2004 FLEECE THE SHEEP TOUR: A Bust says ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE!

[Matt White]

MUSIC BIZ PERKS UP IN 2004: By Steve Knopper & Bill Werde.

Talks about how CD sales were up slightly last year. And the horrible touring season.
Van hagar? "Van Halen(Hagar) could not sell enough tickets to meet the high guaranteed payments the band demanded and LOST MONEY FOR PROMOTERS."

On a reunion tour...........

Guess EVH had better get to painting those Corn-dogs at home, he ain't goin' back on the road with the Spamster anytime soon.

[Nickdfresh]

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... .....

Kool Aid© for sheep!

[edvanheineken]

Originally posted by Nickdfresh
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... .....

Kool Aid© for sheep!

Why does the song "That's life" come to mind right now. I'm picturing goofy Hagar and Eddie spoof videos with that tune in the background. Even better..... "Asi es la vida" playing to videos of their half empty shows! Wow! Now that would be a blast to watch. Throw in a few shots of the promoters' faces as the bottom line comes in!

[Matt White]

Funny how SO many here called it a failure from the start.
No wonder they didn't talk to the press. Had to be depressing to take so much time off and realize NOBODY cared to have 'em back with Spam!
BWAHAHAHA!!!!

[academic punk]

Actually, that's the weird thing: usually in a situation like this, the band is REQUIRED to go into full damage control mode, and go out to the press, radio, MTV, WHATEVER to generate as much publicity for the tour as possible.

I GUARANTEE the promoters are extremely pissed off with the band for the lack of promotion and access for the press.

So what went wrong? here's my theory: Sammy and Mike were just hired hands this time around. Not worth ther while to try to sell more tickets, because they're making a fixed rate anyway. What do they ultimately care?

Eddie and Alex didn't do additional pres and promotion b/c
a) they are both lousy interviews and don't enjoy it.
b) Ed WAS undeniably constantly drunk and that would have been evident and an unavaoidable subject
c) The question of Dave (journalists would have been told no mentioning of Dave, but they can always work their way aorund to the subject, simply by mentioning "There's more classic material in this set than ever, why?"
d) they still rememeber the beating up in the press they received after the 96 reunion debacle and then the horseshit of VHIII. better not to do press, b/c they are such EMOTIONAL, IMMATURE, JUVENILE ASSHOLES, and being taken to task for their behavior and actions would HURT THEIR FEELINGS. WAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

[Figs]

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[Nickdfresh]

Somebody outta' arrest the fucker for DRIVING DRUNK!

[tomballin]

Originally posted by Matt White
"Van Halen(Hagar) could not sell enough tickets to meet the high guaranteed payments the band demanded and LOST MONEY FOR PROMOTERS."

On a reunion tour...........

Guess EVH had better get to painting those Corn-dogs at home, he ain't goin' back on the road with the Spamster anytime soon.

Yelp the word started leaking out in August, that Clear Channel was losing their ass on the Van SpamBoys 04 Tour because they paid almost 2.5 times more than the market in guarantees to the Sisters.

In fact I saw it posted here at RA, was the first I heard about it before I started checking it out. Clear Channel's greed to control the market bit them in the ass, and the Sisters got rich off the deal.

The Van SpamBoys also was the highest ticket price of any 04 hard rock act, and CC still lost their ass.

If you look at the data for the last several years, ticket volume sales has been declining, yet the clowns keep raising their ticket prices, which just drys up more potential sales volume. Dumb, the fuckers need to go back and take 101 business management class!!!

[Rikk]

No surprise, but good find, Matt!

[Roguesgirl]

Originally posted by edvanheineken
Why does the song "That's life" come to mind right now. I'm picturing goofy Hagar and Eddie spoof videos with that tune in the background. Even better..... "Asi es la vida" playing to videos of their half empty shows! Wow! Now that would be a blast to watch. Throw in a few shots of the promoters' faces as the bottom line comes in!

LOL.

