Dave 'I'm in...'

[Seshmeister]

On the new Roth show




“It’s not like my career path is going to get altered,” said Dave. “I sort of know what the next ten summers are going to bring – Eddie Van Halen aside, those are ups and downs.

“I don’t know when we’re going to tour but I have a sense that we will; I don’t know that we’re going to record again – when that’ll happen – but I have a sense that it’s gonna happen.”

[vandeleur]

But in the mean while I am going to listen to a lot of ambient drum and bass by dj bassy drum and some Motown to get me in the van halen mood .

[Seshmeister]

I think it's best to treat the Roth Show like radio and have it on while you are also doing stuff.

I was listening to the Hendrix one today it's good.

[Grit]

Great to hear this. With Spammy sucking up to Eddie ( again ) sending him the happy birthday note it had many wondering if he would be back with Van Halen. Can't imagine Dave putting this out there if he didn't really believe it would happen. Spammy's chance to be relevant again doesn't sound too promising! All of the Spammy lovers are surely crying and chugging the Spammy Rum. :puke:

[vandeleur]

Was it not the other stuff you were doing was really really good :D

[DONNIEP]

Remember the 5,000 show European Mega Tour? Dave tends to say what he would like to see happen instead of what's really going to happen. I'm not saying Dave won't be touring again with VH in maybe three or five years. But I'd be willing to bet he has as much an idea what OBC and Spock want to do as we do. Bottom line is the clock is ticking. VH ain't gonna get better as the years go by, that's for sure.

Wonder what they're gonna do for their next record - re-record the songs off the last one with new lyrics? Ed can't write a song by himself and if Dave's not there to take his bits and pieces of geetar twangin and make them into songs then they're gonna have a hard time making a new record unless they use more old material.

[vandeleur]

Sometimes it feels like Dave makes things up :)

[vandeleur]

Weirdly the dave tomorrow never knows always seemed quite cool.

[Seshmeister]

Is that meant to be a fucking haiku or something? :)

[vandeleur]

Is that meant to be a fucking haiku or something? :)

It's a sad indictment of Tory education cuts in the 80's :)

[cadaverdog]

Who and why has been answered. When and where?

[Terry]

"The next ten summers"?

The last two tours saw Roth struggling to just sing the tunes properly, with the 2015 tour markedly worse than the 2012 one.

I'm with DONNIEP in that Van Halen - and Roth in particular - aren't at a point where things can improve. Dave's abilities have been slowly waning for years. vande's right: Dave is just making this shit up as he goes along.

[DONNIEP]

Is that meant to be a fucking haiku or something? :)

What, you can't translate it? I woulda thought there would be more overlap in Geordie and Scottish. Hell, sometimes I think the two of you are the only people who understand just what the hell you're trying to say :biggrin:

[twonabomber]

"The next ten summers"?

The last two tours saw Roth struggling to just sing the tunes properly, with the 2015 tour markedly worse than the 2012 one.

I'm with DONNIEP in that Van Halen - and Roth in particular - aren't at a point where things can improve. Dave's abilities have been slowly waning for years. vande's right: Dave is just making this shit up as he goes along.

Let's not forget the same 'ol setlist....

[vandeleur]

What, you can't translate it? I woulda thought there would be more overlap in Geordie and Scottish. Hell, sometimes I think the two of you are the only people who understand just what the hell you're trying to say :biggrin:

It's an alcohol thing , when you read my posts do it with a slur, it helps.

[DavidLeeNatra]

So this statement gets hardly any attention on a side of so called "die hards". What do they expect from a tour with an overall similar setlist and nothing new on the table.

Gesendet von meinem SM-G850F mit Tapatalk

[binnie]

drip, drip, drip, the way to keep the fans guessing..............

[Terry]

So this statement gets hardly any attention on a side of so called "die hards". What do they expect from a tour with an overall similar setlist and nothing new on the table.

Gesendet von meinem SM-G850F mit Tapatalk

Well, Dave talks so much shit so often that it would take a diehard to be as dismissive of it as we are.

