Latest Bass Player Interview

[DrMaddVibe]

I try!

[fryingdutchman]

Why can't Wolf just play rhythm guitar if Ed has to have him in the band?

Just wait....

If Wolf has the chops that everyone claims he has, it won't be too long until he wants to go out and create his own music and his own legacy. Any musician who is as versatile and talented as Wolf apparently is (based on MA's comments amongst others) does not want to be forever known as the "replacement bass player" in any band....even if it is the mighty Van Halen.

I maintain a slim hope that MA's return is imminent.

[fryingdutchman]

He's nothing more than a F A T fucking sellout. A rich kid with a P.A. who never did an honest day work in his life. He's a mediocre musician at best and I wish a pox upon his soul.

Damn...that's harsh.

I think a proper rogering would sort you out.

[DavidLeeNatra]

Just wait....

If Wolf has the chops that everyone claims he has, it won't be too long until he wants to go out and create his own music and his own legacy. Any musician who is as versatile and talented as Wolf apparently is (based on MA's comments amongst others) does not want to be forever known as the "replacement bass player" in any band....even if it is the mighty Van Halen.

I maintain a slim hope that MA's return is imminent.

I kindly disagree...wolfie is the key to everything here. I guess in the first place he is a son who loves his father and wants to save his dad's life. he experienced what a fragile human being his dad is/was. and the only way to keep him on track is to surround him. and btw...why play 200 seaters when you can play sellout arenas with uncle dave and uncle alex?

[vandeleur]

I buy into some of that , we give wolf short change on here , maybe his biggest credits on the album should have been motivator of his dad.
We don't know this but bet its not far off , no wolf , no Dave , no adkot.
Not sure mike is ever coming back , even if wolf left .
Mike never gave Dave much love and sounds like he fucked up any thing he had with the sisters .

Here are options for ya ..

Option a . Dave , the sisters ,billy Sheehan or a n other bass player .
Option b. mike the sisters and mike brings his cockknocker buddy .

Any one picking option b .. The exits are here , here and here .

Oh option c . The classic line up

[DLR Bridge]

Wolfie has GOT to have a couple of fave riffs of bassplayer's...there's the open e-string slide...the now infamous bass solos...the warbling screams...gotta be something there for him to like!

I know your kidding, but seriously, Wolf is there because of his Dad, not because he's an improvement. Wolf's playing is decent, but he also plays like any other guitar to bass convert I've heard before. He starts off every show and ends virtually every song live with lead guitar runs. Mike played (plays) bass. Listen to his playing on the first 3 VH albums. There are walking bass lines that had a powerful attack. I particularly liked his loose playing on WACF, but based on his simplified style on Fair Warning and after, Ed probably thought it was too much going on and shut him down. Probably the first concession he made in order to keep his job. He clearly brings it live in the 3 Oakland '81 videos. As far as vocals go, Dave couldn't have said it better. A totally integral part of the identifiable sound of classic Van Halen. Mike has earned my respect for what he did in my favorite band. Perhaps Wolf will earn mine someday as he fronts his own band, but for now, as good as he's been, the job belongs to Mike.

[DLR Bridge]

Option a . Dave , the sisters ,billy Sheehan or a n other bass player .
Option b. mike the sisters and mike brings his cockknocker buddy .

Any one picking option b .. The exits are here , here and here .

Oh option c . The classic line up

I'd say that option C's chances are far greater than option B's. Option A? Last we heard, Billy wants Mike back in the band.

It's all about burying hatchets at this point. Mike was harmless compared to Dave and he made it back in.

But like Dutch said, chances are slim of a Mike return, but not out of the realm of possibility.

[fryingdutchman]

I kindly disagree...wolfie is the key to everything here. I guess in the first place he is a son who loves his father and wants to save his dad's life. he experienced what a fragile human being his dad is/was. and the only way to keep him on track is to surround him. and btw...why play 200 seaters when you can play sellout arenas with uncle dave and uncle alex?