[tomballin]

Originally posted by Roguesgirl
LOL.

Shite don't kid yourself folks, Hagar made a boat load of money on that Tour also. It was the Sisters that wanted that money grab Tour, and they couldn't do it without Hagar, since Roth wasn't an option to those pricks, so Sammy's manager had the leverage in the deal.

Secondly, it was Hagar's manager that put that deal together, since the Sister's had burnt all their bridges over the years, and needed Hagar's infrastructure. This was another arena that hurt Dave's chances of doing the ReUnion. The Sisters, needed management, and industry connections, and Roth just doesn't have them like Hagar's wife does. She's the real driver behind drunk ass SpamBoy.

[scottydabodi]

Yeah, Matt... but you know the WE BOTH KNEW this right from the start... The big flop, and now all the Sheep are hiding under their beds... buncha douchebags.

[bueno bob]

Well, the one saving grace we get off of all this?

NO CHANCE that we'll ever see Van Hagar together on the road or in the studio ever again. I'd say that's pretty much signed, sealed and delivered at this point in the game.

Sam always said the only reason he'd do it (Van Halen) again was for the money, and he certainly made it. Now he and Mike can go Cabo Wabo 5150 NAMBLA time until they puke.

!

[Chaz Rock City]

This couldn't have happened to a more deserving band. Fuck EVH and his sister.

I know there are people who like Van Hager, there are also a lot of people who think O.J. is innocent.

[tomballin]

Originally posted by bueno bob
Well, the one saving grace we get off of all this?

NO CHANCE that we'll ever see Van Hagar together on the road or in the studio ever again. I'd say that's pretty much signed, sealed and delivered at this point in the game.

Sam always said the only reason he'd do it (Van Halen) again was for the money, and he certainly made it. Now he and Mike can go Cabo Wabo 5150 NAMBLA time until they puke.

!

Totally agreed, Van Halen is over. I could see a chance of a Van Roth ReUnion in 07 - 08, if EVH is still alive, but..........

[bueno bob]

Originally posted by Chaz Rock City
...there are also a lot of people who think O.J. is innocent.

And that Tonya Harding didn't put up a bunch of dolts to whack Nancy "WHY?!?!?!?!?" Kerrigan's itty-bitty knee.

[Terry]

Can't see too many promoters ponying up next time around for Van Hagar.

Apologists might blame a lackluster year on the concert front all around for what happened, but the interest for this lineup was out of proportion with the venue sizes from the start. If enough people gave a shit about seeing Van Hagar in action, they would have prioritized and made that the show to see this summer.

No point in boosting the price on the supply when the demand isn't there. Van Halens don't give a fuck, though. They made money, and no doubt deluded themselves into thinking it was a success on all fronts.

[bueno bob]

Originally posted by Terry
Can't see too many promoters ponying up next time around for Van Hagar.

Apologists might blame a lackluster year on the concert front all around for what happened, but the interest for this lineup was out of proportion with the venue sizes from the start. If enough people gave a shit about seeing Van Hagar in action, they would have prioritized and made that the show to see this summer.

No point in boosting the price on the supply when the demand isn't there. Van Halens don't give a fuck, though. They made money, and no doubt deluded themselves into thinking it was a success on all fronts.

This is where it gets real good for them, you see. For them, it WAS a huge success - essentially, the promoters fed them money for nothing. Van Halen might as well have stayed at home, played xbox and taken half of the gross revenue from CCC rather than actually going out and playing, and they'd practically have done as well.

Of course, there IS that little nagging voice that they're listening to, the one that keeps saying "the audience turnout was low...we made more than what we played for...BOBW didn't sell at all...there was no major media coverage of the reunion...this was a complete failure on all fronts...", and they're listening to that voice, subconsciously or whatnot.

Which is EXACTLY why we won't ever see a Sammy Hagar fronted Van Halen again, and why Mike is probably already gone for good.

[Matt White]

Yup, stick a fork in those fuck-sticks!!!