Casual fans of the band might take what Dave says as something meaningful, but only because they haven't been listening to Roth blather like he is on an endless coke binge for the last...well, forever, now that I think of it.

I mean, Roth may well want to BELIEVE that he'll still be touring with Van Halen ten years from now, but based on what I've seen and heard from the last two tours I wouldn't be surprised if the venue sizes decrease between now and then.

[Terry]

Let's not forget the same 'ol setlist....

How many more times does one really need to hear RWTD, DTNA, ATBL and all the standard/obvious 6-pack tunes sung live...badly?

[ZahZoo]

I think it's time to break out the Hagar and Cherone material... with Roth still fronting the band, of course.

I'm confident that crap can also be "sung live...badly"...

[Terry]

I think it's time to break out the Hagar and Cherone material... with Roth still fronting the band, of course.

I'm confident that crap can also be "sung live...badly"...

I'm confident that crap can also be "sung live...badly": if Hagar and Cherone were able to do so the first time around, Dave should have no problems doing so now.

[Nitro Express]

I think it's time to break out the Hagar and Cherone material... with Roth still fronting the band, of course.

I'm confident that crap can also be "sung live...badly"...

I'm beyond caring what those old farts are up to. I hope Dave squirreled enough away for his golden years.

[DLR Bridge]

"The next ten summers"?

The last two tours saw Roth struggling to just sing the tunes properly, with the 2015 tour markedly worse than the 2012 one.

I'm with DONNIEP in that Van Halen - and Roth in particular - aren't at a point where things can improve. Dave's abilities have been slowly waning for years. vande's right: Dave is just making this shit up as he goes along.

I believe Dave is using Mick Jagger as a measuring stick for determining his approximate time left as an entertainer. It's as if he may have figured prior to making the 10 year comment, if Mick can do it at 70 something, so can I.

There are two problems with that. One is that Dave, contrary to the beliefs of Hagar fans, was a powerhouse rock singer in his prime. His abilities haven't just diminished a little. They've diminished a lot.

Secondly, Dave had been replaced before. For however crazy we may find Hagar supporters to be, there is still a large faction who would love to see Dave gone, again. That's a situation that Mick was never in. It is doubtful that any of the Stones' faithful had ever wished Mick would hang it up or move aside for a younger model through the decades of his waning abilities.

[ZahZoo]

I'm confident that crap can also be "sung live...badly": if Hagar and Cherone were able to do so the first time around, Dave should have no problems doing so now.

I think he's at a point in his career where have do so confidently... night after night!!

Load the tour bus!!

[Seshmeister]

http://www.examiner.com/article/van-halen-still-quiet


Van Halen still quiet

http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/94/c0/94c01fb81fde9c7848cd562a3e05820a.jpg?itok=0sVGYMtN




Almost from the moment Van Halen’s tour ended this past October, fans and media have been speculating about the band’s future. They have scrutinized and analyzed every video, photo, and Tweet from anyone associated with the band. Last week, they puzzled over another big clue as singer David Lee Roth shared his thoughts about his future with Van Halen in the latest episode of The Roth Show (released May 24).

Early in the 36-minute podcast, he confidently spoke about his plans: “It’s not like my career path is gonna be altered. I sort of know what the next 10 summers are gonna bring,” Roth said. “Eddie Van Halen aside — those are ups and downs — I don’t know when we’re going to tour, but I have a sense that we will. I don’t know that we’re going to record again, when that will happen, but I get the sense that it’s gonna happen.” He ended the episode with his cover of The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows.”

While Roth has been putting out an average of one podcast a week since resuming his online presence earlier this year (after a sudden and never-explained yearlong internet blackout that began in January 2015), this is the first time he’s publicly addressed Van Halen’s future, since the end of the 2015 tour.

Bass player Wolfgang Van Halen has been working on a solo album, but has said nothing publicly about the band. 

