Eddie Van Halen: Prime Cuts
Article from GuitarWorld.com.
2009 Photo by Clay Patrick McBride.
Old photos from VHND.com & Warner Bros.
“Eruption”
Van Halen (1978)
“I like the way ‘Eruption’ sounds. I’d never heard a guitar sound like that before—like some classical instrument.
“The story behind ‘Eruption’ is strange. It wasn’t even supposed to be on Van Halen. While we were recording the album, I showed up at the studio early one day and started to warm up because I had a gig on the weekend and I wanted to practice my solo guitar spot. Our producer, Ted Templeman, happened to walk by and he asked “What’s that? Let’s put it on tape!” I played it two or three times for the record, and we kept the one that seemed to flow. Ted and Donn [Landee, engineer] liked it, and everyone else agreed that we should throw it on. I didn’t even play it right. There’s a mistake at the top end of it. Whenever I hear it, I always think, Man, I could have played that better.
“For the tail end, I used a Univox echo chamber. It had a miniature 8-track cassette in it, and the way it would adjust the rate of repeat was by the speed of the motor, and not by tape heads. So if you recorded something on the tape, the faster you played the motor back, the faster it would repeat, and vice versa. I liked some of the noises I got out of it, but its motor would always burn out.
“That first album was recorded, mixed and mastered for only $46,000, which was like an all-time low in the record industry. People couldn’t believe it, because the average cost of producing an album at that time was around $150,000 or $200,000. Back then, bands like Fleetwood Mac and Boston were spending something like three years on album, so you can just imagine the cost.
“ ‘Eruption,’ like most of the other songs on the first album, was performed pretty much live. We had been in the studio for the first time ever about a year earlier with Gene Simmons of Kiss, and I quickly learned that I didn’t like overdubbing. Simmons produced a three-song demo for us that consisted of ‘Runnin’ with the Devil,’ ‘House of Pain’ and a song called ‘Babe, Don’t Leave Me Alone.’ Gene said, ‘Here’s what you do in the studio—you play your rhythm parts on one track, and your solo parts on another.’
“I remember feeling very uncomfortable with separating my lead and fill parts from my rhythm parts. Onstage, I’d gotten used to doing both simultaneously. I’d just noodle in between chord lines. Because it was my first time in a recording studio, it didn’t occur to me to say, ‘Can’t I play just the way I play live?’
“The demo didn’t work out, anyway. When we finished recording with Gene, we met with Kiss’ manager, Bill Aucoin. When we went to his office he was getting a shoeshine and said, “I don’t see any commercial potential. Besides that, I’ve got my hands full because I just signed a band called Piper [featuring a then-unknown Billy Squier]. It was really depressing—we were totally bummed. Gene gave us a couple hundred bucks to make our way home. We just kept playing the Whisky and the Starwood in Los Angeles, and about a year later Warner Bros. came down and eventually signed us.”
“Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love”
Van Halen
“ ‘Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love’ was originally supposed to be a punk rock parody. It was a stupid thing to us, just two chords. It didn’t end up sounding punk, but that was the intention. I doubled the solo section with an electric sitar. It could have been a Coral, but it looked real cheap. It looked like a Danelectro. I never really knew it was an electric sitar, because it didn’t sound like one. It just sounded like a buzzy-fretted guitar. That thing was real bizarre.”
“Dance the Night Away”
Van Halen II (1979)
“I had the basic riff and I played it for the guys before we went into the studio, and they didn’t like it. But then I played it for Ted and he really dug it, so we worked on it and put it together in the studio. The song was originally a little different, but we cut the fat off and said, ‘Let’s call it, “Dance the Night Away.” ’ I know it’s not a very original title, but we wanted to cash in on the dance craze that was happening at that time.
“The main thing I remember about the second album was that I was feeling a lot of pressure. We were in England touring in support of the first album, and for the first time in my life I called a meeting and said, ‘Goddammit, we have another album to do. Let’s start getting together after shows or whenever we have time on the road and I’ll show you what I’ve got.’ I was really starting to worry. We weren’t really working on any new material, and I was afraid if we didn’t have enough strong songs our second album would flop.
“We recorded Van Halen II the same way we recorded the first one. We just set everything up in a big room and recorded. I was really happy with the way it turned out. It sounds like Van Halen, but fuller.”
“And the Cradle Will Rock”
Women and Children First (1980)
“Al [Alex Van Halen, drums] and I jammed on the basic riff for ‘And the Cradle Will Rock’ two hours a day for two straight weeks. [laughs] We didn’t really know what to do with it, but we were having fun because it just sounded so wicked. Then, out of nowhere, the chorus came to us and it was finished. Sometimes you really have to work for inspiration. But ultimately, it’s not really work because my brother and I genuinely love to jam.
“The solo on that song is unusual. I do one short lick that’s very spontaneous. It came out because I had been listening to Allan Holdsworth, who I think is the baddest. This was a first take—a bunch of songs on that album were first takes.
“That was also the first time I played keyboards in the studio. A lot of people don’t know that because it doesn’t really sound like a keyboard. I had an old Wurlitzer electric piano and I pumped it through my Marshalls. I just pounded on the lower registers and put it through an MXR flanger to get that weird sound. Ted said, ‘Wow! What the hell is that?’ [laughs] ‘Oh, nothing, just me, screwing around.’ So we recorded it. That was my first encounter with the band not wanting me to play keyboards—when we did the song live, Mike played it. They didn’t want a guitar hero playing keyboards onstage.
“I thought Women and Children First would strike people as adventurous because of songs like this and ‘Could This Be Magic’ and ‘In a Simple Rhyme.’ Everybody says Fair Warning was a weird album, but I think this one is weirder. Maybe Fair Warning felt that way because the album cover was so bizarre. I think the music on it is actually very straightforward.”
“Unchained”
Fair Warning (1981)
“I love that song. It’s rare that I can listen back to my own playing and get goose bumps, but that’s one of them. Fair Warning is kind of a dark album. We started doing things my way, and we all kind of butted heads—me versus them. I remember sneaking down in the studio around four o’clock in the morning with Donn and re-recording things the way I wanted them to be. The next day, they walked in and said, ‘Hey, that’s great! When did you do that?’ It was kind of a cheap thing to do, but I had to do something to get what I wanted.”
“Jump”
1984 (1984)
“We recorded ‘Jump’ live in the studio with me playing keyboards, and then I put the guitar on later. I used an OBX-A keyboard, which they stopped making. I think we just recorded one take. Actually, the tape ran out at the very end, just in time. When Donn mixed it, he had to fade it just right; otherwise, he would have run out of tape.
“The guitar solo was punched in, I’ll admit it. I’m not proud. You can hear that there are two distinct parts to that solo. I can’t even remember what I played originally. All I remember is the recorded, pieced-together version that everybody knows.
“1984, in a way, was phase one of Donn and Ed. He and I were very involved in this record. We almost took control, to a point, because it was done in my studio and we knew what we wanted. We weren’t about to let the album be puked out, especially since it was done in my own studio. I think the whole album sounds the best. I like it all.”
“Why Can’t This Be Love”
5150 (1986)
“5150 was a very inspired record. The tunes are really fresh. There’s a lot of soul there. ‘Why Can’t This Be Love’ sounds so elaborate because of the instrumentation. I used the arpeggiator in the OB-8, so everyone had to play that. That’s why it has kind of a uniform effect. The song is more pop-popular, but I don’t see what’s wrong with that. I would love to have written a Christmas carol.
“Sammy Hagar’s work on this album is like nothing he’d ever done. I think people were afraid that Van Halen would start sounding like one of Sammy’s solo albums. But I knew it wouldn’t happen because I’d be writing the music, and my music doesn’t sound like Sammy Hagar music.”
“When It’s Love”
OU812 (1988)
“OU812 was a lot easier to make. That’s not to say that 5150 was difficult, but Sammy and I were just feeling each other out. We were more comfortable and relaxed. We opened the doors and it all came out. It’s more mature, too. When we recorded ‘When It’s Love,’ I was so focused.”
“Poundcake”
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991)
“When I came up with ‘Poundcake,’ it didn’t really excite anyone until Andy [Johns, producer] suggested I use some electric 12-strings to flesh out the rhythm tracks. It turned out to be just the thing the song needed. All of a sudden, the lyrics, the title and everything came into sharp focus. What you hear are two electric 12-strings doubled beneath my usual dirty guitar. It’s an odd sound. It wasn’t really planned.
“The solo goes four bars, another four bars, then two bars. Al kept insisting that it wasn’t finished. He likes to count, and I never do. I’m strictly feel. I’m always screwing around with time, because I never count.”
“Right Now”
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
“The only reason we gave Pepsi the music was because they were going to use the song anyway. They would have just recut it with studio musicians, like they do for some TV movies because they can’t use the original. If they use the original recording, they’ve got to pay, but if they don’t, all they do is give credit to the artist and then pay the studio cats. Pepsi told us they were going to do that, so we said, ‘Hey wait a minute, we might as well get the money.’ I ain’t that proud, you know. I’m not going to say, ‘No, go ahead, rip us off. And keep the money, too!’”
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December 13th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Very cool! I wish he would do this with the entire VH catalog. There’s some cool stories in there, I’m sure. I’d like to hear what he has to say on some of the obscure songs.
Thanks Edward!
December 14th, 2009 at 12:00 am
I love this! It’s great to get Eddie’s take on some of the greatest songs in the world. I agree with Snoova, I would love to hear his thoughts on the entire catalog… I know what they mean to me, but it’s cool to hear it from the Man himself. Thanks VHND.
December 14th, 2009 at 12:00 am
These are cool stories that all of the VH fans would love to hear, but it seems like Ed doesn’t want to do anything like this for the fans or for that matter, release any new music, release a DVD from the last tour, box set, whatever. For my VH fix, there is always YouTube.
December 14th, 2009 at 12:02 am
Interesting he is actually talking about music he did with Sam! And gave the OK to use the Sam and Ed pic on the beach. Is Ed finally accepting the Sammy era and extending an olive branch?
December 14th, 2009 at 12:03 am
I love Halen…just want some new music dammit! How bout Halen with guest vocalists to alleviate all the BS w Roth Sammy etc…Maybe Ian Astbury, Scott Stapp, Lemmy, Bruce Dickinson, Hetfield, Seb Bach, Phil Anselmo, Evenescence chick??? Zack DelaSoul RATM
December 14th, 2009 at 12:51 am
When was this conducted?
And yes, its amazing that Ed is acknowledging Sammy’s time with the band. Just wish Dave would a bit more! I’d love to hear the original version of Summer Nights and Good Enough that they wrote with Dave….next album material maybe? We can only dream….
December 14th, 2009 at 1:17 am
These are all old interviews strung together. Read all these a long time ago.
December 14th, 2009 at 1:41 am
i think these are all cut from interviews he has done over the years.
ive read a lot of this b4.
still cool to have in one collection!
jb
December 14th, 2009 at 1:56 am
I remember these quotes – this interview is years old – when Sammy was still in the band. Probably before Balance came out.
Don’t read too much into it eg “Eddie extending an olive branch”
December 14th, 2009 at 1:57 am
We’ve all read these stories a gazillion times.
I wish they would do a “Classic Albums” for Van Halen One
or 1984.
December 14th, 2009 at 2:38 am
currently van hagar never existed in eds mind
these are all old rehashed things..
December 14th, 2009 at 3:08 am
What’s with the MC Hammer pants going on up top there?
December 14th, 2009 at 3:28 am
Pete, I was just joking about Oilive Branch. Not reading into it. Just kind of being a smart ass as Ed now a days does not acknowledge the Sammy era. I also believe this is old. However I would love to hear about the making of the 2 dave songs on best of volume 1. Me wise magic, etc.
December 14th, 2009 at 5:19 am
Agreed. I’ve read some of these comments before and sadly they were when Sammy was around.
