Eddie Van Halen on Rocking Sober, Avoiding Beef and the Future of Van Halen
From RollingStone.com:
Guitarist speaks out about new album, departure of Michael Anthony and his fresh start
Backstage in the celebrity green room of Spike’s Guys Choice Awards in a booth next to his fellow honoree Clint Eastwood sits Eddie Van Halen — rock’s ultimate guitar slinger — with his fiancé Janie Liszewski as he prepares to make an exceedingly rare public speaking engagement. In a star-studded night that will find Mel Gibson getting called “sugar tits” by Brad Pitt and Halle Berry making out with Jamie Foxx, Van Halen provides the clear emotional highlight when he receives Spike’s first ever Guitar God Award from Robert Downey Jr. and is called “a rock & roll revolutionary.” Shortly before taking the stage at Sony Studios in Culver City, Van Halen spoke exclusively to Rolling Stone about his fears of accepting the honor: “I never go to anything. That’s why I’m actually a little nervous to get up there,” he says. “I don’t even know what to say. Especially sober, shit.”
Eddie, this is not the first time you’ve been called a god. But what did it feel like when you heard Spike wanted to give you the Guitar God Award — the first ever?
Well, it’s a little overwhelming, I guess. I mean, who ever would have thought? I was seven years old when we came to America with my mom, my dad, my brother with 50 bucks and a piano. Who ever would have thought I would be a guitar god, you know? If I’m a guitar god, then my son would be Jesus, right? That means on the next tour, he’d have to walk on water.
The Van Halen tour was such a success. Were you pleasantly surprised?
You never know. But I do know this. Janie and I are getting married on the 27th of June, and then we’ll go on a honeymoon. Then Dave, Wolfie, Alex and I are going into the studio and record some new music and go on tour about a year from now.
Did the Van Halen tour help fire up some new musical ideas?
No, I am always writing, you know. But we’re a true band now. It wasn’t just a reunion one-off thing. I’ve already gone to Dave’s house four or five times over the last month. I’ve got so much music. It’s just trying to figure out what Dave’s into because we haven’t written together in a long time. But it’s great. It feels like we’ve always felt in the beginning. But I’m sober, so it’s different. He’s sober, so it’s different. It’s a wonderful feeling.
Does getting married again and being so happy these days help or hurt musically? Because some people write better tortured but you seem to be in a great place these days.
Tortured, no. I started drinking when I was 12 years old because I was nervous. And my dad gave me a shot of vodka and it was a wonder drug. It really worked for a lot of years. But I certainly didn’t drink to make music or to write. It had nothing to do with it. I just get nervous. I’m nervous now. But I stopped drinking over a year ago, and I’m done with it. For 42 years, I drank. It just shows you anything is achievable. Just like coming here with 50 bucks and a piano.
When I saw you guys on tour, the thing I got from it was that in rock & roll there’s the self-destruction myth that people like — the Kurt Cobain way to go. And this was the opposite. It was a statement about survival and growing up.
Thank God I caught it in time.
Have you heard Chickenfoot?
No, I haven’t.
No particular interest?
Well, I don’t listen to anything really, for one.
You make your own music?
Yeah, I’m too busy doing my own thing. I wish them well. The funny thing is that everyone who quits the band always claims they got fired by me. Hey, I’m not the bad guy here. When Hagar left the band, Mike went with him. Then when we get back together with Dave, and all of a sudden, he wants back in. It’s like, “No, dude, you quit the band.” So my son became the bass player. But we didn’t give Mike the boot to have my son play. He was around. We didn’t have a bass player. “Hey Wolfie, you want to play?”
It must be pretty mind-blowing to play with your kid.
He was only 15 years old. “You want to play bass?” “Sure.” We did not have a bass player. That’s the only thing really that bothers me about people acting like I’m the bad guy. I just sit in the studio and write music. I’m not some tyrant. I’ve got no beef with anybody. I wish them well. I hope they are … I don’t know what a “supergroup” means, but I hope they accomplish what they’re setting out to do.
There was a time when people were writing the guitar off. What do you think of the fact that kids are playing guitar in all these games and guitar is being rediscovered by a new generation?
When was guitar written off?
Well, first there was the time when the synthesizer era…
Guitar is one thing you can’t synthesize.
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June 1st, 2009 at 4:46 pm
and there it is! YEAH BABY!! The messiah has returned.
June 1st, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Just when I was about to say farewell to this newsdesk, I see this article.
Holy smokes!!!
EDWARD VAN HALEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 1st, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Somebody get me a doctor.
June 1st, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Don’t hold your breath for new music….
June 1st, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Alleluia!!!
Could this be magic?
June 1st, 2009 at 5:03 pm
It’s good to hear some positive news from Ed. He’s looking healthy and happy, getting married soon. I wish him the best and look forward to the return of Van Halen to the music scene. I was happy to hear him give well wishes to Chickenfoot. I hope in the end all members past and present can get together, let bygones be bygones and maybe jam together. Hey, I can dream can’t I?
June 1st, 2009 at 5:10 pm
AND THE MIGHTY VAN HALEN AWAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 1st, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Plus he’s already been to Dave’s house a few times to work on stuff, so things are looking great! I also like the way Ed seems willing to compromise on what Dave is into - another great sign!
I don’t know why Ed feels like he has to defend himself about Wolfie. Wolfie is Ed’s son. If a dad can’t help his son in this life, what’s the point?
Plus Chickenfoot is great for Mike. Now he can say he’s worked with two great guitarists, helping to dispel the myth that he’s the luckiest beginner in the history of bass.
June 1st, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Its great to finally hear some NEWS about VH!!
Congrats on the award Eddie.
Things seem to look promising, let’s all hope it eventuates!
June 1st, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I hope it’s true and it will be cool to have DLR and EVH write together again!!!! It’s been so fucking long!!!!! But in the meantime the Foot will do just fine!!!!!!
June 1st, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Hmmmm…..that is funny that everyone that left the band has quit. Four band members quit? Wow. Interesting.
June 1st, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Ed is lying about Mike and it’s sad. Mike was around for YEARS after Sammy left and the band didn’t do shit. Ed was loaded and self destructing and has admitted it now. But to see him come out and say Mike left with Sammy is down right bullshit and those of us who were paying attention know it.
Ed - get back in the studio with Dave and make some kick ass music.
June 1st, 2009 at 5:35 pm
I was about to leave the Chickenfoot desk for good!
The Mighty Van Halen breaks through with some
good news…Way to go Eddie!
June 1st, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Ed looks great, sounds great, and is playing great! That’s the only thing that should matter.
VH is great with Dave, with Sammy, with Mike, with Wolfie, it just doesn’t matter, because they have Ed and Al…..
Just be happy that Ed and Al are still young enough to kick some butt and that they are planning to kick some more butt!!
June 1st, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Got a real lift from this article, SO good to see. Waiting 20 years for VH to return to the fold with some Roth/Edward magic, let’s skin this Halen Wagon and see what happens!
June 1st, 2009 at 6:22 pm
And the mighty Van Halen will return in 2010!! Hate that Mike is not there, but saw Wolf on tour and he sings great and playes the hell out of the bass. Here is to a new day - Van Halen 4…….
June 1st, 2009 at 6:23 pm
I think this article was overwhelmingly positive. I think Ed is much more concerned about his life, son, and fiancee than worrying about Chickenfoot. Good for Ed. I hope things come together.
Mike, Ed, Sam, Dave and Wolfie all seem happier now than in 15 years. Why argue about who did what? I’m buying 20 packs of hot dogs for the cookout this weekend! ALL ROCKERS INVITED!
June 1st, 2009 at 6:26 pm
I hope the new stuff will be as great as the Balance CD
June 1st, 2009 at 6:30 pm
BTW, I’d love to see the picture of Ed sitting next to clint. Coolest of the cool.
June 1st, 2009 at 6:31 pm
I know this is dreaming, but a Chickenfoot - Van Halen tour together next year would kick ass and rake in some serious dough! Too bad it won’t happen due to ego’s.
June 1st, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Mike quit the VH band? Uh no i dont think so
June 1st, 2009 at 6:39 pm
“When Hagar left the band, Mike went with him. Then when we get back together with Dave, and all of a sudden, he wants back in. It’s like, “No, dude, you quit the band.” So my son became the bass player.” - EVH
Great guitar player, yes. But jesus, this guy is the world’s biggest -and worst- liar.
Guess we’ll never know who played bass on tour with VH during the Gary Cherone era, but the dude I saw sure looked and sounded like Mikey.
June 1st, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Can’t wait to line up in front of the music store with the other fanatics to get my hands on a shiny new VH album. How awesome will that be? Pounding drums and bass, Ed shredding, and Dave screaming away… some things never lose a single ounce of cool factor. OH YEAH!
June 1st, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Think Edward needs to go read his interviews and see what HE said along the way about band members coming and going and who fired who.
And seriously - if your not listening to other peoples music, your just going to disappear up your own ass. If VH III (and all these shitty Best Of Bonus Tracks and Porn Film tracks) was a result of not listening to other people - maybe you might want to check out some new ideas.
Writing all the time may ass. Prince writes all the time - but he just dropped 3 new albums and is probably planning the next one. Gotta record and release Ed.
Can’t wait for the Genuine Replica EVH $50 & Piano Starter Kit !
June 1st, 2009 at 7:18 pm
DiamondDLR… I don’t know if he is really lying. Having an alcoholic Father-In-Law, I’ve seen the truth twisted so much and facts crossed so many times, I just think it’s how Ed thinks it really went down. Just his skewed view, I guess.
The one thing I got out of this was Eddie wishing Sammy and Mike well.
Wow! That’s mind blowing!
So used to the mud slinging, the cut-downs and all the other bad blood.
Nice to hear Ed wishing them well.
But new VH in 2010?
Man….
Really??
We’ve already waited so long.
Sigh.
Oh well…
June 1st, 2009 at 7:19 pm
I’ve always liked Ed–not just for his music but because he always seemed like a genuine, down-to-earth straight shooter. But the whole Mike thing–sheesh. It just doesn’t seem like Ed is being honest. Seriously–how do you NOT get along with Michael Anthony?? Anyway, that whole Mike thing kept me from seeing the tour. I’m looking forward to the new album, but without Mike VH will always be missing something special.
