Dave fans are going to be compromising

[Dave's PA Rental]

Say what you want about Michael Anthony's bass playing, his background harmonies were just as important to the synergy of the 6-pack as anyone else. You heard it again on MWM and CGTSNM.

I will go to as many shows as possible. Dave's got a new band.

I am having a very hard time thinking of it as "Van Halen", though.

Because it's not.

I respect Lounge's and anyone else's pov if they boycott this tour.

I wish I were as idealistic.

But i'm not. I've waited my whole life to see Dave and Eddie share the stage.

I don't have any sisters, but I think I now know what it feels like to kiss one...

[Marcus]

I might be wrong, but Wolf isn't the biggest problem. He might be good, and really many bass parts of CVH aren't that hard to play. Still sucks balls that Mike isn't there, but that's not the biggest problem.

Ed being off his rocker is the problem. And that's the one thing that doesn't make sense. Would Dave sign on to this knowing that Ed lost lost his edge? Seeing the video footage of Ed at NAMM this year...I don't know man. He doesn't look that well or sound that well. Better than in 2004, but that's not saying much.

[Rikk]

Originally posted by Dave's PA Rental
Say what you want about Michael Anthony's bass playing, his background harmonies were just as important to the synergy of the 6-pack as anyone else. You heard it again on MWM and CGTSNM.

Yup.

I am a fan of classic Van Halen. Those background harmonies are a major element I love in ME WISE MAGIC.

I don't think I'm idealistic enough to miss it myself, PA. But yep...it's really not Van Halen. And there's no fucking reason it can't be. I want the original band back...not a kid who's played bass in his dad's studio for a year.

[Rikk]

Originally posted by Marcus
I might be wrong, but Wolf isn't the biggest problem. He might be good, and really many bass parts of CVH aren't that hard to play. Still sucks balls that Mike isn't there, but that's not the biggest problem.

Ed being off his rocker is the problem. And that's the one thing that doesn't make sense. Would Dave sign on to this knowing that Ed lost lost his edge? Seeing the video footage of Ed at NAMM this year...I don't know man. He doesn't look that well or sound that well. Better than in 2004, but that's not saying much.

Sho nuff. I mean, maybe Ed does sound pretty good. But would Dave work with Ed if he didn't have supreme confidence in Ed's abilities? I think he would. Remember, as good as the '96 songs were, Dave didn't really have a lot of confidence in them at the time. He felt he and Ed weren't naturally clicking musically and that the songs had to really be worked at.

[MAX]

Originally posted by Dave's PA Rental
Say what you want about Michael Anthony's bass playing, his background harmonies were just as important to the synergy of the 6-pack as anyone else. You heard it again on MWM and CGTSNM.

I will dot deny the man's contributions.

However, I've NEVER missed nor longed for them (or even noticed their absence for that matter) when I've seen or heard Roth Live.

At the end of the day... Not so important. Infact, when watching Largo '82, his overpowering backing vocals at times are somewhat fucking annoying.

Case in point... "Romeo Delight!!!" Dave's swaggerin', The sisters are rockin' and the endless "baybee please, can't take it anymore" starts to hurt the ear from the endless high pitch blowing outward from his mulletted dome...

[Bo Nozos]

I'll be there. I never saw CVH live, I hate to say. Started going to shows the summer after they broke up. The 5150 tour was my third or fourth concert. Timing's a bitch, that's for sure. I'm going to pay through the nose for this one; I want to be in the front row.

But that said, this isn't the reunion I hoped for. I slag on BassPlayer harder than almost anyone here. I think he's a yes-man and I have next to no respect for him. Give yourself credit -- how likely is it that you would let your bosses feed you a shit sandwich for DECADES and eat it with a smile? You might do it for a while because the dough was good, but not for decades. It takes a special breed to eat that much feces. BassPlayer is that breed. But BassPlayer deserves to be on this tour. I'm bummed he won't be there.

I'm guessing Dave is bummed too. In terms of Van Halen's legacy, and Dave's legacy, this is not the way the "reunion" should go down. I doubt Dave wanted to ride into the wild blue yonder with Eddie's fat fuck of a son playing bass. If and when this tour happens, the press is going to report this piece of it incessantly, and allude to it as something pretty fucking odd. Because it is! A 15-year old playing bass in a band of guys in their 50s. It's beyond stupid.

