Happy Birthday, Eddie Van Halen: Wake-Up Video
From MTV:
Band names are difficult. Some of them are naturally iconic and sound instantly classic, like U2, Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath. Others sound legendary only because the bands transcended them (yesterday, Chris Jericho pointed out that Audioslave really doesn’t work without those particular band members, and is there really a sillier band name than the Beatles?). Still others never quite get there (no matter how many records they sold or big-time shows they headlined, Limp Bizkit will always sound kind of dumb; same goes for you, Stone Temple Pilots). When Eddie Van Halen and his brother Alex got together to form a band, they luckily didn’t have to look past their surname for any further inspiration. Sure, there was a bit of ego in it, but David Lee Roth always liked to point out that “Van Halen” also sounded like some sort of hydrogen bomb, which was appropriate for the group’s brand of explosive, stadium-filling metal that made them the biggest band in the world for a few years.
Eddie Van Halen turns 55 years old today, and he’s really just moving into the prime of his life. His band is back together (featuring original singer Roth and son Wolfgang Van Halen on bass), he just got married to longtime girlfriend Janie Liszewski last year, the truly amazing “Guitar Hero: Van Halen” was recently released and supposedly the reunited group is going to have a go at new music following their ultra-successful tour. Like Hendrix and Clapton before him, Van Halen’s guitar playing completely redefined what could be done with the instrument (just listen to all the different sounds he is able to make on “Eruption,” from the band’s self-titled 1978 debut). He also made it cool for serious rock bands to dabble in keyboards (there’s no better synthesizer jam on the planet than “Jump”). But he mainly trafficked in big molten slabs of riffage, like the line on “Unchained,” one of the group’s signature shout-alongs.
“Unchained” video will play after an advertisement:
Filed under: Eddie Van Halen, Van Halen
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January 26th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Happy Birthday Ed! hope its a great one!
January 26th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Happy Birthday GOD Van Halen!
January 26th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Happy Birthday to you, Eddie – enjoy your 56th year!
January 26th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
‘truly amazing’ “Guitar Hero: Van Halen” !?!? … Truly forgetable is more like it.
But, yeah, everything else I’ll agree with.
I find it amusing that Mike is featured in the still image on the video link.
January 26th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Happy Birthday Ed!!!! Have a great day and PLEASE, PLEASE, give us, the fans, some new music this year. We will support you with whatever you release and the haters can go screw themselves because they aren’t true fans. Good luck with all of your future musical endeavors.
January 26th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Oh Come on.. give us a break…. NO MORE TOURS UNLESS IT’S TRULY VAN HALEN!! You managed to get Dave back.. no GO GET MIKEY so you can secure your SOLD OUT shows next spring.
WE WANT MIKE BACK!!!
January 26th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
As much as I would like Mike back in I am going to spend my energy wishing that Wolfgang turns out to be spectacular. He could end up a seriously great bass player since he did that tour at age 16. That’s the best hope for VH right now. Ed has no motivation to this any longer unless his son is involved. This is clear from no music in years. The good thing is we get Chickenfoot and Van Halen with Mikey out
January 26th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Dave,
Speak for yourself!
WOLFIE! WOLFIE! WOLFIE! WOLFIE! WOLFIE! WOLFIE! WOLFIE!
I can’t wait to see the 2010 tour with Ed, Al, Dave and WOLFIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 26th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Where the fuck is this show???!!!And for the love of god why don’t WE the citizens of VH nation have this on dvd???The damn show was almst 30 years ago!! Come on Ed give US a break!!All versions of VH fan for life!!!Happy B-Day Ed.Thanks for all the kick ass rock and great memories!!! P.S. NEW ALBUM PLEASE!!!! To answer my first line, I know it’s from Oakland on the Fair Warning tour,that’s not what I mean.
January 26th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
Um…did anyone else get as repulsed as I did when the “advertisement” before the Unchained video was an add for the Mother F’ing douche Jonas brother?
I mean…come on.
January 26th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
get in the future,not the pasture Dave
January 26th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
what does”wake up video” mean?