June 1st, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Good point about the alcoholism note, Vanicionado. What makes his view more skewed than Sam or Mike’s, or even ours? We’re totally going by hearsay, are we not? I’m not arguing, just asking.
I’m just happy they aren’t all bashing each other anymore. That went both ways for a long, long time and certainly didn’t help anything.
June 1st, 2009 at 7:35 pm
I can’t wait to see what they put together….This is going to be interesting. I hope it does not suck. It can’t be as good as the old stuff. I hope they get some smart people around them to show them the way in the studio. Don’t want another Van HalenIII debacle! Ed..and..Dave…You have the ball..don’t let us down!
June 1st, 2009 at 7:36 pm
I wish he’d be honest for once…If he’d just tell the truth for once, I’ll regain some respect for him. Say it, Ed - yeah, I fired Mike. I was a bitter drunk and that’s it…The truth will set him free. I’d actually feel good about VH if he’d stop his lying. Mike’s in a good place now, so I think everyone could coexist. why is he still so bitter ? get over it !!
June 1st, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Fellas, regarding the comments about Michael,
First, I love Mike (who doesn’t?) but I think when Ed said, “When Hagar left the band, Mike went with him” Ed was talking about 2005, not 1996. (He wasn’t saying Mike wasn’t in the band during VH3)! Also, the words “fired” and “quit” are so black and white, while I’m sure the reality was a complicated gray area, somewhere in between. I’m sure even Mike himself would be hard pressed to use either one of those words to describe what happened.
We fans are merely outsiders looking in. We always thought of Mike being an equal member of VH. In reality, Mike NEVER helped write music, showed up at 5150 less and less, and practically wasn’t even in the band anymore by the time they were starting to reform with Sammy in late 2003. At that time, Wolfie wasn’t even old enough to tour, and Ed still wanted a new (non family member) bass player. Hagar convinced Ed to keep Mike for that one tour. Then VH was in limbo again because of Ed’s drinking.
Sure, I think Ed was dumb not to count his blessings that he was lucky enough to have Mike, but that’s all water under the bridge at this point. Now we can look at the bright side - we’ve got TWO HELLA GREAT bands who are active - Van Halen & Chickenfoot! And, all 8 members of those two bands are happy. Maybe we can get learn from that…
June 1st, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Ed is correct to say that Mike quit the band. If you remember after the 04 tour, sammy and mike at different times both took the liberty to say that the tour sucked and as far as they are concerned, there is no more Van Halen. Soon after, mike was wrapped up in sammy’s “other half” tour with sammy’s band. Then, the chickenfoot thing was being started. That is pretty much quitting the band.
Ed realized at that point that to make a tour with Dave, they needed a new bass player because mike was no longer available.
It’s obious that Dave quit in 84, Cherone quit, Sammy quit in 04, and Mike quit in 04.
The only question is 96 when Sammy quit or got fired. That will alwasy be debated.
June 1st, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Adam & Jim - I completely agree.
Ed says he doesn’t listen to anything. What’s the big deal with that. Their really is nothing worth while out there that’s any good anyway. I don’t blame him. Until VH releases a new album, the only decent music out there is AM sports radio.
June 1st, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Fired, Quit, who gives a shit. Let’s get some new music and another tour going. I think Ed said it best, “It’s all about the music”.
June 1st, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Actually, as I’ve read about it, Sammy had to convince Eddie to let Mike tour with them in 04. Eddie was pissed that Mike worked with Sammy and wanted to kick him out… but he wanted to tour with Sammy more to try to get back in good graces with Warner Bros I assume.
Sammy has interviews that say he refused to do the reunion without Mike and that is the ONLY reason Eddie agreed to let Mike be on the tour. The tour sucked ass because Eddie was a drunk and a dick.
Mike didn’t play any bass on the 3 tracks for the best of album because Eddie wouldn’t let him.
Mike did not quit the band, the band quit functioning and Mike moved on. Then Eddie got pissed off.
June 1st, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Man oh man,nope Wolfie aint ever gonna walk on water Ed-talk about delusions of grandeur. I used to love reading Eds interviews, but there is just something real full of horse shit that comes from him lately. Why has everything become such a god damn soap opera? Sam and Mike are such scumbags huh, for some reason I just can’t buy it and I am a DLR champion, who also was called a “tooth ache”. To put it simply, put your money where your mouth is ED and stop kicking Mike and Sam in the nuts for doing something productive..listened to that GET IT UP again tonite and it was killer-Round one goes to CF, let’s wait until….hmmm 2010 or 2011 for some new VH tunes with Dave(strummin with the devil), Al (the minister), Ed (Guitar God) and Wolfie (Jesus)…after the wedding of course….can there be any more stupid excuse! “I’m getting married” Where in the hell did rock and roll go all wrong?????
June 1st, 2009 at 8:16 pm
All hail King Edward!!! AYE!!!!
June 1st, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Jim, I don’t think you’re quite right. Mike and Sammy said VH was on hiatus given how it was on the 2004 tour, w/ EVH’s drinking and such. They started touring together as The Other Half but Mike made it abundantly clear they’d love to be playing with the real VH rather than doing The Other Half, he even said EVH and AVH should come out and play with them! The Other Half was a way for Mike and Sammy to have fun and play the songs for us fans, not a competitor to Van Halen.
So I’m not clear that Mike ever “quit.” He didn’t join any other band (sorry Eddie, you can’t call The Other Half a real band). He was just playing shows with Sammy.
Remember that BS radio interview EVH did where he said about Mike and why Wolf replaced him, “You can’t be in two bands!” He just hates Mike and Sammy making money off of songs he co-wrote. Which is lame because it’s not like The Other Half was going out and doing big moneymaking tours.
And Chickenfoot didn’t start getting going until long after EVH announced Wolf being in the band.
If my facts are off (and they may be), could others’ please correct me?
June 1st, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Eddie, please don’t compare yourself to God or the real Jesus.
June 1st, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Did Mike leave the band in 2004 when Ed wanted him booted off as well?
June 1st, 2009 at 8:55 pm
why is this on here? this isn’t chickenfoot news!
June 1st, 2009 at 9:01 pm
True that Skutch… true that. Going back to the interview that Mikey did with that Japanese magazine that was published here a little while ago, I guess I just kind of took his word as the truth. Mike just seems genuine.
But yeah, I wasn’t there.
And who cares now, I guess… there’s new VH coming!!!
June 1st, 2009 at 9:08 pm
I have to say, I have slagged Ed as much as many people for his behavior over the last decade but at the same time I have been rooting for him to put his demons to bed and get back to being the sweet Ed we all fell in love with. This article is so refreshing and so encouraging that Ed really is healing and it’s great to see.
I too regret that he still can’t admit the truth of how he treated others around him. It’s not true that Mike quit. We all now that. Mike would have jumped at the Dave reunion tour in a heartbeat (I’m actually glad he didn’t because we may not have Chickenfoot now). And while it is true that Sam quit after the 04 tour, he may as well have been fired because who could blame him for leaving given Ed’s state. It was embarrassing for everyone.
It’s probably very true that Ed’s alcoholism has helped him revise history in such a way that he doesn’t have to feel so much guilt but I still hope that he will one day finally take total responsibility because I think that’s all it would take to set everything right in the whole VH drama. Who knows, maybe we could all quit arguing on this site? But for now it’s great to hear him wish Sam and Mike well and we all know that Mike and Sam wish a healthy Ed well (not the Ed from the 04 tour - that was a monster - just read Valerie’s book). And let’s hope we get that new VH music soon and it kicks just as much ass as what we are used to from Ed.
I’m digging the Chickenfoot stuff but it’s wonderful to get some real VH news on this site.
June 1st, 2009 at 9:56 pm
i’m still not sure what eddie wanted mike to do besides sit by his phone for years waiting on him.i am glad to hear him talk positivly about the future but i’ll believe it when i see it.
June 1st, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Good interview, good to hear Ed talking about being sober, a new album, and being happy.
VH is comming back !
June 1st, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Would you guys stop discussing about Mike quitting or not being fired. Who cares? Mike is happy in CF.
And this article is the best news!
June 1st, 2009 at 10:55 pm
EVH: “That’s when I got sober, on October 2, 1994. And I’ve smoked a few times, had a glass of wine every now and then, but that was when I really started to get clear…”
June 1st, 2009 at 11:14 pm
1. this is real van halen news!
2. Eddie seems happy and vh will make a follow up to 1984!
good luck!
3. ed is still in complete denile about how he treated mike and sam. to lie about mikey departure is complete bullsh$#@!
this guy should run for president he can lie so good!
i mean take reesponsibility for what you did and say sorry.
that is nothing he refused to do.
he tries to claim mike left with sam.
pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese.
and stop promoting your son.
it is not helping wolfgang at all.
let wolfie be wolfie and no wolfie is not jesus.
jesus.
once again ed finds a way to screw thing up.
all in all it is good news.
at least he is alive.
June 1st, 2009 at 11:20 pm
edward van halen is a complusive lier.
the drink has warped his mind. sober or not.
he was sober for awhile in 1995 or drank less and we still got lies…
in his career about his band he has lied about the departure of dave, sam, mike. (dave and sam twice!!)
only gary was spared the back stabbing.
i wouldnt trust this guy but sure can play the geee tar!
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:02 am
Oh my goodness this is the best news ever
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:04 am
Eddie needs to come clean and make ammends with Mike. He left Van Halen when EVH was a wallowing drunk and Van Halen was on indefinate hiatus. What was MA to do? Wait for ever or get on and play. His mistake was to play with Hagar, who still wrongly thinks he saved Van Halen. In fact, he almost killed it. Sammy and Van Halen don’t mix, never did.
Eddie needs to appoligize to Mike and admit that he did not appreciate MA using VH music to sell hot sauce. He has a point. Then admit that he too would have continued playing. Smoke a cigar and enjoy Mike’s sauses and invite him to perform at one of their shows.
He also needs to admit that he really DID want Wolfie to play and that meant MA was gone. Mike said as much and understood. Eddie is tying to come to grips with the damage his alcoholism caused and this is an important step of growing up! God Bless Van Halen and hope they invite Mike to play again.
