Tweet
Here's your follow up to the DLR Interview - although I'm sure this one isn't as highly anticipated.
Sammy sheds some light on how this whole thing got started, and it somehow shifts into a bashfest. Sam was cool, and I'm not dissing him for his opinion of Dave - but I was a little surprised that he was so open to share it with me.
AUGUST 2002 - I had contacted both Dave and Sam's PR reps for interview requests. Sam's rep, Janie, got back to me very quickly and was cool about the whole thing. Dave's rep, Libby, never returned my calls or emails -and when I finally tracked her down on the phone she basically blew me off. She said she's not sure if Dave is doing any press - I later found out he wasn't - and would definitely not be available if the piece were to run after the concert. HOW THE FUCK AM I GOING TO RUN IT BEFOREHAND? YOU FUCKERS DON'T GET INTO TOWN UNTIL 4PM - I HAVE A 5:00 SHOW AND YOU PLAY AT 8. IT'S NOT HAPPENIN HONEY UNLESS YOU WANT TO FLY ME OUT TO THE SHOW BEFORE NASHVILLE. Jesus, I love Dave - but I just remember Libby being a total cunt. - Shit, I hope she doesn't check this site out or I may never get another interview with Dave again. Libby my real name is Hope Hines. I work at Channel 5.
So we get to Starwood, the concert shed here in Nashvegas around 5:30. Sammy's folks tell me it's cool to shoot the sound check. Dave for some reason didn't do a sound check. Sammy blows through "Everybody Wants to Get Stoned" or whatever the fuck that annoying hippy drug anthem is called, then "Heavy Metal" which I really enjoyed - and closed it out with "When It's Love" - which may have sparked the "ingenious" idea to close the 2004 tour with this song.
As we're shooting this, I see Mike at the sound board. Shit - I didn't know Mikey was going to be here! So I cruise over to talk to him. He's cool as shit. I know Mike's not the most popular person on this site - but having met the guy he's very personable and down-to-earth. Anyway - I ask Mike if he'd mine sitting in with Sammy during the interview. He agrees. FUCK YEH! NOW I'M GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS VAN HALEN REUNION BULLSHIT! Or so I thought....
The three of us sit down and I tell Sammy the last time I interviewed him was on April 19th, 1995. A tragic day in our nation's history. He replies "When I got kicked out of the band?" and we all laugh - I then tell him "No, that was the day of the Oklahoma City Bombing". Now I'm thinking: "Way to set the tone dumbass." It's like I'm Chris Farley or something. THAT WAS STUPID.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TH: Dude, I got to say this is trippy seeing the 2 of you guys together.
(Mike and Sam both laugh and high five eachother) What's up?
SH: Well Mike got a few new tattoos, that's all. Other than that everything's the same.
MA: I wanted to come out here and show them off! This one's new here (points to an African tribal looking warrior mask about 3 inches long on his lower right leg) I got that in Hawaii last year, that's new.
TH: So what happened? How did you guys get back together? I know you're doing the "Planet Us" thing.
MA: That's basically how it started.
SH: Pretty much a catalyst. You know Mike and I kinda stayed in touch over the years...
MA: Due to politically correct circumstances...
SH: Friendships, yeh. Then when the Planet Us thing came up, Neal Schon and I had a meeting about it and who could be in it and I said "Man let's give Mikey a call!" And he said "Yeh man Mikey's awesome!" - and then the drummer, Dean Castronova, the drummer from Journey - he's going to be in the band - he gets down on his knees and he says "I will do anything! - He volunteered to do anything to play with Michael Anthony. So we gave Mike a call and he came up and it was great.
TH: When's that stuff coming out? Have you guys hit the studios?
SH: We've recorded 2 songs and we've halfway written 5 more. We just get together and we just write. We get a sound stage and we plug in, it's like we're playing a concert.
MA: We did it in 2 days. I got together a few hours, a few days. Then I flew home, then came back up - demo'd the 2 songs and pretty much was - well Sam's going on tour. Journey's going to be on tour - so you know.
SH: And Mike's actually on tour now!
MA: And I'm on tour now!