If this was 2007/08 Natra, I would be on board with you. Back then Ed was a shell of his former self and the only path to revelation and redemption was through his family...in particular, his son.

But in 2013 Ed has 6+ years of sobriety under his belt, he's happily married, he's been through a life-threatening medical condition, and he has his hands in multiple business ventures. He's no longer the shirtless bum with holes in his shoes crafting shitty soundtracks for low budget porn flicks.

Wolf WAS the key to everything a few years ago....but I don't think that's still the case. If Wolf wanted to go his own way I think Ed would be happy for him and not necessarily close the book on Classic Van Halen with Mike back in the fold.

I believe the acclaim surrounding ADKOT reassured Ed that he's still viable and he doesn't need to be jumpstarted by his kid anymore.

I give Wolf full credit for resurrecting Van Halen with Roth. But I don't think the empire hinges on him the way it did 6 years ago.

You don't need to look far on YouTube to find videos of the vitriol that was spit from both sides between Roth and the Van Halens. If they could make peace with Roth, they could make peace with anybody. Mike Anthony is a far less intimidating presence than Roth...I thoroughly agree with DLRBridge in that assessment.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

If this was 2007/08 Natra, I would be on board with you. Back then Ed was a shell of his former self and the only path to revelation and redemption was through his family...in particular, his son.

But in 2013 Ed has 6+ years of sobriety under his belt, he's happily married, he's been through a life-threatening medical condition, and he has his hands in multiple business ventures. He's no longer the shirtless bum with holes in his shoes crafting shitty soundtracks for low budget porn flicks.

Wolf WAS the key to everything a few years ago....but I don't think that's still the case. If Wolf wanted to go his own way I think Ed would be happy for him and not necessarily close the book on Classic Van Halen with Mike back in the fold.

I believe the acclaim surrounding ADKOT reassured Ed that he's still viable and he doesn't need to be jumpstarted by his kid anymore.

I give Wolf full credit for resurrecting Van Halen with Roth. But I don't think the empire hinges on him the way it did 6 years ago.

You don't need to look far on YouTube to find videos of the vitriol that was spit from both sides between Roth and the Van Halens. If they could make peace with Roth, they could make peace with anybody. Mike Anthony is a far less intimidating presence than Roth...I thoroughly agree with DLRBridge in that assessment.

I would tend to agree...

Regardless of MA not being the bass player, non-fanatic VH fans have heard the hits with Dave at the mike for two tours now....

While I think one day MA will get back up there, if even a short time period, I really think it'll only make a difference to us dipshits.....

[fryingdutchman]

I kindly disagree...wolfie is the key to everything here. I guess in the first place he is a son who loves his father and wants to save his dad's life. he experienced what a fragile human being his dad is/was. and the only way to keep him on track is to surround him. and btw...why play 200 seaters when you can play sellout arenas with uncle dave and uncle alex?

One last thing Natra...

If your outlook is correct and Wolf still remains the key to everything for Ed to function, that doesn't mean he has to stay or would want to stay.

Ed being resistant to change doesn't mean that Wolf has to stay dormant. If VH doesn't remain active and viable I don't see Wolf wasting the best musical years of his life sitting around waiting and hoping for things to happen.

If you had the choice in your early 20's what would you do?

1. Sit around and wait for your dad to do something? (with the possibility of nothing ever happening for years)
2. Go out, make your own band, rock your own music, and eat every pussy from sea to shining sea?

I think most would take option number 2.

[vandeleur]

He did do option two tho , he toured Europe with tremonti , he can have his cake and eat it .
Though I do think your right that ed now is in a much better place than in 2007.

Though I am curious to wether ed would have gone as heavy on adkot without wolfs more modern less cheese opinions .

[ELVIS]

Why can't Wolf just play rhythm guitar if Ed has to have him in the band?

What ?!?!?

[ELVIS]

[ELVIS]

[ELVIS]