They finally get to trot out the spandex

The fans of Van Halen are a brash bunch but also accustomed to having their hearts broken -- if you inspect their closets closely, you might find tear stains on all that vintage spandex. That’s why Tuesday night was an emotional one as the prodigal band, with David Lee Roth back on vocals, came home to Los Angeles to play for the first time since Ronald Reagan was in the White House.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for 23 years,” said a misty-eyed Jon Young, who trucked in from San Bernardino. “I’ve been following this band since 1976 like a lot of these people. They know every note and every lyric. This means a lot to us tonight.”

The sold-out show at Staples Center, part of a North American fall tour, brought together thousands of cars with classic-rock bumper stickers, a considerable amount of leather pants and more tattoos and male ponytails than a Harley-Davidson expo. The crowd was mostly graying at the temples, but there were youngsters who had come to see the massive old rock dinosaur that ruled the Earth during that prehistoric era of stadium concerts.

“This is my favorite band of all time! It’s not Judas Priest, it’s not Iron Maiden, it’s not Black Sabbath, it’s Van Halen,” said Kris Ornelas, 17, of Santa Clarita. Then he added: “Van Halen!”

Inside, the fans got what they wanted -- all the hits and an impossibly trim Eddie Van Halen bouncing around the stage with his fret board while Roth smiled maniacally all night and wore costumes that made him look like a fey toreador. There were no new songs, but who needs them?

Everything old felt young again, and sweet memories were relived. “I was supposed to go see them when I was 16,” said Stew Herrera before the lights went down. “I didn’t go because I got in a fistfight with my pop over it. He won. But tonight I get another chance.”