New Van Halen debate

[diamondclaudio]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj9-DrJZeA4

[BumBahDeeDah]

Dicks.

[philouze]

Trunk's a Hagar nutswinger so I'm not that surprised.
My good friend Chris Akin (of the Classic Metal Show) said something that makes A LOT of sense. He basically said that all this drama is more or less a PR stunt to sell tickets for the upcoming tour, as it doesn't sell well at all.
Of course, the die hard fans already have their VIP packages, but the average Joe who only knows YRGM and Jump is not buying a ticket for that summer tour.
So they try to milk it a bit.

And you know what? Seeing the (I don't know if that's the correct word) "venues setups/sold tickets" (I hope you know what I mean), I only can agree with the guy.

Only the die hard VH fans are interested in them anymore. That's sad but that's it. And we can all thank Roth for giving the best of himself vocally on the previous tour. That goofball made such an embarassment of himself that nobody but the die hard fans want to see them again.

I don't know if I made myself clear but what the fuck..

[Jetstream]

Trunk horse bunk, because Van Halen has probably turned him down for the thousand time to talk to the fan boy. The funny part of interview is when Trunk mails in a fact he won't admit. He says the ultimate scenario would be a Roth/Hagar show and that they could all go on stage together for an encore and mentions "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" they could sing together and then goes shit quiet trying to think of a Van Hagar song worthy of a encore after classic Van Halen was part of the show and then after dead stupid silence just says "Whole Lot of Love" by Zeppelin and then says "You Really Got Me"... yes, Hagar is subpar compared to the Roth catalog and anything on Trunk BTW when the topic is Van Halen is not a debate but Hagar posturing

[philouze]

anything on Trunk BTW when the topic is Van Halen is not a debate but Hagar posturing

I remember Trunk's shocked face on TMS when they reviewed Sammy's book and Jamieson said something like "Sammy, you're a cool dude, but Dave's the man".

[DavidLeeNatra]

it's simple...regarding the sales of ADKOT the band is done with selling albums...how may copies was it? each band member makes more playing one gig!

so the only way to milk the cow (us!!!) is by going on tour and selling overpriced tickets. so...find some lame ass excuse to go on tour - "promoting" a live album wich you can have on youtube for free - to make some cash...I bet they don't give a flying shit about the album. it's all about the concerts. 40 shows...say a million per show guaranteed...who many albums do you have to sell for that nice little cash...

[DavidLeeNatra]

this is funny...Micky...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ovXsVlahwU

[Jetstream]

it's simple...regarding the sales of ADKOT the band is done with selling albums...how may copies was it? each band member makes more playing one gig!

so the only way to milk the cow (us!!!) is by going on tour and selling overpriced tickets. so...find some lame ass excuse to go on tour - "promoting" a live album wich you can have on youtube for free - to make some cash...I bet they don't give a flying shit about the album. it's all about the concerts. 40 shows...say a million per show guaranteed...who many albums do you have to sell for that nice little cash...

If one where to ask me the most popular hard rock band in the world, it has to be AC/DC. AC/DC seems to be the only hard rock band that still has album sales which remotely recall what album sales where like for a major band. I have talked to some guys in the industry and if one is touring arenas, that aspect is different now and a lot of the money comes out of the band to make these large scale tours possbile because the record company no longer fronts the same amount of financial support and hence the ticket prices accommodate to make up the difference. Yes, they are still make a ton of money because the band still to an extent wants to profit as they always have. You are right, it is about the concerts when money is the objective... though making new music should be the objective because that is what suits an older band from a pure expression point of view due to their age, new music is really what older fans desire in my opinion

[DavidLeeNatra]

though making new music should be the objective because that is what suits an older band from a pure expression point of view due to their age, new music is really what older fans desire in my opinion

we won't get any new music...and this will be the last tour...then the horse is dead...

[PETE'S BROTHER]

...then the horse is dead...

and will remain bein' beaten..

[DavidLeeNatra]

and will remain bein' beaten..

probably...

[philouze]

this is funny...Micky...

You're so fine you blow my mind..