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:31 am
Dear God, at fucking last! OK, an album full of Me Wise Magics please…
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:16 am
YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:46 am
Dick Bacon: HAHAHAHAHA LOL
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:04 am
I’d love to think that we’ll see some new VH music in the next year or so, but I’ll believe it when I hear it. Here’s to keeping our fingers crossed.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:32 am
AAHHH YESSS!!!! I’ll be waiting:)
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:00 am
Dick Bacon, I bet Sammy will see that and title that as his sequel to Up for Breakfast…..hahaha
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:25 am
I hope it’s not a bunch of BS because I don’t know who wet themselves the most Erick, RickyVanWalen or Kiberly!!! I hope it was Kimberly!!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:26 am
Quoting Edward on the 2007 reunion : ” THIS IS THE SHIT”
FINALLY, A NEW RECORD ! AND IT WILL KICK ASS !
YEAH, VAN HALEN KICKS ASS ! ! ! ! !
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:42 am
Fred has hit the nail on the head! I have been reading everything on here and I couldn’t have said it more clear! If you want the exact truth, read Fred’s posts. Ed needs to not revisit this stuff. It just makes him look bad. Like taking Mike off the album covers when they relaunched their website. Ed, just let your fingers do the talking, they seem to always hit the right chords… A big fan of your music! Jim
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:43 am
You don’t see the Chili Peppers tossing out Chad Smith for working in another band. In fact the Peppers embrace it and are promoting the Foot on their own Web site. It’s always been a poor excuse by Ed as to why Mike got tossed and just reveals his own insecurities. Love Ed’s music, but the tragedy will always be that he is also his own worst enemy.
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:04 am
LOL
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:06 am
He wants his son in the band. Period.
I love mike but Wolfgang is an awesome bass player and hey, Mike’s vocals are mostly falsetto and Wolfgang pulled it off… BIGTIME. I love the kid because VH will live on well past the king.
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:12 am
Haha anytime, I could say a lot more, but we’ll keep it PG
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:24 am
First off, great news here obviously. What’s cool is that I can give a guy like SCAR a hard time about Chickenfoot, and he can take it to me in return, but we agree on the fact that new news about Ed and Dave is a great thing. I also am a big fan of hearing Eddie wish Sam and Mike well, that was a cool thing to do.
What I don’t understand is the drama surrounding Mike. Some are asking “what should Mike have done, just sit around the phone waiting for it to ring?”. Well maybe, if he was a founding member of a group like VH and wanted to help his “friend” out through the tough times. I remember Korn not touring because their drummer broke his arm, the Deftones are doing anything until they know for sure what is up with thier bassist (founding bassist) who is in a coma right now from a car accident. That is what brothers do for each other, and yeah Eddie was probably a major dick but alcoholism is a sickness, and it is obvious this guy needed help.
So feel bad for Mikey, I sure do, but also keep in mind he was a member of this group and chose to work with Sam after the 04 tour on his own accord. Did he quit, or was he fired, I don’t know but he was there in 98′ with Cherone and he even laughed and smiled along with Eddie and Al while they were taking their jabs at Sammy. So, think what you want but I think moving on from Eddie was a good thing on Mike’s part, and I think moving on from Sammy and Mike was a good thing on Eddie’s part for right now.
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:09 am
Great to here “King Edward” speak about new music. He has stuck to this story for a while and admitting he has spent time with Dave is a great sign this will happen. I would love to see Mike along for the ride but it’s clear VH is moving forward without him.
With music from Chickenfoot and a tour plus VH Rock Band and new music to follow, it’s going to a geat time for Rock and Roll.
Chickenfoot on Conan O’brien this Friday for anyone interested…
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:19 am
I really hope everything works out good for everyone(Chicken Foot & Van Halen) and all the fans get good music. It is true that Sam and Mike quit but Eddie fails to address why they quit; because he was dysfunctional. Nobody knows for sure exactly what has happened, but there seems to be an obvious pattern. Whoever doesn’t conform with and obey Eddie has problems and they are soon gone. Alex knows his place and always will. Wolfie is just and kid so he will be obedient. Dave, was desperate when the reunion started and will play along for awhile as he does not have many other options. Cherone was a puppet boy(like Tommy Thayer in KISS)and finally couldn’t take it anymore. Sammy is lucky enough to have his own career so he has a low tolerence for Eddie and it made it a million times worse by Eddie drinking so much on the last tour. In my opinion, deep down I think Eddie would prefer to be with Sammy.
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:28 am
As much as I’m looking forward, does Eddie EVER admit responsibility as a leader in this band? Everybody quits? Eddie you would actually gain some credibility with fans if you said some of the things that went on where my fault. To put it on Sammy and Michael is weak and lame.
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:51 am
Yawn. SOSDD. I’ll believe it when I have a VH CD in hand.
Until then - GO CHICKENFOOT!
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:36 am
According to Ed:
- Dave quit
- Sam quit
- Gary quit
- Mike quit
- Sam quit again
- Mike quit again (???)
Sorry fellas, gotta call BS on Ed.
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:40 am
Hi Kimberly….First let me say I am glad to hear about EVH and the band….But I just wanna know , what are your measurements? I will bet you are a cutie! ( see what happens when we know VH is coming back!!-The blood starts pumping and the adrenaline starts flowing )
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:26 am
avoiding beef? he really has gone crazy, j/k- good luck Eddie. I will have a steak for ya.
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:26 am
1. Eddie kicks ass
2. dave left to be a movie star
3. hagar got kicked out
4. Cherone was asked to leave
5. Eddie wanted mike gone since 81
6. Mike did play on the 1998 tour
7. Great to hear that =VH= Is coming back!
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:40 am
Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !
Sorry, nothing else to say…
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:45 am
I say Bullshit about the Mike thing. He’s lying through his teeth and knows he wanted Mike out of the band since before 04. He’s trying to make himself out to not look like an asshole. It would be one thing for him to brush it all under the rug, but for him to outright lie about Mike quitting. Give me a f break.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:01 am
Eddie Van Halen is the most overrated guitar player in the World…. Just kidding suckers!!! I can’t wait to see them on tour again next year!! Van Halen has always been my favorite band since their first album came out in 78!
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:16 am
to RickieVanWhalen and others that think they know what they are talking about. mike’s vocals were NOT falsetto. he sang in his regular voice that high. not many people can do it. so before you discount mike’s contribution to the band, know what you’re talking about first.
by the way, i saw the 08 tour and wolfie didn’t even come close to pulling it off. not his playing, not his singing, not his energy. not hating on the kid just telling it like it was and what it was was a ripoff.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:19 am
Ed has a lot to prove. He hasn’t put out anything worthwhile in over a decade. Porno soundtracks don’t count. He is a huge talent but also a huge grudge holder. Lying now for years about Mike doesn’t help his cause. Enough talk lets just hear some music and let sleeping dog’s lye. The more he bad mouths his ex’s the more we realize he may have been the problem all along. I wish him well and am really excited about some new VH, but if it tanks he better point the finger in one direction.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:30 am
It’s about time. How much will tickets be this time? $300? $500?
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:33 am
Huge Eddie fan since ‘78 but I can listen to Eddie any longer. I have seen EVERY VH tour multiple times. I bought the Platinum tickets three times during the 2004 tour (which include front row tickets, sound check and a quick meeting with the band..$400 a pop! We were told during soundcheck(s) to NOT TALK TO EDDIE??? WTF. After soundcheck Eddie just takes off and leaves (what a DICK!) while Michael and Al sign autographs (Sammy wasn’t there). He doesn’t care about the fans, his friends or anybody else. I will be in house during their next tour and will buy any VH album but make no mistake about it EDDIE VAN HALEN is responsible for the shit storm around him.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:35 am
Well said BTD.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:35 am
Tickets will probably the same as last time - $75 & $150, which is what you’d expect for a band as popular as van Halen. The price is based on supply & demand, and is mostly set by the promoter.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:42 am
After the 04 tour, Sammy and Mike did the same thing and left. Why is it that everyone agrees that Sammy quit but they say that Mike was fired???
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 am
BTD
Never had any platinum tickets myself but it’s good to hear your point of view.
I also caught the statement saying he has been sober for well over a year. Could this indicated what his mystery illness was on last years tour …….. just saying.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:15 am
Jimmy - if Mike is not in falsetto than he has no balls! No man can sing that high in his normal register.
Mike’s contribution were priceless and I wish he were with us on this. He sounds awesome in CF and makes the band IMO.
On the other hand, with WVH, VH lives on long past the brothers. Amen to that. Also, look at youtube of Wolfie singing the acappela section to I’m The One and the chorus to Dance The Night Away. He pulls it off quite well (IMO).
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:21 am
Same old song and dance.
I couldn’t care less who quit and who was fired. I also couldn’t care less if Ed wishes Chickenfoot well or hopes they die a slow, painful death. Just quit talking about all these grand ideas about new music and a new album, put your money where your mouth is, and get something out there.
This new album that’s supposed to be out next year is going to have to kick some major ass or Ed’s going to have a bit of a backlash on his hands from all the fans, after all the talking he’s done about this great music he’s writing over the last 10 years or so.
I hope it pans out, I really do, but I just don’t hold a lot of hope for it.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:42 am
Im just happy to hear that EVH will put out new material!!
If Mike left with Sammy, why did Mike have to sign a separate deal for the tour?? So in that I wish EVH would tell the truth. But I think Mike slowly and slowly over the years was being left out and when he attached himself with Hagar, that was it! Oh well, I’ve moved on, would love a real reunion with original VH…but it probably wont happen.
Hope 2010 new VH is true!
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Fished in! Fished in! More chum thrown out for the suckers!
I’LL BELIEVE IT WHEN I HEAR IT. Lord I hope I hear it.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
BTD, dont be judging Eddie based on how he acted on the 2004 tour. As stated earlier, he was a complete wreck at the time. Heavy drinking.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
The King speaks!!
” I wish them well. I hope they are … I don’t know what a “supergroup” means, but I hope they accomplish what they’re setting out to do.”
We´re still waiting, my King!
Chickenfoot, a supergroup?? Whatever!! I DON´T CARE!!!
But Van Halen is HUGE!!! Is the Mighty Van Halen!!
Alelluia!! We got some news ( a little interview) about VH on vhnd…
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Van Halen Freaks!!
The FLOOD GATES have been opened!!!
Get ready to catch the Van Halen Wave to 2010!!!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Where’s my Chickenfoot news?
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Michael Jordan’s son plays high school basketball.
You don’t see him running around talking that his son is the
king of the court or getting him a spot on the Chicago Bulls roster. Or name a basketball after him for that matter.