January 26th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Where is the new fucking music???
January 26th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
I was thinking the same thing…
and can’t ya just tell that the dude that wrote this little snippet can’t tell his ass from a whole in the wall when it comes to Van Halen
January 26th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Hopefully “Wake up and smell the coffee- Your fans want a new album”…
January 26th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
And who came up with the idea to name the band VAN HALEN….the man, DAVID LEE ROTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY B-DAY EDDIE!!!!
January 26th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
maligayang kaarawan ginoong Edward Van Halen!
happy birthday eddie!
January 26th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Have a great birthday!!! All the best to you, your family and the band – David fan since 79
January 26th, 2010 at 8:55 pm
The credits at the end of the video:
Van Halen is
David Lee Roth – Vocals
Alex Van Halen – Drums
Edward Van Halen – Guitar
Michael Anthony – Bass Guitar
I couldn’t agree more!
January 26th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
I love this video. I was at that concert (actually, all three Oakland June 1981 concerts). I remember it like it was yesterday. I graduated from high school earlier that week. The timing of the shows could not have been better.
January 27th, 2010 at 1:09 am
im so sick of these instant van halen experts now that van halen is finally getting the credit and respect that it deserves as the best band to come out of the eighties
and yes they are better than u2
January 27th, 2010 at 4:57 am
I never noticed this before, but at the 2:24 mark, there is 2 seconds of Eddie playing the Frankenstrat spliced into this video. Interesting
January 27th, 2010 at 6:02 am
Can’t see this outside the US? Bullcrap!
January 27th, 2010 at 6:41 am
People criticize VH for living in the past.
Meanwhile, the same people can’t get over Michael Anthony not being in the band anymore.
January 27th, 2010 at 6:49 am
Jim:
Some VH fans will never be fully satisfied….
Sad but true.
January 27th, 2010 at 8:06 am
No big deal … all true VH fans have seen this video before. Howabout a never before seen video or music ?
January 27th, 2010 at 8:26 am
saludos eddie desde peru
tu amigo David Aguirre Cordova
cuando vienen por PERU
SERIA UN GRAN EXITO
January 27th, 2010 at 8:43 am
Happy (belated) Birthday, Edward!
Man, it would be nice if the band (members past and present) would bury their hatchets and be constructive; Van Halen, no matter who is on vocals, NEEDS MIKE to be Van Halen. Anyone who disagrees with this has had far too much purple Kool-Aid and should be sent to bed without their dinner!
January 27th, 2010 at 8:57 am
I’m glad Ed didn’t have to play I Can’t Drive 55 on his birthday, or listen to any stupid jokes about it from the Inbred Rocker.
Happy Birthday Ed – still a young man!
January 27th, 2010 at 9:00 am
MTV piss me off!!! Why wont they play this in other countrys apart from the States. All we get in England is an annoying idiot telling us things we already know and trying to “sell” us the royal navy!
WOULD SOMEONE CARE TO SAY WHAT THE VIDEO IS ABOUT?
January 27th, 2010 at 9:03 am
To all those that want MA in the current status of VH- Now you know how WE felt when DLR was replaced with someone else…suck’s doesn’t it?
January 27th, 2010 at 9:09 am
Turdicus Maximus:You DO realize you just told EDDIE he`s had too much purple kool-aid&should be sent to bed without his dinner right? what a tard.
January 27th, 2010 at 9:25 am
VH fan: the video`s about the royal navy
January 27th, 2010 at 10:03 am
…..whats a Jonas Brother?
January 27th, 2010 at 10:05 am
“in the prime of his life”…
This meaning what exactly?
ALBUM PLEASE!!!
January 27th, 2010 at 11:15 am
VHFan-im with ya. Why cant we in the UK see this vid?
If its the Oakland concert footage then im not too pissed off as have seen it lots of times, just dont want to join the Royal Navy. Sort it out MTV!
Anyway…….Happy belated Birthday Ed!!!!
