Walking the metal edge
Miller on VH: "They're doing a very good job of keeping things under wraps."

By DLR Army
Staff Field Report

   
    It's no secret that the DLR Army has been trying to get the skinny on the whole Van Halen situation. In making the rounds and talking to industry folks who we thought might have a clue, one person was suggested as an interview several times - Gerri Miller.
    Miller is the former editor of the big-time metal mag, Metal Edge. That's the magazine that did more for the career of Poison, Warrant and Cinderella than Aqua-Net?
    Miller now contributes to the magazine's web site.
    We hesitated interviewing her. Dave never really got any props from the magazine. The following offer an explanation why.
    Miller is a somewhat controversial figure in the hard rock world. The web-site Metal Sludge (see our links page) was started solely to take her to task. Why? Some musicians feel she abandoned them when the "next big thing" came along with backstage passes. Others, however, like former DLR Band guitarist Bart Walsh, feel she's truly a friend to musicians in need of exposure.
    Our DLR soldiers can decide for themselves. And if you're reading this specifically for news on the future of Van Halen, stop right here.

DLR ARMY: So, you're the rock journalist here. What are you hearing about the VH reunion and from whom? When are we going to hear something?

MILLER: "I'm not hearing anything at all. They're doing a very good job of keeping things under wraps, whatever may (or may not) be happening."

DLR ARMY: You talk to a lot of bands and music fans in your travels. What are you hearing about the VH reunion? Are people excited? Who do most people want to see as singer - Dave, Sam or singer No. 4?

MILLER: "People are just speculating because they don't know what's going to happen. I think a lot of them are frustrated because nothing HAS happened and they'd like to know either way.
    "I don't think anyone wants a fourth singer. It would have to be Sammy or Dave. But I don't know if either's return would or could work out."

DLR ARMY: Which version of Van Halen did you enjoy most?

MILLER: "Sammy, though I do like a lot of the Dave era."

DLR ARMY: Name your top likes and dislikes of both Dave and Sam. In other words, give me what you consider the positives and negatives of both singers related to their time in VH and solo.

MILLER: "Dave was the original singer and there was some great, classic music made by that lineup. Dave is a great showman, a better performer than singer.  I consider his vocal range limited though. He's done some memorable work solo as well but a lot of it has been hit or miss.
    "I think Sammy is a better singer and a great performer as well. I've enjoyed his solo shows and albums, too. On the downside, some of his ballads have been a bit sappy."

DLR ARMY: Describe how you first got involved with Metal Edge?

MILLER: "I was hired as an editor on TV and movie magazines by Sterling in 1981, and four years later I was asked if I wanted to edit a new hard rock/metal magazine. Metal Edge had been tested twice before it became a regular (bi-monthly) title and I took over, and then it went monthly in its second year."

DLR ARMY: When did you know that you had hit it big in rock journalism?

MILLER: "When Metal Edge became the top selling hard rock mag in the '80s."

DLR ARMY: How did you decide what got in the magazine?

MILLER: "A combination of a lot of factors including sales, reader response, my own intuition and preferences, and who was available and what was happening at that particular time."

DLR ARMY: How come we didn't see more DLR in Metal Edge?

MILLER: "There was a bit of reluctance for more coverage on both sides after a problem we had (with) him/his management. (They) complained about the size and position of his photo on the cover."

DLR ARMY: What do bands that toured with DLR have to say about him" We just read that the singer from Firehouse had some crappy things to say about touring with Dave at an interview at Metal Sludge. What have other bands like Tesla, Faster Pussycat, Poison and others told you? Give us some good road stories.

MILLER: "The one thing that I remember Poison saying was that Dave didn't want them in the hallway or otherwise in view before he went on. He wanted them to stay out of sight."

DLR ARMY: Being a writer you can probably appreciate a clever turn of phrase. Which Van Halen or DLR lyric are you most impressed by?

MILLER: "It's between lyrics of "Right Now," "Finish What You Started," "Why Can't This Be Love?"