Ed should take example from a legend of another field and let
his kid come into his own.
Be in a band with KIDS his own age for christ sake.
Nice that Ed has the love for his son.
Don’t throw him in a spotlight and talk like he is Jaco Pastorious reincarnated.
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:43 pm
here’s a question if they do tour next year are they still going to leave out the sammy era? i understand doing it on the reunion tour but if they put out a new album they should be doing songs from there whole catalog.
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:45 pm
For all his shitty treatment of other people Eddie is incredibly loyal to family. From all the interviews I’ve read of Ed over the years I’d say family transcends everything for him, even guitar playing, and that’s why Wolf’s in the band.
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:07 pm
YAY! finally some vh news and some good news at that! can’t wait for Van Halen IV-2010 rock/roll!
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:50 pm
HA! Love to read that Eddie is sober, working with sober Roth, and I may get one new, quality Van Halen album before Eddie relapses or gets hit by a truck!!! Magnificent news! New, Real Van Halen!
However, from years of hearing other people talk about the Van Halen experience, I’m sure he’s lying about Mike. Does Ed really remember all of the ins and outs of his self-destructive years?
I don’t care. Mike and Sammy have found a way to make some impressive noise, and we have a promise of New, Real Van Halen! Excellent!
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Good to see finally a good interview with Eddie VH. In Valerie Bertinelli’s book(for those of you who actually bothered to read it)Jan Van Halen was portrayed as a loving father who unfortunately had a drinking problem and died awfully early, at 65 if I remember correctly(both brothers took it very hard).
Ed and Alex’s mother died a few years ago, and I think that gave additional impetus to help Eddie see the light of day, that and Alex has never left Eddie’s side, they usually travel together, and can be considered the biggest thing to come out of Holland since Van Gogh.
Finally looking forward to new VH music with the old format before Ed included keyboards, supposed to be very much like VH1 and VH2’s sound structure, wonder if Ted Templeman will produce like he did with the first five or six. Would be nice he can be persuaded.
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Jim, why would they do songs from the Van Hagar era. They can only pick their 20-25 best songs. 5 or so would be new ones and then you’ve got the real classics. Who knows, maybe some ‘Hear about it later’, ‘Light up the sky’, ‘Full bug’, “Simple rhyme’.
But Van Hagar songs? No, I hope not and don’t really think so.
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:10 pm
nice to hear ed trying to make some peace with sam and mike. very classy!
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:40 pm
“Hear About it Later” - my favorite VH tune (written on piano!).
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Erick regardless if you like Hagar or not Eddie still did some great songs during that time. I’m a Van Halen fan who ever the lead singer is.
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:52 pm
I plunked down the 400 bucks back in ‘04 and Ed spoke to us cordially (and a little loopy) in Philly. Saw them in ‘08 with cheap seats in NJ and for the first time in my VH lovin’ life, I’d swear Ed was faking his smile and was as still as Bill Wyman. Maybe an off night?
Anyway, echoing most of whats already been said, I’ll believe there’s new music when I’m holding it. My take on Mike: didn’t quit, wasn’t fired. What does that leave? Simply was not asked back. Same way the Yankees coldly turned on the loyal Bernie Williams after 16 amazing years. There’s not a whole lotta loyalty in either the sports or music industry. Both Mike and Bernie are rare birds and the smart fans like all of us recognize that. Liars get away with nothing.
Any who, has anyone even heard a word from Dave since the last song of the last show of the tour? Man, talk about laying low. God bless him for kicking major ass and making the best of the pseudo-reunion situation. I’m also glad he never made a reality show out of his EMT days. I love that he could do something as fascinating as that and not cover it with cheese whiz.
I’m personally hoping for a VH album of Drop Dead Leg-esque grooves but I’m so f’ing used to being let down at this point that this Friday, it will be nice to pick up that “supergroup” cd. As someone said earlier, there’s nothing out there worth listening to. This will no doubt get some blood pumping this summer. Hang in there VH fans. You’re all in the right just by geekin’ out and reading all of these posts! Rock on.
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:02 pm
They should call the album 2010
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:31 pm
It’s nice that Eddie has wished Mike & Sam well. Couldn’t care much about Sam, but Mikey I do. Never was a fan of the Hagar years, it was always about Eddie, Alex and Mike for me after Dave left. Sure it’s not the same without Mikey’s backing vocals, but cut Wolfie some slack here!! He is still a kid (maybe the Atomic Punk Kid!!); even seasoned pros like Steve Lukather spoke of how good Wolfie is!! He’s opinion is as valid because of his diverse experience in the music biz. And I doubt it he’d phrased Wolfie because he’s best friends with his dad. Like Eddie, Steve “Luke” is a straight shooter!
Fans must acknowledge and respect Wolfie for re-uniting the original magic of Dave & Eddie back together in Van Halen!! I think a lot of people’s opinions will change when the new Van Halen album is released. Let’s face it, for Wolfie the tour was a cover gig!! They were testing him; see if he can cut it, or if he really wanted to do it (remember people…he’s still a kid?)
I’m sure he will make his grand entrance into the music world much like his Dad, Uncle Al and new Uncle Dave!!! I’m getting all excited of the thought that NEW Van Halen songs are about to be unleased. It feels like 1984 all over again!!! I’m just glad that finally someone in the inner sanctum as made a public statement, thank you Eddie!! I don’t need to be told Eddie’s a Guitar God, I already knew!!
“Lord strike that poor boy down!!”
VAN HALEN FOREVER
P.S. Chickenfoot? Do I get fries & Coke with that?
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:36 pm
As a VH fan(except for the Gary Cherone era),I wish Ed,Dave,Alex and the kid all the best.But Ed it must be said;your alcoholism turned you into a complete and total jerk.You forced Dave,then Sammy out and you damn well know it.Second,Mike wasn’t doing anything after the ‘04 reunion tour and neither were you.Sammy offered him a chance to play,he took it,you felt he was being disloyal and you fired him;not to his face like a man,but over the Internet.But it’s all good though;I’ve downloaded the Chickenfoot album,and all I will say about is this-should Van Halen go into the studio to work on a new album,you better step your game up…bigtime!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:53 pm
2010 can’t come sooner then.
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:55 pm
All Hagar haters are dicks!!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Ed from what i’ve read is a very private person..
He loved Mikey and Sam..but things went South. Maybe down the road again..but not now.
It’s time to move on.
People change. We all do.
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:24 pm
i do believe that when ed commented about mikey leaving it was after the 2nd sammy loss, the 2004 tour not after balance, just to maybe clear the record.. but GO EDDIE!!! i cant wait, its great just to hear from THE MAN!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:38 pm
not to piss on the parade about the exciting news of the first new music from van halen in 6 years and the first album since my god 1998 but without mike on board it will be really really hard for this album to live up to its expectations, furthermore ed made comments like it will not be so heavy and if it is like vh3 stuff well- yikes.
without sam van halen would have coninued with someone else. the point is dave left in 85 due to the fact that he did not get along with ed or al and deal with it. it was a huge mistake on daves part but i give him credit for taking risks. by 1991 daves career was all but finished until 2007!
sure the radio gig gave him a few moments but and sam and dave did too but wow. dave complained about eddies being wasted back in the 90’s on stern as the reason for leaving van halen. not the movie and all that stuff. dave was kind enough to hide the truth and ed and al attacked him. dave is very forgiving and so are sam and mike.
ed is a great player and lousy human being for doing this.
as for him now. he is alive! i am very happy for him and hope he will stay clean. thanks to his girl and wolf for saving the man from himself.
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Whatev, I’m just glad to hear a new Dave/VH album and tour will be in the works. It better not suck….at all.
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:05 pm
The second Mike agreed with Sammy to call themselves “The Other Half” was the nail in his own coffin with Van Halen. That was a slap in the face to the brothers that create all of the music. Lesson, Don’t bite the hand that feeds. Anyhow, this will probably be the best new music the world has heard in years. The only VH fans that won’t dig it will be the ones who are already talking shit on it cause Mike is not in the fold, and it’s not “true VH” or some shit.
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:13 pm
i would think more of eddie if he just said that he wanted to go in a new direction on bass and let mike go.IMO the “he went with sam” thing is just an excuse because there are alot of people out there with side bands (chad smith) who dont get canned for it.
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:16 pm
During the Hagar era of Van Halen,”the brothers”didn’t create “all” of the music;it was a collabrative effort.So Sammy and Mike more than had the right to call themselves “The Other Half”,because they indeed were(and still are)the other half of VH from ‘85-’96 and 2004’s reunion tour!Furthermore,if you ever were a real Van Halen fan(I am,but I also loved the Hagar era),you know damn well that the classic VH lineup will always be the best and the true VH!So to cats like you “Chicken Joe”(your parents must be so proud),it’s not talikn’ shit when the facts back it up!!!!!!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Nah ChickenJoe…A True fan is the kind who doesn’t like something just because he’s told to….Besides , good is good , and you cant hide that.So if it is good then the fans will like it..Besides I always thought they called themselves ‘The Other Half’ because Ed and Al didn’t let anyone into their little world…..I would look for a new job if i didn’t work for 5 years
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Continued with who Surfsno? Before Claudio,Ed and Sam’s mechanic suggested Hagar,Ed was considering Phil Collins…yeah,that would have gone over really well!Sammy was the right guy at the right time-70 million records sold 5 #1 albums,sold out tours,and a Grammy(For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge).If Ed or anyone says those things don’t matter,he and they shouldn’t be musicians,because it’s about those things and more,and only a total dope would believe anything else!!!!!!!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Are you ready to get down?!!!!! I give to you the MIGHTY VAN-HALEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:14 pm
TommyBoy,
You are wrong about everything you just said.
1) EVH didn’t want to hire Phil Collins, he wanted to record just ONE song with him.
2) Mike & Sammy were never equal to Eddie when it came to writing the songs that made us love Van Halen. Eddie writes the music, with SOME contribution from Sammy (or Dave) and also some from Alex. Mike never helped write the songs. Mike was an important member because of his incredible background vocals, but not his writing skills.
3) Sammy hasn’t sold anywhere near 70 millions albums. Although Sammy himself is probably the reason why you might have heard that….VH sold tens of millions albums while Sammy was in the band - that, he brags about. but what he never admits is that HALF OF ALL THOSE CD SALES FEATURED DAVE SINGING! LOL. But people will believe what they want to believe.
