Is Eddie Van Halen washed up?

[Nitro Express]

I saw their tour this summer and conclude Eddie Van Halen is indeed washed up as a guitar great. He no longer can come remotely close to his past brilliance and the guy is playing sloppy as hell these days.

I'll still give Eddie credit for being on of the great innovators of the electric guitar. No matter how bad he fucks up, he still can't rob himself of his past accomplishments.

For me though, watching Eddie Van Halen play these days is like watching an old, drunk, sloppy Michael Jordan trying to play basketball again. I think many of us wanted to see Babe Ruth hit his last ball out of the park but Babe doesn't even know where he is or who he's playing for these days.

[kcmusician]

I have to disagree.... I saw the tour this year too, and I was impressed. Eddie has always been kind of sloppy live, just like everyone else.... I've seen him in '95, '98, and '04 and he can still play circles around most guitarists of the day, I promise you that!

Shaun

[Cathedral]

100% Yes, he finally pickled himself.

If i had spent half of what the tickets cost for this tour and got a show like he is giving after 6 years off?

I'd have been far more pissed than i can ever imagine being. I talked my nephews out of going and their friends came back bitching that it sucked.

Thank God i was lucky enough to have been a die-hard when they started and saw them in their prime.

Um, where's the fork?

[Cathedral]

Originally posted by kcmusician
I have to disagree.... I saw the tour this year too, and I was impressed. Eddie has always been kind of sloppy live, just like everyone else.... I've seen him in '95, '98, and '04 and he can still play circles around most guitarists of the day, I promise you that!

Shaun

And i respectfully disagree with your disagreement, lol.
Yes, Ed has always been sloppy, but sloppy is not what he is doing now. I'd welcome sloppy compared to what i have heard from this tour.

But, maybe you saw him on a good night, in which case i am glad you feel you got your moneys worth from the band.

Spammy kept my ass far away from this train wreck.

[kcmusician]

All I know is that the band was in semi top form here in Kansas City, and in East Rutherford.... I've got the DVD's to prove it.

Shaun

[kcmusician]

Originally posted by Cathedral
And i respectfully disagree with your disagreement, lol.
Yes, Ed has always been sloppy, but sloppy is not what he is doing now. I'd welcome sloppy compared to what i have heard from this tour.

But, maybe you saw him on a good night, in which case i am glad you feel you got your moneys worth from the band.

Spammy kept my ass far away from this train wreck.

Exactly.... I'm not saying that Eddie is worth his weight in gold everynight, but the show I was at was good, and the dvd's I have are good too....

Shaun

[lms2]

I don't have any dvds..but I have my memories. Denver rocked!

I don't know that Ed is as good as he used to be, and I don't agree with all that he is doing right now... but the funny thing is the negativity on this site regarding Ed is what made me decide to shell out the money to see him "one last time". Dick or not, he will always be Eddie Van Halen.

[kcmusician]

Right on! EVH is still "Da man" to me when it comes to guitar heroes! If you want a copy of the dvd, shoot me an e-mail. KramerKid@kc.rr.com

Shaun

[lms2]

Thanks... I will do that.

Muscially speaking, I am just a very passive listener. I don't play guitar, or drums... I don't have any behind the scenes contacts. I am just a lucky fan that got to meet all four of them after a concert back in the early 80s and will never EVER forget them!

Dave or the Grave... but I hope before it gets to that point, I will see Dave with Van Halen, live, one more time.

[kcmusician]

I agree with ya... I have access to the 1984 concert video, and here's the link to the site.... This guy is running everything from a personal server, so it takes time to get the stuff. http://www.steveowabo.com/vhvideos.htm

Shaun

[kcmusician]

By the way, what happened to the hot photo? The monkey is hot too I guess, but damn! lol.... Check yo mail!

Shaun

[Panamark]

you guys are not the same dudes that were saying how great
Ed ia playing Running with the Devil and Unchained at the moment ??

He totally fucks these songs up, from the clips I have seen.
He should be able to nail these in his sleep.. Yet I seem
to remember some here, saying, whats wrong ?? It sounds
great ?? Thats when I thought, Ok.. Obviously there are
Van Hagar fans out there that dont care when Ed is fucking
up. (Or dont realize it, when he does)

[Matt White]

"Washed" and EVH are seldom used in the same sentance these days.

[light 'em up!]

Ed's been washed up.

[DrGrafenberg]

Ok over here in the UK we have a TV programme
Where they take some filthy toe-rag and run microbiological tests on the victim
& rake through their hair for bugs etc, then show the person what sort of bacteria are living on them.

Then the ladies scrub the victim 'til clean

This duo went to the Osbournes house (I not seen it yet) but should imagine
they found a lot of dog poo!
Anyway the point is, I am thinking of putting EVH's name forward as the next "guest"