SH: He wasn't supposed to be but once we got to playing again I said "Mike" - Mike was actually at my house the day when somebody from David Lee Roth's camp called and asked if I'd be interested in speaking with Dave about putting a tour together. And Mike was at my house.
MA: Of course Sammy didn't want to tell me!
TH: So did your jaw just like drop man?
SH: Oh, I kinda had a heads up that it was going to happen because Dave's been thrown out of Van Halen 150 times now (Mike laughs) And Mike had already told me that was never going to happen. So I was kinda playin' dodgeball for a while. Then I thought, you know - it's actually a good idea. And I said "Mike, I don't know this guy" - and he says "Well, I'm not sure if I know him either (laughs).
MA: So good luck Sam! Good luck.
SA: 100 years later...So once we put it together and did it - once Dave and I had our meeting and we worked it all out -Mike goes "You ain't goin' out there and having all that fun without me." And I said come on! So he plays for 4 or 5 songs.
TH: What was it like man, that first meeting with Dave? Because you know - the history, all the bad blood between you guys that had been built up. I kinda grew up with that man.
SH: That's right, that's right - because he was the enemy of Van Halen.
TH: WELL - It was the world's greatest rock-n-roll soap opera. It was awesome. You guys would both talk shit about eachother, it was incredible.
SH: So, I didn't talk to Dave on the phone, I talked to his management guy. I said I'll tell you what, let's meet in my manager's office -Irving A's office. So I flew to LA and we met. And I got to tell you it was tense. You know it was like waiting for Dave to come in. We were having our meeting first and saying - you know - going through my management with the rules - saying "Here's the only way I'll do it you know?" And then Dave gets there, I jump up look him right in the eye and say "How's it goin' man?" - You know (laughs). And it was tense. And he was actually cool. And he was the guy that said it, he said "You know we've said a lot of things about eachother. From this moment on, let's pretend like it never happened and see if we can work something out." - And I said "Right On!" - That's a pretty damn good approach. Or else we're going to have to go out in the alley and work that out first (laughs). And thank God it didn't come to that! - And it's working. It's working for the fans. It's not working between him and I. We don't do duets together. We don't basically speak to eachother - other than "Hi" cordially, then go our separate ways. Two different characters, and I still don't care for David Lee Roth personally. You know I don't respect him that much or anything. But he's good at what he does.
MA: And it makes for a good show all the way around too. Because Dave comes out and does all the early Van Halen stuff and Sam comes up and of course does all his stuff and in the middle I jump out and we do a few more VH tunes.
SH: Pretty good - it's as close as you're going to get to Van Halen right here. And I hate to be like that, like we're playing second fiddle here. But if the brothers want to come out and do this, then come on. If we could all do this like one big happy family - that's the ultimate Van Halen concert. Now with just me going back. Not with Dave going back. You're missing too much. Let's all do it together. I'm down with that, and Mike's down with that. And Dave is probably down with that, but I haven't really talked to him about it because like I said we don't really talk. If he's down with going out with me, he'd be down with that. Because I'm the enemy.
MA: Who'd ever even thought these two guys would get together, much less.
TH: Yeh, and you thought the Eagles had the Hell Freezes Over Tour!
SH: So this is second best. And it's awesome. When you take all the early Van Halen hits. Take all my solo hits. Take my Van Hagar hits, and throw them into 3 hours of rock-n-roll, there is nobody but Billy Joel and Elton John that got that many hits in one set- and most of theirs are ballads. This is a rocker! This is Elton and Billy with a huge edge. With a funk to it.
TH: I read somewhere where one of the casino owners in Vegas originally approached all three of you guys - Eddie, you and Dave - about getting back together.
SH: He approached me.
TH: And Eddie nixed it?
SH: Well I don't know who nixed it, but I gave it to their attorney. And they in turn gave it to Michael Carlot (I HAVE NO IDEA WHO HE IS) and word came back that it wasn't the right time and it was a bad time and they would have nothing to do with David Lee Roth anyway. And that's when I hooked up with Mikey.
MA: And that was something that didn't even reach me. I heard it was nixed you know.
