Van Halen concert dates announced for 2012 tour

Following an intimate performance at Café Wha? last evening, January 5, Van Halen released the official schedule for its 2012 North American tour.

The legendary rock crew and original frontman David Lee Roth performed for press and invited guests at the 250-capacity venue in Greenwich Village as a tour warm-up. The band’s itinerary kicks off February 18 at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY, and concludes June 26 at New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, LA.

Over the course of the tour’s four months, Van Halen will perform 45 shows across the United States and Canada. While most markets will host the American rock icons for just one night, Van Halen will return to New York City for a February 28 and March 1 stand at Madison Square Garden.

In late December, Van Halen teased its upcoming tour with a series of video montages on the band’s official Web site.

In keeping with a date displayed in those videos, the tour’s ticket presales will begin January 10. Live Nation is distributing presale codes to those fans who RSVP on Facebook for Van Halen’s concerts.

Public onsales then will begin January 14 for tour dates booked through April 1, and January 16 for the Louisville opener. Onsales for the remainder of the tour are yet to be announced.

Ticket prices will run from $29.50 to $149.50 in most markets, according to event listings on Ticketmaster.com. However, the site only listed nine concert dates as of 12 p.m. on January 6; the face value range may vary more widely as the other markets reveal their pricing.

Highlights on the U.S. itinerary include February 24 at United Center in Chicago, IL; March 11 at TD Garden in Boston, MA; April 19 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA; April 27 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN; June 1 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA; and June 20 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX.

Seven of Van Halen’s 45 concerts will take place north of the boarder. Some of those dates include March 15 at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC; March 17 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, ON; May 7 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC; and May 11 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, AB.

Kool & The Gang will appear as a special guest on select tour dates.

The 2012 North American tour is Van Halen’s first outing since 2007-2008. The upcoming outing is expected to feature hits from the band’s decade-spanning career, as well as cuts from the new album “A Different Kind of Truth,” which is slated for release on February 7.

Van Halen itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)