December 14th, 2009 at 5:57 am
Exactly peter. this is old stuff.
December 14th, 2009 at 6:29 am
Yeah it’s cool to see him talking about older stuff.. But when will they do new stuff??? This guy is soooo talented,, share it with us Eddie…
December 14th, 2009 at 6:31 am
Eddie looks so good in the picture.
He said the guitar sounds like a classical instrument on Eruption, that is why I have always loved Cathedral. It is a beautiful song yet it is still rock. Only Van Halen can do that.
December 14th, 2009 at 8:20 am
thanks SKUTCH for being our arm chair moderator LOL
December 14th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Well one thing we all know is that it is a miracle that Ed allowed the info and pictures to be printed again. Being sober can help a person come to grip with a lot of things. I truly believe that he is sober now and the ONLY hold up to new music is 2 things:
-The next album has to be up to par with VH’s past after the badly received VH3. One more bad reviewed CD and they are tanked. This is going to take time and work to get it right. They have lost their way from so much hiatus and feel the pressure. Having Wolfie in the band makes Ed want to live up to their past work. Otherwise he could truly give a SH** and would just do what makes him happy musically versus trying to impress!
-Ed’s hand surgery is a major part of the delay. In order to live up to the albums of past he needs to play up to par and his playing speed needs to improve over what we have heard live and on the 3 new songs for the Best of Both Worlds. You can actually hear his pick speed had dropped significantly live and in the studio since the 1998 tour. Let’s just hope that it was his arthritis and torn hand problems (problem corrected with physical therapy after surgery). This could also explain part of the no new music since then. I think his situation was more serious than realized.
December 14th, 2009 at 9:21 am
ancient articles
December 14th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Heard ‘Drop Dead Legs’ on the local radio this weekend. Not sure if its the lyrics or guitar licks, but that song mesmorizes me. Sounds better the louder it’s played. It’s great art….
December 14th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Without a doubt, old news.
I’ve read pretty much all of above in the book I own: Guitar World presents: Eddie Van Halen.
December 14th, 2009 at 9:35 am
WOW, Fleetwood Mac would take 3 years to make an album???
What about 11 years??
December 14th, 2009 at 10:06 am
That’s it Ed, keep smoking. How many second chances at life does this guy need before he gets the message?
December 14th, 2009 at 10:16 am
I had never read this before. Now THIS is good stuff … from the mind of the genius.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:22 am
drop dead legs is up there up with my top 5 tunes!
summer nights
5150
aint talkin bout and
unchained
these are all ball kicking songs.
pure rock and roll.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:24 am
and lest not forget
dreams my fav. tune by the band.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:26 am
f#$@ almost forgot
romeo delight
this may be the number one all time song by van halen.
it just fricking smokes live.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:29 am
I thought I remember reading an interview with Dweezil Zappa interviewing Eddie and Dweezil asked him “how many takes were there for Eruption” and Eddie said “One”. Here he says two or three. Oh well, I guess it doesn’t matter. Eddie is the King anyway.
Cool pics with the story.
I agree with you, Vhokie about “Drop Dead Legs”. It’s one of those songs that’s always stood out for me. It’s got an awesome sound.
I’m glad they only spent $46,000 on the first record. That’s one of my favorite things about it. It was so raw and heavy. It sounded like all of the tracks were first takes and it was recorded in some dingy basement somewhere. It was so pure and so minimally produced sounding. That’s one of the best rock albums of all time, not just one of the best Van Halen albums, but one of the best rock albums of all time in the history of rock.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:34 am
you guyz will never forgive me if i dont mention
meanstreet and poundcake
these songs break balls!!
AWESOME as hell.
December 14th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Van Halen – Best of (1978-1984) Disc 1
1. Runnin’ with the Devil
2. Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love
3. Romeo Delight
4. And the Cradle Will Rock…
5. Can’t Get This Stuff No More
6. Everybody Wants Some!!
7. Beautiful Girls
8. Dance the Night Away
9. Hot for Teacher
10. Panama
11. Secrets
12. Little Guitars
13. I’ll Wait
14. Jamie’s Cryin’
15. Me Wise Magic
16. Mean Street
17. Woman In Love
18. Unchained
19. So This Is Love?
December 14th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Van Halen – Best of (1986-1995) Disc 2
1. Poundcake
2. Don’t Tell Me (What Love Can Do)
3. Best of Both Worlds
4. Judgement Day
5. Amsterdam
6. The Seventh Seal
7. Top of the World
8. Runaround
9. Humans Being
10. Summer Nights
11. Dreams
12. Right Now
13. Love Walks In
14. Mine All Mine
15. Why Can’t This Be Love
16. Can’t Stop Lovin’ You
17. Finish What Ya Started
18. 5150
19. Black and Blue
20. Cabo Wabo
December 14th, 2009 at 10:53 am
notice there is no van halen 3 for a reason!
he.. he.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:05 am
I too would love to hear his thoughts on “Me wise magic” and “Can’t get this stuff no more”.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:10 am
surfthis- They’re all great. You could list almost every VH song, but if I had to pick one from each list – “Mean Street” and “Judgement Day” are two that really stand out for me. They are really BadAss songs, especially live.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Can’t Get This Stuff No More was in 96, not 78-84
Well, this is cool I guess but we KNOW that Ed doesn’t talk about Sammy anymore. I think he’s afraid he might say that he had some good times with him or something.
December 14th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Now this is sweet info. Insider info that we all love to read. I’m totally sick of the shit that usually comes off of this site (no disrespect, but it’s obvious we’re all waiting for new stuff). This is the first thing in a long time that made me read it all and then read it again.
December 14th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
iwannaberr says: “WOW, Fleetwood Mac would take 3 years to make an album???
What about 11 years??”
LOL!!!!!! Now THAT’S The Truth!!!
December 14th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Romeo Delight! Ahhh Yeah! Takin Whiskey to the party tonight and im lookin for somebody to squeeezzzeee!
December 14th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
No news is no news and par for the course. These are old interviews.
Kimberly – where is the great news that will be announced in December?
December 14th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
More old interviews. I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think there will ever be new VH music with Roth or Hagar. The VH’s brothers are insane. The Beatles used to write a song in one day. Too much time in the studio never produces anything real or something with feeling. ie. Chinese Democracy. I hope I’m wrong.
December 14th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
I hadn’t read all of these so it was new for me and I enjoyed it…:) I love to learn about why a song is written or what influenced it’s making. It’s always nice to see Eddie looking healthy but I agree that he should (although he probably won’t) put down the cigarettes for good. Addiction is a scary thing.
December 14th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Pat,
Sadly, I agree with you 100%.
December 14th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Scottso & Pat,
It’s hard to tell. But this argument has made before about how much time it takes to make something. Doesn’t really always mean that it will suck. I think the problem is more getting along on a personal level than musical creativity or quality delays. It is possible that they are NOT working together at all with Dave on new music versus it’s taking too long as you stated. Let’s hope that is what it is, or maybe it will suck! But it also could be waiting for his hand to heal up well and other personal issues going on here. If they really started working after June this year as planned. These guys have been known to take at least a year before we hear anything. And that’s when things were good! So, let’s be positive until 2010 doesn’t turn out for us. Then let’s holler!@
December 14th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
KISS manager Bill Aucoin.
What a complete jackass.
Passed over Van Halen for who? Piper? Where the fuck are they now? And who even heard of them back then either????
He overmerchandised KISS in the late 70′s causing their career to tank so they fired his ass.
He should have jumped off a bridge for his HUGE MISTAKE!
December 14th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
They are done. It’s pretty damn obvious. Didn’t you guys read the interview where Eddie said he doesn’t want to record? Let it go. Move the hell on.
December 14th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Yeah, I agree with others. This is a compilation of a bunch of old interviews.
December 14th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Anyone still like Humans Being? Sam’s Swan song…….
December 14th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Humans Being is a fine song, DLR. Sam’s swann song? yeah, probably. 2004 was so uneven (mainly Ed’s alcohol troubles at the time) so that doesn’t count.
Has anyone noticed that when you visit this site’s home page and just scroll down, it’s pretty much all Hagar/CF stuff? Even the Ed interview with both comments and photos.
A perk for being current, maybe. I really don’t think it means anything else. But doncha think it would piss off Dave? Or just give him a good laugh?
December 14th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Girl Gone Bad is still one of my favorites.There is a great
bootleg vid of it on youtube from the 1984 tour (which I
was lucky enough to attend).The quality isn’t amazing but it
shows VH at their absolute peak. (in my opinion)
December 14th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
the sammy stuff still has some teeth to it
and the playing is all over the place
hot stuff for sure
not as good but van hagar was damn good.
December 14th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Years ago I read an interview and Ed said the original name for “Dance the Night Away” was “Dance Lolita Dance”. Fits perfectly syllable-wise but sounds so weird to imagine it that way. The live promo video for DTNA is great, especially with the quick backstage footage (you can find it on YouTube). An amazing moment in time – would be great to see an official release on DVD some day.
December 14th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Heard it all before….ZZZZZZZZZZZ. Read the latest Guitar World interview with Iommi, speaks volumes as to where VH is at. Another album with fresh material? Dream on, ain’t gonna happen. It’s all about marketing merchandise and spending royalty checks. Thanks for the memories Ed, you’ll always be the greatest.
December 14th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
I am from Mosul Iraq and love Van Halen with my heart because it is reality American. I am proud to be Iraqi and now American citizen. I love the electric gutar and Eddie does it the best I have heard. Thanks for best music and caring for my country. peace!
Akeem
December 14th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Van Halen looking backwards again. Nothing to see here.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Atomic Pete- Girl Gone Bad is a really great VH classic. I love that song. I’m gonna go try to find that youtube video you’re talking about.
December 15th, 2009 at 1:33 am
EDDIE looks great in that pic! , gees i hope for our sake he gets it together , n makes a great album , hes let a lot of people down , this ids his time to fix it , Man release some old concerts remastered on dvd , some rare stuff on cd , and maske the greatest album since 1984 , tour the world!!! We luv u ED , n we hope all the best
December 15th, 2009 at 2:41 am
I think for history’s sake Ed HAS to record. No he doesn’t owe us anything but I don’t think that the last ever Van Halen studio album should be left as VHIII.
Ed sounded sore in that interview about people not really noticing the new songs for Best Of Both Worlds – well, Ed, no offence, but they weren’t great and every band that makes new songs for compliations are pretty shoddy. Foo Fighters and RHCP are 2 bands straight off that I know did some crappy songs just to fill up the set list, they sound like b-sides. Reviewers didn’t notice the 3 new songs probably because everyone was expecting a Sammy and Dave disc separately.
Getting back into the limelight was the first and most important step. It showed VH still has fans willing to see them (and pay a lot of money too). They couldn’t fill the big venues with Gary and now they can’t get enough people in with Roth. What does this tell Eddie? I don’t understand why he’s so worried about recording costs, when bands are giving their music away for free. If he is worried, release the songs for 99cents through VanHalen.com or something. The internet is a great resource to get music out there and the album is (I guess, sadly) a dying format.
I hope Eddie does wake up from this crazy daydream he seems to be living in where everything in life comes as an excuse before recording. Janie’s Birthday? Come on!
December 15th, 2009 at 2:43 am
(I meant that they couldn’t get enough people in with Gary and now with Roth people never want to leave! – Sorry for the confusion)
December 15th, 2009 at 3:58 am
Outstanding interviews. It’s like a time machine taking me back in the days when VH was actually making music. Man, if it wasn’t for Chickenfoot, this site would be updated twice a year. And you know what, I am the bigger fool who keeps coming back to this site. What has it been 10 years? Ron White called and he wants his bad comedy act back.
