-looking man in the world walked in and said, Hello' – you know, David Lee Roth. I think they only lasted about two months on that tour. Then the record broke… I went to see them at the Rainbow when they supported Sabbath. By the time they played the Rainbow again a month later, they were headlining. Incredible!"
Of the North American leg of the tour, Ozzy Osbourne said: "Van Halen are so good they ought to be headlining the tour."

## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue | Support Act(s) |
| North America |||||
| March 3, 1978 | Chicago | United States | Aragon Ballroom (Live premiere) | Journey Montrose |
| March 4, 1978 | Springfield | United States | Nelson Center | Journey Montrose |
| March 5, 1978 | Indianapolis | United States | Indiana Convention Center | Journey Montrose |
| March 7, 1978 | Madison | United States | Shuffle Inn | Journey Montrose |
| March 9, 1978 | Milwaukee | United States | Riverside Theater | Journey Montrose |
| March 10, 1978 | Detroit | United States | Masonic Temple Theater | Journey Montrose |
| March 11, 1978 | Trotwood | United States | Hara Arena | Journey Montrose |
| March 12, 1978 | Homestead | United States | Leona Theater | Journey Montrose |
| March 14, 1978 | Toronto | Canada | Massey Hall | Journey Montrose |
| March 15, 1978 | Cleveland | United States | Cleveland Music Hall | Journey Montrose |
| March 16, 1978 | Columbus | United States | Columbus Veterans Memorial Auditorium | Journey Montrose |
| March 17, 1978 | Louisville | United States | Louisville Gardens | Journey Montrose |
| March 18, 1978 | Evansville | United States | Evansville Coliseum | Journey Montrose |
| March 19, 1978 | South Bend | United States | Morris Civic Auditorium | Journey Montrose |
| March 20, 1978 | Schaumburg | United States | B'Ginnings | Journey Montrose |
| March 21, 1978 | Utica | United States | Utica Memorial Auditorium | Journey Montrose |
| March 22, 1978 | Albany | United States | Palace Theatre | Journey Montrose |
| March 23, 1978 | Buffalo | United States | New Century Theatre | Journey Montrose |
| March 24, 1978 | Upper Darby | United States | Tower Theater | Journey Montrose |
| March 25, 1978 | New York City | United States | Palladium | Journey Montrose |
| March 26, 1978 | Hempstead | United States | Calderone Concert Hall | Journey Montrose |
| March 27, 1978 | Boston | United States | Paradise Theater | Journey Montrose |
| March 29, 1978 | Duluth | United States | Duluth Auditorium | Journey Montrose |
| March 30, 1978 | Saint Paul | United States | St. Paul Civic Center Theater | Journey Montrose |
| March 31, 1978 | Kansas City | United States | Memorial Hall | Journey Montrose |
| April 1, 1978 | St. Louis | United States | Kiel Opera House | Journey Montrose |
| April 2, 1978 | Omaha | United States | Omaha Music Hall | Journey Montrose |
| April 3, 1978 | Wichita | United States | Pogo's | Journey Montrose |
| April 4, 1978 | Tulsa | United States | Cain's Ballroom | Journey Montrose |
| April 5, 1978 | Indianapolis | United States | Murat Temple Theater | Journey Montrose |
| April 6, 1978 | Flint | United States | IMA Auditorium | Journey Montrose |
| April 7, 1978 | Nashville | United States | War Memorial Auditorium | Journey Montrose |
| April 8, 1978 | Murray | United States | MSU Field House | Journey Montrose |
| April 9, 1978 | Birmingham | United States | Boutwell Memorial Auditorium | Journey Montrose |
| April 11, 1978 | Corpus Christi | United States | Corpus Christi Memorial Coliseum | Journey Montrose |
| April 12, 1978 | Austin | United States | Austin Municipal Auditorium | Journey Montrose |
| April 13, 1978 | Shreveport | United States | Shreveport Memorial Auditorium | Journey Montrose |
| April 14, 1978 | Fort Worth | United States | Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium | Journey Montrose |
| April 15, 1978 | Houston | United States | Houston Music Hall | Journey Montrose |
| April 16, 1978 | New Orleans | United States | The Warehouse | Journey Montrose |
| April 18, 1978 | Memphis | United States | Ellis Memorial Auditorium | Journey Montrose |
| April 20, 1978 | Tallahassee | United States | Ruby Diamond Auditorium | Journey Montrose |
| April 21, 1978 | Pembroke Pines | United States | Hollywood Sportatorium | Journey Montrose |