When VH hired Sammy, he had not sold more than a grand total of a million or two million albums at that time. He was NOT anywhere near as poular as he is now. The vast, vast majority of all the albums sales that Hagar ever had came about BECAUSE HE JOINED VH, AFTER VH hired him and catapulted him to superstardom. If he didn’t join VH, we would not be talking about Sammy Hagar right now.
It wasn’t that VH “needed” Hagar in 1985. They simply needed A singer! Hagar arguably worked out fine as a replacement, but we’ll never know how well another singer would have worked out at that time.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:28 pm
I will always cherish the memories of growing up with the Mighty VH…will always be my favorite NOW for the MUSIC.
That being said…sorry, I am still torn over the way things went down with Mike. I think Mikey’s story of how it went for him has much more credibility than anything Ed says…and it always seems to change a little each time Ed interviews, doesn’t it? Mike quitting is utterly ridiculous. Anybody who knows anything about Mad Anthony knows he is the BIGGEST fan of his own former band, VH. Even collected bootlegs and rarities of his own band. He was the only one to show from the original 4 members for the RRHOF.
I am glad to see Ed wish Chickenfoot well, but the most irritating thing in EVERY interview Ed gives is he always has to state what is going on personal first: “First, I’m getting a new hip…first, Wolfie has to graduate…first, I’m getting married and taking a year off”….ENOUGH! You’ve kept us waiting long enough!! You say you write ALL the time? Why???! Commit to a record! Don’t put your guitar products and sneakers and crap first! Seriously talk about your plans for the BAND! Record something that kicks major ass and put it out instead of jerking us around, man!! Glad to see you are sober, Ed, but shut-up and please give us something that I can respect you for again!
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Hey Adam,aka”Pinhead”
With Dave,Van Halen sold nearly 80 million records,and they did sell 70 million records with Sammy,and if you actually knew how to read (and look up the facts),you would know that I did not say that Hagar sold 70 miilion records as a solo act,asshole!I’m more than aware of the number of records he sold as a solo artist.The reason you didn’t know of Sammy before he joined VH is either you’re only 12,have a limited knowledge of rock and roll,or just don’t like Sam and are making shit up because you don’t know any better.At 5o,I have forgotten more than you’ll ever know,so don’t try to take me on,you’ll lose every time,son!If another singer were a better fit back then,they would have had one!!!!!!!!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Adam-before you post another comment and enbarrass yourself again,take the time to examine the record sales of both the DLR and the Hagar eras of Van Halen(pre and post SoundScan).I for one know that artists can exaggerate things like that,so I check other outlets for my info !
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:01 pm
TommyBoy,
Why do you think i said I didn’t know who Sammy Hagar was when VH hired him? I was in high school at the time. I imagine the vast majority of kids that were into rock knew who Sammy Hagar was. He was a guy with curly hair that wore silly jumpsuits. He had the hit “I Can’t Drive 55″, a stupid song that could ONLY have been popular in the mid 80’s.
That’s it. That’s about all there is to say about who Sammy Hagar was to people in 1985. I will even go as far as to say that he was somewhat of a nerd. And I’m not saying he’s a nerd now - I like Sammy, and he’s WAY cooler now than he was back then. Being in VH for 11 years rubbed off on him and did him really good!
I’ll give you that “55″ wasn’t his ONLY song that was heard on the radio, he had a few singles that people might barely remember now, some 25 years later, but I truly believe that VH did EVERYTHING for him.
Just last week, even Joe Satriani himself admitted that he never heard of Montrose until AFTER Sammy joined Van Halen. I think that says a lot.
Put it this way - if VH never hired him, you and I would not be arguing about Sammy Hagar right now, because he would be the LAST thing that we would ever enter our minds!
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:05 pm
TB, And now I see your “abum sales” comment.
When you look at the album sales, as you said you have, you’ll see that roughy 2/3 of ALL VH albums ever sold were the albums that DAVE sang, not Sammy…
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:24 pm
I’ve heard Ed say this over and over.. next year, next year there will be a new album. Its bullshit.
Aint gonna happen anytime soon. Its his way of saying to the fans fuck you, leave me alone.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Adam-
Van Halen with DLR recorded 6 albums,all studio;with Sammy they recorded 4 studio albums and 1 live one,which shoots major holes in your 2/3 theory.Once again,you lose!But I’m glad you like Sammy!As for his outfit in “I Can’t Drive 55″,it was the 80’s-I’m sure that today’s fashions will be looked upon as “nerdy” 20 years from now.Peace Out!!!!!!
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:31 am
TB, I said 2/3 of album units SOLD, not RELEASED.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:42 am
So Erick, do you think Ed considers everything he wrote in the dozen or so years Sammy was in the band to be shit and not worth playing live?
Bridge: Yeah, when I saw them in NY it looked like a roadie had glued Eddie to the centre of the stage. I thought he was going to have to step out of his shoes to be able to walk off stage at the end of the show.
TommyBoy, of the Sammy haters you make a fair point.
pushtoshove, “I would look for a new job if i didn’t work for 5 years”. And that’s the bottom line in all this Ed v. Mike stuff really, isn’t it.
Drew: I doubt it’s “his way of saying to the fans fuck you, leave me alone.” If it’s anything less than sincere then it’s probably “I’m still the relevant guitar hero that you all love so keep buying my sneakers and guitar straps. I’m not trying to squeeze every last penny out of you before you forget me, really I’m not, my day job is still playing guitar and all this stripy shit is just a spin off…”
TommyBoy: I think you might be missing the point. On albums recorded the 2/3 theory doesn’t add up. But how many of the albums sold during the Sammy years were Dave albums? Perhaps that’s where the 2/3 ratio comes in.
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:26 am
Myself being a rocker at heart, my favorite VH stuff is the VH1/VH2 stuff - riff-driven, no-nonsense hard rock. That is the reason i was disappointed with 99% of the Hagar era. Sammy’s style, while still “good”, was extremely pop-based, not as much heavy rockin’. I regard them as two completely separate bands, because honestly, is “Dreams” remotely similar to, say, “Somebody Get Me A Doctor” in any way at all? If you played those two songs to a non-VH fan, they would probably think that they were from different bands.
The problem is, this style kind of rubbed off on Edward. Think of the 2 songs off the greatest hits in the 90s. Those could EASILY be Hagar tunes.
So, basically, I am very worried that this new album may also fall into that vein and turn out complete sh!t. Hopefully, it will be good, old-school late 70s VH.
Just an afterthought: Being impressed on the reunion tour, wouldnt it be totally cool if they re-recorded some of their old hits and put them out e.g. “You Really Got Me” and “Hot For Teacher”. That would be fvckin’ sick!
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:48 am
“New Music” now where have I heard that before?…………..More than a touch of de ja vu.
Seem to remember Mike still being in the band circa 1998 and not being allowed to play Bass and don’t remember Wolfie being old enough to play on the 2004 tour. Ed seems to instigate all these things, then when he gets what he wants, and the facts show him up to be the bad guy he doesn’t like it.
Like I’ve said on so many occasions the balls in your court Ed.
P.S What about the UK………………When do we get a tour?
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:59 am
Mike was and always has been the diplomatic one in Van Halen.
Van Halen was great because of the sum of its parts not just because of one member. I’m fed up with Ed’s childish excuses, good luck to Sam and Mike………at least they are producing new music…………….not just threatening to do it.Just remember 6 more months and we are at the end of the decade…………..New music? I wait with baited breath!
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:20 am
Seriously guys, that “Mikey” thing is just plain out gay. You are defending the guy based on some image you have. Who really knows what went down? That he signed autographs and said hello to a few people doesn’t make him a saint, could be all staged. And backing vocals? That qualifies noone to call himself the other half. Ringo and George had more reason to call themselves the other half to Lennon/McCartney than Sam and Mike. Mike’s contribution to the Music is like what, 0.5%? And Sam? -25% if you think what they released before he joined. Who is talking about Ronnie Montrose today? Seriously, both Sam and Mike would be so off the map without Eddie and Dave. Maybe Eddie is full of shit, who knows. Maybe it’s just his version of the truth. But who is not guilty may throw the first stone. It would be only human. And there are always two sides of the coin. So I don’t think it’s just black and white and Eddie was Mr. Evil and the other two fellows are just some poor nice regular guys that got fucked. What can be said for sure, and I said it already elsewhere, Eddie was very generous to share his ideas and talent for writing the songs 25% equally among all band members to start with. I don’t think that is very common, certainly the Beatles didn’t share the royalties equally, or why you think Paul has more money than Ringo, certainly Townsend didn’t share equally with the rest of The Who, and so on. That makes Eddie in my eyes a very generous guy to begin with, whatever you say, and whomever he “fired” in the end because he was fed up for some reason or another.
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:32 am
I think it was already a miracle that Dave and Ed didn’t knock each other out this last tour, what with their history and all..a lot of people were saying it wasn’t gonna last and they would cut the tour short and blah blah. Well, that obviously didn’t happen and we know very well the two of them have not gotten along in the past. My point is, at this point I think they are dedicated to the cause and that is the music. I have hope!!
pushtoshove- the adrenaline IS running and i’m ready for some real rock and roll;)…think you might wanna help me out? LOL.
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:45 am
Well given that those albums under Roth are over 25 years of age, I would hope that those sales would be higher than with Hagar. Personally, I think the next album (if ever released) will bomb. I just think they lost the momentum of touring with Roth and feel the band will be limited with him as a singer.
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:15 am
Chicken Joe, Sammy made Van Halen a great band.
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:21 am
Too much drama again!!! Why take something positive and turn into something negative by all this unnecessary arguing!!! Lets all crank up “dirty movies” and then maybe Kimberly can write something dirty and sexy and make it feel more like a VH site - the way it should be!!!!! We can trash each other later!!!!
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:50 am
Uh….The Band as a whole made Van Halen a great Band.Whatever the lineup.No man is an Island.
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:58 am
Where’s the rest of the interview?
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:23 am
You know I kind of feel like arguing about Sammy vs. Dave is like beating a dead horse. There is no doubt in my mind that both men can sing and are talented, they are just different. They both brought different material to the table and as far as I’m concerned that isn’t such a big deal. And as far as numbers are concerned, it is what it is. Its just a personal choice which VH you prefer. Its not to say one is good or bad, but they just play into different styles.
