'Van Halen Rising' Book Chat with Greg Renoff - Oct. 17th, 9pm ET

[Terry]

Though GL isn't as captivating as EVH to watch, Lynch, imo, writes well. If his 1st solo album (Wicked Sensation) had been released about five years earlier, it would have sold by the truck load. I still believe that that record is one of the best rock records ever made, and Lynch wrote the songs... all of them.

Lynch has come up with some okay stuff far as songs go.

Nothing approaching the level of what Ed was coming up with in the CVH days.

[Terry]

Even if you don't like Dokken, Lynch has written some fantastic songs on the guitar. His rhythm and lead combination is stellar.

To compare flash in the pan speed and no substance guitarists like Macalpine, Malmsteen and even to an extent, Vai, to Ed or George Lynch, is asinine.

While Vai has written some decent songs on the guitar, he he has never really written much with a singer, that has stood the test of time. His best songs with Dave are mediocre at best rhythm wise. They had to have Tuggle, to fill all the dead space Vai left.

Satriani is the same way. I haven't heard all the Chickenfoot stuff, but what I have heard, was mediocre, at best. We know Chickenfoot as a whole is mediocre, but I'm talking about the songs as guitar songs. Nothing earth shattering at all, from what I heard.

None of those fuckers can write a hook like Lynch or Ed.

That was the entire point of the comparison, in that Ed influenced a shitload of guitarists and spawned more than a few imitators, and by the time 1985 rolled around some of them were doing things on a technical level that surpassed Ed in terms of complexity. However, the Malmsteens/Vais/Satrianis were by and large bound to be restricted to a niche audience comprised mostly of other guitar players.

My whole longwinded point was that it is always the song and not the solo.

I'd agree that Lynch demonstrated more capable songwriting abilities in terms of memorability than Malmsteen/Vai/Satriani and the like.

[vandeleur]

I dont know vai did at least one cd I own that has some canny tunes on

[Terry]

I thank Nirvana every now and then for ridding the world of the likes of Warrant. The grunge period was a necessary evil. More of it turned out to be good than bad in my opinion. The way I see it, both new and old acts of today are more influenced by the 70s and 90s than the 80s. Accept for maybe Halestorm and a few others, but fuck that noise.

I don't know if it so much an instance of grunge killing off hair metal as it was hair metal having run out of steam by the time 1989 rolled around and basically running on vapors for the next couple years, and grunge just happened to be there to fill the gap within the rock context.

[Anonymous]

I thank Nirvana every now and then for ridding the world of the likes of Warrant.

You and I will NEVER be friends.

EVER.

[DLR Bridge]

I don't know if it so much an instance of grunge killing off hair metal as it was hair metal having run out of steam by the time 1989 rolled around and basically running on vapors for the next couple years, and grunge just happened to be there to fill the gap within the rock context.

I'd say it was both, but the HMers that were still at it pretty much had no idea what hit them or a clue how to counter it.

[Anonymous]

Gay pastel colors look better than a filthy green sweater! You didn't see Sonny Crockett running around in some old dirty sweater he dug out of a dumpster!

But you have convinced me to give Nirvana another chance. So tomorrow I shall go out and buy one of their ground breaking, game changing, revolutionary, immortal CDs. Then I'm gonna set it on fire and piss on it

Do NOT buy anything by Kunt Splatteredbrains and/or John Lennon.

Not even as a joke.

[Anonymous]

I dont know vai did at least one cd I own that has some canny tunes on

Sex & Religion is awesome up until that part where they all start squealing like pigs.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if it so much an instance of grunge killing off hair metal as it was hair metal having run out of steam by the time 1989 rolled around and basically running on vapors for the next couple years, and grunge just happened to be there to fill the gap within the rock context.

Like always, you are extremely cool-headed & entirely reasonable, Terry.

It certainly wasn't talent that put grunge in the spotlight. Lack of absolutely anything else seems quite fitting.

[DLR Bridge]

Lennon only brought a megaton more to the music world than the likes of Warrant.

