4 quarters equals a whole for a Farewell Tour

[Carloscda]

Dave's interaction with the audience and the few kicks he can still do
+
Ed's 10 finger assault on the guitar
+
(Nothing against Wolfie) Mikes vocals to back up Daves
+
Al keeping everything on beat = fellas put all the BS behind you Farewell Tour while everyone is still here!

[ashstralia]

The real van halen never came here. Or likely will. I don't rate that one off 'Stone' thing.

Thankfully I saw the skyscraper show two nights running.
3/4 of the EEAS band will have to do me. They did rip, and years later I got to meet Gregg B.
he's a cool bloke.

Fuck van halen. This is the Roth Army. Get the fucking Billy and Steve magic back, Dave!!

Edit: I'd pay top $ to watch those four rip through the best of Dave's career...

[binnie]

The real van halen never came here. Or likely will. I don't rate that one off 'Stone' thing.

Thankfully I saw the skyscraper show two nights running.
3/4 of the EEAS band will have to do me. They did rip, and years later I got to meet Gregg B.
he's a cool bloke.

Fuck van halen. This is the Roth Army. Get the fucking Billy and Steve magic back, Dave!!

Edit: I'd pay top $ to watch those four rip through the best of Dave's career...

I think the liklihood of an EEAS reunion is slim, for a number of reasons:

1) Billy and Steve can make more $$$ doing other things.

2) As much as we'd all like to pretend otherwise, there really isn't much of a market for DLR solo. If he did tour, it'd be small gigs with some hired guns. But why do that when you do a handful of VH gigs and make more money?

[ashstralia]

I was in two packed houses. Billy and Steve like playing together. Gregg's a fine bloke and a monstrous drum player. . I wouldn't discount it.

[Von Halen]

Get the fucking Billy and Steve magic back, Dave!!

If there is a God, hopefully he will never let this happen.

[ELVIS]

Ed uses 10 fingers now ??

[Seshmeister]

I think the liklihood of an EEAS reunion is slim, for a number of reasons:

1) Billy and Steve can make more $$$ doing other things.

2) As much as we'd all like to pretend otherwise, there really isn't much of a market for DLR solo. If he did tour, it'd be small gigs with some hired guns. But why do that when you do a handful of VH gigs and make more money?

Vai is a draw himself these days and a lot of the shredder types look back at the EEAS era in a similar way that thrash fans look back on Sabbath.

That's maybe overstating it a bit but I think the EEAS band could do theaters over here at least but obviously a smaller draw than VH.

[ELVIS]

Check out these women...

[Seshmeister]

I guess you don't meet many women.

[Von Halen]

Check out these women...

I'd fuck her. (The one on the left.)

[ELVIS]

I guess you don't meet many women.

No, I'm married...

[Carloscda]

Ed uses 10 fingers now ??

Guess you never heard Dave introduce Ed..?
Ladies and Gentlemen I like to introduce the King of 10 fingers & Six strings Mr Edward Van Halen!!

[binnie]

Vai is a draw himself these days and a lot of the shredder types look back at the EEAS era in a similar way that thrash fans look back on Sabbath.

That's maybe overstating it a bit but I think the EEAS band could do theaters over here at least but obviously a smaller draw than VH.

I'd love it to happen, don't get me wrong. But Vai is probably a bigger draw than Dave these days, so why would he do it?

[DLR Bridge]

I'd love it to happen, don't get me wrong. But Vai is probably a bigger draw than Dave these days, so why would he do it?

Only on these G3 or G4 tours he does. Solo in the States, he's not exactly filling the small clubs. I could see him doing a few shows in bigger markets with Roth if it we're put to him, but I doubt it ever would be. Don't forget, a large part of the EEAS band experience was watching them put extra power into the VH classics (which did nothing for me). For Dave to entertain this kind of reunion, I'd say all trucks of the VH train would have to be completely off the rails. Further more, both VH and the EEAS band are getting to be too high octane for ol' Dave to pull off as these wasted weeks, months, years go rushing by in a hurry.

[Seshmeister]

I wouldn't want to be a promoter trying to work out the economics of booking 80s bands.
I hear Skid Row drew 20 people at $25 with 4 support bands last week.

They charge $7500 for a midweek show.

[Seshmeister]

No, I'm married...

You really would have been happier if you had been born in Afghanistan.

About 300 years ago.