| April 22, 1978 | Tampa | United States | Curtis Hixon Hall | Journey Montrose |
| April 23, 1978 | Atlanta | United States | Fox Theatre | Journey Montrose |
| April 25, 1978 | Virginia Beach | United States | Rogues' Gallery | — |
| April 26, 1978 | Virginia Beach | United States | Rogues' Gallery | — |
| April 27, 1978 | Norfolk | United States | The Scope | — |
| April 28, 1978 | New York City | United States | Palladium | — |
| Europe |||||
| May 4, 1978 | Poperinge | Belgium | Zaal Maeckeblijde | — |
| May 5, 1978 | Delft | Netherlands | De Stads Doelen | — |
| May 6, 1978 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | Paradiso | — |
| May 8, 1978 | Hamburg | West Germany | Markthalle Hamburg | — |
| May 9, 1978 | Hamburg | West Germany | Markthalle Hamburg | — |
| May 10, 1978 | Hamburg | West Germany | Markthalle Hamburg | — |
| May 12, 1978 | Paris | France | Théâtre Mogador | — |
| May 16, 1978 | Sheffield | England | Sheffield City Hall | Black Sabbath |
| May 17, 1978 | Southport | England | Southport Theatre | Black Sabbath |
| May 18, 1978 | Glasgow | Scotland | Glasgow Apollo | Black Sabbath |
| May 19, 1978 | Aberdeen | Scotland | Capitol Theatre | Black Sabbath |
| May 21, 1978 | Newcastle | England | Newcastle City Hall | Black Sabbath |
| May 22, 1978 | Manchester | England | Manchester Apollo | Black Sabbath |
| May 23, 1978 | Stoke | England | Victoria Hall | Black Sabbath |
| May 25, 1978 | Portsmouth | England | Portsmouth Guildhall | Black Sabbath |
| May 26, 1978 | Bristol | England | Colston Hall | Black Sabbath |
| May 27, 1978 | London | England | Lewisham Odeon | Black Sabbath |
| May 28, 1978 | Ipswich | England | Ipswich Gaumont Theatre | Black Sabbath |
| May 30, 1978 | Coventry | England | Coventry Theatre | Black Sabbath |
| May 31, 1978 | Leicester | England | De Montfort Hall | Black Sabbath |
| June 1, 1978 | London | England | Hammersmith Odeon | Black Sabbath |
| June 2, 1978 | Oxford | England | Apollo Theatre Oxford | Black Sabbath |
| June 3, 1978 | Southampton | England | Southampton Gaumont Theatre | Black Sabbath |
| June 5, 1978 | Birmingham | England | Birmingham Odeon | Black Sabbath |
| June 6, 1978 | Birmingham | England | Birmingham Odeon | Black Sabbath |
| June 7, 1978 | Bradford | England | St George's Hall | Black Sabbath |
| June 8, 1978 | Preston | England | Preston Guild Hall | Black Sabbath |
| June 10, 1978 | London | England | Hammersmith Odeon | Black Sabbath |
| June 11, 1978 | London | England | Hammersmith Odeon | Black Sabbath |
| Asia |||||
| June 17, 1978 | Tokyo | Japan | Tokyo Cultural Hall | — |
| June 19, 1978 | Tokyo | Japan | Tokyo Cultural Hall | — |
| June 21, 1978 | Tokyo | Japan | Nakano Sun Plaza Hall | — |
| June 22, 1978 | Tokyo | Japan | Nakano Sun Plaza Hall | — |
| June 24, 1978 | Nagoya | Japan | Nagoya Civic Assembly Hall | — |
| June 25, 1978 | Osaka | Japan | Festival Hall | — |
| June 27, 1978 | Osaka | Japan | Osaka Cultural Hall | — |
| North America |||||
| July 1, 1978 | Dallas | United States | Cotton Bowl (Texxas Jam) | — |
| July 2, 1978 | San Antonio | United States | San Antonio Municipal Auditorium | — |
| July 3, 1978 | Austin | United States | Armadillo World Headquarters | — |
| July 6, 1978 | Phoenix | United States | Celebrity Theatre | — |
| July 7, 1978 | Phoenix | United States | Celebrity Theatre | — |
| July 8, 1978 | San Diego | United States | San Diego Sports Arena | — |
| July 9, 1978 | Long Beach | United States | Long Beach Arena | — |
| July 13, 1978 | New Orleans | United States | The Superdome | The Rolling Stones The Doobie Brothers |
| July 15, 1978 | Kansas City | United States | Royals Stadium (Summer Jam) | Kansas Steve Miller Band Eddie Money |
| July 16, 1978 | Davenport | United States | Credit Island Park (Mississippi River Jam) | The Doobie Brothers Atlanta Rhythm Section Journey |
| July 17, 1978 | La Crosse | United States | Mary E. Sawyer Auditorium | Journey |
| July 18, 1978 | Seymour | United States | Seymour Speedway | Journey |
| July 21, 1978 | Jackson | United States | Carl Perkins Civic Auditorium | Journey |
| July 23, 1978 | Oakland | United States | Oakland Coliseum (Day on the Green 1978 #3) | Aerosmith Foreigner Pat Travers AC/DC |
