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I found a DVD documentary called Van Halen "The Early Years" in the bargain bin at a big box retailer.
It had interviews with Dave's former bodyguard Ed Anderson, Mike Stone (VH's bass player before Mike Anthony), former roadies and friends.
It also had taped interviews with Dave, Alex, and Mike.
In the early days, Alex Van Halen was the band leader and Eddie was the singer. Alex said Eddie wasn't holding up as the singer very well and told Ed they needed to get someone to sing. Alex said he wanted Roth in the band because Roth was quite the showman even in the early days and would wear stuff nobody else would think of. Alex liked what he saw and wanted Roth in the band. Alex also said if they got Roth in the band they wouldn't have to keep renting his PA.
The guitarist in Mike Anthony's band snake said it was Eddie who wanted Mike in the band because Ed liked Mikes bass playing.
Mike Stone said Alex Van Halen asked where his interests laid. School or music. Mike who was a straight A student said school and Alex said he had to be let go because he had conflicting intrests. He said it hurt to be let go out of Van Halen but said Alex was right. Those guys were out to do it for life and not just as a side project.
Ed Anderson and former VH staff members said the difference in personalities and creative asperations started to sepparate Van Halen. It started with Diver Down which was a Roth album. Alex said 1984 was an Eddie Van Halen and Donn Landee album. He said he was on it but that album was Don's and Ed's mostly.
Ed Anderson said it got so bad towards the end that everyone would cringe when management wanted a band meeting. Having a successful album and number one hit really went to Dave's head. Dave got most the attention because he was the band's spokesman and in front. The rest of the band were not. That was fine with them but when Roth started to alienate the band that is where the big bad mojo came from.
Dave who once was prompt and reliable started blowing Van Halen off when he hit solo album and videos became the rage. Roth was getting attention without Van Halen and felt he no longer needed Van Halen and started rehearsing with his own band without telling VH first.
The big stink with Roth from the Van Halens and Mike was he tossed them away like a used condom after Roth started getting hit up with solo opportunities. The Van Halens who were at odds with Roth a lot of the time felt stabbed in the back because they put up with Dave's ego for so long to keep the band intact and as a unit. The rest of the band felt like Dave stabbed them in the back.
Andy Johns said the Van Halen's hate of David Lee Roth was "deep and wide" He said Eddie would actually break down crying and Alex would get very angry.
So there you go. The Van Halens feel like Dave stabbed them in the back and can't get over it. They don't trust the guy.
It had interviews with Dave's former bodyguard Ed Anderson, Mike Stone (VH's bass player before Mike Anthony), former roadies and friends.
It also had taped interviews with Dave, Alex, and Mike.
In the early days, Alex Van Halen was the band leader and Eddie was the singer. Alex said Eddie wasn't holding up as the singer very well and told Ed they needed to get someone to sing. Alex said he wanted Roth in the band because Roth was quite the showman even in the early days and would wear stuff nobody else would think of. Alex liked what he saw and wanted Roth in the band. Alex also said if they got Roth in the band they wouldn't have to keep renting his PA.
The guitarist in Mike Anthony's band snake said it was Eddie who wanted Mike in the band because Ed liked Mikes bass playing.
Mike Stone said Alex Van Halen asked where his interests laid. School or music. Mike who was a straight A student said school and Alex said he had to be let go because he had conflicting intrests. He said it hurt to be let go out of Van Halen but said Alex was right. Those guys were out to do it for life and not just as a side project.
Ed Anderson and former VH staff members said the difference in personalities and creative asperations started to sepparate Van Halen. It started with Diver Down which was a Roth album. Alex said 1984 was an Eddie Van Halen and Donn Landee album. He said he was on it but that album was Don's and Ed's mostly.
Ed Anderson said it got so bad towards the end that everyone would cringe when management wanted a band meeting. Having a successful album and number one hit really went to Dave's head. Dave got most the attention because he was the band's spokesman and in front. The rest of the band were not. That was fine with them but when Roth started to alienate the band that is where the big bad mojo came from.
Dave who once was prompt and reliable started blowing Van Halen off when he hit solo album and videos became the rage. Roth was getting attention without Van Halen and felt he no longer needed Van Halen and started rehearsing with his own band without telling VH first.
The big stink with Roth from the Van Halens and Mike was he tossed them away like a used condom after Roth started getting hit up with solo opportunities. The Van Halens who were at odds with Roth a lot of the time felt stabbed in the back because they put up with Dave's ego for so long to keep the band intact and as a unit. The rest of the band felt like Dave stabbed them in the back.
Andy Johns said the Van Halen's hate of David Lee Roth was "deep and wide" He said Eddie would actually break down crying and Alex would get very angry.
So there you go. The Van Halens feel like Dave stabbed them in the back and can't get over it. They don't trust the guy.
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