This is only a preview. The auction will open on: 10/28/2026 1:00:00 PM
Offered Here: Van Halen 1971 Arcadia High School May Show Program with Alex Van Halen & Mark Stone With COA
Item Details: This is an extraordinary and incredibly early piece of hard rock history featuring an original six-page program for The May Show, presented by the Arcadia High School Chanteurs on May 20 and 21, 1971. While the event itself was a showcase for the high school's choral and vocal talent, this document holds monumental significance for rock historians as it captures the very genesis of Van Halen. Listed clearly in the program credits as members of the accompanying instrumental combo are original bassist Mark Stone and legendary drummer Alex Van Halen, whose surname is uniquely misspelled as "VanHallen" in the text. Pre-dating the formation of the band Van Halen by years, this artifact documents the early collaborative partnership that laid the groundwork for a global rock revolution. It represents a museum-quality cornerstone piece for any serious Van Halen archive or classic rock memorabilia collection.
Provenance / Authenticity: This lot originates directly from the personal collection of Mark Stone, a multi-talented artist who was the original bass player and backing vocalist for Mammoth and Van Halen from 1972 to 1974 and an accomplished luthier. As a foundational figure in the band's legendary early history, Stone performed on their seminal studio demos and extended his creative contributions by designing the iconic original band logo utilized by Mammoth and early Van Halen. Offered directly from his estate, these historic items will be accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity signed by an authorized representative of the Stone estate.
Before Van Halen became one of the most commercially successful hard rock bands of the late 1970s and 1980s, brothers Alex and Eddie Van Halen were developing their sound in the Pasadena area, forming the band Mammoth around 1972 with bassist Mark Stone. After singer David Lee Roth joined, the group took the name Van Halen, and Michael Anthony replaced Stone on bass in 1974, completing the lineup that signed with Warner Bros. and released its self-titled debut album in 1978. That record, driven by Eddie's two-handed tapping technique and Alex's powerful drumming, changed the course of rock guitar playing for a generation, and the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
Condition: The program is in exceptionally good condition, remaining clean and remarkably well-preserved while showing only minor signs of vintage wear, aging, and storage. There is a small, heavy crease along the right edge of the paper from historical handling. Aside from this minor blemish, the pages remain crisp, the binding structure is intact, and the printing throughout is bright and perfectly legible.
SKU: DST1002