Dave on WTF

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Terry, I can understand your driving to the show, but from it... Unless you were more reliable than the others, and/or you're not into getting stoned anymore.

I've never been totally drunk or stoned at any concert btw, I would have been too pissed not to enjoy or remember the show properly.

[Nitro Express]

I was a bit stoned on weed and buzzed on Schnapp's when I saw Van Halen in 1984. I still have decent memories of it, though. Was sober at all the Roth shows I saw from 1999 onward, including the Van Halen shows in 2008 and 2012, because I was the one doing the driving to and from the shows.

My blood alcohol content was probably equal to a watered down martini. I remember parts of the show but what's weird is I have no memory of getting there or getting home. It was like a UFO beamed me to the show and back. Maybe I got drunk with the aliens on the ship.

[Terry]

Terry, I can understand your driving to the show, but from it... Unless you were more reliable than the others, and/or you're not into getting stoned anymore.

I've never been totally drunk or stoned at any concert btw, I would have been too pissed not to enjoy or remember the show properly.

By the time 1999 rolled around, I was cleaned up save for alcohol and even by that point I wasn't drinking much anymore. So, 1999 and on it wasn't any big deal to drive to a concert, see the show, then go home. Point of fact, I don't think I had anything alcohol-wise for either of the 2008 and 2012 Van Halen shows I saw, and I didn't think twice about it: past ten years or so, I just plain don't drink much by way of alcohol anymore. Maybe 3 or 4 times a year, and I'll usually get a good buzz on when I do. Last time I got seriously drunk was maybe a year and a half ago at a house party 2 blocks down the street from my house. Went there (actually, walked over there) just intending to stay for an hour or so, ended up leaving 5 hours later after many different types of hard liquor drinks were imbibed. Honestly, it was kind of embarrassing, because I was mixing all of these various types of booze like I was new to drinking...and I knew better. Last drink that put me over the edge was a couple of shots of Fireball - whatever the fuck that was - I have very little memory of walking home, and ended up puking (like, puking to the point where I couldn't breathe) in the bathtub and passing out on the bathroom floor. Woke up the next afternoon and determined that was the last time I was gonna power drink like that anymore. Fuck it. I don't need the headache.

In the 1980s, in my teens, I was usually mildly stoned at shows. Or slightly drunk. Or both. Van Halen 1984 I was fairly stoned AND drunk, but not falling down or fucked up to the point where I couldn't function.

[Nickdfresh]

Which is why you're here right?

Just here for the porn!

[Nitro Express]

By the time 1999 rolled around, I was cleaned up save for alcohol and even by that point I wasn't drinking much anymore. So, 1999 and on it wasn't any big deal to drive to a concert, see the show, then go home. Point of fact, I don't think I had anything alcohol-wise for either of the 2008 and 2012 Van Halen shows I saw, and I didn't think twice about it: past ten years or so, I just plain don't drink much by way of alcohol anymore. Maybe 3 or 4 times a year, and I'll usually get a good buzz on when I do. Last time I got seriously drunk was maybe a year and a half ago at a house party 2 blocks down the street from my house. Went there (actually, walked over there) just intending to stay for an hour or so, ended up leaving 5 hours later after many different types of hard liquor drinks were imbibed. Honestly, it was kind of embarrassing, because I was mixing all of these various types of booze like I was new to drinking...and I knew better. Last drink that put me over the edge was a couple of shots of Fireball - whatever the fuck that was - I have very little memory of walking home, and ended up puking (like, puking to the point where I couldn't breathe) in the bathtub and passing out on the bathroom floor. Woke up the next afternoon and determined that was the last time I was gonna power drink like that anymore. Fuck it. I don't need the headache.

In the 1980s, in my teens, I was usually mildly stoned at shows. Or slightly drunk. Or both. Van Halen 1984 I was fairly stoned AND drunk, but not falling down or fucked up to the point where I couldn't function.

I had a really good fake ID when I was 17 and the drinking age was 19 then. I used to go to the liquor store and buy all sorts of stuff, go to clubs, threw some huge parties when the parents were gone. By the time I was 24 I was pretty much done with the wild partying. You out grow the drinking and I did pretty early. I actually view heavy binge drinking as high school/college stuff. When I see people in their 50's or older acting like a bunch of high school kids it's pretty pathetic actually. Heck if I tried to drink like I was did when I was 19 I would end up in the emergency room.

