Skid Row guitarist Dave “The Snake” Sabo shared memories of his experience opening for Van Halen in 1995.
In an interview with host Trevor Joe Lennon ( via Ultimate Classic Rock ), Sabo highlighted the "exceptional" treatment he and his band received, especially from Eddie Van Halen .
“They treated us so well,” Sabo recalled, revealing that he made a point of attending all the soundchecks. “I’m a real fan and I wanted to be close to him and his playing style as much as possible.”
Sabo also revealed that Eddie was very affectionate during the tour. “I used to walk onto the stage right before his sound check, and he would come up to me, hug me, and give me a kiss on the lips,” Sabo said. “He would ask how I was doing. He was a sweetheart.”
In addition to personal affection, Sabo and guitarist Scotti Hill received gifts during the tour. "We were talking about his amplifiers, and he was working with Peavey at the time," Sabo explained.
“Days later, during a show in Camden, New Jersey, he called us over and said, ‘Hey guys, come here.’ He had two 5150 combos waiting for us as gifts.” Sabo couldn’t contain his excitement upon receiving the amplifiers. “It’s just crazy, Eddie Van Halen giving me his signature amp.”
The musician also shared that he spent time with other members of Van Halen, especially bassist Michael Anthony .
“Behind his amplifiers, there was a mini-bar set up, called Mad Anthony’s Cafe,” Sabo recalled. “We’d take shots of Jack Daniel’s during the show and it was a lot of fun.” He also commented on his golf games with Anthony, describing him as a humble and approachable person.
READ ALSO: Sebastian Bach says he has boxes of unreleased Skid Row material
