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Should we give up on Ed & Alex?
Since the teaser in '96 about a VH reunion I have visited VHND pretty much everyday just in hope that the original band decides to do the right thing for the TRUE fans and give it one last go. I have been a huge fan since '78, I even liked Van Hagar and I even refused to dismiss VH Mock III. I still say Balance is the worse album they ever did - that's right, VHIII is better than Balance. I figured that even if the original lineup never got back together that at least we would still have Eddie creating music - regardless of who the singer is.
That all changed when I went to see the Van Hagar concert in 2004. One, the solo's sucked, Two, Sammy was a joke - Grace Slick is right - no one wants to see some 60 year old reliving their glory days - it is embarrassing and three, the new songs suck. Doesn't Ed realize that the helicopter sound was cool when Alda Nova did it back in the early 80's with Fantasy? For a musical genius Ed has prodcued quite a lot of shit over the last 19 years starting with: "Inside", "Get Up", Sucker in a three piece suit", "Top of the World", "Spanked", Pretty much everything on Balance and most everything on VH III and the 3 songs on "Best of Both Worlds". Basically, just about every song since Dave is forgettable - they do not stand the test of time. Not to say I don't crank up the radio when "Summer Nights" or "Poundcake" or "Finish What you started" comes on, but, even the best songs with Sam don't even come close to the Dave era.
But, that damn 2004 concert ruined the band for me. I was always in support of them but not anymore. It amazed me that the shitheads who did go see them and enjoy it were huge Sammy fans and had nothing nice to say about DLR. However, they all admitted that Dave's songs where better. Maybe it is a generational thing. If you listened to VH from '78 to '85 then you are no doubt a Dave fan, if you never listened to them until 5150 you have no taste.
I have a few suggestions for VH:
1) The shit you continue to sling at Dave is old and tired - noone cares anymore
2) Dave has moved on with his life and has accepted hid lot in the world of Rock n' Roll. He is now giving back to the community - working as an EMT and at concerts he plays the songs that fans want to hear (hint).
3) Sammy is good and a better singer than Dave - noone cares because Dave is the better frontman for VH and always will be.
4) Ed & Alex, don't ruin your legacy - beat your demons and come out the better man. Dave has done it and, frankly, so has Mike - these guys have moved on with their lives and are enjoying themselves. I wish that Alex and Ed were capable of doing the same, if so, then the time may be right for one final hoorah from a great band that redefined everything that Rock music was up until '78. How it was played and how it was performed and noone has even come close to accomplishing what Ed, Alex, Dave and Mike did in the time that they were together.
That all changed when I went to see the Van Hagar concert in 2004. One, the solo's sucked, Two, Sammy was a joke - Grace Slick is right - no one wants to see some 60 year old reliving their glory days - it is embarrassing and three, the new songs suck. Doesn't Ed realize that the helicopter sound was cool when Alda Nova did it back in the early 80's with Fantasy? For a musical genius Ed has prodcued quite a lot of shit over the last 19 years starting with: "Inside", "Get Up", Sucker in a three piece suit", "Top of the World", "Spanked", Pretty much everything on Balance and most everything on VH III and the 3 songs on "Best of Both Worlds". Basically, just about every song since Dave is forgettable - they do not stand the test of time. Not to say I don't crank up the radio when "Summer Nights" or "Poundcake" or "Finish What you started" comes on, but, even the best songs with Sam don't even come close to the Dave era.
But, that damn 2004 concert ruined the band for me. I was always in support of them but not anymore. It amazed me that the shitheads who did go see them and enjoy it were huge Sammy fans and had nothing nice to say about DLR. However, they all admitted that Dave's songs where better. Maybe it is a generational thing. If you listened to VH from '78 to '85 then you are no doubt a Dave fan, if you never listened to them until 5150 you have no taste.
I have a few suggestions for VH:
1) The shit you continue to sling at Dave is old and tired - noone cares anymore
2) Dave has moved on with his life and has accepted hid lot in the world of Rock n' Roll. He is now giving back to the community - working as an EMT and at concerts he plays the songs that fans want to hear (hint).
3) Sammy is good and a better singer than Dave - noone cares because Dave is the better frontman for VH and always will be.
4) Ed & Alex, don't ruin your legacy - beat your demons and come out the better man. Dave has done it and, frankly, so has Mike - these guys have moved on with their lives and are enjoying themselves. I wish that Alex and Ed were capable of doing the same, if so, then the time may be right for one final hoorah from a great band that redefined everything that Rock music was up until '78. How it was played and how it was performed and noone has even come close to accomplishing what Ed, Alex, Dave and Mike did in the time that they were together.
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