December 15th, 2009 at 4:07 am
I have been and always shall be a classic VH fan. But, I would not expect any thing less than steller,although as I recall the first Motley record released with Vince back “Generation swine” absolutly sucked. So,if the first one out with Dave doesn’t stand up we all must give time and just like Motley they will storm back. Some times it takes a lil more time to get that groove back. Remember all good things come to those who wait. I’ve been waiting 23yrs now what’s another 2,3,or even 4. They will hit another great stide.
December 15th, 2009 at 4:34 am
11 albums in 30 years. The last album was in 1998, 12 years ago, before that 1995(3 years more). The Roth reunion tour was 2 years ago. Stop holding your breath, it’s not good for you.
December 15th, 2009 at 6:02 am
TK, yeah, I also just read the Guitar World interview and Ed just came across as a complete sourpuss. Well, excuse me, but you just happen to be one of the most gifted guitarists to have ever lived, one of the most talented musicians even, you’re a multi millionaire, half the guitar playing world thinks the sun shines out of your arse (include me in that group), you changed rock forever, you have one of the most privileged existences known to mankind and then you spend half the interview bitching about your fans? Seriously? And if the interview is to be taken on face value then the chance of there ever being a new Van Halen album are slim to nil. Surprise, surprise though, if we don’t get an album it’s because we’re all ungrateful! Ooo look, Edward is laying the blame on someone else again…
December 15th, 2009 at 7:43 am
That top pic is the gayest pic of Ed I’ve ever seen. He looks like a lounge singer in the hallway at the Holiday Inn. Seriously, Ed is bored with the music business. It’s obvious. Don’t hold out for any new material or any renewed Van Halen to pick up where they left off. People who love what they do find ways to do it. Ed hasn’t put forth any great effort in a while. I’m not ridiculing him or judging him, it’s just a fact. He needs to admit it to himself and begin enjoying life.
December 15th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Darren from Staten Island, seriously? Go read the Guitar World interview. Edward comes within an inch of saying there will never be another album.
December 15th, 2009 at 8:08 am
If he were not to have a guitar strapped across his chest he is dressed like a waiter or valet.
December 15th, 2009 at 8:44 am
this interview is years old
And by “interview”, you mean “Van Halen’s last studio release”.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:21 am
ED HAS SAID NOTHING ABOUT RETIREMENT.my guess is that well get one or two new songs…and a farewell tour mostly based on the oldies again.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:46 am
C’mon Dave. Light a match under Ed.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:47 am
People have made a few comments here regarding the Best of Both World new tracks. My opinion is that the music on all 3 tracks was brilliant. I really love the cow bell in It’s About Time and everything. But to be honest Sammy’s heart wasn’t in the project and it showed big time. The lyrics were so bad that it was dreadful to listen to. Even the melodies that he came up with for It’s About Time were horrible. Up for Breakfast would have been up to par with the best VH songs if the lyrics were listenable. I love the rythmn strum from Ed towards the end. Sammy was great on all accounts for the Learning to See track. however the music sounded like a demo tape. LIke it was unfinished. And that was on Ed. I think they should use the music for those tracks and do something else with them with Roth. I wrote to Janie and suggested these songs they should consider reworking with the lyrics and melodies with Roth:
-Get Up
-All Fired Up
-Source of Infection
-Finish What You Started (original version with Roth on vocals)
-Spanked
-Pleasure Dome
-Amsterdamn
-Big Fat Money
-It’s About Time
-Up For Breakfast
This would make Ed happy since he had other ideas with the music. We have all heard the complaints. Ironically some of the best and fact-paced music is in these songs. Proof after I made the list that Roth shined on the songs that really jam. Sammy is more melodic and it shows if you make a list of songs that didn’t quite hit the mark
December 15th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Even with Ed’s comments in the Guitar World interview, I hold out hope for new material. There must be a new surge of creativity remaining, even if he doesn’t know it yet.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:51 am
I forgot that I added some VH3 songs to Janie as well:
-Dirty Water Dog (Roth could do something neat with this. Something like Ladies Night In Baffalo.)
-Ballot or the Bullet
-That’s Why I Love You (Really need some new lyrics here, but if you cross the music with something cool it would be a great pop song
December 15th, 2009 at 9:55 am
oops! Forgot Fire in the Hole. Would love to have them rework that song with Roth!!
December 15th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Yogi Berra just called: he says it’s over
December 15th, 2009 at 10:30 am
I heard all of this crap before about how “Eddie will NEVER tour again with Roth!” “They will never work again with Sammy!” Since both of those things DID happen I would suggest we wait to see if 2010. They guy just sobered up this year for heavens sake. Relax everyone….
December 15th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Hey all you wild and crazy VH fans (and pathetic haters too), just be thankful the Foot kicked us all in the ass in 09. You never know what 2010 will bring us, so, keep the shot glass full and the bong packed and enjoy the ride!!!!! Remember RIDE HARD OR STAY HOME!!!!!!!
December 15th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Karl, you said it, dude. AMEN! Quoted for TRUTH:
“Ed…you have one of the most privileged existences known to mankind and then you spend half the interview bitching about your fans? Seriously? And if the interview is to be taken on face value then the chance of there ever being a new Van Halen album are slim to nil. Surprise, surprise though, if we don’t get an album it’s because we’re all ungrateful! Ooo look, Edward is laying the blame on someone else again…”
December 15th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Ed bitched about his fans in the mag? What did he say specifically?
December 15th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Why do so many posts end up asking for new music? It gets so boring – we all want new tunes, it doesn’t need to be repeated at every opportunity. They aren’t reading this.
I think it would have been interesting to have Ed discuss these songs today. I think he would have a very different opinion about the Hagar material discussed here. For one thing, the Van Hagar material does sound like Sammy material more than it does Van Halen material. I think he would probably agree if he was asked today.
I would also suspect he would never pick “Right Now” or “When Its Love” as prime cuts today. The fact that he played no piano on the last tour kind of reveals he has abandoned that aspect of his music.
Does anyone remember Eddie beat Elton in 1984 for best pianist. What a joke that is!
December 15th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Yeah what exactly was said in this interview..? I haven’t found it yet
December 15th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
heres what he said (its rather long): You just do what you do. If anybody has a better way, show me how to please everyone all the time! For some reason people love to complain about everything. The internet has made it easy for people to do that. Shut the fuck up and get a life, or show me how good you can do it. people thinkthey know what I should do. a lot of fans are complaining that Van Halen should put out a new record now. Everybody is going “Eddie should do this Eddie should do that.” then he goes on about all this music he has but its different styles and maybe people in the band don’t like it blah blah blah. When people see Van Halen or black Sabbath it conjures up a certain image in their mind. If there is just one albino pubic hair outside of that image, they won’t accept it.and if we do put something out, the first thing people are going to say is that it isn;’t as good as the classics. Okay put it in your closet for 20 years and it will be classic. People forget that we put three new songs on best of both worlds in 2004. the reviews didn’t even mention these songs. when we played the new songs live people would just stand there. Nobody said anything about them. Why go to all the trouble, spend all that time in the studio and spend tons of your own money-there aren’t even any record labels anymore to put our shit out- to record a new album when people are only gonna complain about it or ignore it or somebody is going to download it from the internet for free? We might not record something new. There’s an element of satisfaction and joy to creating something new, but not when it comes soley at your own expense and when people are just going to shoot it down, no matter what you do. that was pretty much his rant that people are talking about, I personally just think he’s blowin off steam.
December 15th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Here’s the paragraph in question:
—— “You just do what you do. If anyone has a better way, show me how to please everyone all the time! For some reason people love to complain about everything. The internet has made it easy for people to do that. Shut the fuck up & get a life, or show me how good you can do it.
People think they know what I should do. A lot of fans are complaining that Van Halen should put out a new record now. Everybody is going, “Eddie should do this. Eddie should do that.” I’ve got all kinds of music that I could put out if I wanted to, but they don’t take into consideration the other members of the band. Maybe the singer doesn’t want to do that. I play classical piano, I play a little bit of cello. I write all kinds of different music that certain singers or certain musicians don’t want anything to do with. So what do I do? When people see Van Halen Or Black Sabbath, it conjures up a certain image in their minds. If there’s just one albino pubic hair outside of that image, they won’t accept it. And if we do put something out, the first thing people are going to say is that it isn’t as good as the classics. Okay. Put in your closet for 20 years and then it will be classic.
People forget that we put three new songs – “It’s About Time”, “Learning To See” and “up For Breakfast” – on Best Of Both Worlds in 2004. The reviews didn’t even mention those songs. When we played those songs live, people would just stand there. Nobody said anything about them. Why go to all the trouble, spend all of that time in the studio and spend tons of your own money – there aren’t even any record labels anymore to put our shit out- to record a new album when people are only going to complain about it or ignore it or somebody is going to download it from the internet for free? We might not record something new. There’s an element of satisfaction and joy to create something new, but not when it comes solely at your own expense and when people are just going to shoot it down no matter what you do.” ———
And so many people think he doesn’t read all your bitchy comments! It’d be a real shame if all you complainers end up being the reason why we don’t get a new album, then of course, you’ll all just complain even more…. Discuss….
December 15th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Man, is this what people pay to read these days?- guitarists talking about songs that are now 20 years old at the youngest? I’ve got a good idea- how about some new VH material coming out for a change! Wouldn’t that be nice!
December 15th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I think there is only one option for Van Halen to do at this point to really be huge again. Give the fans what they want! A new album with David Lee Roth. (A TRUE original line-up reunion with Mike included would be the coolest)
I realized Sammy’s time with VH was over when they released those new songs on “Best of Both Worlds” Those are the only VH songs I don’t really want to listen too. (Oh wait I forgot about the Cherone stuff, I always forget about that.)
It wasn’t the music, I thought Eddie’s guitar parts sounded really cool. It was the lyrics -She puts the butter on my biscuit first thing in the morning-the cream in my coffee….. Holy crap why didn’t somebody stop that from happening?!! If I could remove the vocals I would listen to that song.
I’ve always loved Sammy with VH but That’s when I thought to myself that Sammy has had a really good run with Van Halen, but he would be better off doing his own thing and VH would be better off giving Roth another run at it. It just wasn’t a natural, good fit anymore with Sammy.
I just think it would be Awesome for Van Halen and David Lee Roth to come full circle on the same wavelength at the same time and make a REAL VH III album. If they really want to erase something from the past make it VH III with Cherone, not MIKEY!
Having said that Eddie and Alex should do whatever they want. They don’t owe anybody anything.
More than anything I’m just grateful for all of the music and memories VH has given us. I’m more bummed out and frustrated that such talent is just sitting there, being wasted. I just wish Eddie and Alex were doing SOMETHING, anything with their talent, that they would share with the world.
But as long as Eddie’s attitude is where it is, I don’t think much is going to happen. He’s letting so much negativity bring him down.
You’re Eddie Fucking Van Halen for God’s sake. Do what you were put on this Earth do – make music, and screw anyone who doesn’t like it! Just do it for yourself because it makes you happy, who cares about the critics. DAMMIT!
December 15th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Swingin’ Sinner said:
“I personally just think he’s blowin off steam.”
Agreed. This from the same Ed who also said not long ago that working again with Dave would never happen. And he said the same thing about Sam prior to the 2004 tour.
He may have been in a sour mood when he made those comments. Moods change over time.
Van Halen can’t be done yet. There’s older guys out there still creating new material. If it’s good or better (it will be if attempted) we the fans will support it. The three new tunes in 2004 he spoke of weren’t that good. Ed was not exactly sober at the time, and it pulled down his own creativity and those around him at the time. If he tries it again, it can only get better with his improved lifestyle.
December 15th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Having “Me Wise Magic” on ANY ‘best of’ Van Halen list is idiotic at best! I understand everyone has their favorites……….but, gimme a break.