January 27th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
I like how the MTV journalist tried to spin a quick little article on Eddie Van Halen from bits and pieces of facts he got off Wiklipeda… yeah, let me throw some meaningless colorful expleratives in here like “big molten slabs of riffage” and “explosive, stadium-filling metal” … He’s probably never listened to Van Halen in his life. Probably a Hana Montana fan, LMAO
And here I go beating the dead horse again, but since Chickenfoot is on a one year hiatus while Chad does the Peppers cd… it would be the PERFECT time to pair up with Mike Anthony and make one last album together??? Do a tour??? *sigh* Yeah, it’ll never happen but I can’t help but dream. It’s hard to watch that old footage and not want things to go back to the way they were. I have that whole concert on bootleg and it’s awesome.
January 27th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Happy B-Day Ed!
In Italy there are lots of VH mega-fans who’s waiting for a world tour to promote a new album!
C’mon Ed! We want the show!
Thanks a lot.
January 27th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Yes, it’s true, VH at one point or another has done something to disappoint every possible faction in the VH army of crazy-assed fans…
…but you can’t argue with the sheer balls-out brilliance of a tune like “Unchained”.
So sit back, crank it up, snap open a cold one, and remember your VH the way you prefer to remember them, smile, and then remind yourself that this in 2010 and what you think “should be” will never be again. What you have is probably what you’ll get.
I feel better now…how’s everyone else doing? Cheers to everyone!
January 27th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Little big toe:
Right on brother! You’re goddamn right!
RobCt:
A jonas brother is a fruit…
January 27th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
VH SMOKES U2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fuck Bozo (bono)
January 27th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
We want Mike back in the band. Why can’t Sammy bury the hatchet? Where’s the new music? Dave’s the man.
All the usual stuff in this thread, like every other post here for the last who knows how long. The only thing I didn’t see was the “quite selling us stuff” complaint.
You people need to get a life, if you have time to stop here and rehash the same old issues every time they post something.
January 27th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
Tony: did you say you have the WHOLE CONCERT of the`81 Oakland show?
All I`ve ever seen&owned are the three songs”Unchained,Hear about it later&So this is love.
I thought EVEN a bootleg of that WHOLE CONCERT was a “Myth” at best!!
What`s the set list?
Make copies&Throw that f&n thing on Ebay!!
EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!!
January 27th, 2010 at 8:59 pm
well at least we have chris jericho as the local musical expert.
mtv is straight up mind folder for the trailer masses.
garbage.
January 27th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Dirty Duck, guess what under normal circumstances yes VH does smoke U2, but hello, Van Halen is merely a novelty band. U2 updates their website, tours, consistently, makes new music, shows there fans respect. currently any active band worth anything has a website which communicates information to the fans. Van HAlen DOES NOT DO THIS. I will always be into Van Halen, but you would be hard pressed to find a band that treats their fans worse.
January 28th, 2010 at 6:09 am
Gezzz come on Dave, Ed and Alex give us a F***ing break! Where is the new music? Something good the Kids will even like, shit you guys have not been on the charts in over a decade! U2 is beating the hell out of you! BonJovi is still selling out concerts and posting platnuim albums, Mettalica is still cool in school, Hell even Lynnard Skynnard shirts are making there way in the Jr. High and High Schools. VH should be doing the Super Bowl Show! with Mike! hell you guys have earned it…not to dis the Who but, I saw Petty do the half time show last year…how pitiful! no movement, no energy, booooo…. Com’on VH Shit God damn! Get off you asses and Jam. Where is the once Mighy VH….Better to burn out than Fade away!!!!!
January 28th, 2010 at 6:29 am
Holy sinner’s swing Batman, if there was an ENTIRE bootleg’81 Oakland show floating out there, it would have hit the internet by now!!! However, I’d be fucking stoked to be wrong about this!!!! I agree with phillster, if Tony has it, he should make a shit load of copies and throw them muthafucker’s on Ebay (easy money)!!!!! Lights, Camera, Action!!!!