[Matt White]

EEAS???
No thanks!!! I'll pass on that spoiled PORK!!!
BWAHAHAHAHAHHAA!!!

[Nickdfresh]

"FOLLOW THE YELLOW PRICK ROAD!"

Follow the Yellow Prick Road. Follow the Yellow Prick Road.
Follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow the Yellow Prick Road.
Follow the Yellow Prick, Follow the Yellow Prick,
Follow the Yellow Prick Road.

We're off to see the Jizard, The Wonderful Jizard of Oz.
You'll find he is a whiz of a Jiz! If ever a Jiz! there was.
If ever oh ever a Wiz! there was of fleecing the sheep is one because,
Because, because, because, because, because.
Because of the wonderful fraud he does.
We're off to see the Jizard. The Jonderful Wizard of Oz

[5150Clown]

I'm glad I didn't go to see the show. I would have felt like an idiot donating to the demize of one of the greatest rock bands ever in America.

[bueno bob]

Originally posted by Matt White
Yup, stick a fork in those fuck-sticks!!!

Nice work!

[Big Train]

Originally posted by tomballin
Shite don't kid yourself folks, Hagar made a boat load of money on that Tour also. It was the Sisters that wanted that money grab Tour, and they couldn't do it without Hagar, since Roth wasn't an option to those pricks, so Sammy's manager had the leverage in the deal.

Secondly, it was Hagar's manager that put that deal together, since the Sister's had burnt all their bridges over the years, and needed Hagar's infrastructure. This was another arena that hurt Dave's chances of doing the ReUnion. The Sisters, needed management, and industry connections, and Roth just doesn't have them like Hagar's wife does. She's the real driver behind drunk ass SpamBoy.

Clear Channel lost a lot of money, but not as much as you would think. The tour was cross-collaterilized and I am sure that VH had to lower their guarentee as the tour wore on. Not to mention the added dates in markets that did ok. Clear Channel are rich, greedy bastards, but they didn't get that way being complete retards.

I would argue the opposite. I would say Dave is now in the driver's seat for a reunion. They need him to help restore the brand name of VH and Clear Channel needs him to help fill those sheds. I would bet that the seeds have already been planted (Ala my July 4th Boston theory) for a reunion and I am sure the pressure is on VH heavily now to do something, as VH the corporation is bleeding at the moment.

[tomballin]

Van Hagar was a one time deal, and yes no promoter would touch that deal again.

Also, probably 1/2 the people that went to see Van SpamBoys just went to see EVH, since he will never Tour again. That's the only reason I went, and I got lucky, EVH play very well that night and put on a good show for being a worthless drunk/drug addict. The 20m arena was also packed, 99% full, unlike many other Tour venues.

Everyone, including Clear Channel, thought the novelty factor of the Van SpamBoys Tour, and it had been so long since EVH had played in public, would make that a top draw 04 Tour.

However, CC misjudged the public backlash on Roth not fronting the 04 Tour, and CC misjudged how out of control drunk and drug ridden EVH was going to be for the entire Tour.

I was very surprised how many CC radio statons, around the Country, were slamming the Van SpamBoy's Tour. Typically a DJ, even the station's manager sometimes, was immediately fired for going against CC, but I think they had so many stations again the Tour, they couldn't fire everyone. Funny

------------

Originally posted by Terry
Can't see too many promoters ponying up next time around for Van Hagar.

Apologists might blame a lackluster year on the concert front all around for what happened, but the interest for this lineup was out of proportion with the venue sizes from the start. If enough people gave a shit about seeing Van Hagar in action, they would have prioritized and made that the show to see this summer.

No point in boosting the price on the supply when the demand isn't there. Van Halens don't give a fuck, though. They made money, and no doubt deluded themselves into thinking it was a success on all fronts.

[tomballin]

Yes, when the Van SpamBoys Tour started tanking on advanced ticket sales, CC scrambled to spread their risk, before everybody found out. In fact, the business structure/promote of the Tour was the wierdest/most bizzare I have ever seen. Really complex and strange deal.

