Michael Anthony calls in to KNAC

I hear what you’re saying Jim, but I want to know where you get your facts…

I mean, from what you describe… That could be Alex you’re talking about…

Nothing special about Alex’s drum solo neither… except when he went really, really fast. And smashed the gong.

But… as far as music writing, what did Alex contribute?

The live tracks from Oakland from about ’81… the video for ‘So This Is Love’, Mike lays down a HUGE bass line right at the beginning… do you think he’d get to lay down on an album cut under the rule of King Ed and Duke Dave?

No way.

Every time I listen to Van Halen, I have to use the BASS BOOST EQ so that I can hear Mike. You think Mike was satisfied with his sound on the albums? I don’t think so. From what it looks like, Mike knew when to keep his mouth shut and out of the way when Ed was on a bender.

You ever been around a drunk?

Not fun man… NOT fun.

Anyhow… Wolfie has some big shoes to fill, and as far as I’m concerned he has yet to prove himself. Until an album is out, or new material with him on it, I will stay skeptical.

But hopeful.

So,when you go to a Van Halen show in the past, which one did you stick around to hear their solo? Sorry Mike and Al.

Mike and Sam, will you please LET IT GO. You guys made great music in the past and are in the present. Time to get away from the jabs and personal attacks. From my opinion there seems to be more coming from this side than the other side. It does not take much to prompt them evertime an interviewer say “So what was it like in comparsion to Van Halen…..”. Just sound like a bunch of girls.

What did Alex add?

If you were a fly on the wall at 5150, you would often see Ed, Alex, and now Wolfy in there rocking out. I’m pretty sure you would never see Mike unless they were recording for an album. That alone is how you contribute.

It appeared throughout the years that Ed and Alex together were the driving force in the bands direction. I’m not sure if I would say that is the case recently.
In Van Halen, maybe you have to be family to contribute (not counting singer). Maybe Mike did all he could. Mike and Alex are great performers. That is why they did the extended solos – to show that they were each heavyweights.

Let me toss this out there: Everybody assumes it was Ed that “fired” Dave, Sam, Mike, whoever.. What if is was Alex.

skutch, biting their nails could also mean getting ready for whatever is going to happen next and waitng for the timing to be right to do what ever it is they are going to do.

SKUTCH…mudslinging by anyone is kind of lame. I don’t see the harm in the “biting their nails” comment. Maybe you can explain that one to me.

Mikey was there when VH was down to 3. He jammed with them when the brothers’ dad passed away. He was there when Dave walked, when Sam got axed, when Dave wasn’t rehired, when Gary was hired, when Gary quit, and when Sammy came back. I think he knows how tightly-wired the boys are, so I think his expression was accurate in the way he means it. I have a friend of a friend who has worked with the boys in the past and from what I gather the comment rings true. The boys spend WAYYYYY to much time delving into the deeper meaning and relevancy of things most people don’t pay attention to. And then they argue about it like they’re going to kill each other. Mikey’s comment rings true to me based on what little I know of Ed and Al’s world.

I like how classy Mike and Sam were about Ed’s condition during the R&RHOF inductions. They’ve each been on the receiving end from Ed and wished their best for Ed. Sammy was also cool about Dave too, and I think it’s fair to say if the situation was reversed Dave wouldn’t have been complimentary about Sam.

I like what Sam said: “I know he’ll come out stronger on the other end and I hope we get our buddy back”.

Sad. They never did. I feel the same way. Ed just seems like such an angry, bitter guy since ’95. I hope that changes, but given his words and actions, I guess the ship has sailed on that.

SKUTCH…as Forest Gump would say…”and that’s all i have to say about that…”

Peace

Whats sad is that I’m sure most can tell that Sam & Ed got on really well. If things could change now, I’m sure Ed and Sam would’ve pushed through the bullshit on Balance and had an equally awesome follow up.

Mikey was great. Van Halen II and Fair Warning probably showcase his skills the best. The first time I heard “You’re No Good”, I thought “Holy shit, finally the bassist gets some balls!”. Lately I’ve been listening pretty closely to the tracks and Mike does some great little fills here and there. At the end of the day, Mike provided a great part of the rhythm section and went along a typical rock bass route for a not so typical rock band. I think it worked pretty well.

(Don’t forget that the sweet bridges in songs like “Amsterdam” and “Without You”, Mikey keeps up with Ed really well. Think about it.)

Sam and Mike are respectful to their past – when I saw Chickenfoot Sam ended up doing the old 5150 hands-together symbol at the end of the show, and I’ve seen videos of him with an OU812 shirt on. Seems like Ed just wants to forget the past 25 years.

