It was 15 years ago today....

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Just curious about your particular story when this happened...

Did you see it live, or did you hear about it that night or the next day?

If you saw it live, did you fucking freak out?

Me? I was stationed in Italy, and of course the Internet was in it's very crude beginnings. I found out about it a day or two later in the Stars and Stripes... My friends and I were drinking beer outside at their half-assed villa, and I had to read it 2 or 3 times to make sure I got it right....


1996

Van Halen makes a surprise appearance with David Lee Roth at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards, generating a raucous and prolonged standing ovation. They present the award for Best Male Video to Beck. The reunited quartet receives a standing ovation from the shocked and delighted crowd. At the backstage press conference, emotions flare as Ed and Dave argue about answers to give the reporters. Frustrated with the reporters' questions, Ed attempts to set the record straight saying that the only thing happening between the band and Dave at the time is the Best Of Volume I project. Dave's reaction reportedly leads the rest of the band to consider never working with Dave again.

[POJO_Risin]

http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1996/

[POJO_Risin]

[POJO_Risin]

Eddie's such a douche

[POJO_Risin]

Here's the entire presentation:

[FORD]

I'd been following the whole story since the news broke of Hagar getting thrown overboard and Dave being in the studio with them. Pretty sure that rumours of their MTV appearance were going around a few weeks before the actual awards show, but you would never know it by the looks on the faces of those who were in the crowd at that event. Celebrities or otherwise, they all seemed genuinely shocked to see all 4 members of the REAL Van HALEN walk out on stage.

And to this day, I'm not sure how to interpret Dennis Miller's comments.... 3/4 of the greatest band ever? What the fuck, is he a ChedHead?

Considering his own right wing proclivitites (which wouldn't become evident for another 5 years) match those of Spam himself, I guess I wouldn't be all that surprised.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Fucker won't embed...

Backstage with Kurt Loder....

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k5...kurt_loder.mp4

[Va Beach VH Fan]

And the "You better be wearing a cup" interview....

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k5..._dave_1996.mp4

[VanHalener]

I was in the air or in the field when this shit went down.
~Airborne~
~All The Way~

I missed the entire fiasco


(One day I too will get to kick Ed in the nuts)

[POJO_Risin]

Fucker won't embed...

Backstage with Kurt Loder....

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k5...kurt_loder.mp4

Watching Eddie in all those videos makes me want to fucking bitchslap him...fucking idiot...

[POJO_Risin]

And the "You better be wearing a cup" interview....

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k5..._dave_1996.mp4

God...what a bunch of bullshit...

[ashstralia]

Watching Eddie in all those videos makes me want to fucking bitchslap him...fucking idiot...

me too pojo, and back then he could still play guitar a bit too.

[Nitro Express]

Ed looks like a painter in those coveralls. He probably would be painting houses in Pasadena if he didn't get Roth in the band who could market them decently. As talented as the Van Halens are, they suck at managing anything. If they are in charge nothing ever gets done and if it does, it sucks.

[clarathecarrot]

I saw it live had no idea they would come out together , aside from the rumors of a possible Best of with Roth VH sharing half the cd with Spammy no idea about new tunes either.

Was nuts bonkers happy, when I saw Dave walk out shit my pants happy Mf'er.

20/20 hindsight when I re-ran the tape caught the slo-mo and well the look on Daves face sais...

[sadaist]

And to this day, I'm not sure how to interpret Dennis Miller's comments.... 3/4 of the greatest band ever? What the fuck, is he a ChedHead?

I honestly don't think he knew a singer would be with the 3 VH guys. Everyone knew Sammy was out. No one knew Dave was back...so to speak. Or maybe he knew but was asked to pretend he didn't and play it up. That way the actual surprise was seeing Dave walk out. And it worked. The place went fucking bonkers.

[sadaist]

And here is the youtube of the video I posted. I had this recorded originally on VHS so I apologize again for the crappyness of it. But it's the ONLY full version out there.