According to his friend (and sometime bandmate, in Tremonti) Mark Tremonti: “He’s recorded about 24 songs, but it’s all just music at this point, there’s not any vocals done yet.” There is also no word on whether Wolf will go out with Tremonti’s band on their European tour this summer.

Meanwhile, Eddie Van Halen has also been busy — while maintaining his infamous (and often frustrating for fans) silence regarding the band’s future. The guitar legend is known for donating instruments from his extensive collection to various charities, to be used in fundraisers. On June 4, another of his autographed guitars will be up for auction at the Stars Guitars fundraiser in Dearborn, Mich. The money raised at the event will “provide college scholarships to young cancer survivors and helps with long-term treatment plans to make sure they stay healthy.”

A black guitar signed by Eddie is available, with the current bid at $1,100. Other auction items include: salon services, sports memorabilia, and guitars autographed by other rock stars (such as Ace Freely, Cyndi Lauper, and the members of Boston).

After nearly 8 months of relentlessly deciphering Tweets, interviews, and photos, fans have no more information than they did when Van Halen left the stage at the end of their last tour.

[Seshmeister]

Meanwhile, Eddie Van Halen has also been busy — while maintaining his infamous (and often frustrating for fans) silence regarding the band’s future. The guitar legend is known for donating instruments from his extensive collection to various charities, to be used in fundraisers. On June 4, another of his autographed guitars will be up for auction at the Stars Guitars fundraiser in Dearborn, Mich. The money raised at the event will “provide college scholarships to young cancer survivors and helps with long-term treatment plans to make sure they stay healthy.”

A black guitar signed by Eddie is available, with the current bid at $1,100. Other auction items include: salon services, sports memorabilia, and guitars autographed by other rock stars (such as Ace Freely, Cyndi Lauper, and the members of Boston).

After nearly 8 months of relentlessly deciphering Tweets, interviews, and photos, fans have no more information than they did when Van Halen left the stage at the end of their last tour.

It kills me that the writer thinks that saying nothing to fans and signing 2 guitars over 9 months counts as being busy. :)

[Terry]

Silence from the Van Halen camp is something fans have (or SHOULD have) become used to.

Ever since Cherone left in the fall of 1999, the Van Halens only bother talking when there is a tour or an album or a new EVH Signature Guitar Du Jour to promote. I mean, what did we get...like, one press release/public statement from Eddie from 2000 to 2004?

And that's fine with me, really. I don't have much interest in what the Van Halens have to say anymore. Ed is a such a chronic bullshitter in interview situations that I'm not exactly waiting anxiously to read the next batch of lies from him.

It's not 1996 anymore. Or 2000. Or even 2006. Those years, I had an interest in what Ed had to say about reuniting with Roth: is it going to happen/Could it still happen?

Well, it happened. They did 3 tours and put out a couple of albums over the last decade.

What else is there really left to even talk about?

[Terry]

I believe Dave is using Mick Jagger as a measuring stick for determining his approximate time left as an entertainer. It's as if he may have figured prior to making the 10 year comment, if Mick can do it at 70 something, so can I.

There are two problems with that. One is that Dave, contrary to the beliefs of Hagar fans, was a powerhouse rock singer in his prime. His abilities haven't just diminished a little. They've diminished a lot.

Secondly, Dave had been replaced before. For however crazy we may find Hagar supporters to be, there is still a large faction who would love to see Dave gone, again. That's a situation that Mick was never in. It is doubtful that any of the Stones' faithful had ever wished Mick would hang it up or move aside for a younger model through the decades of his waning abilities.

I mean, I suppose there will always be an audience out there willing to see Ed and Dave onstage together. The strength of what they did back in the day was resilient enough to have continued drawing power for those who want to capture whatever is left of that CVH magic.

But the truth of the matter is that Roth's abilities HAVE diminished substantially. The drop-off was noticeable in 2012 compared to the 2007/2008 performances, and 2015 saw his abilities eroded even more.

