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That fat fucker just will never stop and props to Ed for at least putting a stop to it
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Van Halen rocks in more mellow mode
Review
DETROIT
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Monday, July 12, 2004
By Doug Pullen
dpullen@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6140
DETROIT - There was a telling moment late into Saturday's Van Halen concert at Joe Louis Arena.
Guitar Eddie Van Halen pulled off a fan's homemade banner that singer Sammy Hagar had wrapped around himself like a cape. It read "Right now Sammy's in Detroit, Dave's unemployed," a shot at former Van Halen frontman and co-founding member David Lee Roth, whom Hagar replaced 17 years ago.
Hagar was booted, or at least strongly encouraged to leave the band in 1996, the result of rising tensions, particularly between Hagar and Van Halen. They traded bitter barbs in the press. Hagar felt betrayed, but rebounded - albeit with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
Van Halen tried to move on with a new singer, Extreme's Gary Cherone, but fans weren't happy.
The futures of Van Halen - the guitarist and the band - looked bleakest four years ago when he was diagnosed with tongue cancer.
The good news is that Eddie Van Halen beat the cancer and has a new lease on life. His band is back, healthy and very happy with Hagar again in the fold.
Maybe that's why Eddie didn't make a big deal out of the banner/cape Saturday, the first of two Detroit-area appearances (the other was Sunday at The Palace of Auburn Hills) expected to draw around 30,000 people over the weekend.
He didn't rip it from Hagar's shoulders, or make a big stink about it, as he might have done years ago. He discreetly pulled it off.
The man considered one of rock's premier guitarists might have stomped around in a huff had he accidentally unplugged his guitar, as he did at the start of "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" on Saturday. But that Eddie Van Halen is gone.
At 49 and clearly appreciative of his new lease on life and a chance to return to the spotlight, Eddie Van Halen was all smiles Saturday night. He was also playful - dancing, jumping, spinning around on his back, high-fiving his bandmates, frequently raising a clenched fist in the air, even hugging and kissing Hagar on more than one occasion.
Oh, yeah, he played a pretty mean guitar, too.
This wasn't the well-oiled machine version of the band, known for its extensive touring in its heyday. They've only been back together for a few months. They relied heavily on the hits, though all three new songs from their forthcoming double-CD greatest hits collection, were included.
Hagar seemed to embrace Roth-era songs with a clear appreciation of the legacy that he is a part of and that came before him.
Explosive versions of "You Really Got Me" (their first hit in 1978) and "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" were particularly impressive, as was the formidable power of bassist Michael Anthony and drummer Alex Van Halen.
But it was an obviously appreciative Eddie Van Halen who played with the most ferocity and intensity, reminiscent of his and the band's early days, when Van Halen rewrote the book on hard rock guitar.
"It's good to be back," he said during his perfunctory solo segment.
The audience felt the same way, pelting the stage with everything from cigarettes and T-shirts to bras and panties.
"Right now is the appreciation of reality," Hagar said, introducing the inspirational anthem "Right Now."
"Right now," he added, is all that really matters.
But maybe one of the messages that ran on the giant video screen behind the stage during that song put this whole love fest in perspective.
"Right now," it said, "Eddie is feeling great."
Clearly, he was. So was the audience. And why wouldn't they? Van Halen is back.
link
Van Halen rocks in more mellow mode
Review
DETROIT
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Monday, July 12, 2004
By Doug Pullen
dpullen@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6140
DETROIT - There was a telling moment late into Saturday's Van Halen concert at Joe Louis Arena.
Guitar Eddie Van Halen pulled off a fan's homemade banner that singer Sammy Hagar had wrapped around himself like a cape. It read "Right now Sammy's in Detroit, Dave's unemployed," a shot at former Van Halen frontman and co-founding member David Lee Roth, whom Hagar replaced 17 years ago.
Hagar was booted, or at least strongly encouraged to leave the band in 1996, the result of rising tensions, particularly between Hagar and Van Halen. They traded bitter barbs in the press. Hagar felt betrayed, but rebounded - albeit with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
Van Halen tried to move on with a new singer, Extreme's Gary Cherone, but fans weren't happy.
The futures of Van Halen - the guitarist and the band - looked bleakest four years ago when he was diagnosed with tongue cancer.
The good news is that Eddie Van Halen beat the cancer and has a new lease on life. His band is back, healthy and very happy with Hagar again in the fold.
Maybe that's why Eddie didn't make a big deal out of the banner/cape Saturday, the first of two Detroit-area appearances (the other was Sunday at The Palace of Auburn Hills) expected to draw around 30,000 people over the weekend.
He didn't rip it from Hagar's shoulders, or make a big stink about it, as he might have done years ago. He discreetly pulled it off.
The man considered one of rock's premier guitarists might have stomped around in a huff had he accidentally unplugged his guitar, as he did at the start of "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" on Saturday. But that Eddie Van Halen is gone.
At 49 and clearly appreciative of his new lease on life and a chance to return to the spotlight, Eddie Van Halen was all smiles Saturday night. He was also playful - dancing, jumping, spinning around on his back, high-fiving his bandmates, frequently raising a clenched fist in the air, even hugging and kissing Hagar on more than one occasion.
Oh, yeah, he played a pretty mean guitar, too.
This wasn't the well-oiled machine version of the band, known for its extensive touring in its heyday. They've only been back together for a few months. They relied heavily on the hits, though all three new songs from their forthcoming double-CD greatest hits collection, were included.
Hagar seemed to embrace Roth-era songs with a clear appreciation of the legacy that he is a part of and that came before him.
Explosive versions of "You Really Got Me" (their first hit in 1978) and "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" were particularly impressive, as was the formidable power of bassist Michael Anthony and drummer Alex Van Halen.
But it was an obviously appreciative Eddie Van Halen who played with the most ferocity and intensity, reminiscent of his and the band's early days, when Van Halen rewrote the book on hard rock guitar.
"It's good to be back," he said during his perfunctory solo segment.
The audience felt the same way, pelting the stage with everything from cigarettes and T-shirts to bras and panties.
"Right now is the appreciation of reality," Hagar said, introducing the inspirational anthem "Right Now."
"Right now," he added, is all that really matters.
But maybe one of the messages that ran on the giant video screen behind the stage during that song put this whole love fest in perspective.
"Right now," it said, "Eddie is feeling great."
Clearly, he was. So was the audience. And why wouldn't they? Van Halen is back.
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