[Terry]

I think the liklihood of an EEAS reunion is slim, for a number of reasons:

1) Billy and Steve can make more $$$ doing other things.

2) As much as we'd all like to pretend otherwise, there really isn't much of a market for DLR solo. If he did tour, it'd be small gigs with some hired guns. But why do that when you do a handful of VH gigs and make more money?

There really hasn't been much of a market for Dave solo since the late 1980s, if we're honest about it. AT least not a market that involves venues with any decent capacity.

And to make any money off small gigs, you have to do a lot of them, and Dave's days of doing 100+ gigs a year are behind him.

And even in his years post-1996 when he was touring, Dave was content to do set lists heavy on CVH. And even then, his biggest tour was when he co-headlined with Hagar and made it plain to potential ticket buyers that he was going to be playing little other than Van Halen tunes.

How many people would show up to a gig that was 70% Roth solo stuff and 30% Van Halen stuff these days?

[Nickdfresh]

I wouldn't want to be a promoter trying to work out the economics of booking 80s bands.
I hear Skid Row drew 20 people at $25 with 4 support bands last week.

They charge $7500 for a midweek show.

Shit. Really? LOL. There's a place here that specializes in such pathetic venues. I can't believe these dolts command even that kind of money. They probably drink a good portion of it making it worthwhile for the clubs...

[ashstralia]

If there is a God, hopefully he will never let this happen.

You and I both know there's no god, motherfucker.

[Seshmeister]

And even in his years post-1996 when he was touring, Dave was content to do set lists heavy on CVH. And even then, his biggest tour was when he co-headlined with Hagar and made it plain to potential ticket buyers that he was going to be playing little other than Van Halen tunes.

How many people would show up to a gig that was 70% Roth solo stuff and 30% Van Halen stuff these days?

This is the problem.
The one thing I didn't like about the EEAS band was the way they did CVH.

[Von Halen]

This is the problem.
The one thing I didn't like about the EEAS band was the way they did CVH.

No kidding.

Who butchered the CVH stuff more, Van Hagar, or the EEAS band?

[ZahZoo]

EEAS band hands down...

At least with Van Hagar 3/4th's of the band got it right... with EEAS 3/4th's got it wrong...

[Seshmeister]

You forgot the keyboard player...

[binnie]

I wouldn't want to be a promoter trying to work out the economics of booking 80s bands.
I hear Skid Row drew 20 people at $25 with 4 support bands last week.

They charge $7500 for a midweek show.

Fuckin' hell. 20 people?

How the mighty have fallen. If they reunited with Baz they'd do decent business........

[ZahZoo]

You forgot the keyboard player...

Not really... wasn't worth mentioning in the first place.

[DONNIEP]

Fuckin' hell. 20 people?

How the mighty have fallen. If they reunited with Baz they'd do decent business........

I was walking through the living room the other nite and there's ol' Baz on the TV on some show on ABC Family, playing a singer in a band at some little church or something.

Have to agree though, if he got back with the original line up, they could do some bidness.

[vandeleur]

I was walking through the living room the other nite and there's ol' Baz on the TV on some show on ABC Family, playing a singer in a band at some little church or something.

Have to agree though, if he got back with the original line up, they could do some bidness.

Bands never work getting back with original singers , told you move on

[PETE'S BROTHER]

Bands never work getting back with original singers , told you move on

that's the trouble with never...

[ZahZoo]

[BenJammin]

I'd settle with just one more VH tour if they'd get Mike back. Otherwise I'll have to call it and say VH is done for a touring act. The Sam thing is too much a sham ('Sam the Sham') and the Dave thing just ain't working for me anymore. Love Dave as a person and personality and loved ADKOT, but have to admit the good moments by Dave live are far outshined by the 'oh I really like Dave but this is embarrassing' moments. Dude is bald and trying to cover it up (shave it and grow a beard) and he simply cannot sing anymore live and his fills of acrobatics and banter are totally weak and/or creepy now.

I caveat that with [like many here] there was nobody as awesome as DLR at his peak. But everyone needs to know when to throw in the towel.

Some more highly edited studio albums would be welcome though.

[Southpaw]

I hope they tour again, do it like 2007/2012. Just make sure you do Mohegan Sun on a Saturday night like last 2 tours so I can make a weekend of it again. Are they perfect? Fuck no! They are 60 years old. I'm 46 years old and spend my spare time on baseball diamonds, football fields, and the couch and they still rock out in front of 10-15 grand a night whenever they feel like it.I dont give a rats ass if Mike Anthony is there or not, I go to see DLR and EVH. Eddie seems more into it with his son playing so that works for me. I would probably see Dave solo in the right situation. I dont think that situation exists. Hopefuuly they need $$$ soon that will get them back on the road.

