The Ohio State Athletic Band performed a tribute to Van Halen during their annual halftime show at Ohio Stadium in Columba on Saturday, April 16.
The eight-minute drill display included takes on “Runnin’ With the Devil,” “Dreams,” “Panama” and “Jump.” An audience of 60,000 were in attendance, with the game resulting in a 34-26 victory by the Ohio State Scarlet offense over the Ohio State Gray defense.
The Van Halen tribute can be viewed below.
The band consists of between 250 and 300 members every semester and rehearses twice a week, while smaller groups of its musicians are selected for different types of performance.
“Unlike the Marching Band, the Athletic Band includes all brass, woodwind and percussion instruments,” its website reads. “Athletic Band is an open-enrollment ensemble, meaning anyone is welcome to participate. … Among the highlights of the Athletic Band are marching full pregame and halftime shows at the annual Spring Game, performing Script Ohio on Ice at one hockey game per semester and performing Script Ohio on court during a spring-semester basketball game.”
Ohio State Athletic Band’s Van Halen Tribute
Last week, former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted revealed that Alex Van Halen invited him to participate in a Van Halen-based tour with Joe Satriani as lead guitarist. But Newsted felt that it wasn’t possible to do the late Eddie Van Halen’s legacy justice. “How could you?” he said. “There’s nobody that can top it, so how do you show it honor? I didn’t want it to be viewed as a money grab. And then it kind of just all fizzled.”
Van Halen Albums Ranked
A ranking of every Van Halen album.