SH: One powerful thing about doing it on that level that I'm interested in...Is how much we could also do in each city we play. For that city, or the kids, or the schools or terminally ill children. There's just so much you can do when you're on that level of media and finances - all the stuff that comes together. The people could bring food like we did before. The monstrosity of a Sam and Dave Van Halen tour - you could do something pretty special. That's my first motive. I've got one more shot at my age - and like all of a sudden I'm not going to become the biggest rock star in the world again. I'm not even dreaming about that again, I'm fine doing just what we're doing. But what that would be is big as it gets. And with that last time - at that peak - I'm going to do something special. With my side of it anyway. I would hope the whole band would go in. And I'm sure Mike's in...I don't know about Dave. He'll probably a percentage of whatever we donate it to.(laughs) He's not necessarily Mr. Goodfellow, but that's all right - we'll make him do it.
MA: Just one more time for the fans. It'd be the biggest.
TH: Mikey, you're kinda like Switzerland dude
MA: Kind of?!
TH: You are man!
MA: Well, actually I'm Shamus!
SH: Shameless?
TH: What was it like when you told Eddie you were going out with Sammy?
MA: Well actually with Sammy, they didn't have a big problem with it. When Sammy asked me to do the Planet Us thing and we had been home doing nothing at the time. Eddie had his health and he was still dealing with that. So I told him I'm going to go up there and I'm going to do it because I'm not going to sit at home. I'm not going to sit around waiting for something to happen. It's not like I'm going to go out and join another band or do something that's going to go out and tarnish the Van Halen name or whatever. I just want to go out and have some fun. And Sammy and I have always connected on a level.
SH: We know how to have fun.
MA: It's like the 2 Stooges when we get together. We connect on some plane. But it's been great. When he asked me to come out - I thought, yeh -it'd be great. To go out there for the fans and just have a good time. And it's a great show.
SH: It's a Van Halen type of show...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After that the conversation shifts to Sammy's set list, and of course tequila. I won't bore you with the details, because I'm sure you don't care...This goes on for about 10 minutes before the next question.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TH: Hey Mike, are you playing any with Dave, or just Sammy?
MA: No, actually - my whole thing with being out here is not being part of the show. And I want to come out and play with Sam. But who knows? We've been saying that anything could happen any night. But at this point it's up to Dave.
SH: I've been trying to get Dave. He's got to put out the invitation. I've put out the invitation to him to come out. Tonight I'm opening. Everyother night we flip flop. I close tomorrow night. I say whoever closes - When you close Dave - beat on my dressing room door when you come out to the stage. And for the first leg, the first 15 shows - I would knock on his door everytime I was closing. "Hey Dave, wanna do it tonight? Oh, there's nobody in there." - The security guard would say "Oh no he's in there." - "Oh, he is - BAM BAM BAM DAVE!!! WANNA DO IT TONIGHT? He's not in there." - So you see...he's been playing hide and go seek, but it's OK. I don't think Dave wants to go on stage with me and I don't blame him. But Mikey - I'm shocked that he hasn't come begging Mikey.
MA: I am also.
TH: Would you take him up on it?
SH: You would almost have to.
MA: I don't know...yeah?
SH: My only criticism of Dave is that Dave wants to be the only shiny object on stage. When you see the show, you'll see it. That's my only criticism of Dave right now. He's got a good replica band. They play it note-for-note Eddie, Alex and Michael. Of course you know, Michael's probably out there watching the bass player going - "Yeh, that's right. That's how I did it."
TH: One of them is from the Atomic Punks?
MA: The guitar player was the actually the only guy from Atomic Punks. The bass player actually played in a band called White Lion a long time ago. They've all been around.