And another truth is that there would be an audience willing to see Van Hagar tour again. Much like Roth solo wouldn't be much of a draw, neither is Hagar solo these days. Stick Hagar back in front of Van Halen along with Mike Anthony, that lineup would be good for at least one tour of solid attendances. I'm not saying I'd want to see it, but unlike The Stones and Mick, Van Halen does have another option should Roth be unable to perform.

[DLR Bridge]

But the truth of the matter is that Roth's abilities HAVE diminished substantially. The drop-off was noticeable in 2012 compared to the 2007/2008 performances, and 2015 saw his abilities eroded even more.


I will retract a little, my remark on the diminished abilities. There were many shows on the '15 tour where he not only sounded better than '12, but he popped out some howls that we thought were all but gone. He took ill at the end of July and it hampered is ability to finish the tour strong, but when you consider the fact that putzy pieces of shit like Justin Bieber cancel tours on account of a passing sore throat, Dave is a vintage showman of the likes we will never witness again.

[chuckjitsu]

I will retract a little, my remark on the diminished abilities. There were many shows on the '15 tour where he not only sounded better than '12, but he popped out some howls that we thought were all but gone. He took ill at the end of July and it hampered is ability to finish the tour strong, but when you consider the fact that putzy pieces of shit like Justin Bieber cancel tours on account of a passing sore throat, Dave is a vintage showman of the likes we will never witness again.

As a whole, I thought he sounded better on the '15 tour than the '12 tour and I think he can still deliver effective vocals, all things considered. Problem is that he doesn't appear motivated to try to work himself in to 07/08 shape and he still does himself no favors with some of his vocal choices, so yeah.

I can take or leave another tour, but I would like to squeeze another album out of these guys. Yeah, I know- good luck with that.

[Terry]

I will retract a little, my remark on the diminished abilities. There were many shows on the '15 tour where he not only sounded better than '12, but he popped out some howls that we thought were all but gone. He took ill at the end of July and it hampered is ability to finish the tour strong, but when you consider the fact that putzy pieces of shit like Justin Bieber cancel tours on account of a passing sore throat, Dave is a vintage showman of the likes we will never witness again.

To be sure, he was a one-of-a-kind frontman/'vintage showman'...and in the end, he was the only singer for Van Halen who really ever mattered in my book.

He and Ed had such a great blend, the result of which was never really equaled by either of them again once Roth left the band.

Should Roth retire from live performances, it will be a passing of an era. The question here is if Roth should stop touring now, or keep plugging away at it, keeping in mind that where he is at age-wise he's really not going to improve or get any better from this point forward.

I suppose as long as people are still willing to pay good money to see him, Roth should keep performing as long as he can. I can't blame the guy for wanting to stay active.

[Terry]

As a whole, I thought he sounded better on the '15 tour than the '12 tour and I think he can still deliver effective vocals, all things considered. Problem is that he doesn't appear motivated to try to work himself in to 07/08 shape and he still does himself no favors with some of his vocal choices, so yeah.

I can take or leave another tour, but I would like to squeeze another album out of these guys. Yeah, I know- good luck with that.

I'd be much more interested in another album from them than a tour.

[Seshmeister]

Problem is that he doesn't appear motivated to try to work himself in to 07/08 shape and he still does himself no favors with some of his vocal choices, so yeah.


Talking of vocal choices and future tours, here is something to think about.

Now that we have those choices recorded on the Tokyo Dome album, is that now laid down as the way these melodies should be done from now on?

Is Tokyo Dome canon?

[chuckjitsu]

Talking of vocal choices and future tours, here is something to think about.

Now that we have those choices recorded on the Tokyo Dome album, is that now laid down as the way these melodies should be done from now on?

Is Tokyo Dome canon?

I would certainly hope not. If, for example, he can go from singing DTNA properly to the poor (to me at least) way he's singing it now, I see no reason why he can't go back to singing it properly again other than simply choosing not to. Therein lies the rub- he can sing it correctly, he just chooses not to for whatever reason.