December 15th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
WOW…. is this real, I really love the fact that Eddie is now starting to bring back into the factor the Hagar years which is and always will be a part of Eddie, Van Halen and the fans life of the memories of which Van halen was bult upon, I hope he doesn’t exclude Gary and his effort. this would be a great interview for a DVD and or book!
Thanks for bring Van Halen back together as a whole.
December 15th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
I’m sorry, but it’s pretty damn obvious why those three songs werent mentioned.
They were garbage.
There was nothing exciting about any of those songs.
They made no lasting impression.
Even my friends that are sam fans think they sucked.
This is not just opinion here….it’s a fact.
No substance…and you can tell the lyrics were rushed.
No swan songs for sam there! That’s for damn sure!
And please sam fans…save the banter and admit the truth.
Those songs shadowed anything that sam did with VH before.
Sad but true…
As far ed is concerned, I really dont know what to think anymore. No I didnt get the issue…but from what I read above? The guy needs to chill the fuck out. I think ed is an amazing musician, but even I’m getting a little turned off with the “sourpuss” attitude. We as fans have every right to state our opinions and our feelings about the band we love.
Be it die hard dave fans….sam fans…or lovers of both era’s. Enough is enough…
Here’s a quote from “Zombieland” for ya ed!
“Nut up or shut up!”
December 15th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
To me, alot of this does not sound like Ed talking at all. Reads like there was alot of editing done. Ed is usually cussing all the time in his interviews.
December 15th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Sounds like he has been on this site! Ed, release a live DLR era cd along with new material! People interested in new VH material will be pleased and people who are in the DLR camp will be happy with a live album circa 1983. You cannot lose.
December 15th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Steve, why the fuck would Roth touch those songs? Especially VH3 material. Finish What Ya Started was, is and always will be a Sammy song…in fact, those songs are all really well suited to their respective singers and there is no way Eddie would proposition Roth with a remake of “Amsterdam”. Plus, the riff for “Dirty Water Dog” was already used on the 5150 b-side “I want some action” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk2oDOThZD4) and on Steve Lukather’s “Twist the Knife”, which Eddie played bass on (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdDmF8P-M90)
Lets just hope a new year brings a new oppertunity for this band.
December 15th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
The tone has certainly changed at the VH camp hasn’t it. I honestly think that Ed is frustrated with himself, the band’s situation, regrets and he simply is giving up. The only thing that upsets me is if this is all a charade just to be relevant for the sake of marketing EVH gear? If this was an attempt to slap fans hands as to say “back off” it won’t work. The fans hands do not need to be slapped. Fans are just tired of waiting for promises of new stuff undelivered. That is like saying, I’ll call you” and the call never comes. You are better off not saying anything to the media and fans. “We are unsure what the future holds for VH, too many things that need to be ironed out” would suffice. If you leave it at that no one has a problem. The issue is a lot of fans are starting to think that perhaps it was all part of the marketing plan for the EVH line with no intentions of doing anything new musically.
Put it this way, Ed has sunk money in and Fender has invested in his EVH line. Perhaps there is concern if the truth comes out that Dave (who has a gag order, will not talk)isn’t working out, Ed can’t write up to snuff, VH has been done for a while, people will forget about VH to a degree where the EVH line suffers.
You cannot blame fans for wanting music? You cannot allow critics to dictate whether you release new music? If your a musician you always create. Why is this an obstacle now? Is Ed secretly unable to play like he used to? Is he protecting the image? This just doesn’t sound like Ed. He should never feel like a monkey who has to play on cue. But he should never say “I’ll be right back if he doesn’t really mean it as well.
As far as I am concerned, they have a right to retire, not feel obligated to release new material. I just can’t see why it is accepted to go out on nostalgic tours and charge high priced tickets, sell all kinds of signature gear, shoes, yet say VH will not be making new music because it is not worth it. It is all about the music. If it ain’t worth it stop doing interviews, everyone knows how Eruption came to be. No one wants to buy a magazine and read about disdain towards the fans.
I am calling it like it is. No hating, just trying to avoid getting disappointed anymore. You can remain loyal and true as a fan without becoming a tool.
December 15th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Agreed– It truly is all about the music. I mean if VH puts out new stuff, damn straight I will support it..they deserve it after all the incredible classics they have created..
All this talk from Ed scares me because not EVERY VH fan is bitter and angry…a lot of us are just sitting back waiting for a tour. I personally, have been waiting since the moment I left the concert to hear that they are going on tour again..its been awhile. I support Ed in whatever he chooses..I just wish he could see how many of us respect him and want what is best…all this negativity!! So anti-rock n roll!! Lol:)
Has anyone heard anything from Dave..?
December 15th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
WHAT? Van Halen news? I thought this was a Chicken Shit site? LOL!!!
December 15th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Don’t you guys remember the post where Ed said he will record a new record with Roth? That was maybe a month ago? WTF happened?
December 15th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I really dont think we are going to get a VH album this year. Perhaps in 2-3 years at best. I hope I am wrong.
December 15th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Maybe Ed doesn’t want to record and tour anymore. He’s married, struggled with his demons, and the good stuff (musically) may be behind him. What’s so wrong with that? Maybe he could move to production and trying to rebuild a r-n-r culture that’s largely defunct.
December 15th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
I have read the Guitar World interview and it’s basically King Eddie letting of some steam. In fact I’ll go as far as he’s pissed off at how the music biz has deteriorated and become extinct! He’s just letting all of us know how pathetic the music biz has become and that it’s so hard for up coming bands to achieve the levels of success that Van Halen and others have.
Gene Simmons expressed the same concerns and guess what? He got criticise the same as Eddie just did.
Lets face it, if you we’re an up coming band and had dreams of making albums and touring the world, there is no one there to help you that is unless your a female that looks like a porn star, preforms semi naked in the video clips, has a drug/booze problem, attends rehab, doesn’t know whether their gay or straight (don’t want to offend the gay crowd for fear of career downfall), make a controversy comment/video clip, get arrested, have your mug shot taken etc, etc. By the way have I mentioned anything about the music in all that rabble? You know why? It’s not the music biz anymore, it’s the CELEBRITY BIZ!!
If Van Halen do release an album I’m with Eddie, I want something completely different, yeah sure there will be the rocker tunes as Van Halen only know best, but I want to hear the Mozart of the times King Edward completely come full circle and give Van Halen the classical touch that would be amazing to hear. I don’t give a stuff about the hits, I want the personal music, the noodling, experimental King Eddie that he’s being frustrated in the past of always putting on the shelve in 5150.
King Eddie is a tortured genius, always being told by others how things should be done. I have more respect for him today then I’ve ever had in the past!! He’s as honest and truthful with himself and the world of Van Halen. He is so far ahead of things that it would take a lifetime to catch up with him. eg. Watch the clip of Eddie on youtube “Eddie behaves bad at NAMM” and you’ll be amazed at the little gems he played, it is out of this world, mindblowing!!. You think Eruption was great?!! Watching that clip gave the most close up and inside experience of being in the mind of the greatest guitarist of our time!! If you watch it for the negativity (which is what naysayers do!) then you’ll completely miss the genius talents of King Eddie!!
The truth hurts for some, but everything will be the better for it. Eddie is a good man and good always overcomes evil.
December 15th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
To the people who don’t like to wait:
Van Halen will have a 2010 album. It’s not even 2010 yet and people are writing it off. WTF?
There is no release date but it should be somewhere between summer and fall 2010, which will be after the tour starts. Ed has just recently been able to resume full activity following the hand surgery. The whole plan is to make sure there is no issue with his hand before moving forward so there isn’t another layoff like during the last tour. As long as no setbacks, things should pick up in the next few months.
December 15th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
Heck yeah! Ed’s guest appearance on network TV, the VH video game, Wolfie being the “future of Van Halen”… There will be more Van Halen one way or another!
December 16th, 2009 at 3:22 am
CHECK OUT THE HEADSTOCK IN THE CRADLE WILL ROCK “1980″ PHOTO
December 16th, 2009 at 6:30 am
Little Jon on the clip “Eddie behaves bad at NAMM”, he was behaving bad. Honestly he was not focused at all, and appeared to be on something. Yes, there were spots in that performance that were interesting but it gets overshadowed because it was more of a circus than musical performace.
I wish him all the best. Honestly the only reason I come on here is in hopes of something new from the VH boys.
December 16th, 2009 at 7:03 am
You know I don’t think the no one is there for bands business pertains. Look at Acca Dacca. AC/DC. Man they have given the Rock N Roll fans what they want. Consistently. I have every one of their CDs including rare CDs and rare albums. I also got Backtracks the $200 boxed set with 3 Cds and 2 DVDs. Man. That band gives us what they want. No Sally downers in that band. They just keep kicking ass and giving us mind numbing soul shaking feel it in your bones Rock n Roll. And I have no complaints what so ever about them. Ever feel the thunder of an AC/DC concert? They really know how to market toward their fan base. Throughout my years of being an AC/DC fan I’ve never been disappointed. I’ve never walked away from them. They know how to treat their fans. Sure there have been albums that weren’t my favorites but they always keep Rock n Roll alive and badass. I’m happy for Eddie I wish him the best. I just hope they give us what AC/DC has given us. And when they do they’ll rip a whole in the universe. And rappers will die by the second and Sunset Strip will shine again. Until then I’ll be shouting Angus!!! Angus!!! Angus!!!!! Hail hail Rock n Roll.
December 16th, 2009 at 8:32 am
I met two of these Rock stars at an UN-named amusement park a while back…This Rock Star’ and his bro are kind of sour pusses …and that’s cool,to each his own…even though Ed is being bitter and negative he is just stating the truth about the industry and the state of things in Rock music today and it’s a little rock n roll to be angry ….But as far as shutting the fuck up?…Fuck yourself Ed! Waah Waah fucking Waah…I’m a millionaire Rock star,People may not like my music,I’ll have to use some of my millions to make an overproduced CD with 3 new songs 8 remakes and two bullshit instrumentals…..That’s Rock n Roll and people who can’t pay their mortgages will buy it and see your concerts and the world keeps turning.
December 16th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Did it occur to anyone that he’s probably sick of answering the same questions over and over? He’s also probably just discovering how he feels about a lot of things and is struggling with his new sober self. Its got to be tough.
But more importantly, things Eddie says in interviews have to be taken with a big grain of salt. He doesn’t like doing interviews, and he isn’t too fond of being candid. He’s just as likely to say something off the cuff thats totally b.s. as he is to answer factually.
But he’s mistaken if he thinks a Roth Van Halen CD wouldn’t rock the charts – it would. The three new songs with Sammy didn’t do anything because Sammy’s stay with Van Halen had run out of gas years ago. The temptation of the 96 Roth reunion damaged the Van Halen franchise by not delivering Roth, so anything they did afterwards got ignored. Plus Van Halen III sucked, as does Gary Cherone. Basically, the Hagar tour was strike three. (Aborted Roth reunion, VH III, Sammy returns).
I think Van Halen should do another Diver Down – a few new tracks and a bunch of covers. It would bring Van Halen back, and take the pressure off Eddie as he rebuilds his life. And I think they should include Humans Being, Slam Dunk and a few other Roth tracks so that they can broaden the tour show. Fans would devour Eddie tackling some of the Roth tunes.
December 16th, 2009 at 9:06 am
Ed doesn’t owe me a thing; he’s already written a great soundtrack to my life. Anything more would just be a bonus. I always thought Ed played the music for himself and not the fans so I’m surprised he sounds so bitter at those who challenge his lack of production (or his assumed criticizing of any future effort).
btw, who knew Ed played cello? Not a big surprise if you think about it so maybe Yo Yo Ma will do a guest duelling-cello spot on a yet-to-be-mentioned release?