SH: So Dave wants to be this big shiny object up there. Keeps these guys dressed in camouflage way in the back. And he's in lamme bellbottoms. 1982 all over again, and has 16 spotlights on him. So he don't want me walking out there. Because at least put half of them on me. I'll be setting there going like this (flips off the camera) Excuse me folks! (laughs). It's like -hey let's do this fairly if we're going to do it. If he comes out on my stage he's got half. But when Mike comes out on stage - no joke - the highlight of the night. It's more of a highlight than my intro and my exit. More of a highlight than Dave's intro or Dave's exit. Or the biggest hit, when I play Right Now, or I Can't Drive 55, or Mas Tequila - all my biggest hits. And Dave does Jump and Panama and Hot for Teacher...doesn't compare to when Mikey comes out and you'll see it tonight. And I think that's why Dave doesn't invite him out there. He doesn't like that. Anybody out there that wants to be the only shiny object isn't going to bring somebody out there that brings the house down. The only bigger applause we could get on this tour hands down would be if Eddie Van Halen walked out. When Mike walks out it's unbelievable. I'm jealous.
MA: What can I say? Switzerland has it's advantages! (laughs) I'm just so jacked up just to go out and play with with these guys its great.
SH: My guys get along so well it's great. Mona the bass player loves the guy.
TH: I read in an interview that you though Mona would probably clock Dave if he started any shit?
SH: She keeps threatening'. Because man the other night, I said something in a NY newspaper that made Dave mad. And his manager was saying that Dave was going to beat me up when I get off the plane. "Where's his plane landing? I'm going to go beat him up." And Mona say's - that's all right, you fight him and I'll kick Dave's ass. (laughs) So that's the kinda thing we got going on here. There's a little rivalry, but rivalry is good for the fans. There's no rivalry in the audience. There's nobody heckling Dave or heckling me. They're happy man. They're happy to see a great rock show.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At that point I wrap it up because it's getting close to show time. I didn't stay for the Nashville concert, but saw the show a week earlier in Cincinnati. Sammy opened for Dave that night. I told my friend Bob that since I liked both eras of VH - I'd buy a T-shirt of who ever put on the best show. I'm wearing my DLR 2002 shirt right now.
I enjoyed talking to Sammy and Mike. I regret not asking more questions about Eddie, but at the time the interview was just flowing into 20 different directions because these guys were so easy to talk to. I'll always like Dave's stuff over Sammy's AND WILL DISAGREE WITH ANYONE WHO THINKS OTHERWISE - but I appreciate the time Sam's given me through the years.
Sammy sheds some light on how this whole thing got started, and it somehow shifts into a bashfest. Sam was cool, and I'm not dissing him for his opinion of Dave - but I was a little surprised that he was so open to share it with me.
AUGUST 2002 - I had contacted both Dave and Sam's PR reps for interview requests. Sam's rep, Janie, got back to me very quickly and was cool about the whole thing. Dave's rep, Libby, never returned my calls or emails -and when I finally tracked her down on the phone she basically blew me off. She said she's not sure if Dave is doing any press - I later found out he wasn't - and would definitely not be available if the piece were to run after the concert. HOW THE FUCK AM I GOING TO RUN IT BEFOREHAND? YOU FUCKERS DON'T GET INTO TOWN UNTIL 4PM - I HAVE A 5:00 SHOW AND YOU PLAY AT 8. IT'S NOT HAPPENIN HONEY UNLESS YOU WANT TO FLY ME OUT TO THE SHOW BEFORE NASHVILLE. Jesus, I love Dave - but I just remember Libby being a total cunt. - Shit, I hope she doesn't check this site out or I may never get another interview with Dave again. Libby my real name is Hope Hines. I work at Channel 5.
So we get to Starwood, the concert shed here in Nashvegas around 5:30. Sammy's folks tell me it's cool to shoot the sound check. Dave for some reason didn't do a sound check. Sammy blows through "Everybody Wants to Get Stoned" or whatever the fuck that annoying hippy drug anthem is called, then "Heavy Metal" which I really enjoyed - and closed it out with "When It's Love" - which may have sparked the "ingenious" idea to close the 2004 tour with this song.
As we're shooting this, I see Mike at the sound board. Shit - I didn't know Mikey was going to be here! So I cruise over to talk to him. He's cool as shit. I know Mike's not the most popular person on this site - but having met the guy he's very personable and down-to-earth. Anyway - I ask Mike if he'd mine sitting in with Sammy during the interview. He agrees. FUCK YEH! NOW I'M GOING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS VAN HALEN REUNION BULLSHIT! Or so I thought....