I see this as Ed's final "Fuck You" to his fans. His drunken, meth-addled way of saying to us, "You are not going to dictate what this band is; it's mine." Not that he could say in a complete sentence like I just did, given his fried brain and half of a tongue. I am pretty sure that this man simultaneously loves our money (and probably needs more of it), but hates that he must convince us to buy tickets to his shows. This is his way of getting the money out of our wallets while keeping some sense of control over the situation. This dude is sad.

I really am prepared to pay for front row seats to this, because I doubt we will ever see Roth and Eddie V. share a stage again and as musicians each is a shadow of himself without the other. A philosopher would have a field day with the co-dependency of this relationship.

I was thinking the other day that I might wear my "It Ain't Van Halen Without David Lee Roth" shirt to the show -- I mean why not, it's fucking true! And then it occurred to me that this guitar player -- who is simultaneously a genius, a retard, and a cripple -- might lose it on stage if he saw someone up front wearing that shirt.

There is no band in the world this fucked up.

[binnie]

You make some great points Rikk, but I think it's time to compromise.

These guys are all in their 50s, and we know that after this reunion another one ain't likely to happen. Dave's back in and its time to get up and go as far as I can see, cos the original four may never share a stage again.

But at least this way you get 75%, which has gotta be better than jack shit. Compromise it is, but the either/or position hasn't worked so well in the past has it?

I guess what I'm saying is that compromise isn't a bad thing. Going to see this reuion doesn't make you a VH Sheep - you can still go and want Mike to be there, and realise that what you're seeing isn't CVH, its Ed and Dave on stage again.

As long as you still recognize that CVH = Dave, Ed, Al and Mike, and defend that from those who think Wolfie should be there, I don't see a problem.

It's not like by going you're turning into one of those guys who claimed to have liked having Gary Cherone in the band, or those who think Sammy-era was as good as Dave-era. Going simply means that you want to see Dave and Ed back together once again, not that you think that this is an ideal situation.

[Bo Nozos]

Speaking of Sheep, what are they saying that the Links? I refuse to check, on principle.

I could see some of the Sheep claiming that Fat Wolfie is a good idea -- new blood, Edward likes it, etc. Agreeing with whatever Ed wants, like fucking zombies.

I could see other Sheep tearing their thinning hair out over the fact that DLR is back in the band, reminiscing about how hot their wives' beer bellies looked at the last Cabo bash and how cool it was to sing along to "Up For Breakfast" during soundcheck on the Fleece the Fans Tour.

[chandra]

ed is calling the shots,having his way,utterly disregarding what the fans want or think n this will last 4 as long as he wants it.the tour will line his pockets,it doesnt look like there is an album at the end of this n dave is putting himself in a precarious position again.however the tour turns out,the whole thing stinks like a dead rat.the hatred is still there,u can hear it their words;it doesnt matter who the vocalist is,he's gonna b surrounded by van halens.
funny how the guitar mags r proclaiming the return of "the worlds greatest guitar god in the world" when all he has done is score two shitty instrumentals 4 a porn movie.reading the issue one would think the motherfucker has new music in the works but its jus an advert 4 a guitar that one would have 2 sell a limb 2 purchase.i trust dave will bring as much class 2 the tour as only he can but it pisses me off that ed is the one in the drivers seat.he called dave a bitch recently,can u imagine that occuring in the classic years?

[FORD]

Originally posted by Panamark

What if (and its a huge *if*) Wolfgang is a better bass
player than MA

Considering that Eddie said Wolfie had only been playing bass for "three months" when he announced the kid as the new bass player, I don't see how that's possible.

You don't become Billy Sheehan, John Entwistle, or Geddy Lee in three months. Even less likely when you're 15 years old.

[binnie]

The issue isn't whether Wolfie can play or not though is it?

It's about the orginal four being together...

[DavidLeeNatra]

Originally posted by binnie
The issue isn't whether Wolfie can play or not though is it?

It's about the orginal four being together...

proves how much they became the nostalgia act they never wanted to be...line up changes were no big thing back in the beginning...

I didn't give a shit whan bill cryman left the stones either...

[binnie]

So would you guys give a shit if Alex wasn't playing drums either?

[kenny8]

"There is no band in the world this fucked up"

Well, there's Brian May & Roger Taylor telling people they're Queen.

Brian May, friend of Ed. Can see where Ed gets it from.

[DavidLeeNatra]

Originally posted by binnie
So would you guys give a shit if Alex wasn't playing drums either?

let's put it this way...would I go to see dave? yes...does it matter who he is playing with? not much...would I call it a reunion without bass player? dunno...