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For a reunited Van Halen, there’s no turning back
By Edna Gundersen, 
USA TODAY

Van Halen’s implosion, fed by bad blood and a cancer crisis, stalled the
career of a band as famous for its internal discord as its rock-metal
harmony. (Related story: There’s only one way to rock
Now Van Halen is back to finish what it started. Friday, singer Sammy Hagar,
guitarist Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen and bassist Michael
Anthony will reunite onstage in Greensboro, N.C., first stop on a
blockbuster summer tour.

"It’s shaping up as one of the top tours of the year," says Ray Waddell of
Billboard. "Tickets blew out very quickly. The band had very hard-core fans
at their peak, and there’s a real thirst to hear those songs again. Plus,
there’s a strong curiosity factor about Eddie."

Two years ago, fans were losing faith. The band remained idle after firing
Gary Cherone, the voice on 1998’s poorly received Van Halen III. Eddie was
in isolation battling tongue cancer. Hagar and original frontman David Lee
Roth, both on the outs with Van Halen and barely civil to each other,
launched the gimmicky Sam & Dave tour. A reunion seemed unthinkable.

Then, in mid-2002, Eddie announced he was cancer-free after two years of
treatment. Last winter, Hagar initiated casual chats with Alex and Anthony.

"We didn’t plan this," Hagar says. "I called Al about a dream I had,
strictly personal. It had been seven years, and we just started laughing. He
said, ‘Let’s get Ed on the phone.’ Then I’m talking to Ed, who says, ‘Come
on over; I’ve got some music I want you to hear.’ Next thing I know, we’re
in the studio."

Alex adds, "It’s like an old shoe. It fit. It’s what we were born to do."

Spanning three decades, the set list boast three new songs and hits
predating Hagar, who no longer balks at taking on Roth’s role.

In the old days, I had a bug up my butt about doing their early hits,"
Hagar says. "I was more interested in doing what we’d just written. This
time, I was the first one to say, ‘Let’s open with Jump.’ It’s one of the
most important songs in the band’s career, and I love singing it now.

"It’s a humbling experience the second time around, and I have a new
appreciation for the band’s history. There’s not a better catalog on the
planet."

Uncrowned Will Perform at Cabo Wabo Meltdown in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Orlando, Fla. – October 5, 2004 – Hard Rock Cafe and Cabo Wabo Enterprises are proud to announce Uncrowned, an unsigned band based in Atlanta, as the winner of the "Shot at the Cabo Wabo" national battle-of-the-bands competition.  Beating out more than 250 of the country’s hottest unsigned bands, Uncrowned won an all-expense paid trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and will perform both nights (October 8 and 9, 2004) at the Cabo Wabo Meltdown at the Cabo Wabo Cantina. As grand-prize winners, Uncrowned will also receive $14,000 worth of studio/production time. 

Playing the Cabo Wabo Meltdown is a truly awesome opportunity for any band.  We joined with Cabo Wabo Tequila to find a way to recognize the nation’s best unsigned bands and give them the opportunity to perform with some of music’s top artists," said Brian Siemienas, director of marketing for Hard Rock International.  "Hard Rock is thrilled to be able to recognize Uncrowned’s passion, and hopefully help the band on its path to stardom."

This year’s Cabo Wabo Meltdown will feature headliners Sammy Hagar and The Waboritas preceded by J Records recording artists Silvertide.  Special guests scheduled to perform this year include Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, Billy Duffy from The Cult and Chad Kroeger from Nickelback.

"It is my absolute pleasure to give young bands support," stated Hagar. "We plan on watching Uncrowned heat up our Meltdown fans and make them their own."

During April and May, select Hard Rock Cafes in 20 U.S. cities each hosted four intense rounds of live regional competitions.  Rock fans nationwide voted for their favorite bands on-line at www.hardrock.com to narrow the competition down to six finalists.  Finally, a panel of celebrity and music industry judges, including Sammy Hagar, picked the winning band.

About Cabo Wabo 

Cabo Wabo is a lifestyle brand that includes Cabo Wabo Tequila and the Cabo Wabo Cantina nightclubs and restaurants in two of the most beautiful places on earth: Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and Lake Tahoe, Nevada at Harveys Resort Casino. Now in its 14th year, the Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico is one of the top resort attractions in that city. The Tahoe location opened for business on April 30, 2004 to rave reviews and record-breaking numbers for customers served. Imported in 1998, Cabo Wabo Tequila has become the Number Two premium tequila in the United States. Made from 100% Blue Weber Agave, Cabo Wabo is hand crafted the traditional way with no fillers or additives, ‘produced and bottled in Mexico’ and is one of the finest tequilas in the world. Cabo Wabo embodies the philosophy of founder and owner Sammy Hagar: a quality of life embracing good music, good friends, a smile on your face and the beach in your soul. Like our tequila, we believe your presence on this planet should be savored and enjoyed to the fullest. 

