THE NIGHT STUFF
Van Halen tribute band stirs up Roth-era vibes

The Atomic Punks, a tribute band to early Van Halen, performs tonight at the Pipeline Café. Eddie Van Halen said he was flattered by their act.

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

David Lee Roth hasn't stolen any more "Eddies" from the Atomic Punks in the two years since the Van Halen tribute band last played O'ahu.

"No, the second guy he took is still with him ... still doing that gig," said Punks founding drummer and resident "Alex Van Halen" Scott Patterson. And that's a good thing.

Rightfully considered one of the best Van Halen cover bands working the club circuit, the Los Angeles-based Atomic Punks have served as something of a guitarist farm team for Roth. First in 1999 when Bart Walsh left for Roth's dismal DLR Band project, and again in 2002 when Brian Young ran off to join Roth's co-headlining tour with then-fellow-ex-Van Halen lead howler Sammy Hagar.

Roth had initially tried to recruit the entire band (sans Atomic Punk David Lee doppelganger Ralph Saenz, of course) when he snatched Walsh.

"He wanted the ready-made band," Patterson said of Roth. "Ralph doesn't like that part of the story, so he doesn't talk about it." Fair warning.

Approved by one out of three original Van Halen members for their fans who love Roth-era Van Halen, the Atomic Punks return to Honolulu for a one-night stand tonight at the Pipeline Café. In addition to Patterson and Saenz, the Atomic Punks are bassist Joe "Michael Anthony" Lester and — until Roth starts jonesing for another guitarist — Russ "Eddie Van Halen" Parrish.

"I don't know if Alex (Van Halen) has ever given the band his blessing," said Patterson. "But I don't know if he does a whole lot of blessing of anything."

On the other hand, Michael Anthony has jumped on stage with the Punks twice, Eddie Van Halen once told the band he was flattered by the tribute, and Roth has obviously shown the love in, uh, other ways.

As for the Punks show, "We play some freaky stuff, sure," said Patterson, who, strangely enough, also plays Neil Peart in a Rush tribute band called Moving Pictures. "But when you're in this business you want to appeal to the masses. So two-thirds of the show, at least, are songs that everybody knows."

Tickets available at the Blaisdell box office, Hawaii's Natural High, all Ticketmaster outlets for $19 advance, $24 door. Charge by phone at (877) 750-4400 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Show starts at 7 p.m.

Turntablists On Tour

Got some love for drum-n-bass? The organizers of national DJ club tour Planet of the Drums want to feel it. Created to lend more exposure to the sped-up breakbeat music genre, Planet's headlining turntablists will be AK1200, Dara and Dieselboy. Saturday at Studio 1, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., 16 and older welcome. 591-3500.

Punk for life

Good show. Good cause. The Life Foundation will get all post-expense proceeds from the Punk Rock Charity Show Saturday at Coffee Talk. Playing live are Dork, Temporary Lovers, Suspicious Minds, Les Sauvages and Transpose. Starts at 8 p.m. $5.