The VH Brothers asked Jimmy Barnes to join VH after Roth Left

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Disclaimer: I have no fucking clue who Jimmy Barnes is.

But, he says it's true.

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/entertainment/music/aussie-rock-legend-jimmy-barnes-tells-he-nearly-ended-it-all/news-story/e092de700c5dcb51d128b15f7c6f8789

[Terry]

Literally the only thing I have heard that he did was a duet with Michael Hutchence (is that how you spell his last name? whatever, can't be bothered to check) for the Lost Boys soundtrack, which was a cover tune of the song Good Times. I hadn't (and still haven't far as I can remember) heard the original prior to their cover, and the tune itself was just a straight-up rock tune. Nothing astounding.

Apparently, Eddie also asked Scandal's Patty Smyth if she would be interested in singing with Van Halen prior to Hagar being contacted. So Hagar wasn't even the second choice after Roth left.

[Fairwrning]

Wasn't there a Billy Idol being asked rumor also?

[Terry]

I've never heard the Billy Idol one.

I've heard that Billy Squier and David Coverdale were both rumored to either have been considered and/or approached to sing with the group, but I didn't hear either of those rumors until post-1996, so if they were rumored to have been considered/approached in 1985 or 1996 is something I'm not sure about. I've never read anything by anybody in Van Halen or Squier or Coverdale confirming this happened, so who knows for sure?

[twonabomber]

I never heard the Billy Idol one.

Barnes was in a band called Cold Chisel and eventually went solo. Ever seen the movie Gung Ho? Barnes' song Working Class Man plays over the end credits. Jonathan Cain did a lot of work on Barnes' first two albums. Neil Schon and (American Idol's) Randy Jackson are all over the second one.

Good Times was on the Lost Boys soundtrack and Barnes did another song with INXS on there called Laying Down The Law.

[VHscraps]

I remember finding press articles years ago that claimed - from the people who were asked to join / audition for Van Halen - that the candidates / persons asked included (as well as Patty Smyth):

- Joey Ramone (source - Ramones road manager, Monte Melnick)
- Wendy O'Williams (source, Wendy O'Williams in an interview)

I'm not saying I believe either, but there is a Monte Melnick book about the Ramones, and in it you will find pics of him and Ed Van Halen in there, so who knows ... they certainly were on friendly terms when VH and the Ramones did some dates together (and there are pics of Joey wearing a Van Halen t-shirt in '78.

Jimmy Barnes seems to have been the biggest rock singer in Australia in his day.

[Von Halen]

If I remember right, Ed considered doing an album with a different singer on each song. Maybe this is why all these fuckers are claiming they were invited into the band.

[Terry]

If I remember right, Ed considered doing an album with a different singer on each song. Maybe this is why all these fuckers are claiming they were invited into the band.

Yeah, I think Ed in an interview around 1986 or so, after Sammy had already joined, said something along the lines that he and Al were at one point talking about making an album that had different name singers or musicians guesting on each song. Pete Townshend was one of the names I remember Ed talking about.

[Terry]

I remember finding press articles years ago that claimed - from the people who were asked to join / audition for Van Halen - that the candidates / persons asked included (as well as Patty Smyth):

- Joey Ramone (source - Ramones road manager, Monte Melnick)
- Wendy O'Williams (source, Wendy O'Williams in an interview)

I'm not saying I believe either, but there is a Monte Melnick book about the Ramones, and in it you will find pics of him and Ed Van Halen in there, so who knows ... they certainly were on friendly terms when VH and the Ramones did some dates together (and there are pics of Joey wearing a Van Halen t-shirt in '78.

Jimmy Barnes seems to have been the biggest rock singer in Australia in his day.

The Melnick book about the Ramones, I think (if memory serves) titled On The Road With The Ramones, was a very interesting read.

Yeah, apparently, Barnes was pretty huge in Australia back in the day.

[Nickdfresh]

If I remember right, Ed considered doing an album with a different singer on each song. Maybe this is why all these fuckers are claiming they were invited into the band.

I recall that too. I'm pretty sure WB was super pleased at that concept...

[So this is love]

For those curious who this guy is...It would've ended up like VHIII, in the dumpstr

[Seshmeister]

I've never heard the Billy Idol one.

I've heard that Billy Squier and David Coverdale were both rumored to either have been considered and/or approached to sing with the group, but I didn't hear either of those rumors until post-1996, so if they were rumored to have been considered/approached in 1985 or 1996 is something I'm not sure about. I've never read anything by anybody in Van Halen or Squier or Coverdale confirming this happened, so who knows for sure?

It's like actors who were considered for James Bond after Connery, because it sells a story it becomes anyone who anyone mentioned as a possibility gets included to the point where it includes just about everyone.

On a related note Coverdale looks his age...

[twonabomber]

Seven Days from Freight Train Heart

Jon Farriss from INXS on drums.

Just saw that Barnes was born in Glasgow.

[twonabomber]

Laying Down The Law, with INXS, the other track from the Lost Boys. One of my favorite INXS songs. Hutchence could work a room, INXS was great live.

[Terry]

It's like actors who were considered for James Bond after Connery, because it sells a story it becomes anyone who anyone mentioned as a possibility gets included to the point where it includes just about everyone.

Only a related note Coverdale looks his age...

I'd have to be a much nicer person than I am NOT to laugh at Coverdale's face melting off as a result of all the elective cosmetic plastic procedures he had.

What a freak!