[Seshmeister]

We need some Californian divorces!

Look at John Cleese, you never used to see him from one year to the next and now he's everywhere again.

[IceCreamBlondie]

I hope they tour again, do it like 2007/2012. Just make sure you do Mohegan Sun on a Saturday night like last 2 tours so I can make a weekend of it again. Are they perfect? Fuck no! They are 60 years old. I'm 46 years old and spend my spare time on baseball diamonds, football fields, and the couch and they still rock out in front of 10-15 grand a night whenever they feel like it.I dont give a rats ass if Mike Anthony is there or not, I go to see DLR and EVH. Eddie seems more into it with his son playing so that works for me. I would probably see Dave solo in the right situation. I dont think that situation exists. Hopefuuly they need $$$ soon that will get them back on the road.

I'd agree with that - - I DO want to see them again; I don't care how old they are now. Even seeing Dave at a smaller club would work!!

[chuckjitsu]

I'm with Southpaw. The clock is ticking on their career, so I'd like to squeeze out as much as possible before they call it a day. As long as Dave can still get it done vocally I'm good. I know there are people out there who think Dave is done vocally, but I disagree. Pound out a new album while you're at it boys!

[fraroc]

I think that Van Halen is definitely going to tour again. The question remains though, is this it? Is this next Van Halen tour going to be the dreaded Van Halen Farewell Tour or will there be other tours down the road? I definitely agree with Carloscda. If this next tour is going to be the final Van Halen tour, it needs to be with Michael Anthony. Because Wolfie is a very talented kid, I wouldn't mind if Van Halen became a five piece dual lead guitar band with Wolfie and Eddie playing guitar and Michael Anthony on bass.

[BenJammin]

We need some Californian divorces!

Look at John Cleese, you never used to see him from one year to the next and now he's everywhere again.

Only problem with that comparison is John was a comedian to start with that didn't depend on athletic good looks, primal sex appeal, explosive acrobatics, multi-octave screams, whistles, and hoots. Those tools are gone now. John Cleese still has his [bronzed] sense of comedy. As does DLR to some extent, but that's not the game he signed up for.

[Seshmeister]

After hip replacements Cleese can't do the funny walk anymore but of course you are correct.
It's much easier for a band like Rush to get close to their 1970s performance than Van Halen.

[BenJammin]

Maybe... and only maybe... would Dave be able to cut it on future tours (along with Mike backing him up) is if someone could finally get through to him to not over reach. Quit smoking ! Maybe have his vocal chords looked at, drop his pride and take some vocal coaching if only to compensate for those aging and less-than-pliable vocal chords. That and/or if he can just keep it in his range and do it at a mediocre level would be more tolerable than trying to go over the top, especially if Mike was there [also consider even Page & Plant brought in a female backing vocalist to fill in some of Planty's high spots.

That and self realize he's mostly there for nostalgia and he's not the sexy beast anymore so drop the associated banter, it's just... well anyone over 40 should know better.

Again I will contrast my statements with my opinion that Sammy or anyone else is not an option. It's simply not VH without Dave.
I hate Sam to this day because of all his petty BS slamming of Dave, who never sunk to that level during those 5150/EEAS days. Dave took the high road while Slammy drank his Hatorade.

Edit: I think Dave is one of the coolest sumbitches on the planet and Sammy is a royal douche and I cringe every time I hear someone talking about the 'great time they had going to Cabo Wabo' (I live in San Diego). Fuck him and those stupid twats.

[ZahZoo]

I doubt Dave has the ability to alter his performance mindset to scale back his theatrics... It's not in his DNA. If he did people would be complaining that he's lost his entertainer edge.

I think if someone could just sit Dave down and get him to wrap his stubborn brain around singing within his natural range and knock off the shifting into overdrive on the high register crap... then I think his vocal performances would be fine and enjoyable for all.

Of course for any of this to materialize... someone has to convince Ed & Al to get their lazy asses off the couch and fucking go do something!!!

[BenJammin]

If people want to see theatrics... along with the 'wall of sound' of high notes... bring in the hired guns, backup singers, stage performers, etc.

Shit man, take off the weight and delegate ! They've earned it.