Van Halen

7/30/2016

Nate McClain (American, 1973 - 1997)
Van Halen, 1986
Color Pencil and Marker
4 x 3 inches
Courtesy of Kris

Van Halen is a cassette mix tape cover of Van Halen songs featuring the Frankenstrat and a handwritten playlist. Nate created mix tapes for friends and Van Halen & Sammy Hagar were favorites at the time. Nate saw Van Halen with Sammy on their 1988 tour in St. Louis, MO and created a banner for the concert. During the song “5150”, Nate threw the banner on stage and Sammy showed it to the crowd to thunderous applause! Sadly no photo of the banner exists. Nate was 12 years old when he created this artwork while attending Coolidge Middle School in Granite City, Illinois.

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3 Comments

Anonymous

2/19/2020 05:56:49 pm

Yes Van Halen was Nathan’s favorite band! Although he had many favorites, but you are wrong on the tour he threw the banner on stage. We spoke many times about his banner he was throwing on stage and about the one I was making! He was a freshman in high school and it was the ou812 tour, it was and is in a video or a live show they made back in the day! The banner he made was two arms in the air giving their 5150 sign. I’ll explain, pinky on both hands were in the up position, first finger on both hands in the up position and thumbs on both hands extended out touching as were the first finger’s. It looked as if someone took a picture from behind the arms in the air with the stage and band in the background!! Is really a great banner, wish he had took a picture of it and it could have been shared here!! Rock on in heaven my good friend!

Kris

2/19/2020 10:01:31 pm

Thanks for the clarifying comment! You're spot on with the details and guess my memory was fuzzy on which tour it happened on.

Anonymous

2/20/2020 06:16:11 am

I was hesitant to post anything I didn’t want to disrespect anyone. And I think everyone who is as old as we are has a fuzzy memory.. I was saddened to learn Nate had passed, would you mind telling me what happened? I’ll leave my number so you can text me if you would rather do that instead of posting here!

Van Halen

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