DLR ARMY: Let's try again. What's your favorite Dave or classic VH (with Dave) track? Why? What does that song convey to you?

MILLER: "Even though he didn't write it or record it first, "California Girls" will always be quintessential Dave to me (I guess the video has something to do with it)."

DLR ARMY: Who was your favorite interview?

MILLER: "There are so many, but Steven Tyler is right up there."

DLR ARMY: Who's a better interview, Dave, Sam or Gary? Why? Have you interviewed all of the guys?

MILLER: "I've interviewed all of them; I like Sammy best. I get along with him and he's very easy to talk to. Gary's cool too, just a bit more serious of a guy."

DLR ARMY: How many times have you seen VH live?

MILLER: "I can't remember exactly, but I saw all the tours since Sammy started through Gary.  I never saw them live with Dave."

DLR ARMY: Ever see any of Dave's solo tours? What was your impression of the shows? Any highlights stick out in your mind?

MILLER: "Yes, I saw several. I thought the band with Vai and Sheehan was fantastic. The most recent tour with Walsh, Jensen and Luzier was fun, too, since I know those guys well."

DLR ARMY: What's your best Dave story? (hanging out, after-show stuff, interviews etc.)

MILLER: "I can't really think of anything."

DLR ARMY: Which DLR solo album do you like best? Why?

MILLER: "The Best. It has good material off everything."

DLR ARMY: Todd Jensen has always gotten a lot of attention from you, were you excited to hear that he got a gig playing with Dave?

MILLER: "I'm glad whenever any musician friends get a good gig. I'm happy when they're happy."

DLR ARMY: What metal band still out there today should retire?

MILLER: "I don't think anyone should retire unless they want to."

DLR ARMY: What do you think of Metallica's stance against Napster.

MILLER: "I agree with their belief that artists deserve to be paid for their work. However, I believe that the way they went about it, including fans in the lawsuit, alienated a lot of people."

DLR ARMY: What band had the talent, but never made it in your opinion?

MILLER: "The Hunger."

DLR ARMY: Who made it, but shouldn't have?

MILLER: "Smashing Pumpkins."

DLR ARMY: What is currently in your cd player?

MILLER: "Currently in my car are: Slash's Snakepit, 'Ain't Life Grand', Union, 'The Blue Room', Buckcherry, s/t and an advance of the new 'Time Bomb'; American Pearl s/t; Monster Magnet, 'God Says No,' Engine, s/t, Black Crowes, 'By Your Side', Cry of Love, 'Diamonds & Debris',  Mr. Big, 'Get Over It.'"

DLR ARMY: Word association time. We'll supply the name, you give us your impression of them:

DLR: "A true character."
Steve Vai: "A terrific guy, devoted dad."
Billy Sheehan: "Funny and smart."
Joe Holmes: "A good player, don't know him very well."
Todd Jensen: "A wonderful guy, good friend."
Bart Walsh: "Warm, funny, a good friend."
Eddie Van Halen: "A musical genius."
Mike Anthony: "Fun, friendly, always smiling."
Gary Cherone: "Very talented, and best suited to musical theater, like he's been doing."
Sammy Hagar: "Hilarious to be around, very cool."

DLR ARMY: What's your most embarrassing moment in journalism

MILLER: "I can't think of one." (Editor's note: See the answer to question 10.)

DLR ARMY: The hard rock scene has definitely changed since the early 80s. Are there any bands out today that you just don't get or just can't understand why they're popular?

MILLER: "I'm not a big fan of the rap-metal genre as a whole and don't really get those bands but I am not their audience and I do understand their appeal to teenagers."

DLR ARMY: Come on, give us a good Dave story. A time you bumped into him at someone's gig, backstage at one of his gigs, so on and so forth. Everybody's got one. You've got to have one!

MILLER: "I really don't, sorry

Links To Gerri Miller:
MetalEdgeOnline.com