| July 24, 1978 | Redding | United States | Redding Civic Center | — |
| July 25, 1978 | Reno | United States | Washoe County Fairgrounds | — |
| July 31, 1978 | Alexandria | United States | Rapides Parish Coliseum | — |
| August 2, 1978 | Wichita Falls | United States | Wichita Falls Memorial Auditorium | — |
| August 3, 1978 | Lubbock | United States | Lubbock Municipal Auditorium | — |
| August 4, 1978 | Amarillo | United States | Hollywood Bowl (West Texas Jam 1978) | — |
| August 5, 1978 | Great Bend | United States | SRCA Raceway (Summer Jam) | — |
| August 6, 1978 | Oklahoma City | United States | Oklahoma State Fairgrounds Grandstand (Oklahoma Jam 1978) | — |
| August 7, 1978 | Wichita | United States | Pogo's | — |
| August 9, 1978 | Peoria | United States | Second Chance | — |
| August 10, 1978 | Salem | United States | Hooker Lake Inn | — |
| August 12, 1978 | Landover | United States | Capital Centre | Ted Nugent |
| August 13, 1978 | Binghamton | United States | Broome County Arena | Ted Nugent |
| August 19, 1978 | Bay City | United States | Engel Stadium (Summer Celebration) | Bob Seger Bandit |
| August 22, 1978 | Milwaukee | United States | MECCA Arena | Black Sabbath |
| August 23, 1978 | Chicago | United States | International Amphitheatre | Black Sabbath |
| August 24, 1978 | Chicago | United States | International Amphitheatre | Black Sabbath |
| August 25, 1978 | Terre Haute | United States | Hulman Arena | Black Sabbath |
| August 27, 1978 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden | Black Sabbath |
| August 28, 1978 | Uniondale NY | United States | Nassau Coliseum | Black Sabbath |
| August 29, 1978 | Philadelphia | United States | Spectrum | Black Sabbath |
| August 30, 1978 | Poughkeepsie | United States | Mid-Hudson Civic Center | Black Sabbath |
| August 31, 1978 | Erie | United States | Erie County Field House | Black Sabbath |
| September 1, 1978 | Hampton | United States | Hampton Coliseum | Black Sabbath |
| September 2, 1978 | Pittsburgh | United States | Pittsburgh Civic Arena | Black Sabbath |
| September 4, 1978 | South Yarmouth | United States | Cape Cod Coliseum | Black Sabbath |
| September 5, 1978 | Portland | United States | Cumberland County Civic Center | Black Sabbath |
| September 7, 1978 | Utica | United States | Utica Memorial Auditorium | Black Sabbath |
| September 8, 1978 | Niagara Falls | United States | Niagara Falls Convention Center | Black Sabbath |
| September 9, 1978 | Baltimore | United States | Baltimore Civic Center | Black Sabbath |
| September 10, 1978 | New Haven | United States | New Haven Coliseum | Black Sabbath |
| September 12, 1978 | Indianapolis | United States | Indianapolis Convention Center | Black Sabbath |
| September 14, 1978 | Detroit | United States | Cobo Arena | Black Sabbath |
| September 15, 1978 | Richfield | United States | Richfield Coliseum | Black Sabbath |
| September 16, 1978 | St. Louis | United States | Checkerdome | Black Sabbath |
| September 17, 1978 | Kansas City | United States | Kansas City Municipal Auditorium | Black Sabbath |
| September 18, 1978 | Tulsa | United States | Tulsa Assembly Center | Black Sabbath |
| September 21, 1978 | Bakersfield | United States | Bakersfield Civic Auditorium | Black Sabbath |
| September 22, 1978 | Fresno | United States | Selland Arena | Black Sabbath |
| September 23, 1978 | Anaheim | United States | Anaheim Stadium (Summerfest 1978) | Black Sabbath |
| September 26, 1978 | Vancouver | Canada | Pacific Coliseum | Black Sabbath |
| September 27, 1978 | Portland | United States | Portland Memorial Coliseum | Black Sabbath |
| September 28, 1978 | Spokane | United States | Spokane Coliseum | Black Sabbath |
| September 29, 1978 | Seattle | United States | Seattle Center Arena | Black Sabbath |
| September 30, 1978 | Seattle | United States | Seattle Center Arena | Black Sabbath |
| Europe |||||
| October 9, 1978 | Hamburg | West Germany | Audimax Theatre | Black Sabbath |
| October 10, 1978 | Essen | West Germany | Grugahalle | Black Sabbath |
| October 11, 1978 | Offenbach | West Germany | Stadthalle Offenbach | Black Sabbath |
| October 13, 1978 | Uhingen | West Germany | Haldenberg Hall | Black Sabbath |
| October 14, 1978 | Ludwigshafen | West Germany | Friedrich-Ebert-Halle | Black Sabbath |