[vandeleur]

Sex & Religion is awesome up until that part where they all start squealing like pigs.

was going with eat em and smile but as you were

[Anonymous]

Lennon only brought a megaton more to the music world than the likes of Warrant.

I will admit that Lennon more or less balanced the evil that he brought upon us all with all the bands that were influenced by the Beatles, aka the very first boys band.

But that's as far as I go.

[DLR Bridge]

Like always, you are extremely cool-headed & entirely reasonable, Terry.

It certainly wasn't talent that put grunge in the spotlight. Lack of absolutely anything else seems quite fitting.

Right, because Jerry Cantrell, Chris Cornell, Dave Grohl, Matt Cameron, Mike McCreedy, Layne Staley, Andrew Wood and a host of others stumbled in and succeeded with pure luck. LMAO.

[Anonymous]

was going with eat em and smile but as you were

What's wrong with Skyscraper? Ford hates it, that means it's brilliant.

[cadaverdog]

But he was a fire arms enthusiast.

He was a weirdo. Now he's a dead weirdo.

[vandeleur]

Right, because Jerry Cantrell, Chris Cornell, Dave Grohl, Matt Cameron, Mike McCreedy, Layne Staley, Andrew Wood and a host of others stumbled in and succeeded with pure luck. LMAO.

Jerry Cantrell is a groovy mother fucker

[vandeleur]

What's wrong with Skyscraper? Ford hates it, that means it's brilliant.

I didnt want to overload the fact that vai who was a big part of the Dave band was getting put in the same bracket as ngog moomingtrol

[Anonymous]

Right, because Jerry Cantrell, Chris Cornell, Dave Grohl, Matt Cameron, Mike McCreedy, Layne Staley, Andrew Wood and a host of others stumbled in and succeeded with pure luck. LMAO.

Whining hippies, the lot of them.

Riding the coattails of the filthiest whiningest hippie of them all.

They should've gotten haircuts, real jobs & left Music to the likes of George Thorogood, John Lee Hooker, Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, Bruce Dickinson, Helloween, etc.

You can safely ignore their entire careers & still never run out of EXCELLENT music to listen to, even if you manage to live more than a few lifetimes.

[Satan]

What's wrong with Skyscraper? Ford hates it, that means it's brilliant.

The only difference between Skycrapper and Othisblowsgoats2 was that one had a tolerable vocalist.

Other than that, both were Velveeta drenched artery clogging synth pop nightmares. (with the notable exception of "Damn Good". The Van Hagar album had NO notable exceptions, of course)

[DLR Bridge]

the likes of George Thorogood, John Lee Hooker, Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, Bruce Dickinson, Helloween, etc.

Good grief.

[vandeleur]

The only difference between Skycrapper and Othisblowsgoats2 was that one had a tolerable vocalist.

Other than that, both were Velveeta drenched artery clogging synth pop nightmares. (with the notable exception of "Damn Good". The Van Hagar album had NO notable exceptions, of course)

Who listened to Othisblowsgoats2 any hoo

[DLR Bridge]

He was a weirdo. Now he's a dead weirdo.

Is that right. How well did you actually know him? Did your records sell as well?

[Satan]

I listened to it once.... in 1988. I still use it to torment the damned in Hell. But only in places where the screams can't reach my office.

[beavrtek]

That's a bold statement. Definitely a handful of tasty riffage on there, but a fair share of clunkers, too. Not sure what the 5 weeks difference would have made, but the guy wasn't about to break any musical ground with Oni Logan dishing out huff and puff lyrics about his burning soul.

Regarding Wicked Sensation, just curious as to what, in your mind, constitutes a "clunker"? Opinions obviously vary but I would think that it's safe to assume that most of us here at RA dig melodic hard/heavy rock. Though George Lynch's Lynch Mob was a little more self indulgent than early VH, I find it hard to believe that Wicked Sensation would not have been big, if radio had not adopted grunge. The disc oozes melody and heart felt attitude. To my ears, the only "clunker" on WS would be (maybe) Street Fighting Man. Shmultzy was on the way out, and George understood this. In his solo stuff (w/Oni Logan on vocals) he could staked his claim, if only the public had been given a chance (via FM radio) to hear it. I doubt that GL has even begun to get out from under the debt incurred from the WS sessions. He is now living in a trailer, but was so close, bitd, to becoming a household word. Though in life you place your bets and takes your chances... that's gotta hurt.