January 28th, 2010 at 6:42 am
Great video! I just finished the Christie’s book on VH. He made is sound like there is more of this footage from this show…….Oh hw awesome if VH would release a high quality vintage VH performance on DVD and CD! Follow that up with a new VH cd. Please Ed!
January 28th, 2010 at 6:49 am
Still half-heartedly hoping for the mother of all VH boxed sets – vintage concert DVD, vintage concert audio CD and new killer album with DLR.
Best of all, even if nothing new ever materializes, I can still spin the timeless VH records of yesteryear. They never get old …
January 28th, 2010 at 8:15 am
jc:
You are a U2 fan. I stopped listening to them after “Rattle and Hum”…..
Nothing you say will ever make me visit a U2 site or admire their current music status. I dont sit around and judge a band on how much they sick their fans dicks. I’m about the music. You might as well lump them in the same catagory as Dave Matthews. I dont care about rockstars trying to be politicians. If I already dont like politicians why would I want to see a rockstar play the role? Bono is about as exciting and intresting as watching an ant farm. Give me: WAR, BOY, THE JOSHUA TREE, THE UNFORGETABLE FIRE, Or RATTLE AND HUM and then we’ll talk….
January 28th, 2010 at 9:02 am
Fuck U2 and Fuck Bon Jovi!!! Van Halen music (who cares if it’s old) FUCKING ROCKS!!!!! As a dedicated fan, and party animal, I make it a point to NEVER, EVER, let VH music fade away (too many fucking great party tunes to let that happen)!!!
January 28th, 2010 at 9:35 am
Your birthday’s over Eddie; Get your lazy as* back to work or you’re FIRED!
January 28th, 2010 at 9:58 am
There is a bootleg of the entire fair warning show from memphis tenn.but it is crap shot from the back of the hall.thats why you dont see it for sale anymore.
January 28th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Wow, thanks MICAL VEE i never knew!
time to “scour” ebay
January 28th, 2010 at 10:33 am
“DOPE!”
Okay, so, for the record… I suck. This performance sounded like the one that I had on dvd, which ended up being: ***Live in Largo from 1982***, which is available all over the place on-line. (google it if you don’t have a copy – it’s well worth it) SO… yes to PHIL and SCAR. Please no hate mail, I honestly thought the video was the same, been awhile since I watched it. I SUCK.
Let’s continue.
Van Halen has never been an overly commercial band. Ed & Al don’t care what other bands are doing. I can respect that. I’m not asking them to pump out endless concert videos and unreleased tracks, etc, BUT can they blame us for craving some more of the greatest rock music ever created!? Eddie was saying in an interview recently, “everyone thinks they know what I should do… some fans want me to release a new album”. Yes, Ed, try *ALL* fans want a new album. Hey, it’s been like over a decade. I think we’re due. BUT, I’ll respect you Ed. You want to chill on the sidelines, I’ll keep blasting every album you ever made. (Except VH3). But don’t be mad that we’re all crying for new music. You should be glad that we all ‘WANT SOME’. It’s when your fans give up ever wanting new music, because we don’t care – or else we don’t think it will ever happen… that’s when the flame dies out and you just become like Led Zeppelin the other classic bands of old. Yes, VAN HALEN is still a leaving, breathing band. You want us to welcome Wolfie on board? Hey, I’ll give him a shot, Get in the studio and show us what the lad has. I never wanted Sammy in the band, but you guys showed me with 5150. I still missed Dave, but I welcomed and respected Sammy. A new studio release can do the same for Wolfie.
And yes, I keep ranting about the same bloody crap. Give me something better to talk about and I’ll shut up.
Sorry again to PHIL and SCAR.
January 28th, 2010 at 10:35 am
Everybody seems to be missing the point that Edward is in fact still alive.
He’s been through shit loads of alcohol abuse, smokes like a chimney, had tongue cancer, hip surgery and recently had something done to his playing hand…and he is still here. Happy, healthy, and hopefully provoking some speculation about a new album or new tour or something.
I’d rather Ed be alive and a bit restricted from society than dead and there would be zero chance of a new album, bootlegs, live concert dvds, tours, or any of this.