MTV was playing this about every 15-20 minutes for several days.

[clarathecarrot]

And the "You better be wearing a cup" interview....

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k5..._dave_1996.mp4

That was hard to watch been a few years, Ed looks so strung out .
Dave doing his schtick..?
That was enough to piss Ed off ..?
You invite one of the favorite lead singers of all time back on stage with you and you don't expect the crowd to like it ..?
That 3 minute schtick gave me the thought to forgive Ed for the last 12 years Ed spent wandering in lallaa land while I followed Dave out of the band and had a great time.

Dave wants to play sing and entertain I believe Ed wants to appear historically designated as incharge of every minute (tiny) detail.

Ed should stick to writing songs and playing guitar he elevates everyone around him without the need to control, it just happens.

Dave in myop is the only singer who can give Ed , give his guitar playing, body.

That my friends was the secret to CVH .

I am glad that old shit from MTV is done ugg...I also believe that was the last time I watched on of those awards shows and was impressed with it.

[GreenBayLA]

I couldn't even watch it again, the Van Halen brothers are spiritually bankrupt...

[Nitro Express]

15 years ago it sparked a bunch of excitement and the van Halen and david lee roth websites percolated with speculation on whether there would be a reunion. I think most people were using a dial up connection and Netscape then.

[Seshmeister]

Fucker won't embed...

Backstage with Kurt Loder....

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k5...kurt_loder.mp4

The two interviews side by side show how the Van Halens are full of shit.

Is Alex acting like the band have reformed or not in the interview with Loder?

[Va Beach VH Fan]

The two interviews side by side show how the Van Halens are full of shit.

Is Alex acting like the band have reformed or not in the interview with Loder?

"The audience can sense when we're BS'ing them and when we're not"

"The music speaks for itself"

[Va Beach VH Fan]

15 years ago it sparked a bunch of excitement and the van Halen and david lee roth websites percolated with speculation on whether there would be a reunion. I think most people were using a dial up connection and Netscape then.

The first Internet connection I ever made from my home in Italy was, incredibly enough, a dial-up connection into my work, strictly for Internet purposes .... Something that would be an EXTREME no-no nowadays.... And yes, browsing was via Netscape....

[Jérôme Frenchise]

I got the news of the aborted reunion through this mag:



I must still have that issue somewhere.

5:00 pm: DLR is back in VH
5:02 pm: DLR is fired again!

Silly, but true...

I knew about the two tunes they had recorded for the Greatest Hits "vol 1".

How shameful... I thought that was it, back then...

[TJMKID]

Had a sneaking suspicion that Dave might be back in after the Retarded Tequila Salesman split in summer '96. There were rumors floating around the interwebs right before the VMA's. I still shat my undies when I saw all 4 of them walk out onstage together. My eyes were even a little dewy thinking that the mighty Van Halen might once again scorch the Earth and sell out soccer stadiums.

But then I saw the Van Heineken Bros. looking somber and mumbling douchey things about ballsack-kicking and I knew the dream was over. I wanted the Unabomber to send them something tasty.

[fifth element]

was just another day.....i'm sure i did not hear till later in the evening, or perhaps as i read the news on the computer

[SunisinuS]

I heard about it after the fact. I shared the two new songs with my Van Halen people...and it kinda sorta broke my heart to realize that Dave's open letter was the fact.





Two Beautiful songs stuffed down the shitter.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Two Beautiful songs stuffed down the shitter.

Your opinion. I would have replaced "Beautiful" with "Vastly Overrated"....

[SunisinuS]

Your opinion. I would have replaced "Beautiful" with "Vastly Overrated"....

Opinions are like Assholes!

Make sure you wipe yours on occasion.

It's funny. I play drums Guitar bass and can sing. Me Wise Magic....lets see you explain the riff to me.

Can you play it? Sing it? Know the bass line?

