Classic Van Halen full reunion

[78/84 guy]

Other than Dave really sounding good on the 07/08 tour and most of A.D.K.O.T. being really decent I'd say that pretty much covers it Terry. I guess Ed was pretty good on the last few tours. Release the vaults and I'm fine if they do nothing new ever again. I might go see them if they came around but wouldn't miss them if I didn't.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Other than Dave really sounding good on the 07/08 tour and most of A.D.K.O.T. being really decent I'd say that pretty much covers it Terry. I guess Ed was pretty good on the last few tours. Release the vaults and I'm fine if they do nothing new ever again. I might go see them if they came around but wouldn't miss them if I didn't.

I was 10 rows back on this past tour on Ed's side, he sounded fantastic....

[Terry]

Other than Dave really sounding good on the 07/08 tour and most of A.D.K.O.T. being really decent I'd say that pretty much covers it Terry. I guess Ed was pretty good on the last few tours. Release the vaults and I'm fine if they do nothing new ever again. I might go see them if they came around but wouldn't miss them if I didn't.

Dave sounding good on the 07/08 tour, ADKOT being a good album and Ed playing well on the last two tours all agreed 1000%.

Outside of those three things, very few diamonds to be found...and those three things were all GIVENS when CVH was active: is the bar now set so low that aspects which should be taken for granted are now examples of excellence?

[78/84 guy]

Dave sounding good on the 07/08 tour, ADKOT being a good album and Ed playing well on the last two tours all agreed 1000%.

Outside of those three things, very few diamonds to be found...and those three things were all GIVENS when CVH was active: is the bar now set so low that aspects which should be taken for granted are now examples of excellence?

I don't know. It is what it is. They are older so I don't expect them to sound like 1981. Anyone that does is simply a fool. The Stones are not as good as they were in 1974 are they ? A combo of 07/08 Dave and 12/15 Ed sure would sound better. I think a new album to go with ADKOT would be cool. If it's good. As far as touring goes I guess if they go out again once or twice so be it. People will go. The Van Halen name will draw tons of people. With or without Dave. And if the band wants to do it good for them. I'm not going to worry about or lose sleep over Van Halen or Dave ruining their legacy. Dave should work on his vocals no matter what he does tour wise and even then it's not going to be perfect. He never was live. They can do what they want. If people enjoy the product on stage or a c.d. the next few years good for them. I might be one of those people. Then again............?

[cadaverdog]

Release the vaults and I'm fine if they do nothing new ever again.

Are we talking up live stuff or unreleased studio recordings? I know some of the hardcore CVH fans believe there's some unreleased studio stuff stashed away somewhere that would resurrect rock and roll but I have a hard time believing that. There might be a couple exceptional tracks that would help promote a box set but I doubt there's anything there that would convert youngsters today that listen to the sorry ass shit that passes for music nowadays. Jimmy Page has spent decades digging through Led Zep archives and hasn't come up with anything of that caliber.

[DavidLeeNatra]

I don't know about the Stones from 74 but I've seen them 1991 and again 2014...and except from cutting the show short from 2h20' to 2h15' they were as great as back then. I could say that it was even better. More relaxed, smiling and joking on stage.

And "Blue and lonesome" is one fine album. Mick is screaming and singing his ass off. Like it or not, but these fuckers play in their own league.

You rather find VH in KI$$, AC/DC or Guns and Roses land these days.

[ZahZoo]

What's up homos....

Anywho, on this latest rumor, here's what I don't get....

So Von reports that Van Velveeta is coming back in 2017, and the majority of people tell Von he is full of condensed horseshit....

Then this guy at the Links (who I don't know, seems like a nice guy) posts VH is coming back in 2018, and his word is treated as gospel?

Not that I'm hoping Bette returns, but what am I missing, other than most people think Von can't be trusted in the least?

I for one, wouldn't trust Von to babysit my dog...

While the man is utterly full of shit... he's never been some fan-boy, rumor monger who spreads bullshit to feed his attention needs. I'd figure his Van Hagar news is worthy of the thoughtful cuntsideration any news from Van Halen land deserves...