[Terry]

I would certainly hope not. If, for example, he can go from singing DTNA properly to the poor (to me at least) way he's singing it now, I see no reason why he can't go back to singing it properly again other than simply choosing not to. Therein lies the rub- he can sing it correctly, he just chooses not to for whatever reason.

THAT precise bad choice of vocal strategy of his as of late - that strained vocal yelp - ditching that would go a long way to making him listenable live again.

DTNA away is one of the more egregious uses of it . When he sang that tune in 2012, my reaction to hearing it at the show I went to was "why is he singing the song that way?" The same thing happened with Pretty Woman. Aside from it being a tune I could do without them playing live, all that is required from Roth is to sing it straight-up. And that is a tune well within his capabilities now to sing it exactly the way it was recorded.

It was the same thing with Dirty Movies during the verses on the last tour. That tune is the one that springs to mind first, but that 'technique' is one he drops into virtually every song in the set at some point during the tune.

Why is he doing this?

Is he bored with the tunes and doing this to keep things interesting for himself? Does he do this because he thinks it shows he's making an effort? Does he actually think it sounds good? Is it that nobody of consequence to him within the current Van Halen organization has the fortitude to tell him that the result sounds bad?

That's the shame of it, is that he could be doing much better (and the band on the whole would sound better) if he merely sang the tunes. And it would extend the lifespan of what he has left in the tank vocally.

[Seshmeister]

It's odd given the 100 interviews where he said everyone just wants Beethoven to play da-da-da-da.

[vandeleur]

Is Tokyo Dome canon?


I just stole it off the Internet and deleted it cos it wasn't very good but your way of disposing of it sounds better :)

[Satan]

The way Dave sings some of these songs now reminds me a little of how Joey Ramone sang some of his band's "biggest hits" late in his career. Sort of like "yeah, I'm goddamn sick of singing this song, but if I don't sing it, they'll never let me leave this concert alive, so let's fucking get it over with".


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAmQcm1o9Ys

[chuckjitsu]

Why is he doing this?

Is he bored with the tunes and doing this to keep things interesting for himself? Does he do this because he thinks it shows he's making an effort? Does he actually think it sounds good? Is it that nobody of consequence to him within the current Van Halen organization has the fortitude to tell him that the result sounds bad?

That's the shame of it, is that he could be doing much better (and the band on the whole would sound better) if he merely sang the tunes. And it would extend the lifespan of what he has left in the tank vocally.

Million dollar questions right there. I honestly have no idea what he's thinking, but his vocal "stylings" are only making the songs worse. What I've noticed is that he seems to put more effort in to certain songs for whatever reason. Women in Love being a good example. He seems to focus and sing that one properly, including the lyrics. I don't know if that's a personal favorite of his or something, but the contrast between that song and DTNA or China Town (which was more about Dave singing the lyrics incorrectly 95% of the time) is jarring.

I think 80%-85% of the complaints about Dave live would go away if he just sang the fucking songs properly. <sigh> It is what it is at this point. This is why I'm pinning the hope I have left on a new album! Get off your god damn asses guys and get this done!

[DLR Bridge]

I'm down with them doing nothing but record from here on out, but it isn't going to go that way. I've immersed myself in so much other music out there since this last tour ended, knowing full well that a follow up to ADKOT would ridiculously take a couple of years. I wanted to get myself completely out of VH mode in the hopes of being pleasantly surprised for a change. Hearing Dave say "I don’t know that we’re going to record again – when that’ll happen – but I have a sense that it’s gonna happen" not only smacks of more wasted fucking time, it bolsters zero confidence that Ed has it in mind to do jack shit with Dave again.

Like Terry and so many here have said, if this is it, if this is where it all ends, I'm grateful they've given me so much to enjoy throughout the years. My biggest complaint us that they have no excuse for not doing more, besides possibly never really giving a shit in the first place. Giving a shit is a fan's job, and unfortunately, it doesn't pay very well.