The three of us sit down and I tell Sammy the last time I interviewed him was on April 19th, 1995. A tragic day in our nation's history. He replies "When I got kicked out of the band?" and we all laugh - I then tell him "No, that was the day of the Oklahoma City Bombing". Now I'm thinking: "Way to set the tone dumbass." It's like I'm Chris Farley or something. THAT WAS STUPID.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TH: Dude, I got to say this is trippy seeing the 2 of you guys together.
(Mike and Sam both laugh and high five eachother) What's up?
SH: Well Mike got a few new tattoos, that's all. Other than that everything's the same.
MA: I wanted to come out here and show them off! This one's new here (points to an African tribal looking warrior mask about 3 inches long on his lower right leg) I got that in Hawaii last year, that's new.
TH: So what happened? How did you guys get back together? I know you're doing the "Planet Us" thing.
MA: That's basically how it started.
SH: Pretty much a catalyst. You know Mike and I kinda stayed in touch over the years...
MA: Due to politically correct circumstances...
SH: Friendships, yeh. Then when the Planet Us thing came up, Neal Schon and I had a meeting about it and who could be in it and I said "Man let's give Mikey a call!" And he said "Yeh man Mikey's awesome!" - and then the drummer, Dean Castronova, the drummer from Journey - he's going to be in the band - he gets down on his knees and he says "I will do anything! - He volunteered to do anything to play with Michael Anthony. So we gave Mike a call and he came up and it was great.
TH: When's that stuff coming out? Have you guys hit the studios?
SH: We've recorded 2 songs and we've halfway written 5 more. We just get together and we just write. We get a sound stage and we plug in, it's like we're playing a concert.
MA: We did it in 2 days. I got together a few hours, a few days. Then I flew home, then came back up - demo'd the 2 songs and pretty much was - well Sam's going on tour. Journey's going to be on tour - so you know.
SH: And Mike's actually on tour now!
MA: And I'm on tour now!
SH: He wasn't supposed to be but once we got to playing again I said "Mike" - Mike was actually at my house the day when somebody from David Lee Roth's camp called and asked if I'd be interested in speaking with Dave about putting a tour together. And Mike was at my house.
MA: Of course Sammy didn't want to tell me!
TH: So did your jaw just like drop man?
SH: Oh, I kinda had a heads up that it was going to happen because Dave's been thrown out of Van Halen 150 times now (Mike laughs) And Mike had already told me that was never going to happen. So I was kinda playin' dodgeball for a while. Then I thought, you know - it's actually a good idea. And I said "Mike, I don't know this guy" - and he says "Well, I'm not sure if I know him either (laughs).
MA: So good luck Sam! Good luck.
SA: 100 years later...So once we put it together and did it - once Dave and I had our meeting and we worked it all out -Mike goes "You ain't goin' out there and having all that fun without me." And I said come on! So he plays for 4 or 5 songs.
TH: What was it like man, that first meeting with Dave? Because you know - the history, all the bad blood between you guys that had been built up. I kinda grew up with that man.
SH: That's right, that's right - because he was the enemy of Van Halen.
TH: WELL - It was the world's greatest rock-n-roll soap opera. It was awesome. You guys would both talk shit about eachother, it was incredible.
SH: So, I didn't talk to Dave on the phone, I talked to his management guy. I said I'll tell you what, let's meet in my manager's office -Irving A's office. So I flew to LA and we met. And I got to tell you it was tense. You know it was like waiting for Dave to come in. We were having our meeting first and saying - you know - going through my management with the rules - saying "Here's the only way I'll do it you know?" And then Dave gets there, I jump up look him right in the eye and say "How's it goin' man?" - You know (laughs). And it was tense. And he was actually cool. And he was the guy that said it, he said "You know we've said a lot of things about eachother. From this moment on, let's pretend like it never happened and see if we can work something out." - And I said "Right On!" - That's a pretty damn good approach. Or else we're going to have to go out in the alley and work that out first (laughs). And thank God it didn't come to that! - And it's working. It's working for the fans. It's not working between him and I. We don't do duets together. We don't basically speak to eachother - other than "Hi" cordially, then go our separate ways. Two different characters, and I still don't care for David Lee Roth personally. You know I don't respect him that much or anything. But he's good at what he does.