People have to accept that Sammy and Mike are doing their own thing, and I would jump at the chance to see Edward in the flesh. Lighten up people, its not the end of the world! Alice In Chains released a new album, go buy that to pass the time…
January 28th, 2010 at 10:54 am
55 years ago the Lord said,
“And know I shall finally create a guitar player. One who shall be worshiped. The only one with whom I shall be quite pleased.”
January 28th, 2010 at 10:58 am
Bye the way – the messiah has brought forth a son and his name is “WOLFGANG”
Who is this Mike guy you are all talking about?
January 28th, 2010 at 11:13 am
Dirty Duck, I am not really a U2 fan, I could take or leave them. My point was, at least the acknowledge the fact that they have fans. Van Halen Does not.
January 28th, 2010 at 11:25 am
Rickie, let me help you out:
Your ass–> X
A hole in the wall–> O
(now you know the difference douche)
January 28th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
I am more excited to have Wolfgang in the band than Mikey for 2 reasons:
1) Wolfgang brings a youthful ear and the only leverage over EVH to let that rockin’ youth show in the music. Mark my words it will when you have a teenager in the band who is father is willing to take input from
2) this is much better having Mike out because now we get Chickenfoot and Van halen
Much better situation for us and VH
January 28th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
I wouldn’t say Wolf brings “a youthful ear” as much as he brings a big slab of suck to the band. I was at a show on that last tour and it wasn’t pretty.
The bottom line is that they are never going to release new music. It’s just not going to happen. It’s probably better that way because then they won’t taint the legacy with a bunch of garbage that isn’t as good as the first six albums.
January 28th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
I’m kinda surprised at the fact of hard core Van Halen fans saying things like “get over it”, about Mike. And “Mike who?” And chanting Wolfie’s name. It seems like to me any real long time Van Halen fan would have trouble just writing him off, especially given the circumstances around it. When I think of Van Halen, it’s Mikey up there on stage playing bass, drinking Jack, screaming, acting crazy, beatin the hell out of his bass guitar. His background vocals are a part of Van Halens sound and I just miss his presence with VH, not to mention that awesome Jack Daniels bass!
But I guess what makes it easier for me, is knowing that he’s still Kicking Ass with or without Van Halen.
But I still don’t think the events surrounding Mike’s departure were handled well or respectably by Ed and Al. Check out this interview to refresh your memory. You’ll have to copy and paste the address
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/09/04/fired-van-halen-bassist-i-found-out-on-the-internet/
I know I’m sounding like a broken record but if the guys here on this site who are saying crap about Mike are just trying to make a point about things having to move forward for more VH music to happen (without Mike). Point taken, but at the same time we should all have/show some respect for a founding member who stuck with Van Halen through thick and thin for as long as he did. Everyone knows he is a talented, humble, and a honestly genuine guy.
I’m not gonna rag on Wolfie. He’s probably a cool kid, but he doesn’t really have a stage presence. He kind of looks lost up there on stage with everyone else. But he’s young and out of place, maybe he’ll get more comfortable and more animated as time goes on. I’m left wondering if Eddie wished he would’ve had more than one kid so he could replace the lead singer position as well.
But anyway, if Van Halen’s current incarnation consists of someone else playing bass then, so be it. I just don’t see a real need or good enough reason for it, seeing how the original bass player is still alive and kicking. But as time goes on I’m sure I’ll get more used to it and more happy for Mike’s other projects and gigs and less angry about what happened to his last one.