[vandeleur]

I listened to it once.... in 1988. I still use it to torment the damned in Hell. But only in places where the screams can't reach my office.

Well you get what you deserve, if you listened to the first coathanger abortion of an album and then went back for more who is a silly devil.

[Anonymous]

Who listened to Othisblowsgoats2 any hoo

THAT is an excellent question.

All these guys that love grunge so much also listened to every single one of Van Hagar's albums multiple times, even though they hate it to the point of having a rage fueled erection.

It's like they love being miserable, or something.

So much excellent music out there, why would you listen to something you hate or listen to whiny cunts complaining how everything is so unfair?

To each his own, I guess. But fuck me if I understand it.

[Anonymous]

Is that right. How well did you actually know him? Did your records sell as well?

Britney Spears sold a shitload of records. Probably more than Kunt Splatteredbrains.

I guess that means she's extremely talented & her music will live on for eternity.

[Anonymous]

Hey, what's this? The sound of people having a good time while listening to Music? Preposterous!

[DONNIEP]

Did your records sell as well?

Probably better than some of the "rock stars" who show up around here

[DLR Bridge]

Britney Spears sold a shitload of records. Probably more than Kunt Splatteredbrains.

I guess that means she's extremely talented & her music will live on for eternity.

And proves she's a "weirdo" too, right?

Where in the fuck is this thread even going?

[DONNIEP]

Britney Spears sold a shitload of records. Probably more than Kunt Splatteredbrains.

I guess that means she's extremely talented & her music will live on for eternity.

THIS is real talent right here...

[Anonymous]

I don't care if you tell me that these guys are a parody. They're still playing that feel good cock rock you guys hate so much, parody or not.

Would you rather pay a ticket to see this or a grungefest where everybody stands around feeling sorry for themselves?

[DONNIEP]

I don't care if you tell me that these guys are a parody. They're still playing that feel good cock rock you guys hate so much, parody or not.

Would you rather pay a ticket to see this or a grungefest where everybody stands around feeling sorry for themselves?

Steel Panther kicks ass!!

[Anonymous]

And proves she's a "weirdo" too, right?

Where in the fuck is this thread even going?

Who the fuck knows? Let's just roll with it.

[Anonymous]

THIS is real talent right here...

That picture has more photoshop in it than the alleged trannies some people post around here. And still she looks more manly.

[DLR Bridge]

Regarding Wicked Sensation, just curious as to what, in your mind, constitutes a "clunker"?

All I Want, Hell Child, Through These Eyes & For A Million Years. There were actually far more clunkers on the follow up.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a fan. Just don't think George hit a home run as you suggest. More like a standing double at best.

[DONNIEP]

That picture has more photoshop in it than the alleged trannies some people post around here. And still she looks more manly.

Blasphemy! That's quality poontang right there. Plus she's batshit crazy so you know she's good in the sack. Or was years ago.

[DLR Bridge]

Would you rather pay a ticket to see this or a grungefest where everybody stands around feeling sorry for themselves?

I prefer to answer like this. I would rather see Alice In Chains as I did in a hole in the wall club in 1990 with people all around me either scratching their heads or running for the door with shit in their pants because Layne scared it out of them. Steel Panther is of no use to me. That's not to say that I don't think they are talented. Goofy faux "cock rock" just ain't my thing.

[Anonymous]

Blasphemy! That's quality poontang right there. Plus she's batshit crazy so you know she's good in the sack. Or was years ago.

Jesus fuck, how can you not see all the airbrush in the body of the girl they pasted Britney's face into?

[vandeleur]

Jesus fuck, how can you not see all the airbrush in the body of the girl they pasted Britney's face into?

Am with Izzy the pic doesnt look right.