It’s hard for this thing to have been received much better than it has. The only people who aren’t “receiving” it as a booming return to rock n’ roll are the diehard Diamond Dave fans who want to interject their anti-Sammy opinion at every opportunity (“do you want fries with that?” “NO, and it ain’t Van Halen without Dave!”)

Guys, we’re all VH fans…I beg you to stop the broken record and enjoy the music. If you don’t like CF, fine, go put on the 25 year old Dave songs – I like ‘em, too. But, it’s not 1984 any longer and the guys haven’t created anything in a while.

But to say that CF hasn’t been received well? Anecdotal and belies reality, my friend. It’s being hailed as a huge success for the band.

But when I heard Sammy comparing it to Led Zeppelin or Van Halen, I thought this is going into dangerous territory. Then Sam’s silly comment claiming Joe is better than Eddie? Now that’s getting childish & bitter. It’s clear this has everything to do with Van Halen!! Van Halen has not released any new music for some time and the fallout/exit of both Sam & Mike from Van Halen. But most fans of Sam’s don’t see the common trend here when Sam has a new project due for released. He’s always uses the Van Halen connection to spice up publicity for his new project. The Van Halen name is so huge & recognizable around the world that he’d be a fool not to use it!!! Sam’s a very smart and talented businessman. A rock icon he isn’t!! Not when you try to put yourself in the same league as Led Zeppelin or Van Halen for that matter. And I know some of you Sam fans will say that he was also in Van Halen and on and on…but let’s get one thing straight here. When Van Halen erupted on the music landscape, it was Eddie, Dave, Alex & Mike that forever will be remembered in history & folklore. It’s a Rock N’ Roll FACT!!

I’m from the other side of the world (Australia), I never knew of Sam until he joined Van Halen!! Van Halen had worldwide appeal & recognition. Sam did not. When Sammy toured Melbourne, Australia in 1997, he barely filled out a 1000 capacity venue (A Led Zeppelin tribute band ‘sold out’ 3 nights the same venue Sam played the week before!!). I went to his show. Before the 2nd song Sam said something bad about Van Halen. Result? A couple of full bottle bear came hurling his way!! Sam tried to settle them down. No chance! The crowd was pissed and angry. The “Eddie, Eddie” chant started, it was louder than Sam!! More bottles were thrown, one hit the keyboardist and another almost got Sam, but he ducked in time (No chicken wire Blues Brothers movie style here folks!). That wasn’t the end! When he started the ballad songs he actually had to cut it short. It was starting to get ugly! The crowd was heckling him, every song from then on got shorter. In a nutshell; Sam wanted out of there!!! In the parking lot there were a few fights with the crew who were trying to stop them from going backstage, would have made a good movie!! Remember folks, this is where AC/DC’s born! They’re a mean rowdy lot down under. If you’re soft? You’ll hear about it…INSTANTLY!! Sorry folks no footage available, this was before mobile phone cameras and YouTube!! It just goes to show ‘Aussie Van Halen Fans’ are loyal and protective. But I’ve never seen an audience turn on an act like they did to Sam that night.
But when Van Halen came to town? No bad mouthing about anybody. Van Halen was pure class. Plainly and simply…Van Halen came to ROCK!! They ‘sold out’ in every state 15,000+ arenas (and that was with Gary Cherone!) Same thing with Diamond Dave’s 1988 Skyscraper tour; 2 nights ‘sold out’ at the 15,000 arena!! Get the picture?

I’m not here to change people’s opinions and views, but by putting this Chickenfoot in perspective it will make things a whole lot simpler. I think that if Sam had let the band taken its natural course instead of relying on the past to sell its self, then this Chickenfoot would have been better received. You want to compare Chickenfoot to Led Zeppelin & Van Halen? Led Zeppelin and Van Halen always let their music do the talking. That’s the difference.