[Jetstream]

we won't get any new music...and this will be the last tour...then the horse is dead...

So, what your saying is the mighty Van Halen steed will be put out to pasture while the jackass Hagar will continue to Yee Haw lol

[DavidLeeNatra]

So, what your saying is the mighty Van Halen steed will be put out to pasture while the jackass Hagar will continue to Yee Haw lol

you know what...I don't give a shit anymore...

[philouze]

Meet us in the pasture...

Dave, you were wrong... AGAIN

[philouze]

you know what...I don't give a shit anymore...

Dirk, speaking the truth from Germany.. \m/

[atomicpnk47]

[rwc]

we won't get any new music...and this will be the last tour...then the horse is dead...

I agree. This is likely the last we will see from the Mighty Van Halen.
But... let's be honest... Think back to 2005. If ten years ago someone told you:
Van Halen will tour with Dave in 2007-2008
Van Halen will release a new studio album in 2012 (and it will be a worthy addition to the canon)
Van Halen will tour with Dave in 2012
Van Halen will play two US shows in 2013 and a few in Japan
Van Halen will release a live album with Dave in 2015
Van Halen will do a final tour with Dave in 2015.

Let's face it... back in 2005 we'd all have been pretty damn happy with that.

Even if all the cash is grabbed, I say "Happy Trails to the Mighty Van Halen."

[ZahZoo]

Hmmm we haven't seen a "New" Van Halen debate in the 21st century... Same shit different day...

[BumBahDeeDah]

They probably have a whole new album done that they ain't releasing because it won't sell, whether it's great or not.

[Seshmeister]

I don't think so.

[twonabomber]

Dave, from 2002: “Eddie Van Halen is guilty of only one crime in life: Wasted time.”

[Terry]

Trunk did make a decent, if obvious, point at the top of the interview where he said he thought EVH has basically come to the realization that Van Halen's only real viable commercial future in terms of live work is one where Roth fronts the band. Unlike Trunk, I don't think EVH making those absurd comments about Michael Anthony had anything to do with EVH saying them because he wants to placate Roth or Wolfgang. I think EVH made those comments about Michael Anthony because that's exactly the way he feels about his former bass player.

I have no idea what the current VH tour is panning out to be in terms of tickets already sold in comparison to the last two tours. It wouldn't be a surprise to find that a smaller amount of people are interested in seeing the band this time around. They've already done what were essentially two greatest hits tours with Dave. You'd have to imagine by now that most of the diehard bands have already caught one or both of those tours. The band are playing a different venue in my area this time around than they did 3 years ago, but both venues have a 20k seating capacity.

I think Mike Anthony would rejoin the band for a CVH farewell tour if asked despite the pretty shabby treatment he has received from the Van Halens since the early 1990s. If Anthony did so and said he was doing it in large part "for the fans", I'd actually tend to believe him. I doubt it would ever happen, though. Then again, I thought EVH would never come around to the realization that the majority of people wanted to see Roth front the band again, so maybe it's not hopeless that Eddie would come to another realization that a perhaps not insignificant amount of people would like to see the CVH lineup reunited onstage as well. It'd be pretty cool if Wolfgang would actually talk to his old man and facilitate that to happen, because I tend to think Wolfgang was the primary motivating force in convincing his dad to get Roth back in the group.

However, as the years go by, even my interest in seeing CVH reunited live has dwindled to something just this side of "meh, whatever, who cares anymore?" As a somewhat rational person, I'd have to imagine that if the last two tours haven't convinced me that Van Halen is basically a spent and only marginally entertaining band (which, sadly, IS the case) these days, then nothing short of EVH going onstage and playing a kazoo solo in between massive guzzles of Smoking Loon would make the point clear that the band aren't really capable of doing anything better than they have been for the last 8 years, and Van Halen is obviously past the point of rescue re: diminishing returns.

It's just age...getting older.

[Seshmeister]

It's not just age.

Compare them to AC/DC who are the same age in fact Brian Johnson is 7 years older.