MA: And it makes for a good show all the way around too. Because Dave comes out and does all the early Van Halen stuff and Sam comes up and of course does all his stuff and in the middle I jump out and we do a few more VH tunes.
SH: Pretty good - it's as close as you're going to get to Van Halen right here. And I hate to be like that, like we're playing second fiddle here. But if the brothers want to come out and do this, then come on. If we could all do this like one big happy family - that's the ultimate Van Halen concert. Now with just me going back. Not with Dave going back. You're missing too much. Let's all do it together. I'm down with that, and Mike's down with that. And Dave is probably down with that, but I haven't really talked to him about it because like I said we don't really talk. If he's down with going out with me, he'd be down with that. Because I'm the enemy.
MA: Who'd ever even thought these two guys would get together, much less.
TH: Yeh, and you thought the Eagles had the Hell Freezes Over Tour!
SH: So this is second best. And it's awesome. When you take all the early Van Halen hits. Take all my solo hits. Take my Van Hagar hits, and throw them into 3 hours of rock-n-roll, there is nobody but Billy Joel and Elton John that got that many hits in one set- and most of theirs are ballads. This is a rocker! This is Elton and Billy with a huge edge. With a funk to it.
TH: I read somewhere where one of the casino owners in Vegas originally approached all three of you guys - Eddie, you and Dave - about getting back together.
SH: He approached me.
TH: And Eddie nixed it?
SH: Well I don't know who nixed it, but I gave it to their attorney. And they in turn gave it to Michael Carlot (I HAVE NO IDEA WHO HE IS) and word came back that it wasn't the right time and it was a bad time and they would have nothing to do with David Lee Roth anyway. And that's when I hooked up with Mikey.
MA: And that was something that didn't even reach me. I heard it was nixed you know.
SH: One powerful thing about doing it on that level that I'm interested in...Is how much we could also do in each city we play. For that city, or the kids, or the schools or terminally ill children. There's just so much you can do when you're on that level of media and finances - all the stuff that comes together. The people could bring food like we did before. The monstrosity of a Sam and Dave Van Halen tour - you could do something pretty special. That's my first motive. I've got one more shot at my age - and like all of a sudden I'm not going to become the biggest rock star in the world again. I'm not even dreaming about that again, I'm fine doing just what we're doing. But what that would be is big as it gets. And with that last time - at that peak - I'm going to do something special. With my side of it anyway. I would hope the whole band would go in. And I'm sure Mike's in...I don't know about Dave. He'll probably a percentage of whatever we donate it to.(laughs) He's not necessarily Mr. Goodfellow, but that's all right - we'll make him do it.
MA: Just one more time for the fans. It'd be the biggest.
TH: Mikey, you're kinda like Switzerland dude
MA: Kind of?!
TH: You are man!
MA: Well, actually I'm Shamus!
SH: Shameless?
TH: What was it like when you told Eddie you were going out with Sammy?
MA: Well actually with Sammy, they didn't have a big problem with it. When Sammy asked me to do the Planet Us thing and we had been home doing nothing at the time. Eddie had his health and he was still dealing with that. So I told him I'm going to go up there and I'm going to do it because I'm not going to sit at home. I'm not going to sit around waiting for something to happen. It's not like I'm going to go out and join another band or do something that's going to go out and tarnish the Van Halen name or whatever. I just want to go out and have some fun. And Sammy and I have always connected on a level.
SH: We know how to have fun.
MA: It's like the 2 Stooges when we get together. We connect on some plane. But it's been great. When he asked me to come out - I thought, yeh -it'd be great. To go out there for the fans and just have a good time. And it's a great show.
SH: It's a Van Halen type of show...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After that the conversation shifts to Sammy's set list, and of course tequila. I won't bore you with the details, because I'm sure you don't care...This goes on for about 10 minutes before the next question.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TH: Hey Mike, are you playing any with Dave, or just Sammy?