[vandeleur]

Full of shit, but .... that's a compliment round these parts

[Nickdfresh]

Are we talking up live stuff or unreleased studio recordings? I know some of the hardcore CVH fans believe there's some unreleased studio stuff stashed away somewhere that would resurrect rock and roll but I have a hard time believing that. There might be a couple exceptional tracks that would help promote a box set but I doubt there's anything there that would convert youngsters today that listen to the sorry ass shit that passes for music nowadays. Jimmy Page has spent decades digging through Led Zep archives and hasn't come up with anything of that caliber.

Ten albums in a can, bitches!

That's an actual studio shot from 5150!

[Terry]

I don't know. It is what it is. They are older so I don't expect them to sound like 1981. Anyone that does is simply a fool. The Stones are not as good as they were in 1974 are they ? A combo of 07/08 Dave and 12/15 Ed sure would sound better. I think a new album to go with ADKOT would be cool. If it's good. As far as touring goes I guess if they go out again once or twice so be it. People will go. The Van Halen name will draw tons of people. With or without Dave. And if the band wants to do it good for them. I'm not going to worry about or lose sleep over Van Halen or Dave ruining their legacy. Dave should work on his vocals no matter what he does tour wise and even then it's not going to be perfect. He never was live. They can do what they want. If people enjoy the product on stage or a c.d. the next few years good for them. I might be one of those people. Then again............?

Yeah...I'm not expecting them to sound as good as they did in 1981, either.

The entire band needs to sound decent enough to make it worth buying a ticket, though. I suppose because I was around when CVH was active, was able to see them live and remember them when they were at their peak, my personal standards of what I deem acceptable from them are higher than others who weren't around back then and are willing to accept what the band is doing now: I totally get that. Maybe even those who were around when CVH was active are willing to accept what the band is doing now. I get that too, if that is the case.

Personally, I don't even care about "legacies" when it comes to rock bands (or sports teams, or much else for that matter) and the broad base of rock fandom: all that matters to me is what I like. Within that context, none of Van Halen's fuckups over the last 20 years matter to me in terms of what the CVH material continues to mean to me.

Clearly, the band should do whatever they want to. If they want to keep touring and there is a demand for it, great.

What Natra in essence said was true in that it is somewhat sad that Van Halen - like KI$$ AC/DC and GnR - is now just another aging rock band without all the definitive members in the group and they're just kind of plodding along...not what they once were but unable to do anything else...just inertia, really.

I dunno...Van Halen's entire designation now is just so far removed from the qualities that made them one of my favorite rock bands EVER (and I mean RIGHT UP THERE with the Stones, Who, Zep, etc.)...it's just this weird paradox where in spite of the Van Halens and Roth being in the band and in spite of the same songs still being played it's like a different group with a different set of circumstances and goals. And I can't really offer enough rationales, explanations and excuses to motivate me to see the group anymore - what they're doing is no longer worth it to me. Does that make sense? Like, I'm at the place where I'd get more enjoyment out of popping in Largo 82 and watching that than I would seeing the band live now, because whenever I see the band live now - and even when I saw them in 08 and 2012 - the thing that strikes me the most is that they can't meet my expectations anymore.

I guess nothing stays the same.

[ZahZoo]

Full of shit, but .... that's a compliment round these parts

Only the best for my friends...

[cadaverdog]

Full of shit, but .... that's a compliment round these parts

The brown badge of honor.

[DaveTheScott]

I just saw Dave at the Jack in the Box on the far end of Santa Monica, apparently getting grub on the way over to rehearsal. Hot dog and a shake for Dave, sourdough jack for Russel, I had a couple of the kangaroo tacos and some french toast sticks (all day breakfast, muthafucka!!!). I felt bad about interrupting his dinner but he had a few free minutes so we sat down together! Dave struck a yoga-like squat on the table and we talked over some fine american food.

Of course, I first asked about the failed EEAS show and what REALLY went down. He says EEAS reunion show fell apart not because of the fire marshals, but because Steve Vai refused to take the stage and they were trying to get Mick Mars or Ritchie Kotzen to fill in. Word is that now when they DO tour (sometime in 2025) Mick Mars will be on lead guitar. I had no idea that guy was even available but when you have Dave's star power you can pretty much get anything.