Like Roth Johnson doesn't hang with the rest of the band in between tours and recording but they look like a team. Eddie coming out with that he doesn't love me shit about Roth is fucking idiotic. It breaks the suspension of disbelief wide open, a rock gig like that is a party and if you know the people don't like each other its not good. What the fuck good result could come from that? Same x10 for the Anthony comments, what possible good could come from that? He's only doing the interview to try and sell tickets so why give lots of comments which do the exact opposite?

Also worth pointing out that Angus Young and co seem to put a lot more into their shows physically, put more into the productions, give more interviews, fan feedback, promotion and on and on in other words it's not about age it's just more failin' of Van Halen, a band who still even in their 60s constantly make schoolboy errors and these days give it about 60% effort.

[FORD]

Ironically, Ac/Dc has suffered more casualties than Van Halen, and still kept going. Even despite having a scab guitarist and a scab drummer on the current tour.

I don't know how Angus is still functional, considering he probably abused his body more on stage than Ed ever did (not talking about booze and drugs here, just the physical shit) and as far as I know, Angus hasn't had any bionic hips or knees or tongues, or whatever.

[Jetstream]

It's not just age.

Compare them to AC/DC who are the same age in fact Brian Johnson is 7 years older.

Like Roth Johnson doesn't hang with the rest of the band in between tours and recording but they look like a team. Eddie coming out with that he doesn't love me shit about Roth is fucking idiotic. It breaks the suspension of disbelief wide open, a rock gig like that is a party and if you know the people don't like each other its not good. What the fuck good result could come from that? Same x10 for the Antony comments, what possible good could come from that? He's only doing the interview to try and sell tickets so why give lots of comments which do the exact opposite?

Also worth pointing out that Angus Young and co seem to put a lot more into their shows physically, put more into the productions, give more interviews, fan feedback, promotion and on and on in other words it's not about age it's just more failin' of Van Halen, a band who still even in their 60s constantly make schoolboy errors and these days give it about 60% effort.

I would not say that on stage AC/DC gives more effort, and Johnson is one of the most stationary non mobile lead singers in rock history (sort of like a old guy yelling at cars going too fast down the street in a limited area haha). But you make some valid points about the members not slamming one another directly or rather indirectly as Van Halen usually does. The two main points which save AC/DC which has nothing to do with effort or the quality hits, but rather the facts that Johnson replaced a guy who died and though less blues oriented, it is the same style of rock now for a large span of time with no opposing fans in the Hagar sense to be a locker room cancer from afar and the main reason is that they keep releasing new material... and one effort Van Halen lacks, touring internationally nurturing more fans across the globe

[Seshmeister]

I would not say that on stage AC/DC gives more effort, and Johnson is one of the most stationary non mobile lead singers in rock history (sort of like a old guy yelling at cars going too fast down the street in a limited area haha).

I was thinking more Angus v. Eddie

[Seshmeister]

Ironically, Ac/Dc has suffered more casualties than Van Halen, and still kept going. Even despite having a scab guitarist and a scab drummer on the current tour.

I don't know how Angus is still functional, considering he probably abused his body more on stage than Ed ever did (not talking about booze and drugs here, just the physical shit) and as far as I know, Angus hasn't had any bionic hips or knees or tongues, or whatever.

Low centre of gravity, AC/DC are tiny people?

[ZahZoo]

It's not just age.

Compare them to AC/DC who are the same age in fact Brian Johnson is 7 years older.

Like Roth Johnson doesn't hang with the rest of the band in between tours and recording but they look like a team. Eddie coming out with that he doesn't love me shit about Roth is fucking idiotic. It breaks the suspension of disbelief wide open, a rock gig like that is a party and if you know the people don't like each other its not good. What the fuck good result could come from that? Same x10 for the Anthony comments, what possible good could come from that? He's only doing the interview to try and sell tickets so why give lots of comments which do the exact opposite?

Also worth pointing out that Angus Young and co seem to put a lot more into their shows physically, put more into the productions, give more interviews, fan feedback, promotion and on and on in other words it's not about age it's just more failin' of Van Halen, a band who still even in their 60s constantly make schoolboy errors and these days give it about 60% effort.