However, that just actually added to the problems for CC in the end, because a number of venues, ticket wholesalers, business partners, etc, took it in the ass on the Tour, and will not trust CC ever again, or go in on a VH Tour ever again.

Originally posted by Big Train
Clear Channel lost a lot of money, but not as much as you would think. The tour was cross-collaterilized and I am sure that VH had to lower their guarentee as the tour wore on. Not to mention the added dates in markets that did ok. Clear Channel are rich, greedy bastards, but they didn't get that way being complete retards.

I would argue the opposite. I would say Dave is now in the driver's seat for a reunion. They need him to help restore the brand name of VH and Clear Channel needs him to help fill those sheds. I would bet that the seeds have already been planted (Ala my July 4th Boston theory) for a reunion and I am sure the pressure is on VH heavily now to do something, as VH the corporation is bleeding at the moment.

[tomballin]

Sorry, long post.

Originally posted by Big Train
I would argue the opposite. I would say Dave is now in the driver's seat for a reunion. They need him to help restore the brand name of VH and Clear Channel needs him to help fill those sheds. I would bet that the seeds have already been planted (Ala my July 4th Boston theory) for a reunion and I am sure the pressure is on VH heavily now to do something, as VH the corporation is bleeding at the moment.[/B]

>>>I am sure that VH had to lower their guarantee as the tour wore on

Nope they didn’t, nor re-negotiate their Tour contract, per good authority. Business is business and you take no prisoners in the music biz, rest assured. Also, the Sisters’ screw everyone around them, not just Roth, just like EVH screwed Peavey. Hell the loser, never has even had the balls to legally divorce Valerie, so he can continue to use her for an emotional tampon, and play the “doing it for Wolfie” card.

>>> I would say Dave is now in the driver's seat for a reunion

Yes Dave is in the drivers seat , buttttt

1…The Sisters ass fucked the public on a Van Roth reunion 1996, 2000, and 2004, and now EVH is a drunken/drug addict washed up bum. The general public has had it with the Sister's shite, particularly since Alex and Eddie keep bashing Diamond in the press for no valid reasons but their fucked up egos and drunken/drugged stupor.

2…Clear Channel has a policy of not going "back to the well" twice on a money losing Tour. They lost money on Ozzy's 2001 Merry Mayhem Tour, and blacklisted him over the deal. Guarantee they blacklisted the Sister’s over the Van SpamBoy Tour.

Second, CC burnt a lot of bridges on the Van SpamBoy Tour, and people in the music/venue/promotion biz have VERY long memory's. CC/The Sisters burnt the fan’s too, and they also have long memory’s…..since 1996, and 1984.

3…I saw the Van SpamBoy's, and I saw DLR New Years in Orlando. Straight up, no R.A. bullshit, Dave has a better show, and his Band can blow Van Halen out into the back parking. I had heard a lot about how good Ray Luzier and Brian Young are, but never seen them play live. Man, both those two cats are awesome musicians, that can kick AVH/EVH's ass presently. I was really impressed, and would clearly pay money to see DLR and his band play in a larger venue.

4…Dave has never been in the biz for the money. It's not what drives the guy, and he is not hurting for money currently, particularly with his father's inheritance, and Dave’s very frugal ways.

Dave doesn't need the Sisters, unless he wants to be a money whore like Hagar, and I don't see him making an ass of himself on stage with the Sisters, and in the press, like Hagar did.

Also, no-way Dave would tour with the Sisters, and put up with their shite for 4 - 6 months, even for the millions Dave would make off the Tour.

5...Like I posted before, the Sisters got rich off the 04 SpamBoys Tour. They don’t give a shite about touring again. The 04 Tour was nothing but a planned money grab tour, because of the ownership change at Warner Music Group, and they own VH’s “back catalog” of music.