MA: No, actually - my whole thing with being out here is not being part of the show. And I want to come out and play with Sam. But who knows? We've been saying that anything could happen any night. But at this point it's up to Dave.
SH: I've been trying to get Dave. He's got to put out the invitation. I've put out the invitation to him to come out. Tonight I'm opening. Everyother night we flip flop. I close tomorrow night. I say whoever closes - When you close Dave - beat on my dressing room door when you come out to the stage. And for the first leg, the first 15 shows - I would knock on his door everytime I was closing. "Hey Dave, wanna do it tonight? Oh, there's nobody in there." - The security guard would say "Oh no he's in there." - "Oh, he is - BAM BAM BAM DAVE!!! WANNA DO IT TONIGHT? He's not in there." - So you see...he's been playing hide and go seek, but it's OK. I don't think Dave wants to go on stage with me and I don't blame him. But Mikey - I'm shocked that he hasn't come begging Mikey.
MA: I am also.
TH: Would you take him up on it?
SH: You would almost have to.
MA: I don't know...yeah?
SH: My only criticism of Dave is that Dave wants to be the only shiny object on stage. When you see the show, you'll see it. That's my only criticism of Dave right now. He's got a good replica band. They play it note-for-note Eddie, Alex and Michael. Of course you know, Michael's probably out there watching the bass player going - "Yeh, that's right. That's how I did it."
TH: One of them is from the Atomic Punks?
MA: The guitar player was the actually the only guy from Atomic Punks. The bass player actually played in a band called White Lion a long time ago. They've all been around.
SH: So Dave wants to be this big shiny object up there. Keeps these guys dressed in camouflage way in the back. And he's in lamme bellbottoms. 1982 all over again, and has 16 spotlights on him. So he don't want me walking out there. Because at least put half of them on me. I'll be setting there going like this (flips off the camera) Excuse me folks! (laughs). It's like -hey let's do this fairly if we're going to do it. If he comes out on my stage he's got half. But when Mike comes out on stage - no joke - the highlight of the night. It's more of a highlight than my intro and my exit. More of a highlight than Dave's intro or Dave's exit. Or the biggest hit, when I play Right Now, or I Can't Drive 55, or Mas Tequila - all my biggest hits. And Dave does Jump and Panama and Hot for Teacher...doesn't compare to when Mikey comes out and you'll see it tonight. And I think that's why Dave doesn't invite him out there. He doesn't like that. Anybody out there that wants to be the only shiny object isn't going to bring somebody out there that brings the house down. The only bigger applause we could get on this tour hands down would be if Eddie Van Halen walked out. When Mike walks out it's unbelievable. I'm jealous.
MA: What can I say? Switzerland has it's advantages! (laughs) I'm just so jacked up just to go out and play with with these guys its great.
SH: My guys get along so well it's great. Mona the bass player loves the guy.
TH: I read in an interview that you though Mona would probably clock Dave if he started any shit?
SH: She keeps threatening'. Because man the other night, I said something in a NY newspaper that made Dave mad. And his manager was saying that Dave was going to beat me up when I get off the plane. "Where's his plane landing? I'm going to go beat him up." And Mona say's - that's all right, you fight him and I'll kick Dave's ass. (laughs) So that's the kinda thing we got going on here. There's a little rivalry, but rivalry is good for the fans. There's no rivalry in the audience. There's nobody heckling Dave or heckling me. They're happy man. They're happy to see a great rock show.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At that point I wrap it up because it's getting close to show time. I didn't stay for the Nashville concert, but saw the show a week earlier in Cincinnati. Sammy opened for Dave that night. I told my friend Bob that since I liked both eras of VH - I'd buy a T-shirt of who ever put on the best show. I'm wearing my DLR 2002 shirt right now.
I enjoyed talking to Sammy and Mike. I regret not asking more questions about Eddie, but at the time the interview was just flowing into 20 different directions because these guys were so easy to talk to. I'll always like Dave's stuff over Sammy's AND WILL DISAGREE WITH ANYONE WHO THINKS OTHERWISE - but I appreciate the time Sam's given me through the years.
Comment