And if you look on the bright side of things, maybe it’s all for the better. Mike’s happier now being able to start over with a new band and maybe (hopefully) Wolfgang will help motivate and inspire Eddie to put out new music with Roth. And what Steve posted, Steve’s reason #2 is a good way of looking at it. I just hope Eddie stays clean and sober. I don’t want to hear anymore interviews like this:
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2006/09/14/eddie-van-halen-goes-bananas-on-howard-stern-the-full-highlights/
January 28th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Tony:Don`t quite know how you could confuse those 2 shows,(I own Largo,MD 83 as well,good sh*t aye?)no worries.I agree with your”flame dies”comment,Jimmy Page is a Perfect example
of a “Genius” guitar player who hasn`t released Nearly enough material in the last 3 decades IMO,
RickieVanWailin:Great sense of humor man;lol
“jc”:The Mighty=VH= doesn`t NEED to “acknowledge”that they have fans,as fans-We`re not that type of “crowd”.We don`t need the kind of “reassurance” u2 fans dwell on.
Although I`m not so sure about some of you LOL
January 28th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
TopJimmy; I saw 3 shows of the last tour and thought they all rocked!!And as far as any new material not being as good as older stuff, I thought”Me Wise Magic”&”Can`t GetThis Stuff no More” were “ahead of it`s time” when they came out.
Nobody knows what the future holds for this band other than Ed,AL,Wolf&DAVE,
Your glass sounds 1/2 empty my friend,
Time for a refill!!
Bottums Up
January 28th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Top Jimmy: I respect if you didn’t like his bass playing. sounded fine to me. Hit the right notes and all. Music is subjective so I thought it was great. When they recorded the Best of Both World songs I had no idea that Mike was not part of them until much later when he said it. did you honestly? If you didn’t, then is it real going to make a big difference in the studio? I mean they have already brought in Steve Lukather for background vocals in the past.
January 28th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
I try to be positive about the whole Mikey thing. I understand wanting VH to move forward, now that Mike has Chickenfoot, so we can get some new music from VH. But the guys here who are saying they prefer Wolfgang over Mike, C’mon man get real. Anybody who says they would get more pumped or even just as pumped to see Wolfgang on stage with VH as they would with Mike is not being truthful. Either that or you are a brand new Van Halen fan who doesn’t know or really care about the difference. Or you think going along and agreeing with everything Eddie does somehow makes you a bigger Van Halen fan.
Steve I can see how you’re trying to look at it with the glass half full. I agreed with you and everything but realistically Mike should be able to be in both bands if he wanted too if he could schedule the projects at different times just like other musicians do that are in more than one band. And I don’t exactly agree with your reason #1 but I can see you’re trying to see the good in the situation.
January 28th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Phillster & Steve: Everyone says the same things about Wolfgang “He was fine. He hit the right notes”. Well I don’t know about you but I dont’ want to pay 100′s of dollars to see “fine” or someone who “hits the right notes”. I want to see Mike Anthony running around, pumping his fist, singing those famous background vocals that HE MADE, and kicking ass. And yes I noticed Ed’s bass playing. It was pretty obvious, Ed is not a great bass player.
But I don’t want to squabble because the bottom line is that it doesn’t matter. Van Halen won’t release any new recordings because they are completely dysfunctional and Ed is in the wrong frame of mind.
January 28th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Every band out there from A-Z(skipped V) have released live concerts except for VH??!!
The release of that 81 show alone would set records!!
And don’t forget the other one out there with Jamie’s Crying, You’re no good & Bottoms Up.
Ed needs to Really get it together! If he can put his gear out there He Dam sure can put the footage out that made him what he is today!!
January 28th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Well, this video shows Mikey as a bass player, really getting into one of their best songs.
Does Wolfgang throttle and punch the bass? Does Wolfie run around on stage? Jump? Do anything that isn’t standing and playing?
I love how YouTube has “Wolfgang Solo” but its actually him doing the intro to “So This Is Love” and going an octave higher.
BUT – Wolfie is right for this situation. Without Wolf, Ed would probably just keep quiet forever, or just do some noodling for soundtracks or something.
January 28th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
I love how people say “it doesn`t really matter but”…
and then go on to say everyone`s wrong but them!
Don`t wanna pay 100bucks if M.A.ain`t there? then Don`t!!
Just don`t bitch to those of us who accept the situation for what it is.Personally,I`ve been waiting to see DLR=VH= since 1984 and had to put up with 20+yrs of faggity hagar ballads
And the most boring bass solo ever performed in the history of sound.I`ve got a shitload of bootlegs and i`ll tell ya even Mikey didn`t sound like Mikey 1/2 the time.
but it doesn`t really matter….