Former Seagram chief executive Edgar Bronfman Jr. that bought WMG (heading a private investor group) is a total worthless rich kid asshole. He ran Seagram’s in the ground after taking control from his father, and he will do the same at WMG.

Go back and look at the number of bands/artists that toured in 04, and see how many WMG owns their “back catalog”. It’s a lot! (I have the list somewhere, I will look for it and post it).....including top grossing acts, like Prince, Madonna, along with Eric Clapton, Metallica, Kid Rock, Van Halen, and a bunch more.

Also look at the dates of the WMG buyout. Announced November 03/Finalized March 04, and then look at the dates of Hagar’s “just chance” phone call/meeting with Alex, (EVH was too fucked up to meet) and the 04 Van SpamBoys Tour announcement. They are both within weeks of each other. So much for Hagar’s/Sister’s bullshit of we just did the SpamBoys Tour for “VH II breakup closure”, and for the fans, hun

6…No good manager would tell Dave to pursue a Van Roth ReUnion this year[/u]. The paying public had the 02 Hagar-DLR Tour, and the 04 Van SpamBoys Tour. Secondly, the promotion business finally broke (took it in the ass) in 04 due to the runaway artists guarantees and excess number of concerts promoted. (4th straight year of declining concert industry ticket sales)

2005 is very different, and there is no way that Dave and Van Halen could get a good promote deal, it they could get one in the first place, which is doubtful on a National basis, I understand.

7…If I was Dave’s manager, I would say to him:

a…Sit back and let’s percolate the market, on a Van Roth ReUnion Tour, for 12-15 months, and see what happens.

b…Keep taking the positive high road in the press towards the Van Halen’s;

c…Keep saving people’s life as an EMT in a NYC “meat wagon”, with several third-party news articles on these events; (Good for the public “good guy image”)

d…Get out and do a mini tour, to let people know you haven’t died, and can still put on a great Van Roth style show, (with NO bad shows). Also a couple of really hot new tunes damn sure wouldn’t hurt...... Diamond;

e…As manager, I will have the press get out several choice “third-party” articles during 05, that you (Roth) are a victim, just like the fans, of no Van Roth ReUnion, now 3 times ‘96’/00’/04. However, you would only do a ReUnion with the Sisters, if you were sure a quality/value for the fans ReUnion Tour could be done with you fronting the band. (Unlike the 04 Van SpamBoys abortion, EVH drunken/drugged bum state the whole tour, and totally over-priced/CCE manuplicated allocation/availablility tickets)

f. As manager, I will contact the Van Halen people and see if there is some way to get EVH into alcohol/drug rehabilitation before he kills himself, and/or his cancer comes back (if it is not already back for the THIRD time) and kills him.

Forget the above steps a – e as to a Van Roth ReUnion Tour, if we cannot accomplish step f. (I think because of EVH’s condition, artist/Tour promotion insurance for a Tour promoter, would be extremely hard to obtain, and no promoter will back a Tour without it.

--------

COMMENTS:……. I really feel like, Dave is already doing something along these “ if I was Dave’s manager” lines. The guy is such a genius and thinks so far ahead of “normal mortals”, LOL.

The Boston 04 Pops gig was great for him and developing new biz contacts and interest. (I understand that Steve Tyler purposely backed out of that gig and recommended Dave, based on some kind of “inside deal”, and Tyler really likes Diamond).

Dave’s EMT deal is cool/different/unusual and will work with the public image and interest situation.

Dave’s live shows are much better than usual. Diamond seems to be more serious about the shows, and not jerking off as much on stage the last six months. Seems like his voice is also much better. (Dave really let it get out of condition). He must be working on it and building back up his vocal cords, imo.

Also, Dave looks great for his age and high rocker mileage. All you people that give him shite on his looks: - Check out current pics of all the other hard rockers from the 70’s and early 80’s. Diamond looks better than 99% of them, if they are still even alive.

(Any 50 year old hard rockers here at R.A., please feel free to post your current unretouched pics, for all of us to compare with DLR's.)