Simply over rrrrraaaatttteed huh?

Unchained.

Melody.

Waiting for your Transcription.

You know the Dope. Share it!

It's Funny. I defend both Eddie and Dave on these two songs....with Mike. Sadaist does also. This was the last music from the band. I think it stands up....on it's own. Opinion.

[slimdon]

I got a phonecall from a buddy a few weeks prior to the MTV's saying that he'd just heard on the radio that Dave was back in Van Halen. I f**king jumped in the air with excitement. All those mornings growing up watching contestants on the Price Is Right jumping around like basketcases of excitement, finally made sense to me. Alas, I too was having my happy moment of jumping-fist-pumping joy.

The night before the MTV telecast, I saw the reunited KISS in concert... which was awesome as they were my childhood heroes as well. So there was a very 1977 vibe going on in my personal atmosphere during early September 1996. It was like I was five years old again; no school, blue skies, sunshine, KISS and Van Halen. "At this time, I'd like to thank both of my older brothers for introducing me to rock n' roll at such a young age. Thank you."

Anyways, for the awards show I had heard rumblings of a Dave Halen appearance, so I had my camera in-hand ready to snap a picture of the magical moment. It was one of those I'll actually believe it when I see it scenarios. I gotta say though, when Dave followed them out onto the stage, I was pumping my fist in the air yelling at the tv, "YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!" *see attached photo*

About a month and a half later I saw The Who in concert performing 'Quadrophenia'. Lots of illegal powders and magic mushrooms were consumed, but afterwards I finally got to hear 'Me Wise Magic' on the radio... and holy sh*t, that was a pretty mind-expanding moment for me too.

That couple of month period was very trip-back-in-time for me with what was happening in the music world. But man was I ever disappointedly pissed off when I learned that the whole reunion was not to be. A total bummer.

A funny recent incident though: two months back I had some spinny-chick try to throw together a bad idea promotion at my bar without my input (not wise of her). So I struck it down and made certain it wouldn't happen. Afterwards she posted some funny insults about me on FaceBook saying that, "I was stuck in the 80's and afraid of change." But I laughed and said, "1985 to be exact. I'm still waiting for the new Van Halen album."

The Classic 6; the soundtrack of my life. I love those guys. Always will.


Amen,
The Reverend
www.rocknrollbreakfast.com

[adena dodds]

I like to say; "If assholes could fly."

Opinions are like Assholes!

Make sure you wipe yours on occasion.

It's funny. I play drums Guitar bass and can sing. Me Wise Magic....lets see you explain the riff to me.

Can you play it? Sing it? Know the bass line?

Simply over rrrrraaaatttteed huh?

Unchained.

Melody.

Waiting for your Transcription.

You know the Dope. Share it!

It's Funny. I defend both Eddie and Dave on these two songs....with Mike. Sadaist does also. This was the last music from the band. I think it stands up....on it's own. Opinion.

[ZahZoo]

15 years ago... wow!!! Remember watching this live and getting a chill. Too good to be true... and it was...

To this day, I still laugh at the beginning of that interview and Ed/Al bitching that Spammy had a bad work ethic... they were right... that jackass does at least work. May be crap but the guy at least put out a half dozen records and a dozen tours since then... VH... 2 best of's and and coffee table coaster(III)... oh yeah and striped flip flops...

15 years is a long damn time to waste...

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Opinions are like Assholes!

Make sure you wipe yours on occasion.

It's funny. I play drums Guitar bass and can sing. Me Wise Magic....lets see you explain the riff to me.

Can you play it? Sing it? Know the bass line?

Simply over rrrrraaaatttteed huh?

Unchained.

Melody.

Waiting for your Transcription.

You know the Dope. Share it!

It's Funny. I defend both Eddie and Dave on these two songs....with Mike. Sadaist does also. This was the last music from the band. I think it stands up....on it's own. Opinion.

You want a fucking cookie ??

You've got your opinion, I've got mine...