| October 15, 1978 | Kuernach | West Germany | Kuernach Hall | Black Sabbath |
| October 17, 1978 | Neunkirchen | West Germany | Hemmerleinhalle | Black Sabbath |
| October 18, 1978 | Bad Rappenau | West Germany | Bad Rappenau Sports Hall | Black Sabbath |
| October 20, 1978 | Cambrai | France | Grottos Palace | Black Sabbath |
| October 22, 1978 | London | England | Rainbow Theatre | — |
| October 27, 1978 | Koekelare | Belgium | Koekelare Sports Hall | — |
| United States |||||
| November 3, 1978 | St. Petersburg | United States | Bayfront Center | Black Sabbath |
| November 4, 1978 | Jacksonville | United States | Jacksonville Coliseum | Black Sabbath |
| November 5, 1978 | Pembroke Pines | United States | Hollywood Sportatorium | Black Sabbath |
| November 7, 1978 | Columbus | United States | Municipal Auditorium | Black Sabbath |
| November 8, 1978 | Birmingham | United States | Boutwell Memorial Auditorium | Black Sabbath |
| November 9, 1978 | Nashville | United States | Nashville Municipal Auditorium | Black Sabbath |
| November 10, 1978 | Memphis | United States | Mid-South Coliseum | Black Sabbath |
| November 11, 1978 | Cincinnati | United States | Riverfront Coliseum | Black Sabbath |
| November 12, 1978 | Nashville | United States | Nashville Municipal Auditorium | Black Sabbath |
| November 13, 1978 | Atlanta | United States | Omni Coliseum | Black Sabbath |
| November 14, 1978 | Mobile | United States | Mobile Municipal Auditorium | Black Sabbath |
| November 15, 1978 | Huntsville | United States | Von Braun Civic Center | Black Sabbath |
| November 17, 1978 | Austin | United States | Austin Municipal Auditorium | Black Sabbath |
| November 18, 1978 | Midland | United States | Chaparral Center | Black Sabbath |
| November 19, 1978 | Houston | United States | Sam Houston Coliseum | Black Sabbath |
| November 20, 1978 | Oklahoma City | United States | Myriad Convention Center | Black Sabbath |
| November 22, 1978 | Corpus Christi | United States | Corpus Christi Memorial Coliseum | Black Sabbath |
| November 23, 1978 | Houston | United States | Sam Houston Coliseum | Black Sabbath |
| November 24, 1978 | San Antonio | United States | San Antonio Convention Center | Black Sabbath |
| November 25, 1978 | Dallas | United States | Dallas Convention Center | Black Sabbath |
| November 26, 1978 | Dallas | United States | Dallas Convention Center | Black Sabbath |
| November 28, 1978 | Denver | United States | McNichols Sports Arena | Black Sabbath |
| November 29, 1978 | Ogden | United States | Dee Events Center | Black Sabbath |
| December 1, 1978 | San Bernardino | United States | Swing Auditorium | Black Sabbath |
| December 2, 1978 | Oakland | United States | Oakland Arena | Black Sabbath |
| December 3, 1978 | San Diego | United States | San Diego Sports Arena | Black Sabbath |
| December 4, 1978 | Long Beach | United States | Long Beach Arena | — |
| December 5, 1978 | Phoenix | United States | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | — |
| December 7, 1978 | Abilene | United States | Taylor County Expo Center | — |
| December 8, 1978 | El Paso | United States | El Paso County Coliseum | — |
| December 10, 1978 | Albuquerque | United States | Johnson Gymnasium | — |
| December 11, 1978 | Albuquerque | United States | Johnson Gymnasium | — |

### Box office score data

List of box office score data with date, city, venue, attendance, gross, references :
| Date (1978) | City | Venue | Attendance | Gross |
| July 9 | Long Beach | Long Beach Arena | 8,614 | $51,652 |
| July 13 | New Orleans | The Superdome | 80,173 | $1,060,000 |
| July 15 | Kansas City | Royals Stadium | 34,541 | $423,904 |
| August 19 | Bay City | Engel Stadium | 22,572 | $201,513 |
| September 4 | South Yarmouth | Cape Cod Coliseum | 7,100 | $53,888 |
| September 5 | Portland | Cumberland County Civic Center | 7,744 | $57,606 |
| September 8 | Niagara Falls | Convention Center | 8,186 | $62,267 |
| September 9 | Baltimore | Civic Center | 9,253 | $65,887 |
| September 10 | New Haven | Coliseum | 7,438 | $52,289 |

## Personnel

* Eddie Van Halen – guitar and background vocals
* David Lee Roth – lead vocals and acoustic guitar
* Michael Anthony – bass and background vocals
* Alex Van Halen – drums