The school boy errors are most likely due to the lack of any effective management driving the band to take care of the necessary business aspects... productions, interviews, promotion, etc.

At the core though, I think a key element of the dysfunction is with Edward...

As great of a musician that he is... he's never been one to embrace and love performing like most musicians do. There's a deep seeded insecurity that he's had since even the club days. Turning his back to the audience when soloing... creating the stripped paint job so no one would steal his guitar modifications... another big one... Allowing other band members to work outside "his" band... even though it's OK for him to venture out.

While Edward does seem to recognize his musical contributions more so as he's finding his way out of his substance abuse fog... He's still dragging enough bullshit baggage with him to fertilize the Grand Canyon. But he still has a significant issue in sharing his trade openly and happily with the world.

Dave's not much different in a sense... while he used to be much more publicly accessible, that's fallen off significantly. He also can only collaborate musically in top secret private sessions and requires all around him to live for eternity under a cone of silence. He loves entertaining more like most musicians, but sharing a stage outside his "band" literally scares the shit out of him... His comfort zone has wider and deeper motes around him than any other public performer in the business.

It's all such a shame... these guys can put more smiles, get more feet tapping and hips swaying than most bands on the planet. But their mind games almost make the venture too damn hard to get off the ground...

[chefcraig]

The school boy errors are most likely due to the lack of any effective management driving the band to take care of the necessary business aspects... productions, interviews, promotion, etc.

At the core though, I think a key element of the dysfunction is with Edward...
It's all such a shame... these guys can put more smiles, get more feet tapping and hips swaying than most bands on the planet. But their mind games almost make the venture too damn hard to get off the ground...

The thing is, this shell game has been going on for decades, when you think about it. In the late seventies on up to the 1984 barrage of media hype, we had little "Eddie Van Halen, the overwhelmed wunderkind".

All of that more or less evaporated when Dave Roth left. A defensive, bloated character showed up, to the point that he was so over weight he had to be filmed from odd angles to hide it in the vids for the ghastly Balance album.

Then Hagar is out, and Ed shits all over him. Throw in so-called "reunion era- Roth,"Best Of Album Vol 1" (teamed defense with a pontificating brother Al on MTV), Ted Templeman, Joe Perry, Alan Holdsworth, and now Mike Anthony.

I believe the words "childish petulance" come to mind.

So sorry to alarm you Ed, but the planet is not out to get you. YOU appear to be out to get you, ya fuckin' load of dickferbrains.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

At the core though, I think a key element of the dysfunction is with Edward...

Well, you nailed it with the term "dysfunction", with a capital D, no doubt....

And CC said it best as well with it being such a shame....

Because they (collectively) have done it basically the exact OPPOSITE of how any "normal" entertainer would approach, you know, SUCCESS....

It's fucking remarkable these guys can still make a living considering how much of a fucking soap opera every facet of their profession is....

I mean, think about it....

Basically NO interviews on any kind of a regular basis, unless you're Ed, of course..... Relatively little promotion.... The only media attention they've gotten in the last few years has been anything other than positive, and lately it's been only backstabbing.....

An absolutely LAUGHABLE social media presence....

I guess it's a testament to that incredible music when they still had the energy and the work ethic that allows them to exist to this day..... 'Cause the vast majority of other bands would've been forced to fold up tents and get real jobs a long time ago with the same tumultuous history....

But the problem now is that "machine" is starting to break down.... I'm of the belief that Dave's voice is preventing him from sustaining the "normal" notes for any prolonged period of time, hence the yelping....

Whomever you want to blame for no new music and a half-hearted live album, trotting out there on tour is only going to get you so far, even for Van Halen....

That's why I'm fascinated to see what happens this summer....

[Kristy]

I don't like this Trunk guy. Too Walmart-ish.

[VHscraps]

The school boy errors are most likely due to the lack of any effective management driving the band to take care of the necessary business aspects... productions, interviews, promotion, etc.

At the core though, I think a key element of the dysfunction is with Edward...