Doesn't make either right or wrong, leave it at that....

[SunisinuS]

I agree. It is like Zep's CODA. Only difference is...this is the last time I expect to hear music recorded by the Mighty VH. I miss mike and I think the New Band will be different. But I take offense at people picking on this last offering of the band. These last two show style and musicianship. And it is only music, so I do not fight it like the Tax Code

Roth On!

[chefcraig]

About the only immediate source of info at the time was MTV news. Then the "Welcome back" videos started showing up, and like Zahzoo, I figured this was too good to be true. The local radio mentioned that Roth would be joining VH for the awards broadcast, so I tuned in and immediately had the feeling the whole deal was 100 % bullshit. A few weeks later, the "Me Wise Magic" single appeared on the same radio station, but was pulled from high rotation in protest once the cat was out of the bag completely that the entire project, from the award show appearance to the single, was a giant fraud upon the public. In fact, it was about the last time I can recall a radio station doing anything with regard to integrity in the past 15 years.

After that came the announcement that Cherone would be joining the band, and even at that point I had some hope left. This was soon dashed when the band held a listening party broadcast on radio for VH III. And here I am 13-15 years later, still waiting.

[Seshmeister]

Opinions are like Assholes!

Make sure you wipe yours on occasion.

It's funny. I play drums Guitar bass and can sing. Me Wise Magic....lets see you explain the riff to me.

Can you play it? Sing it? Know the bass line?

Simply over rrrrraaaatttteed huh?

Unchained.

Melody.

Waiting for your Transcription.

You know the Dope. Share it!

It's Funny. I defend both Eddie and Dave on these two songs....with Mike. Sadaist does also. This was the last music from the band. I think it stands up....on it's own. Opinion.

Do you like Van Hagar though?

Both songs sound to me like Van Hagar songs with Roth singing on them and with his lyrics.

[SunisinuS]

"This was soon dashed when the band held a listening party broadcast on radio for VH III."


I remember that as well....was in Oregon. I said "What?" Hearing Cherone Scream like Sammy Hagar.....and I knew....the brothers had pissed themselves again.

[SunisinuS]

Do you like Van Hagar though?

Both songs sound to me like Van Hagar songs with Roth singing on them and with his lyrics.

I hate Van Hagar. Take that to the Bank. I was following Roth's solo career and found that on the those two songs....he did not....shit himself. They fit into the catalogue.....I did not care for his Goofy-ness on DLR Band in terms of vocals...so was actually relieved by his showing on those two songs. But I hear no Van Hagar in them.

I know it came as a shock to E&A that Dave was screeching in the way he was at the time. But that is because they did not see Dave as a Calm "New Brother". Now, Dave and Eddie and Alex and Wolfie are going to make new music.


We will see.

[fifth element]

Your opinion. I would have replaced "Beautiful" with "Vastly Overrated"....

opinions are...simply that.

Personally, I like Me Wise Magic...and have since the first time I heard it.

[ThrillsNSpills]

Do you like Van Hagar though?

Both songs sound to me like Van Hagar songs with Roth singing on them and with his lyrics.

CGTSNM was actually a reworked Van Hagar tune called Backdoor shuffle which was rejected from Balance.

[clarathecarrot]

I think it is on the, Why is Dave so exitable and self motivated with a genuine air of good times are just over the next hill conference...( commonly known as the Ed kick Dave in the nuts explanation conference).

They mention 2 or three times about 2 songs with only with David.. with VIDEOS..?

I know this has been discussed around here..but, I wonder if the vids were made before the MTV debacle or if they were to be made and never were, has this ever been confirmed..?

This has been said before but Al does look like a cheezy lawyer leaning in to finish his "clients" sentences, or over speak his statements, as to correct blame onto DLR... The Perpetrator...lol.

If a lawyer could wear shades in court he would look exactly like Al there..lol.

Ahhh a ha ...! good times..lol