Cabo Wabo is a registered trademark of Cabo Wabo Enterprises.  www.cabowabo.com

About Hard Rock Cafe International

Hard Rock Cafe International, one of the most globally-recognized music, entertainment and dining brands has a network of 117 signature Hard Rock Cafes in 45 countries and owns the world’s greatest collection of music memorabilia. Known for its collectible and fashion merchandise, live concerts, Hard Rock Live performance venues, hardrock.com and Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos, Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of London-based The Rank Group Plc (NASDAQ: RANKY).  For more information on Hard Rock, visit www.hardrock.com.

Greetings from the Tahoe Wabo Cantina! The Grand Opening was awesome. 3,000 fans, friends and family including Jorge and Marco from Cabo, TV crews, radio, newspapers and you-name-it came to capture the magic.

Our first U.S. Cabo Wabo is off and bumping. A sound system that will knock you out and a video wall you have to see to believe!
The menu is a feast of signature dishes and drinks.
The wait staff and bartenders are great.
Ted Nugent played with the Waboritas Thursday nite and christened the new Tahoe Wabo Altitude Nightclub at Harrah’s. 
All three shows this weekend promise to be great. More to come ….thank you Don Marrandino. You rock my world.

Later!
Sammy

First Cabo Wabo Cantina and Nightclub on U.S. soil to open with three-night Grand Opening Weekend April 30,2004

Lake Tahoe, NV (March 18, 2004) – Rock vocalist/guitarist Sammy Hagar will open the first U.S. based Cabo Wabo Cantina on Friday, April 30, 2004 inside Harveys Resort Casino at Lake Tahoe, Nevada. 

Nicknamed “Taho Wabo,” the Cabo Wabo Cantina and retail store will be located in Harveys Resort Casino, while three, grand opening weekend performances starring Sammy Hagar will take place across the street at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe’s legendary South Shore Room.  On April 30, May 1 and 2, the famed Harrah’s showroom will be transformed into the “Cabo Wabo Nightclub.” Harveys  and Harrah’s Lake Tahoe are owned by Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc.

Hagar will officially open the doors of of the Cabo Wabo Cantina at 11 AM, Friday, April 30. The Cabo Wabo Cantina will be open for lunch, dinner and a late-night club scene seven days a week.  The Cantina will serve the finest in Mexican specialties and a diverse offering of wines, beer and spirits, including one of the largest selections of premium tequilas and new and innovative tequila-based cocktails exclusive to Cabo Wabo.

Sammy Hagar and the Waboritas will perform on Friday, April 30th and Saturday, May 1st, while Sunday, May 2nd will feature “Sammy Hagar and Friends.” 

With Sammy working closely with Don Marrandino, Senior Vice President of Harrah’s Northern Nevada, the Tahoe-based Cabo Wabo Cantina went from casual conversations to reality.

“Having my first Cantina open in the States is a dream come true,” states Hagar. “The creation of Cabo Wabo has brought me happiness, success and many rewards over the years. Bringing the Cabo Wabo to Tahoe is something Don and I both plan on making this town rock with.”

“Harveys and Harrah’s are creating a home for Cabo Wabo and Sammy, his thousands of fans around the world and the thousands more that will come to learn the Cabo Wabo way of life,” said Marrandino. “Cabo Wabo is a key component of our continuing strategy to create more excitement, more attractions and a broader appeal to Tahoe. We are looking forward to a long and successful journey with Sammy.”

The first annual “Cinco de Cabo™” celebration will take place in conjunction with the opening of the Cabo Wabo Cantina. The south shore of Lake Tahoe will participate in a town-wide street fair with a cross-section of food, live music and more on Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2.

The “Miss Taho Wabo” contest will take place on Saturday, May 1. Winners will become on-stage “waitresses” for that evening’s show, a fan-favorite and a featured part of Hagar’s concerts.

Heavenly Ski Resort will be celebrating the event by keeping the ski slopes open through May 2, offering discounts for all who mention “Cabo Wabo.”  For additional information on room reservations and more, go to dev.sammyhagar.com. 

Since opening in 1990, the original Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas is now legendary and has established itself as the must-see, must-go destination for anyone coming to the resort town. Voted as one of the Top 10 party spots in the world, it is, as Hagar puts it, “a monster that has a life of its own.”

The Cabo Wabo brand also lays claim as the Number Two premium tequila in the United States. “Born” in 1996, Cabo Wabo Tequila is the winner of numerous awards including Gold Medals and “Best of Show” for two consecutive years from the American Tasting Institute. 

Hagar demands only one thing from anyone who comes to the Cantina. “Cabo Wabo is a lifestyle, something that requires only a willingness to enjoy your life and embrace all that makes you happy. That’s the reason the Cantina was created. Come and enjoy.”

"Food Finds Celebrity" – 5:00 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 – ET/PT
The Food Finds team takes us to the places where Celebrities are making
food.  We even tell you how to order it.  Sandra Pinckney travels from New
York to LA in search of the ultimate celebrity food find.  This includes
Sammy Hagar in Mexico, Willie Nelson, Moby, Bo Jackson, Alice Cooper, Jim
"JR" Ross and Patty Page.  Repeated Sunday, Feb. 29, at 4:00 p.m. ET/PT.