West Michigan is special to Seger, who kicks off a tour here on ‘Bob Seger Day’ this week and returns in January. Exactly 12 years ago, he staged his first comeback concert in 10 years at Van Andel Arena.
Interacting with Adoring West Michigan Fans: Bob Seger at Van Andel Arena in September 2017. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Bob Seger has made a habit of kicking off tours in Grand Rapids, where he’s quickly sold out every show he’s ever staged here.
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So it’s no surprise that the beloved Michigan rock icon would launch his “final tour” at Van Andel Arena on Wednesday, 12 years after his much-ballyhooed return to the stage in Grand Rapids after a decade-long hiatus from the road.
Back in 2006, prior to his first national tour in 10 years, Seger told me he had first heard good things about the Grand Rapids arena from his pals Tom Petty and The Eagles, so the Silver Bullet Band was “really excited” to test it out, starting with a couple of days of rehearsals.
Lighting It Up: Seger at Van Andel Arena in 2013. (Photo/Local Spins)
Later, I chatted with him again, this time on stage during those rehearsals, and the grinning, down-to-earth Seger was clearly pleased with the band’s choice of venues, a change from past years when Seger would kick off most of his tours in the Carolinas.
Fast forward 12 years and Seger has literally made Grand Rapids his second home, playing here on numerous occasions to loving, wildly approving crowds.
“The highlight of the show was the love from the audience,” Grand Rapids fan Lisa Villarreal Wiseman told Local Spins after a March 2013 show at Van Andel Arena. “It is great to see and hear an arena full of people welcome one of their own and sing the songs along with him.”
Charley Honey, an occasional contributor to Local Spins, said “the great joy of Seger is he’s one of our own. You know the man understands the particular pain and pleasure of living in a place where there’s never enough work and the dirty snow lingers too long, but the cars look great in the summer sun. … I loved it when he paused midway through ‘Night Moves’ just to smile at the audience. He knows how much we love him, and he wanted a moment to take it in. Beautiful.”
So Much ‘Good Will’: Seger fans at Van Andel Arena in 2017. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Of course, Seger has a long history of playing West Michigan dating back to his early years in the 1960s and early 1970s, rocking stages in small clubs, performing at the WLAV Raft Race and more.
Today, after taking time off over the past year for spinal surgery which forced him to postpone part of his tour, the now-73-year-old Seger is preparing to do it all for the last time, kicking off his national farewell tour at a jam-packed Van Andel Arena on Wednesday night. And because he can’t get enough of Grand Rapids, that tour makes another stop at Van Andel on Jan. 5.
WEDNESDAY AS ‘BOB SEGER DAY’ AND RENAMING THE B.O.B.
Although both Grand Rapids shows sold out, some stray tickets were available for both concerts earlier this week.
Ceaseless Passion: Bob Seger playing Grand Rapids in 2014. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
To up the Michigan ante for the first show, Albion’s up-and-coming The War & Treaty opens the concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Read more about that band and listen to their music in this Local Spins feature.
West Michigan devotees have so embraced Seger as one of their own that Mayor Rosalynn Bliss recently proclaimed that Wednesday, Nov. 21 is “Bob Seger Day” in Grand Rapids, hailing the singer as having “etched a permanent place in rock history selling over 53 million albums” and continuing “to shine as a genuine, honest, passionate and uplifting representative of the state of Michigan and all of its citizens, including those here in Grand Rapids.”
Radio Station WLAV (96.9 FM) announced this week that The B.O.B. in downtown Grand Rapids has even been renamed “The BOB Seger” for the day (with WLAV hosting a pre-concert party starting at 5 p.m. that offers fans the opportunity to sign a plaque that will be on display back stage at the arena for Seger’s Jan. 5 concert).
To hear it from the “Travelin’ Man,” the convenience of playing Grand Rapids has something do with his affection for the city, telling me previously that he’s “able to drive home” to the Detroit area after the shows here. “It’s home and it’s kind of cool,” he quipped.
Familiar Surroundings: Seger at Van Andel Arena in 2017. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Of course, that also makes it more than cool for West Michigan fans who are getting multiple opportunities to see a rock hero who doesn’t yet have any Detroit concerts on his final tour docket (although that certainly could change).
Years ago, I asked Seger why he thinks he’s been able to cultivate such a devoted, loving fan base in his home state.
“I guess I’ve built up so much good will by living here, staying here and trying do really good shows,” he suggested. “The good will has just paid off.”
It’s certainly paid off for Grand Rapids fans who’ve reveled repeatedly in that Seger charm and who are ready to once again toast this Michigan icon as he “Turns the Page” on a remarkable career.
MORE ABOUT BOB SEGER
December 2017: The Local Spins review of Seger’s most recent album, “I Knew You When”
September 2017: Bob Seger gets happily nostalgic, delivers loads of ‘Old Time Rock & Roll’ (Local Spins’ review of his most recent Grand Rapids concert)
December 2014: Bob Seger ‘magic’ recalled by West Michigan studio owner, Silver Bullet Band alum Robyn Robins
March 2013: Grand Rapids fans’ take on a legend who’s ‘one of our own’ and ‘rocked as usual’
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