[twonabomber]

No way they can just tour for the hell of it. Not in sheds, not the way the last tour sold, and even that was in support of the live album. There's a big drop down from 17,000 seat sheds and arenas, unless they put the stage in the middle of an arena floor and only made seats in front of the stage available. Or even tarp off the upper deck.

I don't even know if I'd be interested in a show where they played Fair Warning in it's entirety, with a shorter set of hits on either end. I doubt they'd cuntsider a tour like that anyways.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

It kills me that the writer thinks that saying nothing to fans and signing 2 guitars over 9 months counts as being busy. :)


You guys probably know this already, but that is Leslie, aka "Greeneyedmurder", who went to the Cafe Wha? show with WARF.....

[Va Beach VH Fan]

No way they can just tour for the hell of it. Not in sheds, not the way the last tour sold, and even that was in support of the live album. There's a big drop down from 17,000 seat sheds and arenas, unless they put the stage in the middle of an arena floor and only made seats in front of the stage available. Or even tarp off the upper deck.

I don't even know if I'd be interested in a show where they played Fair Warning in it's entirety, with a shorter set of hits on either end. I doubt they'd cuntsider a tour like that anyways.


I've been saying this for a while, but I think they should seriously consider teaming up with another band if they were to tour again....

Now, who would that be? Haven't given it that much thought, but it would have to get through the DLR/EVH/AVH ego machine....

[Seshmeister]

You guys probably know this already, but that is Leslie, aka "Greeneyedmurder", who went to the Cafe Wha? show with WARF.....

I didn't but either way it was kind of a silly line... :)

[Seshmeister]

I don't even know if I'd be interested in a show where they played Fair Warning in it's entirety, with a shorter set of hits on either end. I doubt they'd cuntsider a tour like that anyways.

Doing a full album is the fashion these days. I think if Wolfie said they were to do Fair Warning they would do it as recent years have confirmed he is definitely in charge of setlists.

[DONNIEP]

I've been saying this for a while, but I think they should seriously consider teaming up with another band if they were to tour again....

Now, who would that be? Haven't given it that much thought, but it would have to get through the DLR/EVH/AVH ego machine....

There can be only one: Winger

[vandeleur]

There can be only one: Winger

Wow ... Light bulb moment . You have a thing for podgy bass players :D

[DONNIEP]

Wow ... Light bulb moment . You have a thing for podgy bass players :D

Careful, baldy

:biggrin:

[Satan]

I've been saying this for a while, but I think they should seriously consider teaming up with another band if they were to tour again....

Now, who would that be? Haven't given it that much thought, but it would have to get through the DLR/EVH/AVH ego machine....

The Sex Pistols will probably be touring at some point in the next year or two, as the 40th anniversary of "Never Mind the Bollocks" is 2017 (Doesn't that make you mortals feel old??)

That would be one HELL of a double bill. (bit of a historical footnote there: Noel Monk's last job before he worked for VH was as the road manager of the Sex Pistols US tour in early 1978)

They could even jam together......


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x28ZRlna954

[vandeleur]

Lyndon has very little interest in revisiting the pistols no matter how much is on offer, he is well into public image . Again.

[Satan]

Well, it's not like Johnny ever stays with one lineup for very long in any case, so this version of PiL is probably nearing the expiration date anyway.

[vandeleur]

Well, it's not like Johnny ever stays with one lineup for very long in any case, so this version of PiL is probably nearing the expiration date anyway.

He had catweasel playing guitar the last two times I seen them. Poor bloke only had two strings on his guitar for some songs.

[DLR Bridge]

I've been saying this for a while, but I think they should seriously consider teaming up with another band if they were to tour again....

Now, who would that be? Haven't given it that much thought, but it would have to get through the DLR/EVH/AVH ego machine....

About a year ago, I would have pitched a duel bill with AC/DC. Everyone in VH has praised them at some point in time. Now that all of this Axl crap is happening, I take them out of consideration.