As great of a musician that he is... he's never been one to embrace and love performing like most musicians do. There's a deep seeded insecurity that he's had since even the club days. Turning his back to the audience when soloing... creating the stripped paint job so no one would steal his guitar modifications... another big one... Allowing other band members to work outside "his" band... even though it's OK for him to venture out.

While Edward does seem to recognize his musical contributions more so as he's finding his way out of his substance abuse fog... He's still dragging enough bullshit baggage with him to fertilize the Grand Canyon. But he still has a significant issue in sharing his trade openly and happily with the world.

Dave's not much different in a sense... while he used to be much more publicly accessible, that's fallen off significantly. He also can only collaborate musically in top secret private sessions and requires all around him to live for eternity under a cone of silence. He loves entertaining more like most musicians, but sharing a stage outside his "band" literally scares the shit out of him... His comfort zone has wider and deeper motes around him than any other public performer in the business.

It's all such a shame... these guys can put more smiles, get more feet tapping and hips swaying than most bands on the planet. But their mind games almost make the venture too damn hard to get off the ground...

It's a real pity that Edward got control of this band. I don't know if it is insecurity on his part, or megalomania, but the lack of willingness to grant that Van Halen was a collective effort (see the grudging acceptance that DLR is core to the perception of the band in the last interview, for instance), or one that had some historical impact just continues to diminish the legacy.

If the people who guide him in matters of PR - if there is, indeed, any advice about that kind of stuff being offered or listened to - had a sense adventure or history, they might have advertised the tour as more of a celebration. Look at this video for a Stones exhibition NEXT JULY. A full year ahead, and more important, look at how they present the Rolling Stones:



You know what the visuals reminded me of, a bit? The kind of tour books Dave and Pete Angelus put together for the 79, 80, and 81 tours, especially the FW one.

I think VH - or Ed - is so tight that he doesn't like spending money on promotion, but how much effort does it take to do something like that? Hire some video and art guys with some fucking flair - instead of going out and giving divisive interviews to 'promote' the tour.

[chefcraig]

That's why I'm fascinated to see what happens this summer....

[philouze]

I don't like this Trunk guy. Too Walmart-ish.

Eddie Trunk, brought to you by Walmart and White Castle...

[Nitro Express]

I got Eddie in the trunk. Pay up or that mother fucker won't be playing shows this summer.

[chefcraig]

Eddie Trunk, brought to you by Walmart and White Castle...

Plus, mail order my special "Sans-A-Belt-Slacks." Never leave your house again with a fear of your trousers falling down!

Also, try Slippy & Tipsiest Tacos and Bowling. "Eh, You Can't Bowl Worth A Shit In The First Place, Who Cares If Your Hands Are Messy? Buy Our Beer, You Know You Crave It". Free Bingo, Sunday nights starting at 7 PM through 9:15. Then I grab the best bowlers and bingoers and use 'em as an audience, filmed, believe it or not, in the same bowling alley.

And Hagar thinks he's a marketing genius.

Thanx all,
The Trunkster

PS: I have some T shirts, too...

[Kristy]

Well, Trunk is a smug little prick (quite literally) who lives in Classic Rock Land where F A T Spammy is he amusement park main attraction that he tries to sell like a carnival barker. Here I was thinking so many of you cretins never made it out of 1985. Trunk actually lives there.

[Jetstream]

Well, Trunk is a smug little prick (quite literally) who lives in Classic Rock Land where F A T Spammy is he amusement park main attraction that he tries to sell like a carnival barker. Here I was thinking so many of you cretins never made it out of 1985. Trunk actually lives there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sy8ulwexfY

[chefcraig]

Well, Trunk is a smug little prick (quite literally) who lives in Classic Rock Land where F A T Spammy is he amusement park main attraction that he tries to sell like a carnival barker. Here I was thinking so many of you cretins never made it out of 1985. Trunk actually lives there.

I really like Judas Priest and Bad Company. In fact, the drummer and bassist from each helped me push my 1976 El Camino out of the garage and get it started again. The new guy from Alice n Chains filmed the process on his cellphone, and we hope to opt it to either the History or Discovery channel.

We'll call the show Busted Down Rockers & Cars.