Dave has made no bones, that he would like a VH-Roth ReUnion, if it was right for the fans, and Van Roth could put on a good show, without a lot of backstage problems with the Sisters.

-------

These are just my thought. What does everyone else think?

[elcid_5150]

I have lurked here awhile, but couldn't keep from laughing after reading the posts on this thread. Get a life, people. Damn. Most of the guys posting on this thread average anywhere from 14 to 18 posts a day, with Nick over 40. Did someone actually use the word "fuckstick" earlier? Uh huh, just checking.

--->Cid<---

[Nickdfresh]

Originally posted by elcid_5150
I have lurked here awhile, but couldn't keep from laughing after reading the posts on this thread. Get a life, people. Damn. Most of the guys posting on this thread average anywhere from 14 to 18 posts a day, with Nick over 40. Did someone actually use the word "fuckstick" earlier? Uh huh, just checking.

--->Cid<---

Why don't you go back to "lurking" at your usual kiddieporn sites than fag.

[Nickdfresh]

Originally posted by elcid_5150
I have lurked here awhile, but couldn't keep from getting my ass reamed dailey at my favorite gay establishment. Get a life, people. Damn. Like me! I come here to stir shit up since I am completely ignored in life in general. Most of the guys posting on this thread average anywhere from 14 to 18 posts a day, with Nick over 40. Did someone actually use the word "fuckstick" earlier? Uh huh, just checking, I am really very gay and seek other men for companionship. Uh huh, I'll go back to my cracker infested small town in Shitsville, SC with all the other trailer residents and FUCKSTCK away! Uh huh!

--->Cid<---

Please do.

[Matt White]

Originally posted by elcid_5150
I have lurked here awhile...... Did someone actually use the word "fuckstick" earlier? Uh huh, just checking.

--->Cid<---

Kewl! How about van hagar sycophant?
Thought you'd like that!

[spmusicplyr]

Originally posted by academic punk
Actually, that's the weird thing: usually in a situation like this, the band is REQUIRED to go into full damage control mode, and go out to the press, radio, MTV, WHATEVER to generate as much publicity for the tour as possible.

I GUARANTEE the promoters are extremely pissed off with the band for the lack of promotion and access for the press.

So what went wrong? here's my theory: Sammy and Mike were just hired hands this time around. Not worth ther while to try to sell more tickets, because they're making a fixed rate anyway. What do they ultimately care?

Eddie and Alex didn't do additional pres and promotion b/c
a) they are both lousy interviews and don't enjoy it.
b) Ed WAS undeniably constantly drunk and that would have been evident and an unavaoidable subject
c) The question of Dave (journalists would have been told no mentioning of Dave, but they can always work their way aorund to the subject, simply by mentioning "There's more classic material in this set than ever, why?"
d) they still rememeber the beating up in the press they received after the 96 reunion debacle and then the horseshit of VHIII. better not to do press, b/c they are such EMOTIONAL, IMMATURE, JUVENILE ASSHOLES, and being taken to task for their behavior and actions would HURT THEIR FEELINGS. WAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

bingo, my man

[Panamark]

Good post tomballin !

Agree with most of that.....

[diamondclaudio]

Tht Only SOLUTION IS DAAAAAAAAAAAAAVEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!
Won't you trust me.¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Me wise magic!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hardrock69]

Great post tomballin.

When Van Hagar fucked over (oops I meant PLAYED FOR) a half empty arena in Wichita, Kansas this year, when the van carrying King Edward The Drunque arrived at the coliseum, he was so fucked up out of his mind, he could not even unbuckle his seat belt!

My best friend has been earning a living as a musician in that area for the past 20 years, and he was told this by the Program Director of the local rock station.

That sorry fuck and his Cro-Magnon sister need to pull his fucking head out of his ass (yeah it will take two of them to do it...his head is stuck so far up his ass it is almost coming out his own mouth!).