[Satan]

They could always tour with Chickenshit and Extreme just for the comedic value..... http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/teufel/d025.gif

[Seshmeister]

About a year ago, I would have pitched a duel bill with AC/DC. Everyone in VH has praised them at some point in time. Now that all of this Axl crap is happening, I take them out of consideration.

At this point Van Halen would be support to AC/DC not duel.

Wouldn't make any sense financially anyway...

[Satan]

Which would be ironic since Van Halen at least has three of their 4 original band members, while Axl/DC is down to just one.

[DLR Bridge]

Which would be ironic since Van Halen at least has three of their 4 original band members, while Axl/DC is down to just one.

They don't have their original bass player anymore?

[Satan]

Cliff has been around since Powerage, so that's a long time. But they made 5 albums before him. Mark Evans played on most of the stuff before that, but on their first album, "High Voltage" they didn't really have a permanent bass player yet. Angus & Malcolm's older brother George (who produced the album) played on some of the tracks, and Malcolm played on others.

[Jérôme Frenchise]

Cliff has been around since Powerage, so that's a long time. But they made 5 albums before him.

They'd made three albums before Powerage ('78), if you don't count the Aussie-only releases: High Voltage, Dirty Deeds and Let There Be Rock.

Just ask Bon Scott, he must be somewhere around in your place.

[Terry]

No way they can just tour for the hell of it. Not in sheds, not the way the last tour sold, and even that was in support of the live album. There's a big drop down from 17,000 seat sheds and arenas, unless they put the stage in the middle of an arena floor and only made seats in front of the stage available. Or even tarp off the upper deck.

I don't even know if I'd be interested in a show where they played Fair Warning in it's entirety, with a shorter set of hits on either end. I doubt they'd cuntsider a tour like that anyways.

I was unaware the last tour sold poorly. I knew that tickets in my area were available pretty much up until the day of the show, which wasn't the case in 2008. The played a different venue in 2015 than the one they did in 2008 and 2012, but the capacity was the same. Maybe they were playing secondary markets elsewhere on the 2015 tour. Maybe overall sales were soft in 2015: once I decided I wasn't bothering to go, I stopped paying attention.

About the only thing the band could do that would virtually guarantee good attendances in 20,000 seaters would be to get Anthony back in the group and announce a farewell tour with the CVH lineup. Short of that, I don't really see what they can do with the current lineup they have to reach that goal. A new album by the current band, even if it was a good one, isn't going to get them there. The last album was really about as good as one could have expected (and turned out much better than I expected it to be), and it really didn't expand on their ability in terms of ticket sales or venue sizes.

[Satan]

They'd made three albums before Powerage ('78), if you don't count the Aussie-only releases: High Voltage, Dirty Deeds and Let There Be Rock.

Just ask Bon Scott, he must be somewhere around in your place.

Dirty Deeds & Let There Be Rock were released internationally, though with different cover art and a few track differences. The two Aussie only albums were the first two, "High Voltage" and "TNT". Atlantic Records combined tracks from these two when they released the international "debut" album, which was also titled "High Voltage", to add to the confusion.

The Aussie cover art was definitely better on "High Voltage" "Dirty Deeds" was probably a draw. But the Atlantic version of "Let There Be Rock" definitely had better cover art than the Aussie version. Even if they fucked up the record by leaving "Crabsody In Blue" off the album....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPjDGIWQqrk

[Va Beach VH Fan]

About the only thing the band could do that would virtually guarantee good attendances in 20,000 seaters would be to get Anthony back in the group and announce a farewell tour with the CVH lineup.


I would agree with that Terry....

But back on my previous point, perhaps a twinbill lineup with VH and someone like Aerosmith, alternating headlining shows, would do the trick as well.... I don't think Aerosmith is packing them in nowadays as well.....

[Satan]

Don't VH and Aerosmith really hate each other though? I seem to remember something about bad blood from the 70s.... and then there was the incident in the mid 90s, where Aeroshit's manager was supposed to manage Van Hagar (at Sammy's invitation). Dude met Eddie right when was going through one of his head shaving meltdown phases and said "Fuck it! I can't possibly deal with this guy AND Steven Tyler".