Also, the whole did Mike get fired or did he quit thing is slightly irrelevant in my opinion…we weren’t there, it could have been mutual. Even if it wasn’t, arguing about it isn’t going to change the fact that it happened and Mike is no longer in VH. He was fucking crazy talented and an epic part of the band before, but now its time to just keep on moving. Can’t change the past… plus, I bet Mike is happier anyway doing Chickenfoot with Sammy. Just some thoughts! <3
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:19 am
Van Halen never had a #1 ALBUM until Sammy - 5150.
Case closed.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:34 am
Some could say its because he is better…some could say its cause they sold out and started doing more mainstream music. Doesn’t say whether or not VH was better with either. Case closed:).
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:34 am
Iwanneberr: #1 album today is Eminem. I don’t like it.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:54 am
///Jimmy - if Mike is not in falsetto than he has no balls! No man can sing that high in his normal register. ///
Two words: Myles Kennedy
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:22 am
//// Myself being a rocker at heart, my favorite VH stuff is the VH1/VH2 stuff - riff-driven, no-nonsense hard rock. That is the reason i was disappointed with 99% of the Hagar era. Sammy’s style, while still “good”, was extremely pop-based, not as much heavy rockin’. ////
My usual response to that, which I hear a lot & attribute to the Band’s early-era persona of ultra-coolness more than the music itself, is to ask if one is going to Jump or dance…..dance….dance, the night away while covering a Vandellas tune. I could go album-for-album & song-for-song and point out how some of the Dave era stuff is poppy (”I’ll wait”) while most of it rocked and how some of the Sammy era was poppy (”When it’s love”) while most of it rocked (”Poundcake”, “Runaround”, “In n’ Out”). Eh, Ed wrote most of the rhythms & music and he ventured more into the piano & synthesizer during the 80s, so one needs to look in his direction if they want to ask about the lack of hard-rock in Jump or Love Walks In. But, yeah, listening to “Little Dreamer”, I sure hear some poppy ballad portions that sounds a lot like late 90’s Aerosmith and wonder why I’m supposed to think that Dave-era stuff was this nonstop hard rock fest, when it wasn’t.
Van Halen, the band, rocked.
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:41 am
All Van Halen is great
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:14 am
BUENA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
QUE VENGA VAN HALEN A CHILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Cam, i do see your point. I will agree that there was some pop instances while the band was with DLR. They were just much fewer. Basically, the Dave era had a few sammy-like songs, but the sammy era didnt really have any dave-like songs. thats kind of what i was saying.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Cam Winston, you posted exactly what I wanted to post, and did so much better. What you said needed to be said, and if you’ve expressed before on this forum, I haven’t seen it.
There’s plenty of “pop” from the DLR era because the music Eddie wrote lent itself to that. E.g., as you say, Dance the Night Away. So that’s what Dave did with it.
Foreshadowed by 1984 material, Ed got into a stage where he was writing music that fit with a certain kind of style (power ballads). So that’s what *Sammy* did with it!
Plus, isn’t that a big part of why Dave *actually* parted ways with the band in ‘85? Creative differences? That Dave just wasn’t able to write for the music Eddie was creating? The music that became the songs called Dreams, Love Walks In, and Why Can’t This Be Love? Didn’t Dave *himself* say that? And how he was surprised that the band was bashing him later on a personal level when it was mainly a mutual parting of the ways due to creative differences?
The fact that Eddie *now* says “I have all this music but I need to figure out what Dave’s into” implies that this might been an issue before but (as another commenter noted ) Eddie seems to have more of an open mind now.
I will say, it would have been fascinating to see if Dave indeed *could* have done something with the music that became Dreams, Love Walks In, Why Can’t This Be Love, and later When It’s Love, Feels So Good, Right Now, etc. Judging from Secrets, Dave *can* do power ballad kind of material, he just doesn’t do it power-ballad style. And again, as Cam noted, Dave is plenty comfortable with pop. You can see that also in his solo stuff — e.g., Just Like Paradise.
Love the screen name “Cam Winston” BTW…I am also a “Frasier” fan.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:14 pm
\\\\Uh….The Band as a whole made Van Halen a great Band.Whatever the lineup.No man is an Island.////
The bottom line is the “MIGHTY” van halen was mighty because of DAVE > EDDIE > MIKE & ALEX. Certain people just have a special magic when they play together that cannot be explained. If you take those same people and put them with a different group of people they may not sound as good. Just listen to some of those “all star” jams that they throw together at awards shows. You can have three legends on stage, like Clapton and Keith Richards and Page, and it comes out sounding like a mess.
Eddie can discout Mike’s contributions all he wants but facts are facts. VH without Mike isn’t mighty.
Wolfgang seems like a cool kid and I’m sure the feeling of playing with your Son is beyond great, but the kid doesn’t belong on that stage and the fans are the one’s being cheated.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Hey Keith, don’t bring God, Jesus or the tooth fairy into this conversation. I want to talk about something that really moves air…..music.
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:04 pm
I still want my Chickenfoot news!!!
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
“Eddie Van Halen Promises New Album and Tour for 2010!”
To anyone who actually thinks there will be a new VH album in 2010, keep in mind that EVH also promised that “Gary was in VH for life,” and if it didn’t work out with his “soul mate” Gary, that would “pretty much be it for Van Halen. Al and I would just move on, score movies or whatever.”
The only thing to believe about Ed is he’s a great guitarist and a perpetual liar. Believe a new “VH” album is out when it’s out.
And don’t be surprised if the new “VH” album ditches Dave in favor of Ed’s new wife singing lead vocals. “We have four members out of four with the last name Van Halen, of course it’s still Van Halen,” says Ed. “Janie is my soulmate. If it doesn’t work out with her singing lead, I’ll just become a NASA engineer.”
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Just one thing:
Wolfie choose, like and prefers Van Halen with David Lee Roth. That´s a fact.
Because is the real Van Halen. With Sammy is a good band, but is a different kind of music, ideas, shows…But the truth…it´s ANOTHER BAND.
A Good one, but different. Like Black Sabbath (with Ozzy) and Heaven and Hell (with Dio).
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Ed’s a great guitar player, but I really think everything he said in that interview is a complete lie. Mike didn’t quit the band. Mike was there throughout the whole VH3 debacle. How much more dedicated can a person be?
I particularly like how Ed tried to push that Wolfie is in the band only because they needed a bass player and he happened to be there. Like it was all out of convenience.
What musician doesn’t enjoy listening to music? Ed listens, he just doesn’t want to tell for some reason.
New music? I’m not holding my breath.
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
“And don’t be surprised if the new ‘VH’ album ditches Dave in favor of Ed’s new wife singing lead vocals. ‘We have four members out of four with the last name Van Halen, of course it’s still Van Halen,’ says Ed. ‘Janie is my soulmate. If it doesn’t work out with her singing lead, I’ll just become a NASA engineer.’” –DiamondDLR
ROTFLMFAO!!!!!!!!!!
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Hopefully Ed will channel his inner Donn Landee, because his guitar has not sounded as good since they replaced Donn.
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:04 pm
all this mention on how van halen rocked with dave and became more pop with sammy but when dave went solo his stuff had keyboards and a pop feel as well,it just didnt do as well.
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
\\\\DAVE > EDDIE > MIKE & ALEX////
How dare you say that Dave is greater than Eddie!!
As stated mutiple times, Eddie writes most of the music. He is the most talented member of the whole group. He is the greatest guitarist the world has ever seen. I am a diehard fan, but i dont say that as a fan. I say that as a guitarist and knowing what he’s got. Before I even liked Van Halen i knew that Eddie was the greatest.
Edward Van Halen is far greater a musician than Dave could ever be.
Not smashing Dave though… he’s fantastic and I much prefer DLR era over Van Hagar. Merely pointing out that Eddie > Dave
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:30 pm
edweird is at it again. talking smack about mike
leave mike alone
ed is his own worst enemy.
the man is a egomanic trying to hide behind this nice shy guy image.
he is being a dick to mike and sam for what they did for him. and he was a dick to dave for over 10 years.
vh almost hired a female singer to replace dave!
but they found sammy.
noone could replace dave.
sammy was a good fit.
why did the band end up like black sabbath.
the guitar player.
only ac/dc has stayed true to their fans..
they deserve our respect. ed is pissing me off again.
lies, lies. lies.
the fans have spoken and will protect mike! and dont think the new music will sound that good as mike will be sorely missed on the album. his voice is KEY! ed cant sing worth sh$#@! we already know that from the abortion album.
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Well said Kevin. It never ceases to amaze me how people fail to understand the utter genius of Edward Van Halen. And it amazes me even more when people state that they’re a guitarist and then go on to say something that shows they don’t get it. As a guitarist myself, nothing is more obvious than that Edward is a genius. Genius is one of those words that just gets tossed around and applied to just about anyone who’s half decent, so it’s lost much of its currency. Edward is one of the exceptionally rare people for whom the word is completely appropriate. There’s all these silly arguments on this site, is Joe better than Edward, is Edward better than Joe… It doesn’t get much dafter. Joe is a brilliant, fantastic, amazing guitarist. Edward is a genius.
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Kimberly you put ‘My iron in that Fire’ and this ‘Ice Cream Man ‘ guarantees you’ll be satisfied…..I hope this is penetrating deep between your red hot steaming ears. Yeah…I’d say I could help you out. P:S I would give good money to see Kimberly Live and in the Flesh….There’s always hope for that tour in Los Angeles ( Especially Venice Beach - Hint Hint! ) ….Tailgate Party Anyone?!?!?!?
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Its so sad that Ed is a pathelogical liar. Ed is brilliant and that will never change. Anything that comes out of his mouth when being interviewed - TOTAL BULLSHIT.
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Who can trust what a drunk is saying? EVH thinks the world believes that Mikey left? He stuck around the drunk for years. And lets face it, if EVH was content with being a reculse, what are we expecting Mike to do? Sit around?
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:13 pm
ALl you guys have to just “shut the Fuck up” about Mike and GET OVER IT! As a VH fan from 1976; personally VAN HAGAR, never grabed me and floored me live the original lineup.
The original lineup was blessed with the most amazing talent, EVER! GUYS, in life, talent like never, EVER gets duplicated, EVER! So, when Sammy came along, the music was just OK; It was too mushy, & “pretty boyish,” and overly polished. Most lyrics were about FUCKEN LOVE SONGS!
