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Van Halen is now a brand, not a band.
The brand's richness and bullet-proof development was grown in LA between 1974 and 1977. Then from 1978 to 1985, the Van Halen brand was cemented in the world conscience.
The Van Halen brand is an attitude that was built by David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen. No matter what happens, that's the original recipe. One that still captures the most imagination and willing consumers 20 years later.
Ed, Alex, Mike and Sam are currently reaping additional rewards from this brand, which remarkably has stood the test of time and constant efforts to alter it. In fact, the inspirations for the brand's name now have the audacity to blatantly lure fans and fan'smoney with a taste of the original recipe (playing DLR tracks in promos) while blatantly stating (Sammy at least) that you "can't get this stuff no more."
Dave does understand the brand. Oh, he's ridden it too trying out some new kicks. But he remembers that Van Halen is an attitude more than a chart placement. It's about sticking your neck out there--rockin' out when people expected disco in 1978 and dancin' to old grooves when people wanted new metal, punk crap in 2003.
In fact, Dave understands the brand enough to realize that the original recipe is what fans want. It's a duty. People/fans want to hear songs from 20-25 years ago because that's what the brand demands. Anything less would be a money-grubbing slap in the face to fans of the brand.
Now, I'll admit that some people didn't experience the original recipe firsthand and believe Van Hagar is really the actual brand. Let me just remind you that every Xerox copy is a little duller and farther from the original. That's true for Van Hagar (and Dave) now.
Whoever gets closest to the original brand wins. And winning is more akin to planets alligning than it is to money made. Ultimately that's a reunion of the original line-up. Second place would be playing as many 1978-1984 songs as an promoter will allow. Who's doing that?
* Sorry to ramble. Haven't posted for a week and the shit happening here with Sammy lovers is ridiculous. They believe selling the souls of a bunch of kids from 1977 is A-OK. Eddie 1977 would kick 2004 Eddie's ass if he knew how this thing panned out.
The brand's richness and bullet-proof development was grown in LA between 1974 and 1977. Then from 1978 to 1985, the Van Halen brand was cemented in the world conscience.
The Van Halen brand is an attitude that was built by David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen. No matter what happens, that's the original recipe. One that still captures the most imagination and willing consumers 20 years later.
Ed, Alex, Mike and Sam are currently reaping additional rewards from this brand, which remarkably has stood the test of time and constant efforts to alter it. In fact, the inspirations for the brand's name now have the audacity to blatantly lure fans and fan'smoney with a taste of the original recipe (playing DLR tracks in promos) while blatantly stating (Sammy at least) that you "can't get this stuff no more."
Dave does understand the brand. Oh, he's ridden it too trying out some new kicks. But he remembers that Van Halen is an attitude more than a chart placement. It's about sticking your neck out there--rockin' out when people expected disco in 1978 and dancin' to old grooves when people wanted new metal, punk crap in 2003.
In fact, Dave understands the brand enough to realize that the original recipe is what fans want. It's a duty. People/fans want to hear songs from 20-25 years ago because that's what the brand demands. Anything less would be a money-grubbing slap in the face to fans of the brand.
Now, I'll admit that some people didn't experience the original recipe firsthand and believe Van Hagar is really the actual brand. Let me just remind you that every Xerox copy is a little duller and farther from the original. That's true for Van Hagar (and Dave) now.
Whoever gets closest to the original brand wins. And winning is more akin to planets alligning than it is to money made. Ultimately that's a reunion of the original line-up. Second place would be playing as many 1978-1984 songs as an promoter will allow. Who's doing that?
* Sorry to ramble. Haven't posted for a week and the shit happening here with Sammy lovers is ridiculous. They believe selling the souls of a bunch of kids from 1977 is A-OK. Eddie 1977 would kick 2004 Eddie's ass if he knew how this thing panned out.
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