MA=VH
December 16th, 2009 at 9:10 am
HI RICH!,
I can prove you wrong. Can’t Get This Stuff No more was a Sammy song called “The Backdoor Shuffle” that was completed. Ed gave the song to Dave and they redid the lyrics and part of the melody. Sammy got upset and was cut a royalty check because the melody was the same. That is just one example.
I don’t think Ed should proposition Dave with Amsterdamn for example. I think they should take the music and do whatever it was that Ed had in mind originally. Haven’t you read the Balance interviews? Ed clearly did not like the direction that Sammy took that song. So, what I am saying is that this is chance for Ed to right some of the musical frustrations he had with Sammy
December 16th, 2009 at 9:36 am
topjimmy77 said: “And so many people think he doesn’t read all your bitchy comments! It’d be a real shame if all you complainers end up being the reason why we don’t get a new album, then of course, you’ll all just complain even more…. Discuss….” So, we should just praise everything he does, so he thinks fans want more of the same thing (meaning no new music but lots of overpriced guitars ane gear)? Nice.
December 16th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Eddie always said he was a musician and that he would make music ’till the day he died. THAT Eddie wouldn’t have cared if people were downloading his music for free because he always said, “What’s wrong with pop? That means popular. I want my music to be popular”. Now, he’s getting upset that people are critiquing his music like he used to critique Boston, Journey, Fleetwood Mac, etc., and he’s complaining that he won’t get paid to make music? What would Jan Van Halen say to that, R.I.P.?
December 16th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Atomic Pete-I watched that bootleg youtube video of “Girl Gone Bad” from 1984. It kind of makes you forget about some of the B.S. that’s goin on. Eddie has left a legacy of Rock an Roll at Bad Ass proportions and on a legendary level. Seriously when he’s gone, he’s going to be revered as a true legend. Just like Hendrix, Vaughn, Clapton, etc. There is no reason he should be upset about anything to do with his music or how it’s been received by people. He should just do his thing and it will be appreciated by tons and tons of people for years and years to come. I wish he saw it like that.
December 16th, 2009 at 10:18 am
TheTruthHurts…
Thank you for pegging the nail on the head. The guy is greedy. He does it for the money. He should be so happy to have as many fans as he does, afterall, he’s been doing the same 3 guitar licks for the past 20 years.
December 16th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Wow, after reading the posts about Ed’s interview I have a feeling that everytime he opens his mouth the hole gets deeper and deeper. Mike Anthony stated it best that Ed is just a very unhappy and bitter man that complains about everything. This is one miserable person. During the 2004 album launch he stated regarding the new songs: ” I think it’s the best music we have ever done, sonically, musically everything” So, this would explain why he is lost over the poor reception the songs received and doesn’t want to go through that again. Not to mention VH3 had the same poor review and reception. Now that I have read the interview everything finally makes sense to me for the first time.
December 16th, 2009 at 10:44 am
In the last few years Ed sobered up, toured with Dave and Wolf, and got remarried. He seems to be granting the use of material (even if dated – above) for publications. I view those things as positives. Come on – we should care about the guy for cryin out loud! He’s getting used to a new way of life, and how music translates here remains to be seen. I’ll bet Wolf and Janie will at least be positive motivators to some sort of re-emergence in the studio.
I’m always amazed at the people that just get on here to whine. If you’ve got something wedged that far up, why even get on here every day? Instead of crying, go pick up your own guitar. I think Ed even said once himself – you PLAY music, you dont work music.
I was a bit surpirsed at Ed’s words in the latest interview too. But imagine if you were Ed/Al/Wolf/Dave and got here to read the comments. I probably won’t run off to the studio with a smile on my face.
*** You people who discredit the operators of this site and the news it posts are the worst. Seriosuly get a life. ***
December 16th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Little John
Like it or not, what you are describing is VH3. I personally love it because it is so progressive musically. I listen to it often. It is much different than anything he has every done. He was pissed it was not well received. Obviously, many fans did not like it. The guitar playing, technically speaking, is out of this world.
December 16th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Hi Rickievanwhalen,
I do kind of agree with you. The vocals were so badly produced though that is very harsh to ears throughout. But I do still enjoy it. You know, really what would work for Ed is to do a VH record the way everyone pictures VH as a band and then do solo material that can be anything he wants it to be. Either that or forget VH and just do material under a different moniker. People can except something different if it IS something different officially. They just don’t want the VH band status stained. That’s all there is to it…
December 16th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
VH3 blows.
December 16th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Steve, your right. With a decent vocal VH3 might have been a decent album because there’s plenty of good guitar on there. Bloody awful vocal, sounded as if Gary tied his tie too tight before going into the studio.
December 16th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
How does someone so revered have such self-esteem issues? He’s afraid of negative reviews but masks it in disdain for the fans. Bad approach I feel.
December 16th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Something to think about:
I totally understand what Ed is saying. He is basically not confident enough in his material to put money into making a new album if it will tank in VH standards. You KNOW when you have something special, and he knows he doesn’t at this time. He has a lot of pressure to produce music, but it has always been that way. The only difference is that VH is under the microscope more than ever.
He is also battling some major hand surgery and that could be holding him back as well. The man has a huge legacy that even he is unwilling to tarnish at this point. He also has a EVH product line to market and he has to protect that investment.
So basically, Ed is buying time while knowing that when he says, they will be rehearsing or making new music, he knows that is what people want to hear. In reality he is doing hand therapy and getting back to playing shape while coming up with riffs the band will accept. It is all probably very frustrating for him.
That is the bottom line folks, so take VH with a grain of salt until there is something official announced. I think Dave has a gag order so he doesn’t accidentally say something that conflicts with how Eddie wants to handle the situation. There is nothing going on at VH camp right now. So don’t even say a new album, there is no proof and Ed would say it, but he hasn’t. You can tell when a band is truly working on an album. He is basically still in the writing process and struggling at that. When he and the band thinks they have something, they will financially back it up and put something out.
I don’t think Ed is being a sourpuss, I think he is frustrated with his situation and VH itself. He will never let you know it. We all want to see VH rise again and finish strong, but it may not happen. We all have to be okay with that and remember the days when VH was rocking the world.
The only REAL issue we are dealing with is VH popping in and out of the scene mainly to market his EVH product line. You know if that stuff didn’t exist in this situation, you wouldn’t even hear from Ed. We read the interviews, get all excited when he is asked if he is writing or planning to do anything and he just says “yeah”. He has to, he is not gonna say here check out my new Wolfgang and no we are not doing anything right now. It is better just to say, yeah I am messing around with some stuff. So we take his word literally that there will be something on the horizon and time passes by, fans start to say “well, wtf?”. It’s all becoming a disaster due to the years of doing this and it is finally coming to a head. Ed is basically starting to be upfront and say, there probably won’t be any new music from VH. That is something that may have been in his mind for the past 11 years.
So take all of this under consideration and let’s all move on from complaining about our disappointments. It is all getting old. When Ed says something in the future, we should just say “yeah, we heard that before, I will believe it when I see it”. Don’t get excited until it is on their official site instead of his sneaker ad. Until then, pop in your favorite VH album and remember the good times.
December 16th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
VHIII, musically, was actually pretty good. Overall there were two major problems:
1. Gary Cherone. Now, Gary seems like a nice guy, but he was all wrong for Van Halen. His vocals sounded like a karoake-imitation of Hagar. His band Extreme never lived up to its potential. They just weren’t cool, and you can’t have a lead singer in Van Halen who isn’t cool! In concert, Cherone pranced all around the stage and looked completely out-of-place.
2. “How Many Say I.” This song totally SUCKED!! It’s not even a song, it’s a guitar hero playing the piano and singing (off-key) about God-knows-what. Is there a worse way to to end a cd?!
Again, these were Eddie’s choices. I wish Alex would help Eddie by telling him that not everything he does is golden. Alex, you can make a difference!! Guide your brother in his choices and save VH for Eddie’s sake, for your sake, for our sake!!
Help us Alex Van Halen, you’re our only hope!
December 16th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Panama Red …
It’s like he IS already gone, and that’s unfortunate. What a waste.
December 16th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Gene Simmons last year said that Kiss will never release new albums, because nowadays is no longer a good business.Then Paul Stanley came back wanting to make music and touring, and since the two of them are true friends now we have a new album from Kiss. Eddie can think, say and do what he wants, but the facts speak for themselves, 12 years since the last studio album, 6 years from 3 songs that are certainly not masterpieces, to say nothing of the sort of soundtrack,and now he has the courage to complain to us fans! Begins to get bored.!
December 16th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
The Full Bug,
I understand what you are saying except for: “You KNOW when you have something special, and he knows he doesn’t at this time. ” I didn’t get that vibe at all. I think what he is saying is that he has very special material but others won’t agree with him which is different. VH3 was the most excited Eddie has ever been that I can remember and it tanked. No one liked it yet he had the most to do with it than any other. This is part of his depression. If you read his comments during VH3 it was all or nothing and “the most important record we have ever made” He finally got his way musically and it tanked. that’s a lot for a person to except and the reason why nothing new is released. Everything even the Best of Vol.01 with Dave was critized as not up to full VH standards
December 16th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Steve,
I understand, My point is he is frustrated that he either cannot come up with anything the rest of the band or a record company would accept. I am sure he has a load of material, but it in his words very different. Something special is meant towards matching up with the “VH” sound. I don’t want to argue over speculation, but it is obvious the guy is frustrated and it is sad to see.
December 16th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
One thing I want to add is going back, all his innovation was based on experimentation. The stories about sneaking back to the studio to do what he wanted on Fair Warning only to have the band say, “that was great, when did you do that”? To the keyboards on Jump, where DLR was against it, but it became a #1 hit. The guy deserves respect because he is always pushing boundaries. I just fear that the delay is either his hand is keeping him from playing up to snuff OR he is having a hard time coming up with acceptable tunes. Perhaps worse. Both. He could always release a solo album with all this “special” material not applicable to VH. But then again he sees VH as his solo band.
December 16th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
i think Eddie is heading the same way that Robert Plant has headed, retiring from the heavy stuff and enjouing his life with his new wife and new life. He is all through with rock and roll, which almost killed him. Let the guy retire in peace.
And to anyone who thinks the last 3 songs Van Halen did “Up For Breakfast ” “It’s About Time” or “Learn To See” weren’t good????
Those were great, if only Eddie was sober and they were produce by a producer instead of a Drugged out and Drunk Eddie Van Halen.
Those songs ROCKED even if Eddie screwed them up, and if he was sober, those songs would have been on Van Halen’s next album not 3 songs on a GH’s.
December 16th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Oh this is all so draining. Just release a live DLR era cd until your hand is well. Full Bug you are a good VH fan but your argument is all speculation. VH really has bad timing. There is a resurgance with VH and they are missing the boat. Release something.
December 16th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
thank god chickenfoot does stuff
AND respects their fans!
December 16th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Bo Sox,
You are right, all speculation, tired of speculating. It doesn’t matter at this point. Just trying to encourage the VH Nation to just let this all go and move on. VH is a band, music, until then the best thing to do is live your life and not hinge on every word. It’s been 11 years since VH3. You are right though, release something like a dvd of some sort as opposed to just pushing gear and shoes. They have tons of old interesting footage.
December 16th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Bo Sox you are exactly right…I can’t believe they are letting this resurgance pass them by.
December 16th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
live disc now!
1978 show
1984 show or 2008 show!
December 16th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
The problem is with Eddie Van Halen. Van Halen made a couple really awesome albums. But, for some reason or another, Eddie Van Halen thought he was the band. Don’t get me wrong, he was a big part of it. But my favorite member of Van Halen isn’t even Eddie, it’s David Lee Roth. I always thought he was the soul of Van Halen. And I think I was right, because one listen through VHIII proves that. Say what you want about DLR, but his blues-drenched vocals made Van Halen the band it was. And he had the attitude. Without him, Van Halen writes songs like “How Many Say I” and “Can’t Stop Loving You”. With him, they write songs like “Everybody Wants Some” and they do awesome covers too, like “Ice Cream Man”. Honestly, Eddie Van Halen is taking a lot of credit where he does not deserve it. He is claiming how he and Alex are Van Halen. I don’t think so Eddie.
