Completely Unchained: Van Halen tribute is here

LAKELAND — The audience may be younger than the original fans, but the music and legacy of Van Halen is still alive, despite the end of the original Van Halen lineup with guitarist Eddie Van Halen’s death Oct. 26, 2020.

Completely Unchained, a Van Halen tribute band, comes to Lakeland on May 7 when “Completely Unchained: Van Halen Tribute” rocks Union Hall.

During their nearly 50-year career, Van Halen — the core of which was singer David Lee Roth, bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Eddie Van Halen and his brother, drummer Alex Van Halen —- had more Billboard Hot 100 hits than any other hard rock or heavy metal band. Some of those original Van Halen chart-toppers included “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love,” “Panama,” “Hot for Teacher,” covers of Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman” and The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” and Eddie Van Halen’s iconic guitar solo in “Eruption.”

The current lineup for the past six months of Completely Unchained consists of Gene Henrikson, who portrays Roth; Jake Miller is guitarist Eddie Van Halen, Clint Ettorre is on bass as Anthony, and Tim DiDuro is the current tour’s drummer Alex Van Halen.

Speaking from Long Island, New York, Miller said about 10 years ago he began playing guitar for Completely Unchained and eventually became its permanent Eddie Van Halen.

Miller, 51, said Completely Unchained’s bassist and drummer are switched out and finding the right musicians for those parts is the key to the band’s success.

“You can get a guy that plays the drums, but does he play like Alex; you can get a guy who play bass, but does he sing like Mike? It’s not just having them look like the guys, there’s a lot more involved to bringing new members in,” he said.

And Completely Unchained’s looks and sounds of the original Van Halen center around the classic David Lee Roth era of 1978 to 1984, not necessarily in chronological order of release. Miller said the band has found people want to hear what they know. The shows consist primarily of predetermined sets focusing on the hits of the era, such as “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” “Jamie’s Cryin’,” “And the Cradle Will Rock,” “Unchained,” “So This Is Love?” and “Panama.”

Additionally, band members dress in period-accurate Van Halen stage wear and play the same instrument brands to make a show appear as though it’s taking place in 1981.

“We could start going off to lesser-known tracks and B cuts — a lot of those songs are great and the diehards want to hear them — but the basic fan base wants to hear the hits, something where they can sing, dance, and have a good time. They want to hear what was on the radio, what was on MTV,” said Miller.

Miller said most pieces are note-for-note but he does add some of his own guitar touches to solos. And with that in mind, Miller said there’s not much room, if any at all, for audience requests. Completely Unchained’s shows, he said, are fluid, high-energy and “doesn’t give anyone a chance to blink.”

“We’re close to our fans; they are our friends. We consider it like a backyard barbecue when we’re playing — everyone is there to have a good time.”

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: Completely Unchained: Van Halen Tribute

WHEN: 8 p.m., May 7

WHERE: Union Hall, 1023 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland

COST: General admission, $20

INFO: www.unionhallevents.com/event/vhtribute; 863-288-0372

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Off the Chain