I asked next about VH plans, Dave says Ed and Al are all in and they're recording new material to release end of this year but they have no bass player. Wolf doesn't want to play old VH shit anymore, he's in for the Creed reunion. Mike won't tour unless they play Hagar. Hagar won't agree to the tour. Dave won't sing Hagar. Wolf says he knows a thing or two about piping in vocals and has offered to bring in his sound guy...and since Ed and Al admit they haven't had bass in their monitors since 1981, they won't give a shit either, but they're currently seeking advice from Metallica, who recorded a whole fucking album with Jason Newstead's bass part mixed down to -80...Dave promises more to follow.

I asked Dave about the vault, he says he knows of no such vault but he admits that he's been recording the band's history in tattoos and will be releasing an authorized photo book shot by Zloz, with the audio CD narrated by Morgan fucking Freeman and R. Lee Ermy. He says the tattoos will, amazingly, also include the Sammy and Gary Cherone eras. He's having the Van Halen III album done with the cannonball coming out of his asshole. That's Dave, always thinking and always creative.

Finally, I asked about the John 5 album. Dave said that believe it or not, John 5 went behind his back and sold his part of the publishing rights to Mike Anthony, leaving Dave with no creative control, so it will be up to John 5 and Mikey as to when that album will - if ever - see the light of day. Apparently, to fill the creative gap, he's working on a new motivational podcast with Tim Ferriss and also recording an album of all the other songs about various lawn furniture that have not been released to the general public. He seemed pretty proud of whatever it is he has in store for us, his loyal fans.

2025 is going to be AWESOME!

[cadaverdog]

I just saw Dave at the Jack in the Box on the far end of Santa Monica, apparently getting grub on the way over to rehearsal. Hot dog and a shake for Dave, sourdough jack for Russel, I had a couple of the kangaroo tacos and some french toast sticks (all day breakfast, muthafucka!!!). I felt bad about interrupting his dinner but he had a few free minutes so we sat down together! Dave struck a yoga-like squat on the table and we talked over some fine american food.

Of course, I first asked about the failed EEAS show and what REALLY went down. He says EEAS reunion show fell apart not because of the fire marshals, but because Steve Vai refused to take the stage and they were trying to get Mick Mars or Ritchie Kotzen to fill in. Word is that now when they DO tour (sometime in 2025) Mick Mars will be on lead guitar. I had no idea that guy was even available but when you have Dave's star power you can pretty much get anything.

I asked next about VH plans, Dave says Ed and Al are all in and they're recording new material to release end of this year but they have no bass player. Wolf doesn't want to play old VH shit anymore, he's in for the Creed reunion. Mike won't tour unless they play Hagar. Hagar won't agree to the tour. Dave won't sing Hagar. Wolf says he knows a thing or two about piping in vocals and has offered to bring in his sound guy...and since Ed and Al admit they haven't had bass in their monitors since 1981, they won't give a shit either, but they're currently seeking advice from Metallica, who recorded a whole fucking album with Jason Newstead's bass part mixed down to -80...Dave promises more to follow.

I asked Dave about the vault, he says he knows of no such vault but he admits that he's been recording the band's history in tattoos and will be releasing an authorized photo book shot by Zloz, with the audio CD narrated by Morgan fucking Freeman and R. Lee Ermy. He says the tattoos will, amazingly, also include the Sammy and Gary Cherone eras. He's having the Van Halen III album done with the cannonball coming out of his asshole. That's Dave, always thinking and always creative.

Finally, I asked about the John 5 album. Dave said that believe it or not, John 5 went behind his back and sold his part of the publishing rights to Mike Anthony, leaving Dave with no creative control, so it will be up to John 5 and Mikey as to when that album will - if ever - see the light of day. Apparently, to fill the creative gap, he's working on a new motivational podcast with Tim Ferriss and also recording an album of all the other songs about various lawn furniture that have not been released to the general public. He seemed pretty proud of whatever it is he has in store for us, his loyal fans.

2025 is going to be AWESOME!

That's why they call it dope.

[Grit]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . what? . . . . . . . . . really? . . . . . . . no way!

Ahhhh . . . . The Life of a Van Halen Fan!