December 16th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Guys, the music scene has changed considerably in the past 10 years and believe me, it’s for the worst.
Even if you’re a talented musician it doesnt matter cause the world is focused on : THE NEXT AMERICAN IDOL!!!!
Gimmie a fuckin’ break! You know what killed music?
The internet and reality tv! Seriously!
Both constantly promote: HOW TO BECOME A STAR OVERNIGHT!
Not knowing that it has NOTHING to do with REAL talent!
It’s tough living in this shitty era of no one to look up to and no one making an impact musically. I dont want to hear about fuckin’ U2 eiether! They’re another group that can fuck off! Guys I’m sorry but I’m having one of those days and I hate what the music buisness has become and music itself. This is what I mean by missing the old days~!
Back in the 80′s a chick lookin like miley cyrus would be the kind of “underage” girl you’d find backstage at a VH concert not claiming to be a “rock star”!
So pathetic….
December 16th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
ryan, i agree with you that david lee roth was a huge part of van halen’s greatness but eddie is the heart and soul of the band. it’s cool if your favorite member is DLR but think of it like this: van halen is a four piece band, they proved they could survive without dave, sammy or michael and they probably could go on if alex left but can you honestly say they would be VAN HALEN if it was dave, wolfie, alex and another guitarist and not eddie van halen?
December 16th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
true man
December 16th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Hi The Full Bug
Yes that makes more sense when you explain it that way and I agree with you. Unfortunately I am probably correct when I say that the best music to come out of 5150 will be after Eddie has passed on and someone goes through his tapes. In that moment we will truly understand his musical genious
December 16th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I keep reading these posts and I get closer and closer to jumping off that bridge.
COME ON ED – SAVE ME MAN!
Meanwhile – pass the paxil dudes.
December 16th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
He and Alex ARE Van Halen because they have always been there and people have always wanted to see them! He’s not taking credit where he does not deserve it…he would’ve got famous one way or another, his guitar playing skills are unmatched and throughout Van Halen’s career he has showed only ingenuity and inspiration, taking the band to new heights. VH3 sold poorly but it was still a great album – a Gold record is nothing to be ashamed of.
Eddie pretty much is Van Halen. They’ve shown that you can have any singer they like fronting them (liked or not), any bassist playing for them (old or not), but at the end of the day, Van Halen is not Van Halen without Edward. That, I must say, is the end of it. I think it was the combination of Roth’s flamboyance with the awesome licks Eddie was putting out that put this band forward…plus they worked the circuit hard to get that record label. Nothing comes easy and it don’t come for free – Eddie deserves everything that he has gained.
I’m not usually one for kissing Eddie’s ass but he is my guitar hero, influences my playing…and I can’t have somebody saying that he took credit where it wasn’t due.
December 16th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
I now think that DLR is very underated and underappreciated in terms of being a rudder for the direction of the band. He knew what the soul of VH was and fought to keep it on track. He saw what the VH brand was and tried to protect it by keeping it hard, avoiding (trying to) keyboards, and maintaining the bands image, etc.
December 16th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
I understand the frustration of being a Van Halen fan. When Van Halen are on, they take you to a level that is so high that nothing can compare. It’s like a drug. We all want more of it. I love every shred of music Van Halen has given us, well I don’t love all of VHIII but I like most of it NOW. I remember the pure sensation of Balance. Man it was life changing!!! I used to blast that cd and it was so powerful. Still is! It was such a high and amazing time. And then Sammy was fired. Talk about a shattered heart. Your favorite band, who you pledged undying love and loyality just broke your heart. I was so very pissed and done. Then came and went the promise of Dave. I could have regained trust and loved it with Dave back. Then the promise came and went. I turned off MTV when VHIII news came on with Gary and the new album. I turned the radio station when I heard the new music. I was done. I turned my back to the sun and the darkness had come. I didn’t even hear about the 2004 Reunion with Sammy or the Best of Both Worlds cd until 2007. I guess I lost interest and with all the broken promises over the years and inactivity when the name Van Halen came up, I was like yeah I remember them. Some good times. Some very good times. Like you all say the soundtrack of my life. Their songs make us feel so much. Takes us higher and higher, straight up we’ll climb. Reach for the golden ring, reach for the sky!!!! Man Van Halen rule. I regret turning my back, but I felt as if they turned their back on the fans. And years later hearing what really went down. I feel bad for Eddie and his drinking. I thank God he’s alive and well. I hope his health mentally and physically are 100 percent and get better all the time. I hope Eddie lives to be 300 years old and I never have to hear of his passing. I became interested again when I heard they were going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Then only Sammy and Mike showed up. It was disappointing that Ed, Dave, and Alex didn’t show. And to hear of the Van Halen reunion with Dave I was stoked man. I was a number 1 Van Halen fan again. I saw two shows with Dave and I was hooked man!!!! Hooked!!! Damn that was that pure power again. Seeing Eddie up there and Dave wow!!!! That was living again!!!! The earth once again was revolving around the sun again!!! The sun shined!!!! Life was golden again. Van Halen is back!!!! I have watched the press release with Dave and Van Halen about the reunion tour and Dave controlled the media again. These were good times!!!! The promise of a new album, and I do understand the set backs. But man, I want some more. I guess for drug addicts they just want more and more and more. I don’t want drugs I do want more Van Halen!!! I freaking love Van Halen!!!! So powerful. There are other great bands out there but none with the raw power of Eddie and the boys!!! As you know with being a recovering alcoholic things just don’t change overnight. He’s been drinking since he was 12. Now all of the sudden he doesn’t have alcohol to mask his pain or feelings. He has to get used to feeling. How to deal with things that usually you have always had alcohol to cover up things. Now he’s learning to live again, learning to deal without his crutch. Now he has all these feelings and it’s hard learning to cope when the past 50 years were kinda a blur. You have to face things head on. So I do realize it will take him some time to bounce back and be fully functional. Learning to deal with criticism. That’s a kick in the pants. I for one loved the new tracks on Best of Both Worlds. I just can’t learn to be patient, I know I should but man this band excites me. Keeps me hanging on waiting for more. More news. More songs. Because the feeling of getting more takes us all beyond our normally shitty lives working for companies we hate and compromise our souls just to earn a shitty living and all we really want in life is more Van Halen. The one thing that matters. Don’t get me wrong here, I do what I do because I love my family, my kids, ect. But the one thing that keeps me happy and keeps me going is Van Halens kick ass music!! You know it brings out that 16 year old kid that had no worries in the world and had the world and loved every second of life. Because of that soundtrack. Of course we’re frustrated. I guess we have no right to be, but Eddie Van Halen if you are listening, and Dave as well. We live through your amazing genious. You music inspires us to enjoy life and to be wild crazy and young. It’s keeps us going. That’s why people are frustrated. We are all carrying the Van Halen flag and are routing for our team of kick ass Rock and Roll. You changed music and when you come back Rock and Roll lives again. The rest of the shit just melts man. Like stepping in to the steam room at the gym you know? Sometimes we’re impatient and none of us know what it’s like to make such awesome sounds and we don’t understand the pressures involved.
But remember, “COME ON EDDIE, CLOSE YOUR EYES, LET GO, THIS COULD BE THE VERY THING WE DREAMED!!! IT’S NOT WORK THAT MAKES IT WORK, LET THE MAGIG DO THE WORK FOR YOU”
We love you Eddie. We support you!!!!!
December 16th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Duck.
You’re right about U2. It’s been all downhill since “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, “New Years Day”… They really do suck now.
New bands that might be worth a listen are Buckcherry, Kings of Leon, Joe Lewis & the Honeybears.
You miss the 80′s. So do I. I also miss the 60′s & 70′s…Buffalo Springfield, Doors, Hendrix, Cream (2005 reunion was cool), Byrds, Hollies (glad CSN&Y are still around sometimes.) It’s great Chickenfoot is around. Rock & Roll needs Van Halen again. It would be good for the Universe.
December 16th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Steve,
There is no doubt quality stuff on tapes piled high in the studio.
December 16th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
“Back in the 80s a chick lookin’ like Miley Cyrus would be the kind of ‘underage’ girl you’d find backstage at a VH concert and not claiming to be a rock star”
Dirty Duck, I kind of love you for that….
Although I like to think VH would’ve had better taste…;) And yes, I completely agree that the internet and reality tv have killed the music industry. It is pathtic. I just read an interview with The Cult’s Ian Astbury where he said the reason The Cult wouldn’t record any longer was because the CD was a dead art from. Sadness.
December 16th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Damn, Rick Pride. No one could ever say you’re not a true Van Halen fan. That was a heartfelt post.
December 16th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
God bless you Rick Pride! And God bless Van Halen!!
When Eddie speaks the truth, others embrace it yet others run & hide (Sammy & Mike!) Eddie said “I stopped bullshitting myself” Get ready!! An Eruption is about to explode!!!
December 17th, 2009 at 12:57 am
Rick Pride– I hope Eddie reads that..you are spot on. Van Halen is the greatest band…they changed everything for me. It excites me that Eddie is getting healthy and looks so fantastic and I can wait for whatever they are gonna offer us…cause I know it is going to be bangin!!!!
The 07-08 tour blew my mind and I can’t wait for another. But until then I will be content knowing Ed has recovered and is finally living! He has had a great year and I am way proud of him!!!
VH for life man…there is no band out there like them..straight up, there just ISNT.
December 17th, 2009 at 4:46 am
ed is lucky to be alive but i still blame most of the shit on him.
he needs to move on and stop blaming every fricking one less and be man
i am happy of course the cat is still with us.
be no recovery until he lets go his hatred of sam and mike.
before it was dave.. same deal too.
December 17th, 2009 at 4:48 am
dave built vh for sure.
but ed is a sound you never find anywhere else
this was the case on the chickenfoot disc
it just sounds better surfing eds waves
look sam held the fort down too but dlr was a master
perhaps the only person better at his craft i can think of was robert plant
the man was the rock star. period.
December 17th, 2009 at 6:37 am
I agree with you Ryan. DLR was the heart and soul. I also think that line-up kept everyone in check. What I mean, they all had to sacrifice for what they thought was ideal for a song/album. Dave was outrageous and over the top but not chezzy, which that he became during his solo career. Eddie said on Fair Warning that he was starting to do it his way, because he stayed up all night and re-recorded his parts etc. I think that environment made Eddie work hard and in the end he executed some of his best work. Because his work during the Sammy years were not nearly as innovative, just my opinion (resting on your laurels era). I think Ed needs to be restrained to some degree; too much power to one member of a group is not good.
Oh Halenhagar: “And to anyone who thinks the last 3 songs Van Halen did “Up For Breakfast ” “It’s About Time” or “Learn To See” weren’t good????”
Chalks me up as one of the people who think those 3 songs are extremely sub-par VH. To be honest I thought they sucked.
December 17th, 2009 at 7:05 am
Rick Pride, great writing from a great fan, I also was very dissapointed when the let Sammy Hagar go and FIRED him, what a shame, rock and roll died in 1996 just like it had died in 1985 when Diamond Dave thought he was better than Van Halen and LEFT the band.
Oh and Bo Sox, your name is bad as the team, I’m a Yankees fan and just like Van halen with Hagar was better than with Roth, the Yankees are better than the Red Sox. And i also really thought the 3 songs of the GH cd “Up For Breakfast ” “It’s About Time” or “Learn To See” were killer and with “Humans Being” and “Cross Over” they would have made another #1 Van Halen album with Sammy Hagar.
December 17th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Rick Pride:
Man I thought my love for VH was longwinded!