DLR, EVH had RAW chemistry, ‘full of energy’ and fucken fun music, WITH AN ATTITUDE. DAVE’S baratone vocals, bluesy falsetto, crazy range with timely controlled screams; along with Eddies ‘brown sound’ and sick schredding are a match made in musical heaven! The Mighty Van Halen are Diamond Dave and Eddie! This is the signature sound that I fell in love with.
I love Alex and Mikie, Wolfie too, but VH is DLR & EVH!! PERIOD!!
When sammy came along “I love you this”, “I love you that,” and “why can’t this be love,” was the core to the lerics. Most of us older, VH fans thought, WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO VH!
Without EDDIE, there would be no “brown sound” NO taping, no FRANKENSTEIN, all of which are such a big part of music today. And to this day, no body, and I mean nobody can duplicate EDDIE’s SOUND. you always know Eddie when you hear a tune. SO, with that said, I personally am very happy that 3/4 of VH (DLR & EVH, AVH) & Wolfie of course are making ‘new’ music!
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:39 pm
DLR has talent? At what? He left Van Halen to become a movie star how did that work out? He left Van Halen for a solo career how did that work out? He left Van Halen to do a Las Vegas Show how did that work out? He left Van Halen to do his own radio show how did that work out? The guy has gravy trained off of Van Halen because he knows how to party? DLR main talent is being a hemroid.
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Everyone quits eh? wow! Do you think he really belives that or is he just trying to sell us that shit.
Anyway it’ll be good to hear some new music out of these guys.
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Guys, quit complaining about who quits or gets kicked out. Mikey is the least important part of the band, i listen to van halen for guitar not bass.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Ken….. exactly.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:14 pm
////// It was too mushy, & “pretty boyish,” and overly polished. /////
Come on bay-bee, dance……..dance…..dance….the night away……
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Get off of My Van Halen site RW….Those lyrics are cool …
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Well for all the Mike crying, their last tour grossed 93 million, I was upset about Mike not being there. But overall the public doesn’t care. Us hardcore fans do but Van Halen’s next album will be huge and the tour will be huge. I’m gonna buy the Chickenfoot album just cause its something to buy, but from what I’ve heard so far Sammy dropped the ball. Band sounds great, but Sammy is recycling old lyrics. Learning to Fall is recylced from A Deeper Kind of Love off his Ten Thirteen album and Down the Drain sounds like Up for Breakfast. I hope its good once I hear the whole album, but look at his Balance lyrics and the man is more talented than what he put out here. Anyway can’t wait for the new Van Halen album. Also Mike is not on the Guitar Hero: Van Halen video game. They even have the band in their 1978 outfits and Wolfgang is in it wearing the same shirt Ed had on the Panama video, white shirt with the dice.
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Were any of us who call(or have called)ourselves Van Halen fans really stupid enough to believe that the music would be the same once Dave left and Sammy or anyone else stepped in? For those who think the band sold out musically when he came on board is delusional.Ed set that in motion on the “1984″ album when he composed the synth-laden “Jump” and “I’ll Wait”.and he wanted to continue that on any future Van Halen material,but knew Dave’s voice(and personality)wasn’t made for it,thus spelling the beginning of the end of the classic VH we all knew and loved.As for Ed’s never-ending denial about firing Mike,as a recovering alcoholic myself(nearly 10 years and counting),I know all about pointing the finger elsewhere and pretending not to be the bad guy to avoid looking at myself and being accountable.As they say in AA Ed,keep comin’ back!ClubFootKolby,outside of myself,you’re the only one that really gets it!!!!!!!!!!
June 4th, 2009 at 2:38 am
Just because the tour took 93 million (anyone else think that having that as a news item on the official VH site tells you all you need to know about where the VH focus is these days…) doesn’t mean the public doesn’t care. The success of that tour is just a reflection of the pent up VH demand.
June 4th, 2009 at 5:16 am
Oh hell yeah pushcomestoshove, I am so down for a tailgate in LA next time they tour! See this is what should be happennig on this site..no holds barred party planning and in general just kicking ass in the name of ALL Van Halen. Haha <3
June 4th, 2009 at 6:22 am
I agree Karl. Ed is a pure genius. I could care less about his personality even though I totally identify with drinking to help deal with nerves (as I open a cold one at 9:22 am!).
A genius is someone who observes the obvious. I think Einstein said that. As a guitar player I am amazed at how simple and obvious some of Ed’s stuff is. On the otherhand, some of his stuff is absolutely impossible to play and I have mentioned those tunes on this site.
June 4th, 2009 at 7:04 am
this is fun-
I don’t hate Hammy- I just think, he, as a singer and front-man has done nothing impressive. Actually, to me his song writing and stage antics are quite childish and pedestrian. It’s entertaining to read people getting worked up about about something entirely insignificant. Life’s to short.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
For those talking about album sales, VH have sold 57.5 million albums in the States, which makes up the vast majority of their worldwide sales. Roth era has sold 34 million, Sammy 18 million, live 2 million, GH 2 million, BOBW 1 million and VH3 .5 million according to RIAA website, which does the certifications. Roth era has not sold 80 million and Hagar era definitely hasn’t sold 70. I believe Van Halen’s total worldwide sales are around 80 million. I just read yesterday that for this decade, VH has only sold around 5 million albums total in the States which is one of the biggest drops for bands that were popular in the 90’s.
As far as having number 1 albums, yes 5150 was the first number 1, but it had a huge first week and then slowed afterwards, similar to 0U812 and Carnal Knowledge albums.
Regardless, can’t wait to hear some new VH music.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Everyone as usual is bitchin and moaning but no one picked up on what ed said about dave…. “Dave is sober now”…
WHAT!!!!?
June 4th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I’m happy both Dave & Ed have their addictions under control; we all have addictions don’t we! Only those who can admit their faults and humble themselves can move on. DLR & EVH have moved on. They are ready to ROCK!! Hey I’m 45 and most music today SUCKS! So I’m very excited about hearing new (bootlegs maybe)…
VH line-up proved most of us wrong this past year. They did a fantastic job. So hey, while it lasts, lets enjoy one last ride. DLR still has some wonder pipes, if he stays w/in his range. “Baratone blues,” & Brown sound is back w/some forced screems (if DLR still has it). The new record is going to FLY off the shelves.
PS: I will give “Hammy” one really good song though “sucker in a green piece” That song fucken rips.
June 4th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I hope “Take it Back” from the ‘74 Cherokee demos makes it to the new album. Could you imagine that? 35 years later. Man that song rips.
June 4th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Album? He didn’t say there was a new album coming out.
The article says: “Then Dave, Wolfie, Alex and I are going into the studio and record some new music and go on tour about a year from now.”
How does going into the studio to record equate to an album? I bet he does this on a weekly basis. I have personally recorded stuff, but I never released an album!
How does going on tour equate to a new album? They toured in 2007, there was no new album!
Everything’s great…everyone’s sober…etc…same bs we hear every few years. Really this article just strings the fans along. Agree?
June 4th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
So Marvin, when are you dropping your album? Take a zanax dude. Was merely assuming that the “collection of new music” might come out in the form of…you guessed it! An album! And yes. I’ve agreed with your last sentence for 11 years now.
June 5th, 2009 at 6:38 am
Well I remember when Sammy left the first time he said sammy quit……but Sammy tells a story about Eddie saying they had been working with Dave and gave sammy the boot on Fathers day! Then after saying Sammy quit……eddie goes on to tell everyone how they couldnt stand working with him because of his work habits……..well which is it Eddie.
The bottom line here is Mike remained friends with Sammy and Eddie took that as being Dissloyal and fired him. Now did he say Mike your fired? No he said nothing and let the world know his son was the new bass player……and that is how Mike found out he was out of the band. I remember Mike saying that Eddie wouldnt take his calls.
Eddie needs to start to tell the truth for once!
June 5th, 2009 at 7:05 am
“How does going into the studio to record equate to an album?”
Marvin, seriously?
June 5th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Ha! no new album from me!
mmmm…zaaaaaannnax…
The key word is “assuming.” I would have to fault RS for the misleading subtitle: “Guitarist speaks out about new album…”
Yeah, I totally hope there is a new album with “Dave” stuff, and yeah I’ll buy it, and yeah I hope they tour again with Dave, and you bet I’ll get a ticket if they do! I’m a big VH fan, but stories like this tend to bend reality.
Bridge, where can i find a copy of “take it back?” Haven’t heard that one.
Peace my VH brother (or sister)
June 5th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
{stubbed toe says:
June 4th, 2009 at 7:04 am
this is fun-
I don’t hate Hammy- I just think, he, as a singer and front-man has done nothing impressive. Actually, to me his song writing and stage antics are quite childish and pedestrian. It’s entertaining to read people getting worked up about about something entirely insignificant}}}}
wow. THATS condescending !!!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
He quit beef? Or as beef as in “anxiety”? I don’t get it.
June 7th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
GREAT to hear the original key members are planning a new album. All the naysayers (assholes) don’t like what Ed is doing now or in the recent past stop listening to the band and follow whatever other band you want. Long live VH with Eddie leading the way!
June 8th, 2009 at 1:35 am
Just watched flight 666 by Iron Maiden, not my favourite band or music, but it shows how a band all in their 50’s are still at the top of their game….THEY NEVER FORGOT THE FANS.Ed wants to take note instead of all the childish cat fights!
June 8th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
SFM,
Tell me what is there to listen to? When Eddie and Halen put something out, then we will quit taking shots.
All of us here on this site just want Van Halen to come back. We don’t care if it’s with Dave, Sammy, or whoever else.
The problem is on VHND is that all the “CVH” fans think there was and is only 1 Van Halen and it was with Roth!
Well, there was 3 singers and right now only Sammy and Gary are doing something and yet everybody just rips Sammy because he’s doing Chickenfoot.
Since Sammy was canned from Van Halen all he’s done is put out music period. Who cares if it wasn’t what you may have liked or disliked. Who cares if it has great lyrics or bad lyrics.
The fact is Sammy has proven that music is important. He cares about the fans and cares about making music.
Just watch Live Without A Net and watch Live: RIght Here Right Now. That’s how Van Halen should be and when you watch footage on Youtube of the reunion tour, it looks staged and nobody looks happy.
When Van Halen does something NEW, I will be amazed!