January 28th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
for the record -I never said wolfie was “fine” or “hit the right notes”-I said he F*ckin` ROCKED!!
January 28th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Hi Top Jimmy and Rich,
I can understand your point about Mike’s onstage presence. It was noticably different/better. I thought you were saying that Wolfgangs playing wasn’t good before. I wouldn’t say that Mike made the background vocals alone. It was clearly Ed and Mike together had a special quality. the sammy and mike one’s are different on Chickenfoot. so he was half of the background vocals not all. yes the vocals are the sour spot and the stage presence. But neither will matter in the studio if they find a girl like Mona (Sammy’s bass player) or other. On one of Sam’s DVD’s he demonstrated how Mona and Mike are virtually identical in pitch and tone.
January 29th, 2010 at 6:38 am
Please give us a new CD this year. Not another greatest hits package.
January 29th, 2010 at 7:12 am
The way I look at the situation with mike not being in the band is that nothing stays the same and so is life! I love “many” rock bands out there who’ve changed their line up over the years and I’ve delt with it. “Guns n’ Roses” had a completely different line up during the “use your own illusion” sessions and tour. Did those albums suck? Think not. Thats just “one” example of how a band can change since their debut. Think about how many friends you had when you were younger. Are you close with many of those people now?
The same goes with bands guys! I just dont understand why so many “fans” out there feel that a band will never be the same if they lose their bass player? Move on! Be happy with what we have and deal with it! It’s not the 70′s…the 80′s…or even the freakin’ 90′s anymore! It’s a whole new decade! 2010! Lets move ahead and hope for the best for the future of VH…..leave the past in (as I always say) “the rearview mirror!”
January 29th, 2010 at 7:54 am
Hi,
Eddie stated that the earliest they would begin work on a new CD was in June. Knowing them they got started later than that. With Eddie’s hand that is a good possibility. But let’s say june, and they deserve at least 1 year to put something good together after such a long hiatus. That would put us to June of 2010 roughly if they can complete the mixing. So, let’s not call a new album quits just yet.
January 29th, 2010 at 10:13 am
Steve:
Hope you’re right!
Fingers crossed….
January 29th, 2010 at 11:54 am
DirtyDuck: ME TOO!!!
January 29th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Get a hold of yourself Tony… you seem real good at it.
Mike was average bass player at best. Go listen to him play on Ice Cream Man. IT IS TORTURE. His singing is awesome and will be missed.
Wolfang held the bottom 10x better than Mike and clearly could sing. The kids last name means one thing:
HE ROCKS. He little bass solo on So This is Love was pretty dumb but remember his last? The kid will get it done. He is already better than MA!
January 29th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
I will say this Tony: Mike’s bass playing right around Fair Warning got really really good!! In fact, he sounds just like EVH, right?
January 29th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
I know I’m starting to sound like a broken record but if the guys here on this site who are saying crap about Mike are just trying to make a point about things having to move forward for more VH music to happen (without Mike). Point taken. I understand that point of view and respect it. I understand we have no choice other than to move forward without Mike to hear more Van Halen music. Ed made up his mind about Mike. I’ve finally accepted that now.
But at the same time we should all have/show some respect for a founding member who stuck with Van Halen through thick and thin for as long as he did. Everyone knows he is a talented, humble, and a honestly genuine guy.
I’m kinda surprised at the fact of hard core Van Halen fans here saying things like “get over it”, about Mike. And “Mike who?” And chanting Wolfie’s name. It seems like to me any real long time Van Halen fan would have trouble just writing him off, especially given the circumstances around it. When I think of Van Halen, one of the things I think of is Mikey up there on stage playing bass, drinking Jack, screaming, acting crazy, beatin the hell out of his bass guitar. Also his background vocals are a part of Van Halens sound and I just miss his presence with VH, not to mention that awesome Jack Daniels bass!