Keep the VH flag held high my man!
Dooley:
What a rant huh!? Horrible day yesterday and just lettin’ off some steam!
I agree with you %100! U2 were great back In their hayday.
I stopped listening after the release of “U2:Rattle and Hum”
That to me was their swan song (even if it was a live album) U2 now is in the same catagory as fuckin’ pearl jam! I dont like my rock political man. At least not the whole aspect. I love classic rock and rock music in general for the way it makes me feel. How it makes me forget about the shitty things that go on as we live and breathe in this world.
I dont want to be depressed. I mean shit…I’ll listen to “Dust in the wind” or “Dream On” and those songs STILL make an impact. Now everything sounds the same. Produced the same. No substance. Posers galore! Shit, you thought the 80′s were bad? This is it! Worse then ever! Makes you wonder what happend to rock and roll and how it got so bad. You look back at the 70′s and man were those cats the coolest.
Zepplin, The Stones, Queen, Bowie, Aerosmith, The Who, Springsteen, The Runaways, Etc Etc! It was exploding all over the place…talent was everywhere and the strips were rockin! It was a glorious time…
I do like buckcherry though. They have a good sound.
The singer always reminded me of steven tyler. Not his voice, the way he looks. But whatever. That’s irrevelent right? It just sucks that they’re are only a handfull of bands out there to get into and the rest is just hip hop garbage. Funny part is that I love old school hip hop. RUN D.M.C / Beastie Boys / De La Soul / House Of Pain / Cypress Hill / …man I could go on! Even rap has become a shadow of what it once was! The new generations just dont do their homework and if they do its sloppy. History for all the wrong reasons!
Personally I think VH might be over. I’m not proud to make that statement…it hurts to say it…but it is what it is.
Eddie just doesnt seem into it like he did back in the day. Call it age….life…or just looking for a different path to explore…change is enevitable. But ed has to realize that it’s not the 80′s or 90′s anymore and make this a challenge….a goal. Release something that will make the masses rejoice. To get our minds off reality TV and american idol spinoff’s. To get us back into WANTING TO BUY THE CD (not download it)…to open it…and stare at pictures in the insert. To read every inch of writing in the booklet…to feel we are there with the band. Just like back in the day when I’d sit on the floor for hours looking through old double rock albums and wanting to BE those guys.
So eddie I say this: Many here and in this crazy world still love ya man. We just want one more VH album to erase MACH 3 from our minds and become the mighty VH once again. If not then life goes on and the memory of VH will live on….forever.
If not, I’m sure by the time we’re in our 70′s they’ll be a VH stamp we’ll be able to purchase and lick it and taste the bitterness. Cause that’s what this has come down to when it should be the opposite.
December 17th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Yeah, guys, I respect Eddie a lot. But I was really upset because I didn’t hear that comment he put out until a couple days ago. I just can’t believe he would say that. He kept promising something new, and then all of the sudden it’s like he changes his mind. I know it doesn’t mean much to him, but for somebody who has all the albums it’s a downer. And the fact that he wouldn’t record it because of somebody downloading it for free? I know this is gonna spark some controversy, but I think downloading is a good thing. It gives kids a chance who can’t pay 25 dollars for Exile on Main Street or Physical Graffiti a chance to hear those awesome songs. All I’m saying is Eddie should be flattered. After all, he may be awesome at guitar, but he would be nowhere if it wasn’t for the fans. Just my opinion.
December 17th, 2009 at 7:44 am
I think fans weren’t over the moon with the 3 new songs on Best of Both Worlds, because it was a “Best of” Album with 3 bonus tracks…We’ve been dying for a “new” Album. It was a surprise that Dave was singing again, but there was still no promise of a new era of Van Halen. I thought the songs were good, but I’m not buying an album of stuff I already own.
As for downloading..people generally download the 1 song albums. The music industry has killed itself by encouraging bands to rush albums to release with 1 good song and a bunch of filler. People buy albums when they like all/most of the music on on it..Van Halen can do that..Get us an album of new material and the Van Halen fans will come!
December 17th, 2009 at 8:49 am
Freddiegirl:
Ha ha….thanks!
I didnt read that about the cult! I believe it though!
I truly feel bad for musicians today. Especially the musicians who have been in popular bands for years and have to deal with the cold shoulder. Why? Cause people nowadays dont want full albums worth of material. It’s about that ONE popular song. Ugh! Funny…you’re now considered a rockstar when you have one hit song. Christ! Does that mean I’m a rapper cause I’m pretty good at freestyling when I’ve had a few too many beers in me? C’mon! (That is true by the way! LOL!)I think you catch my drift. Oh well life does go on. Just keep rock alive by playing those old records, 8-tracks, casette tapes, cd’s loud!!!!! Rock aint dead brothers and sisters. It’s in our blood….in our hearts..in our stereo’s and will forever be a staple of our youth.
Spread the word!
December 17th, 2009 at 8:51 am
It is still stealing.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:14 am
This is a great read – it’s cool to hear Ed taking the high road. There’s not one trace of bitterness. Sounds like he’s making peace with the past.
…at least that’s what I “thought” was happening until I learned from some posts on here that they’re all old quotes…DAMN!
I miss the old Eddie!
December 17th, 2009 at 9:29 am
The more I’m around some other people the more I like me, It’s not because I have a ego problem but because of what I see.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:45 am
In that picture Ed looks sour.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Don’t forget, these guys are pushin’ 60. Do you really think at this point in their lives they want to record/tour/promote anything? And then have little piss ants like us dissect their every word, note any syllable? I don’t think so. The problem with the internet these days is that someone will post an unfinished version of the song before it’s released and everyone will complain about it. It happened with VHIII and the three new songs they recorded with Sammy back in 2004. The best they could do at this point is to release the back catalog or live concert stuff. I remember before the Sammy split, they talked about a song that was their version of “Stairway to Heaven.” Give the fans that stuff. At least they won’t complain too much. You can never recapture the old magic. When you get back together with someone you broke up with years ago, you eventually realize you broke up with them in the first place (i.e. Dave in 1998 & Sammy in 2004). Leave it alone.
December 17th, 2009 at 10:06 am
This just occurred to me. Why is Eddie doing photo shoots if he doesn’t want to stay or get back in the limelight?
December 17th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Hey Dooley and Duck, I think you are wrong about U2. I hkand it to them for constantly trying to move forward along with holding onto the best of the past. They have stuck it out together for over 25 years through thick and thin and I think everybody can learn something from that. Especially in today’s throw away society where “it’s here today and gone later today” (to qoute DLR). They continue to work out of pure passion and I hope that’s where DLR and the VH boys can get back to. I love VH but without passion it’s just a façade.
December 17th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Good point man…
December 17th, 2009 at 10:47 am
GROUP HUG FOR EDWARD VAN HALEN!
December 17th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Rick Pride
You are the man! You just wrote everything we feel in one brilliant post.
I love you EVH!
December 17th, 2009 at 10:54 am
jrocks:
I respect your opinion but sometimes moving foward can lead to being a shadow of what you once were.
I’m all for a band trying something new….but the roots should always be somewhat present no?
I mean, if you start off as a heavy metal band for x amount of years and then become a “lite rock” band, that to me is not maturing. It means you’re old. End of story. You have to remember the sound that captured your audience to begin with. U2 went from being a band with an orginal sound to a band that sounds like everything else out there. And personally I’m sick of bono. You think dave acted like a clown? I’d rather have a frontman having fun and making an impact, then being known for a super human being for his political views. Dave never tried to save the world. He just wanted to get laid. Maybe my way of thinking is childish and immature, but it keeps me looking and feeling young.
If you love U2 man…god bless….but bono has done nothing but turn me off as the years have gone by. U2, Dave Matthews, Pearl Jam….man they could fall into the ocean tomorrow, and I’d sail away with someones daughter blasting VH keeping the life perservers on board.
December 17th, 2009 at 11:12 am
I think we have to face the facts. They aren’t 20, 30 or even 40 years old anymore. They don’t have the fire or desire to make a great record anymore.
Chickenfoot did but they’re the exception to the rule. Most people aren’t like that when they get older.
December 17th, 2009 at 11:38 am
The waiting game is difficult for any die hard fan..which most of us are. I am at a loss you know? I wish that there was a way to let Eddie know we care..and that we are proud of him for his recovery. We wouldn’t be so anxious if we didn’t love the band SO much, you know? I hope he decides to return to rock and roll and get back to real music:) This music industry needs some schooling on how to ROCK!
December 17th, 2009 at 11:40 am
ever notice the number comments here for=VH=&DAVE stories
are always twice as many as SAM&MIKE(CHFT)?
the “bloggers” have spoken.(volumes)
VAN HALEN baby, in this day&age we need`em Now more than Ever!!
December 17th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Oh come on Sammy Van Halen is just as poular as Dave Van Halen,
4 #1 albums to none????
If Eddie does it again with a tour, he will need to have all the Van Halen tunes put out for that tour. The whole catalog, Dave, Sammy, and Gary stuff, I want it, the fans want it, and Eddie and Alex will make even more money if they do a tour with Gary, Sammy and Dave just like the Sam and Dave tour, which was great, until I saw the back stage antics from DLR, which made me kind of sick and realized why he quit VH in the first place.
December 17th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Wow, if any one is looking for some lame drama, these posts will do just fine!!! Some of you putz’s need to get a life, preferably a night life!! Why do some of you clowns bitch and complain so much about the same old crap over and over again??? I’m just grateful for the music EVH has already given us in the past!!! If he decides never to record again, that’s fine with me and if he records and releases an album with or without DLR that’s fine with me also. Remember the old saying “Shit Happens”!!!! Later Gomers!!!!
December 17th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
phillster!
I agree!
I’m not knocking the foot(or whatever you guys call em), but the roth era was a glorious time. The pictures alone are stories within themselves. It will be the discussion at the breakfast and dinner table for decades to come!
VH is a huge piece of americana.
December 17th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
The comments Ed made about not putting out any new stuff is referring to anything else after the new album. The new album for the most part is about done.
December 17th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
jrocks, spot on. U2 might not be to everyone’s taste here (though I’ve never understood why they rub so many up the wrong way) but can anyone name another band that’s been so consistent for such a long period, or anyone who’s been consistently at the top of the tree or so long? And, even if you are one of the ones they rub the wrong way, it’s churlish to deny their achievements. Plus, in light of the lazy ass approach of the brothers, you have to at least admire the fact that they’ve not let up for one minute since they first started playing together 30 odd years ago.
December 17th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I can totally understand if Eddie and the rest of the guys don’t wish to record/tour and whatnot but I still hold out hope that they do. I don’t want to be left with Miley Cyrus, Kanye West and Adam Lambert! Ugh! Agreed with D. Duck about rap too…I loved Tupac, Bone Thugs & Harmony, Cypress Hill but rap and hip-hop have degenerated as well. The way the music industry is set up just doesn’t allow for a young band to succeed anymore. Even if VH never record again I’m thankful for the wonderful music they left us although I’ll happily admit I’m a much bigger Dave-era VH fan. No matter Eddie’s problems he’ll always be the amazing, cannot-be-topped guitar player I fell in love with in the fifth grade. May I suggest that those who are looking for new music check out some of the young Swedish metal/glam bands like Vains of Jenna and Crashdiet? Scandinavia seems to be the last bastion of rock-n-roll bands. I hope some of them succeed to carry the torch.
But…Eddie, if you do ever read these comments…Please, new music, the time is now! If you don’t want to record with your own band then please find a band to produce and mentor…or have Dave do it! I’d start looking in Scandinavia…
December 17th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Iwannaberr:
“This just occurred to me. Why is Eddie doing photo shoots if he doesn’t want to stay or get back in the limelight?”