June 9th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
In reading a grip of these posts, most are fairly insightful, BTW, here be the facts:
EVH’s a liar. He’s also an alcoholic, always will be -that makes for a difficult person to work with the likes of which span his entire professional career, given he’s drank since the ripe age of 12. He’s also a phenomenal guitarist that has done about as much for progressing guitar as Jimi Hendrix (& Pagey, to a large extent) himself.
Not listenting to any other music is what killed The Kinks and pigeonholed Ray Davies as a rather lame artist for the rest of his career after they couldn’t come up with any more decent material. The last decent material I heard outta EVH was 1984 & maybe most of OU812. Ironically, VH I covers You Really Got Me…hopefully that crossing won’t speak to the demise of ‘good music’ that EVH & DLR (& AVH for that matter) should be capable of producing. I wonder, though…
It also speaks of his alcoholic, selfish nature, which is common for ex-addicts - all about them and what it takes to make it, forgetting or not having the ability to concern themselves with ‘extras’ in the sense of keeping up with music and life around you, outside of your immediate family.
Also, it must’ve gotten pretty f’n terrible for Valerie to leave him after how many years of marriage?!? If it was that bad inside their home, the band must’ve gotten all but trainwrecked as well in ‘04. And don’t blame Mike or Sammy or anyone for not digging in to help him out. It takes special people and usually only blood (family, I mean) is willing to stick it out long enough to help someone like that out, and even then, they must be willing to help themselves. It took 40+ years and a divorce to get Ed sober, so I doubt Mike or Sammy (especially with owning his own tequila brand) would’ve made much impact then or today.
Now, I saw’em in ‘07 & it was an incredible spectacle of music & showmanship, Wolfie included. I totally believe what was said a few comments ago that EVH announced to the world that WVH is the new bass player & that was the chicken-$h!t way of telling Mike, you’re out. This equals FIRING. Not quiting. And on to Chickenfoot instead
The VH Bros. are notoriously headstrong, & we can all be pretty sure that Ed leads the way there. So, in working with a control freak, you’re gonna get the cold shoulder when deciding to take on a position in another band, even if it’s the Other Half. Good musicians are in demand & if a good but difficult musician can’t let ‘his’ members soar in different ways for different projects, he may not be worth working with, regardless of talent. Mike’s probably safer & better off with CF than this version of VH anyway. Ed needs to prove his sobriety and grow a bigger heart…starting with well wishings to CF is getting off on the right foot but I’ll wait to see if that doesn’t come with an opposing comment from himself in the future. I mean, this is coming from the guy who, along with his brother, didn’t even attend the R&R Hall of Fame inauguration, leaving Sam & Mike to accept the award!?!
As many have stated too, recording, writing, collaborating…it’s all good but it’s certainly not an album. I mean, how long does it take to put together 12-15 tracks when he’s supposedly got tons of material enough to release a double CD, as it sounds, yet he wants to know Dave’s take on it before they lay something down? He’s a professional musician of 30 years for cripe’s sake! It’s not like it’s his/their first rodeo. Is he lying again about the material to cover up laziness or do they just want to stay a live-only band that talks about new music to string along fans (like me)?
One thing’s for sure, if (not when) he/they ever release a new disc, it better be better than literally any other album he’s ever done, given the amount of time from reuniting w/Dave until the time something’s released. Certainly better than a Michael Jackson collaboration
An aside: Hendrix pushed the limits of guitar, from stripped down 3 pieces of funk, rock and Third Stone jazz to playing full-on jazz with Al Kooper, Dave Palmer and just beginning to team up with Miles Davis before his death. His 3(almost 4) albums don’t even begin to cover the work he produced which came from hours in the studio with musicians from all walks of life and style. If EVH continues to stay away from even so much as listening to others’ music, whether old or new, let alone actually collaborate with others to push himself or allow others to collaborate in different bands so they could, in theory, come back to VH a better musician afterward, then he may dodo bird his career.
Articles like this are amazingly insightful into the man that is Ed, moreso than VH as a band, IMO, regardless of lies & hearsay but it doesn’t get my hopes up on a new release. I’ll believe it when I see it and would like it to be enjoyable when I hear it but I won’t put any faith in the unseen. I’ll save that for the real God & Jesus as opposed to the “Ed/Wolfie reincarnation.”
June 9th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
To comment back to some rather pointless dribble on here regarding Diamond Dave - The guy certainly likes limelight, but as an EMT for a few years in Detroit where no one recognized him, he seems fine to leave it well enough alone at times to. I think Dave’s a much more well-rounded person than Ed and his ability to do other things in & of itself proves it with actions, not just words.
Also, Ed is Ed and when it comes to guitar, we all know what that means - he’s like no one before or after him. BUT, he and/or him and DLR certainly do not make Van Halen. There’s a reason Alex is still in the band & it’s not just cuz he’s family. He is one of if not the most underrated rock drummer in the last 40+ years of music with some of the most original beats and incredible playing (hello…drum solo on ‘07 tour!) I’ve heard from classic to modern rock & all of it in between. As a drummer who can barely play (accurately) hot for teacher about 15BPM slower than the recording, I dare you to find a better suited man to back Ed, brother or not. And Mike Anthony’s vocal harmony and bass backbone gave the band a popular edge that Dave & Ed alone couldn’t have produced…at least not enough to get as popular as they did. It took all four, ladies & gentleman, it took all four.
June 10th, 2009 at 5:37 am
Eddie is doing what Gene Simmons did/is doing and what Evel Knievel did: marketing his brand. Merchandise = money. Big Fat Money. Gene made tons of additional cash from non-music product. Evel made tons selling toys, bikes, etc. And it takes time to get the guitars, t-shirts, video games, shoes, etc. to market, so not much time for new music. Some call this “selling out.” Some call it being a smart business man. You be the judge.
June 11th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Listen! It’s only Rock and Roll and I like it…. All of this soap opera stuff is BS.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
ok…so…
Ed’s sober. Good move.
That said, Satch could fart on a guitar and it would sound better than anything that Ed has put put out in YEARS! Mainly because Ed hasn’t DONE anything in years except ride the coat tails of his logo/legacy…oh and make a porn soundtrack…which, I might add, the video looked like it was RIGHT outta the crap we were fed by MTV in the “Ratt” years.
He’s dangerously close to becoming the “King Of Flop.”
As for Ed wishing Sammy and Mike the best…That’s what Sammy did after he got “Little White Lie” outta his system.
He’s been out there making great albums for YEARS since VH2. He finally pulled Mike outta the B.S. and thus was born THE FOOT.
The Foot album is #4 in the U.S. and growing. Great album, great band. Ur missing out if U don’t listen.
I truly hope Ed stays sober.
Maybe then he can give VH(…uh…what now…4?) a focus. I assume that Alex will do whatever Ed says…Dave needs the money or it’s back to waiting tables in VEGAS, and Wolf will get sent to his room if he even opens his mouth.
…And people give Axl Rose grief for GnR2? lol…at least it’s only 2.
June 12th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Ed is not listening Chickenfoot but know who is in………………..
June 12th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Frankly, I was a little taken aback when he said he doesn’t listen to “anything”. I’m a musician, and I don’t get that.
I don’t really believe a word he says about Sammy and Mike, after all the drama in the past with Dave/Sammy. The only constant there is Ed and Al. Love ‘em to death, but try taking the chip off your shoulder, might make it easier to write some new music and ACTUALLY release it. I’ll believe it when I see it.
…and Kudos to Marvin above, he’s right on the money.
June 15th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
area 5150 Nevada to Ed come in please over.. Ed, Dave can’t sing anymore .His voice is history . The dinner jackets Dave wore on tour, I didn’t know whether to have him bring up my car from valet or take my dinner order. Ed consider Ralph former front man Atomic Punks..
July 31st, 2009 at 10:35 am
The one thing that has CONTINUALLY happened over the past 20 years is that Eddie has badmouthed EVERYONE from Roth through Anthony about leaving / quitting/ getting fired from the band and the story changes with EVERY interview he has ever done. Yes he put out some of the alltime best albums of all time but as a person, well lets just say I would not ever want to work with him. Mike did not quit Van Halen and there were TOO many interviews at the time about Hagar having to twist Eddies arm to get Mike back in the band when he( Hagar) returned so Eddies new stories about past history arent even close. Funny, I have yet to read too much negative comments about Gary Cheronne
August 7th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
There were for years 2 core member’s of Van Halen. There are now 3. I don’t care if Spongebob Squarepants is the lead singer; because, it will still be Van Halen, and Spongebob will finally go platinum. I am a true fan in the purest. If Eddy never makes another note of music in our lifetime, I will fully be grateful for all he has given. He owes nothing to anyone!
Far as i am concerned Eddy, you need not explain anything to anyone. Those of us that are the true die-hard fans do not pass judgment on you. If you have time in your life to produce music or go on tour, I will be there, grateful to see and hear.
Bless you and your family,
Joshua Pegues
August 7th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Ehh Hem, excuse me, one more thing for today.
All of the members of Van Halen (past and present) who don’t go by the surname Van Halen, appreciate the majority of their own successes, thanks to two dynamic brothers. If I have to spell out their names, you’re really on the wrong website.
Joshua Pegues
El Paso
November 6th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
DLR was fantastic in his day. He is part of the original, “real” Van Halen. But let’s face it, he can’t sing anymore. The magic is gone. Why do you think he played freakin’ Vegas for a while?
As far as Sammy goes … No, he is not part of the core VH roots. However, nobody can say he doesn’t rock. He is bad ass and made a great addition to VH.
Finally, to all the hardcore DLR fans who keep bashing Sammy – Remember, DAVE QUIT! You can’t blame Ed for finding a new singer after the group was abandoned by Dave.
-Peace Out!
December 25th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
yeah..VH will never be the same after f.u.c.k. anyways, to me there were two van halen era’s, and now, VH is too old to be as great as it once was… theres alot of good music out there eddie. thats why we buy it, because its put out there, you should try it sometime. using the booze isnt really an excuse either, hell, some bands were never the same after they soberd up in fact they sucked after.
prove me wrong about the being too old thing, please, for once in my life id actually LIKE to be proven wrong. i would love nothing more than to be a part of another great VH era.
January 1st, 2010 at 11:44 pm
If you ask me i’d like to see all the original VH members from the roth era to come back, I think it would be great for the four of them to put out some new music, sure it probably won’t be as good as 80’s van halen but it will still be cool to be a part of a new era of Vh.