But I guess what makes it easier for me, is knowing that he’s still Kicking Ass with or without Van Halen. But I still don’t think the events surrounding Mike’s departure were handled well or respectably by Ed and Al. Check out the interview Titled “Fired Van Halen Bassist. I Found Out on the Internet”
VHND won’t let me post the link cause it’s not from their website. But go to the Van Halen Wikipedia (I know, I know) webpage and scroll down to the bottom where it has all of the links to articles. It’s #27 under “NOTES”. It’s worth the time. Every Van Halen fan should read it who wants to be informed on the events surrounding Mike’s departure from the band or just to refresh their memory on the subject.
I’m not gonna rag on Wolfie. He’s probably a cool kid, but he doesn’t really have a stage presence. He kind of looks lost up there on stage with everyone else. But he’s young and out of place, maybe he’ll get more comfortable and more animated as time goes on. I’m left wondering if Eddie wished he would’ve had more than one kid so he could replace the lead singer position as well.
But anyway, if Van Halen’s current incarnation consists of someone else playing bass then, so be it. I just don’t see a real need or good enough reason for it, seeing how the original bass player is still alive and kicking. But as time goes on I’m sure I’ll get more used to it and more happy for Mike’s other projects and gigs and less angry about what happened to his last one.
And if you look on the bright side of things, maybe it’s all for the better. Mike’s happier now being able to start over with a new band and maybe (hopefully) Wolfgang will help motivate and inspire Eddie to put out new music with Roth. I just hope Eddie stays clean and sober. I don’t want to read anymore interviews like this.
http://www.vhnd.com/2006/10/04/eddie-gives-howard-stern-a-vh-update/
January 31st, 2010 at 6:06 am
Guess my last post was kind of ranty – I mean Wolf and I were both 16 when Van Halen went on that tour. I’ve done some gigs but it didn’t seem justified with charging £100 to come see us….
February 1st, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Rickie: They wouldn’t post the last response I typed. But that’s probably for the best. Kid, you say Mike was an “average bass player”!? NOBODY in Van Halen was just average. Average doesn’t get you in the rock and roll hall of fame. And who was the only original member to show up at the induction!?
Wolfie can sing!? To be honest, I never HEARD his voice once at the concert… but I did hear the old background vocals they pumped in with MIKE ANTHONY. IMO, Wolfie, he’s an adequate bass player. He could keep up but that’s about it. If he wants to prove he belongs in that group, I’d like to see him contribute to a new album.
But hey, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. If you actually believe what you type… “Wolfie better than Mike Anthony”!? then I feel sorry for you.
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Tony
I respect your opinion dude so don’t sweat it. I just think MA was an average player of technical merit. He frankly had a tough time keeping up with the King. Wolf played the bottom like a pro… IMO
Wolf can sing. He can clearly be heard singing lead on post that appeared on VHND a few months ago. He also played lead guitar on the same tune. He VH tune singing can be heard quite cleary on the acapella section to I’m The One. He is also quite convincing on Jamies Crying and Dance the Night Away.
I don’t think you are giving the kid his due. I also did not hear any evidence that MA’s vocals were punched into the live performances. That did not happen bro.
February 4th, 2010 at 8:15 am
PANAMA RED: Thanks for pointing out that interview in Rolling Stone. I’ve read snippets of it, but just read the entire article now. You’ve gotta give cred to Mike for taking the high road in all this… Missed seeing him onstage with the brothers, but glad he’s been so successful with ‘Foot. He deserves it!
February 4th, 2010 at 8:50 am
Tony – Thanks. I had trouble posting them at first. That’s why I have two posts basically saying the same thing.
February 4th, 2010 at 8:58 am
If you scroll up both links are there now.
February 4th, 2010 at 9:48 am
Hah hah, yeah man, I’ve noticed if you post something more than a couple sentences long you get the eternal, “Your comment is awaiting moderation.” blurb. They must’ve “moderated” your other link, but it’s cool… I’m reading up on some of the other news stories I missed on wiklipedia.