Along with that, Mike has had to put up with a lot from this band I think. We’re only just hearing about Ed going to Billy Sheenan in 1981 to replace Mike – Sheenan could’ve said yes but instead he was a nice guy (like Mitch Malloy) and opted out due to the fact that he was friends with Mike and had enough success on his own – perhaps he guessed Mike was good to go for another era of Van Halen.

Mike has every right to talk crap about these guys. Don’t forget that Ed played basically all the bass on VH3 and didn’t want Mike back for the reunion in 04 (he didn’t play on the 3 new tracks then either). This time around Sam wasn’t there to make Mike come back.

You wonder about all this waiting around doing nothing after VH III album but really, was a short lived idea that just didn’t gel with the fans. So what now. I think yes Eddie tried early on to replace Mike but then recent that has come about but probably as everyone knows on VH III album he played I think on 2 songs which might be the best songs off the album as one was the single and really solid song off that release. Anyway, the reunion 04 tour is correct that Sammy Hagar said not doing it unless Mike continues to play bass. Then I think even Mike by that time was once that tour was over his years in VH were up and was going to be repleaced as Sammay Hagar split the scene for good. Everyone has been wanting Diamond Dave since 96 to come back then most likely everyone then would of had the classic VH line up but not to be. Sure it would of been cool to have had Mike for the reunion tour but I think by now most are fine with the idea Eddie’s son is the new bass player and just want a new album already but years without more BS than anything solid really its obvious this will finally happen since we witnessed Eddie and Dave working it out which truely proves anything is possible which means who knows, Mike could play with VH in the future or even Hagar, but for now this is what VH fans of old more so want to stick around. Nice to see them dip into the archives of the classic 6 albums and Dave not trying to sing Hagar songs which probably wouldn’t work anyway. I mean can you imagine Roth singing “Why Can’t This Be Love”?! Anyway, I also think why things have been what people think is Eddie being lazy etc. is he has had some issues and needed time off plus most likely while Mike may have thought sitting aside he was in the band Eddie knew that he was not going to have him come back and replace him and maybe he thought his son would work out but needed to wait for him to get older you know to handle touring and all that comes with it. Plus also banking on Dave coming around and presto VH is back in action. The tour I think was well a ode to the old stuff, for the old fans, see Dave and Eddie on the same stage, get Wolfie’s feet wet live and well warm up before hitting the studio to record anything at all. Now that time has come, hopefully a live DVD for Christmas of the reunion tour, then in 2010 the new album and then another tour and god knows what lies ahead but when that album comes out its going to drop like an atom bomb for sure. Don’t be surprised its going to sound like old school VH and nothing Van Hagar with Dave on board. So no soft rock but hard rock. And remember those 2 new songs from 96 did prove they could of released then a solid album instead of what turned out to be VH III which was VH trying to experiment and well they sort of did that with hagar anyway doing more ballads and keyboards. They probably will try to make something close to 1984 but if they end up making a Fair Warning then even better. Everyone can say this and that but hey again who knows it might end up being their best album since 1984 (ok 5150 maybe). The rest were ok albums lets be honest. Maybe the new VH CD will suck yet I doubt it. But have to say, Sammy and Mike have it a bit easier making album compared to VH nowadays because the last record came out in 98 so the comment about biting your nails sure they probably have some nerves about how the album will come out and what the public will think about it so there is that. And this is Roth with VH now and if it was Hagar it wouldn’t be that much of a big deal because he on the Best of Both Worlds compilation had 3 new songs but those ended up really nothing special as compared to the 2 new song with Roth in 96. Roth has those 6 classic albums to have to come up with something solid you know. Well Eddie more because he will be writing the most of the music as he did in the past but with Dave along the chance of the old school sound is possible because of his singing style and lyrics. Lets just hope it all works out for the boys. I think this future tour will be more interesting having done the warm up tour and then being able to add new song with some of the old ones they didn’t play. I think the only song off the last tour they should of maybe set aside was, “I’ll Wait”. Lets hope “House of Pain” gets played live. If they make a Woman and Children First that would blow my mind because VH does prove they can be diverse songwriters. Alot never bring that up but that they just rocked out but they could chill out and that is what I dug about the band which made those old albums a way cool listen. Also anyone wonder will they add keyboards like they did on 1984 or you think they will try for a VH 1 or 2, more guitar driven and no keys. I wonder about that since Eddie does not play them live now. Ok I think I rambled on enough. Later.