The reason Eddie still does photoshoots is to market his EVH gear. Plain and simple. He has that right, but do not mix that up with his interest to make music that accompanies it. He may have become satisfied with that and living off of his legacy. He certainly deserves that with all the years touring and such.
I just ask Ed not to say he is writing for a new album if that isn’t the case. Here is a link of him caught at a restaurant in August 2009. He says currently writing for a new album early next year. He goes from that to no new material possibly ever.
I won’t hold my breath. When I am holding that CD in my hand is when I will believe it. 10 years of inactivity and delays,cancellations have brought that on. I am going to go an play Fair Warning right now, bye.
December 17th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
The you tube link about writing new material,rehearsing,the hand, Dave and “getting on with at the beginning of next year”.
4 months and things have changed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ikqiwRHz2I
December 17th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Everyone,
I just think that Ed said the most profound thing when VH3 came out. It was in a magazine interview where he stated in reference to VH3: “If this doesn’t work out I am done. I may be playing the tuba or something else.” Does anyone have a link that they can reference from this interview? He did tell us it would be like this I guess you could say
December 17th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
phillster says: “ever notice the number comments here for=VH=&DAVE stories are always twice as many as SAM&MIKE(CHFT)? the “bloggers” have spoken.(volumes)”
Gee, imagine that…there are more VH comments on a VH site. Wow–that’s shocking. You know, I noticed there are more comments about Chickenfoot than Van Halen on the Chickenfoot messageboard. Hmmmm…. Crazy.
December 17th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Steve,
I recall that interview, that was 11 years ago, so that is testing my memory on what mag interview. I do remember him saying that, mainly because I thought, the tuba?
December 17th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Thanks Full Bug!
December 17th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
It looks like Eddie’s vest is made out of latex. It reminds me of the movie Superbad “Take you vest off, you look like Aladdin”. Man, I’ve seen that movie so many times. Has anyone else had their comments edited or withheld?
December 17th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Eddie, seriously….stop the BS and put out a new record with Roth and tour again. It’s the only way. Otherwise your just a “has been”.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Sorry my point went over your head Truthy,
Guess i smoke better sh$t than you,
“It Ain`t No Big`Ting”
Merry X-mas to all my favorite “regulars” here!!!
Hey DUCK!!:I found a GReat Quality bootleg DVD of the last tour!
MSG 11/13/07 it`s on ebay for cheap,type/search DavidLeeRoth DVD`s & find”HeavyMetalweb.net”
I also found Live@the Forum,Montreal Quebec Canada
4/19/84!!
Amazing!! it`s X-mas,treat yourself!!
Bottums UP!!
December 18th, 2009 at 1:14 am
Panama red…i tried to post 2 or 3 times and mine are still waiting moderation.
December 18th, 2009 at 7:38 am
The thing that dismays me about EVH’s apparent attitude about releasing more music is that he’s so whiny. In their entire catalog, they’ve put out one album that could be considered a flop. Just because the last album (VHIII) and the 3 songs from BOBW weren’t well-received, he’s going to stop? When did he get so sensitive?
And, if VH is going to retire, at least tell the fans, “Thanks, folks. We’re done.” It doesn’t seem fair to their substantial fan base – the ones that have been following them around for years – to say, “Hey, I’ve got music now” or “I’ve got about 10 albums in the can”, (for the effect of keeping us interested) and not putting anything out. It’s like that part in “Forrest Gump” where Tom Hanks is running across the country. He started doing something that people became fascinated with and they followed him. The more places he went, more people went along. Then, in the middle of nowhere, he tells the large crowd, “I’m tired. I think I’m going to go home now,” and leaves them there. The difference, of course, that character had the decency to tell his followers that he was done.
December 18th, 2009 at 8:41 am
HI Priate 1821:
The only argument Ed would have for you is that outside of this summer he never told us he was going to release music. He said he had a lot as you stated at the studio but that is not the same thing.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:15 am
wow, look what happens when I don’t visit for a while. I predict a couple of things, 1. There will be at least one more VH album with Dave. 2. There will be one more tour, at least. With the kind of cash they pulled in on the last one, it’s not a hard business decision.
I read the above excerpts with Ed talking about new music and not releasing anything. Do it because you love it bud, or don’t do it at all. You don’t need a friggin’ distributor, do it yourself. Cripes 35 bucks and Cdbaby will deliver your godly righteous riffs to every download service available to man. Sell you stuff direct, screw best buy and walmart, their crap anyway. who needs a record label? Pay attention to how NIN marketed their last album.
Those last few sammy songs were on the weak side bud, no slam on anyone, it’s just you can’t hit a home run everytime.
I predict new music. I predict it will melt the skin off of your face. I also predict shitty comments about anything they do, so who cares, do it anyway.
December 18th, 2009 at 11:16 am
HI Lucky,
I think he just enjoys making music and may just be happy with that. Why does he need to go through the critics of strangers? Maybe he is tired of being in a very rough business. What’s the point in releasing music if everyone is going to bash it? That’s what he is saying I believe
December 18th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Hey Deathmetal, the Yankees still suck even if they bought a championship this year. The suckiest move the Red Sox did over these past years was to lose Damon. I tell ya what if we had held onto Damon you guys would have never won the championship this year. That said I will give you your props and say Kate Hudson did a good job. See you next year!
December 18th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Eddie if you read this, YOU ARE MY HERO, THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME!!
I’m a die hard fan! I’ve stayed loyal to you through the good times and bad times. I’ve given you your space, thats called RESPECT!! You owe me nothing, you’ve given me a life time of music that has changed and enriched my life for the better. I can’t imagine a world without the mighty VAN HALEN. But it pains me to hear the naysayers predicting Van Halen is no more and extinct. I will never take that BS from low life’s such as naysayers!! Although Van Halen didn’t come to our shores in down under land anything Van Halen releases or does is just a bonus for me. When your good and ready or done with then you’ll only get respect from ME!! You and Van Halen are a once in a life time phenomenon, a gift from the gods of rock. There can be only ONE Eddie Van Halen, god bless you Eddie, oh I forgot God has already blessed you, your happy, have an amazing son, big brother Al protect you, a new brother Dave and a special women your new wife!! Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Van Halen New Year!!!
December 18th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
About the “Right Now” Pepsi story Eddie talks about. It always kind of disappoints me a little when big name bands like Van Halen let corporations use their music to endorse a product. Lots of bands have done it. Led Zeppelin, Stone Temple Pilots, The Who and others. I know if these bands don’t agree to sell their song, the Company selling the product will change the song just enough to rip it off using studio musicians and use the piece of crap they come up with. I really wish there were stricter laws to keep that from happening. But since their isn’t, I think it’s better to let them do that than to sell your song to a corporation that’s just trying to move a product unrelated to music or that song.
The real fans will know the difference and the song doesn’t risk losing any of it’s meaning to new fans and isn’t contaminated with corporate karma. “Right Now” is a great song with a message, but I remember one time when “Right Now” came on the radio years ago I heard someone say “Hey, isn’t that a Pepsi commercial”. I got queasy.
I understand the other side of it too like Henry Rollins has said. Bands deserve to get paid for their music in any way that they can. They’ve worked hard and everything. But I still throw up in my mouth a little bit when I hear a good song from a good band on T.V for a commercial selling Toyota trucks, or cola or whatever.
I guess if you think about it, the bands record label is owned by a giant corporate master anyway so whatever, I guess it’s just playing the game. Yuccckkkhh! Giant Corporations ruin everything.
December 19th, 2009 at 1:44 am
Eddie, It’s about time to put your foot down. Don’t be a pollo. No more waffling. I say, and many others concur, that you owe it to your legions of fans, and how, who have bore witness and children while you and the boys were “Getting the show on the road”, to shoot straight from the hip, regarding the bands upcoming, if any plans. We reveled in, but also supplemented your Eruption as well as the ensuing doctors, romeos, walks in the park, full bugs, top jimmy’s, 5150′s, suckers, spankers and aftershocks. Can’t get this stuff no more? Let us know. Cause God only knows and he ain’t talkin.(sumpin bout a gag order) Love ya, man. Happy Holidays!
December 19th, 2009 at 7:34 am
pirate1821 – spot on.
December 19th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Ed and Alex = Genious.
Van Halen’s product is not frequently available. They are in demand. Once they got too big (late 80′s), they kick and down and release material and tour every 3+ years. Whenever they tour, they get people flocking from everywhere filling up the stadium. People would kill to get new material. What do they do: keep it quiet. They’ll put out a new album soon enough and all the demand that has built up since 07-08 tour will blow up and they will be living it up big time.
Meanwhile, Chickenfoot are making themself readily available, heard, and seen everywhere. The demand for them isn’t that great. Sounds like another album will come out. Would be filler songs on a Gary Cherone/Van Halen album. Not bad – I liked the album with Cherone. They’ll tour again filling up 2 thousand seat ampitheaters in select and odd cities where they traditional spark an ounce of interest. If they want to tour in an arena or a big city not in Ariz, Cali, or Nev, will have to team up with someone better to be able to warrant the venue.
December 19th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
It’s kind of funny in an ironic way when someone misspells “Genius”. You’re stating your opinion like it’s fact. The fact is Chickenfoot’s C.D. is in pretty high demand. It was released about nine months ago and is already certified Gold. Not bad for a debut album. When was the last time you sold 500,000 of something!
Hell Yeah Van Halen Kicks Ass! But your unjust and unrealistic bias for other bands is pretty transparent.
December 20th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Good point Steve, but without at least playing the music live, what’s the point. I write music too, I’m a nobody with virtually no audience whatsoever, however I still write record and perform when I get a chance.
About him worrying about what the critics say, don’t read ‘em. I can’t count the times I’ve read crappy reviews of either music or movies that I thought were quite good. Heck I got some horrible reviews from my first CD, but then I got a couple of good ones too, so what? Didn’t stop me, and i certainly don’t have Ed and Al’s money, or connections. If it’s about the music then it’s about the music, if it’s about selling amps and tennis shoes, then it’s about the money. Either way I could care less, just play the damn guitar.
December 22nd, 2009 at 9:51 am
I was in a Goodwill store, donating some old clothes, and in a box of cds by the cash register, among piles of cds by artists I never heard of, was Van Halen’s Balance.
*sigh*
Van Halen has become so irrelevant that someone didn’t even want to own the album anymore…
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:54 am
Hi Lucky,
You have good points as well. But this is EVH who usually does whatever doesn’t make sense to all of us. I guess that’s what made him unique at making music as well. He sees things and does things differently. His greatest strengths are his greatest weaknesses. In the end though, to hell with all of this. Release some damn music already!!
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:59 am
TO ALL,
I smell a rat. I have feeling that all of this talk from Ed means only one thing. He and Dave are not getting along. It’s probably all about making the music. They don’t see eye to eye. Dave probably wants it to sound like we all want VH to sound and Ed wants to do something different. So, Ed comes out with all of this other talk. How much do you want to bet?
December 23rd, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Steve:
I think you’re spot on man. I HOPE your wrong…but maaaan…just not sure anymore. I’m usually a pretty positive cat when it comes to “having faith”, but there’s this gut feeling I cant shake.
SOMETHING is not right.
This is why I learned never to get your hopes up.
Never put all my eggs in one basket.
Never count my chicken’s until they hatch.
Never listen to a group called chickenfoot
Seriously though? Im thinking VH might be finished…for now…or forever. I’m grateful for what WAS that band and the classic music that forever is in my heart and stereo speakers. But I do feel that if the band is finished….no more dave…whatever….LET THE FANS KNOW!
December 24th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Dirty Duck,
I am with you man. I wish they would make an announcement. We won’t get one though. The “no news is good news” post 10 years ago has turned out to the false I would say!:(
December 24th, 2009 at 10:39 am
To think of all the times I had to pay for “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” (how many albums has that been released on????), I believe they could afford a bigger boat.