This is only a preview. The auction will open on: 10/28/2026 1:00:00 PM
Offered Here: Van Halen 1973 Arcadia High School Mark Stone Signed Earliest Concert as Van Halen Paperwork With COA
Item Details: An incredible offering of foundational rock and roll ephemera, this lot features an extraordinary assortment of original paperwork from one of the earliest performances under the Van Halen moniker. This historic archive documents a pivotal transitional moment for the band, occurring just after they discovered another musical act using their previous name. The centerpiece of the collection is the official performance contract agreement for a show at Arcadia High School on Friday, October 26, 1973. It explicitly identifies the group as "Vanhalen (formerly Mammoth)" and features the authentic signature of founding bassist and band representative, Mark Stone. Enhancing this lot are two original student bulletins from the school that publicize the concert and explicitly document the historic name change, alongside two original payment statements issued by Arcadia High School for services rendered. This rare gathering of paperwork represents a holy grail artifact capturing the precise birth of a rock legend.
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.
Van Halen grew out of the Pasadena, California backyard party and high school circuit of the early 1970s, where brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen developed the band before adopting the family surname in place of the name Mammoth. After building a following in Southern California clubs, the group released its self-titled debut on Warner Bros. in 1978, and Eddie Van Halen's instrumental "Eruption" brought two-handed tapping and a new level of technical virtuosity to mainstream rock guitar. The band became one of the most commercially successful American rock acts of its era, shaped the sound of hard rock and heavy metal guitar playing through the 1980s, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
Condition: All items in this collection are in very good to good condition and have been well preserved as historical documents. The paperwork exhibits expected and common signs of age, standard storage wear, and handling over the decades. The set remains physically intact, displaying authentic wear that validates its status as a firsthand witness to music history.
SKU: DST1012