Which of course, left them vulnerable to be picked off by Ray Danniels, and the rest is history....

Besides, last I heard, Tyler was trying to launch his solo "country" career and Aeroshit was threatening to tour with a scab singer. Sounds like they would be more suited to open for Axl/DC if that's the case.

[Terry]

I would agree with that Terry....

But back on my previous point, perhaps a twinbill lineup with VH and someone like Aerosmith, alternating headlining shows, would do the trick as well.... I don't think Aerosmith is packing them in nowadays as well.....

You know, I don't really see a twin bill lineup with Van Halen and a band of equal (or better) drawing power such as Aerosmith happening.

Personally, such a bill would probably be the only way I'd go to see another Van Halen show, but Van Halen has always opted to tour with bands that have no chance of upstaging them.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

You know, I don't really see a twin bill lineup with Van Halen and a band of equal (or better) drawing power such as Aerosmith happening.

Personally, such a bill would probably be the only way I'd go to see another Van Halen show, but Van Halen has always opted to tour with bands that have no chance of upstaging them.


Oh, I didn't say I saw it actually happening.... I think if they were smart, they'd seriously consider it....

But then again, we all know who we're talking about....

[Terry]

Oh, I didn't say I saw it actually happening.... I think if they were smart, they'd seriously consider it....

But then again, we all know who we're talking about....

Well, Van Halen from 1996 onward hasn't really made a bunch of sensible or logical moves career-wise, to be sure.

Then again, the value of the band/brand name is such that they don't really HAVE to.

Also, the band are clearly closer to the end of their career than they are to the beginning of it. As such, it may make more sense financially for the band to keep plodding along like they are as headliners than split the take with a band of equal billing status.

But I don't even really get the sense that there is a "they" in "if they were smart": the group currently have seemingly got along well enough to do three tours and a couple of albums together in the last ten years, but I don't think there is quite the sense of cohesion or purpose in any of what has transpired in the last decade that there was from 1974 to 1984. Dave needs to front Van Halen if he wants to play large venues, and the Van Halens eventually needed Roth because the last go-around with Hagar didn't end on good terms and getting a 4th singer wasn't an option any promoter was going to give them a sizeable guarantee on.

[78/84 guy]

Cliff has been around since Powerage, so that's a long time. But they made 5 albums before him. Mark Evans played on most of the stuff before that, but on their first album, "High Voltage" they didn't really have a permanent bass player yet. Angus & Malcolm's older brother George (who produced the album) played on some of the tracks, and Malcolm played on others.

Marks book is the best I've read about AC/DC. Great stuff about the early days of the band nobody else will ever write. I think it's time some of these bands call it a day. Sure you get glimpses off what the once were but........honestly it's mostly the singers that do them in live. They just don't have the vocals anymore. This whole Axl /DC is almost pathetic. I like that he wanted too do it but man is his voice shot. Why Slash wanted anything too do with him is beyond me ? Paycheck I guess. Same reason other bands won't stop I guess.

[Jetstream]

Marks book is the best I've read about AC/DC. Great stuff about the early days of the band nobody else will ever write. I think it's time some of these bands call it a day. Sure you get glimpses off what the once were but........honestly it's mostly the singers that do them in live. They just don't have the vocals anymore. This whole Axl /DC is almost pathetic. I like that he wanted too do it but man is his voice shot. Why Slash wanted anything too do with him is beyond me ? Paycheck I guess. Same reason other bands won't stop I guess.

I am not a fan of Axl fronting AC/DC because he is the voice of Guns N Roses... but come on man, I have heard Axl recently with both bands and his voice still sounds great in my opinion regardless of his character :)

[78/84 guy]

I am not a fan of Axl fronting AC/DC because he is the voice of Guns N Roses... but come on man, I have heard Axl recently with both bands and his voice still sounds great in my opinion regardless of his character :)

Get your ears checked.