[ZahZoo]

Y'all are starting to sound really old... lighten up!!

[Terry]

Y'all are starting to sound really old... lighten up!!

I've been 39 and holding for ten years...

No getting around it: I'm not quite old, but I'm VERY middle aged.

[Terry]

I had a really good fake ID when I was 17 and the drinking age was 19 then. I used to go to the liquor store and buy all sorts of stuff, go to clubs, threw some huge parties when the parents were gone. By the time I was 24 I was pretty much done with the wild partying. You out grow the drinking and I did pretty early. I actually view heavy binge drinking as high school/college stuff. When I see people in their 50's or older acting like a bunch of high school kids it's pretty pathetic actually. Heck if I tried to drink like I was did when I was 19 I would end up in the emergency room.

Mid teens to mid 20s I was fucked up fairly frequently. Definitely the apex of my partying.

Was more of a binge drinker than a social one, and continued a bit of drinking up until about 30. After 30, I tapered off. Last half decade or so, if I get really drunk, I'm useless the following day. When I do drink now once in a blue moon, I'll have a couple to a few and get a light to moderate buzz. It's far more enjoyable. Usually these days, it never even crosses my mind TO have a drink.

[Nickdfresh]

Yeah, I mean I drank a lot when I was a kid, starting at about six. But by the time I was 39, I was done partying...oh for fuck's sake, who the fuck am I kidding?

[Nickdfresh]

Those screams you hear are just my liver doing vocal warm-ups...

[Nitro Express]

Those screams you hear are just my liver doing vocal warm-ups...

Well it’s all fun until your whole body starts itching all over and you start swelling up from inflammation. Your doctor looks at your blood work results and asks if you take a lot of ibuprofen or drink a lot. You then see the kidney and liver specialist. Maybe if you were lucky to get diagnosed early and a change of lifestyle, diet, exercise and medication is what will save you. If not dialysis really sucks.

[Nickdfresh]

Well it’s all fun until your whole body starts itching all over and you start swelling up from inflammation. Your doctor looks at your blood work results and asks if you take a lot of ibuprofen or drink a lot. You then see the kidney and liver specialist. Maybe if you were lucky to get diagnosed early and a change of lifestyle, diet, exercise and medication is what will save you. If not dialysis really sucks.

LOL I have regular blood work, I jest a bit, and my liver is made of Kevlar and boosted by turmeric, milk thistle, and a whole host of other antioxidants...

[ZahZoo]

I've been 39 and holding for ten years...

No getting around it: I'm not quite old, but I'm VERY middle aged.

I self-identify as 48...

I struggle more with the actual number attached to the birthday, mentally than anything. When I assess my actual capabilities... I haven't been better! The only difference is I'm generally more honest and respectful of pushing my physical capabilities any more. I just listen to the common sense voice in my head that I used to ignore in my younger days...

I really think Dave and the Van Halen brothers need to get out and work... there's a whole lot of truth and wisdom that going idle in your later years just lets the aging process take hold both mentally and physically. Accomplishment will fuel the fire within...

[twonabomber]

I'm okay with being 51. Riding 100+ miles a week and working out...

[Terry]

I self-identify as 48...

I struggle more with the actual number attached to the birthday, mentally than anything. When I assess my actual capabilities... I haven't been better! The only difference is I'm generally more honest and respectful of pushing my physical capabilities any more. I just listen to the common sense voice in my head that I used to ignore in my younger days...

I really think Dave and the Van Halen brothers need to get out and work... there's a whole lot of truth and wisdom that going idle in your later years just lets the aging process take hold both mentally and physically. Accomplishment will fuel the fire within...

I'll be 50 in just over 6 months from now.

I've definitely noticed in the last couple of years that I can't eat and drink like I used to, in terms of eating a lot of rich foods day after day or drinking booze day after day, without consequences in terms of how I feel physically. I enjoy a good nap these days, and I haven't had to struggle with any of the physical ailments Eddie Van Halen has over the last 20 years, so I can only guess that he might enjoy taking it easy just as much as I do (if not more).

I can only imagine what it will be like 15 years from now, when I get up to where the Van Halens and Roth are today in terms of age. One does tend to think, as you say, that staying active as you age helps one age better. There really doesn't seem to be much of a sense of urgency from Van Halen anymore in terms of accomplishing anything, and certainly seeing them getting out and working like they have a purpose again would be nice.