Do Ed and Dave even communicate?

[Northern Girl]

Alan Peppard: Roth got to suite but not stage in Dallas

12:00 AM CST on Sunday, March 9, 2008
Alan Peppard apeppard@dallasnews.com

How close did Van Halen get to taking the stage in Dallas last week? Close enough for David Lee Roth to make the trip, unwind at his hotel and prepare for the show.

Both Eddie Van Halen and his ex-wife, Valerie Bertinelli, gave us all a tease Monday. The guitarist was supposed to be here for a Van Halen concert at American Airlines Center and his One Day at a Time ex was supposed to sign copies of her new book at Borders.

Neither happened. Valerie was a no-show and blamed a canceled flight.

Eddie's band postponed four concerts, starting with the Dallas show. Van Halen's Web site says, "According to Eddie Van Halen's physician, he is undergoing a battery of comprehensive medical tests to determine a defined diagnosis and recommended medical procedures."

But David Lee Roth – a.k.a. "Diamond Dave" – Van Halen's once and future lead singer, was spotted checking into the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, where he just missed centimillionaire twin Ashley Olsen. (She was in town to show her clothes line, The Row, at Forty Five Ten on McKinney.)

Diamond Dave arrived at the Mansion on Saturday and ensconced himself in the Terrace Presidential Suite, former home of Larry "J.R." Hagman. He stayed at the hotel Saturday and Sunday night. On Monday, when it was clear that the show would not go on, he departed.

[Northern Girl]

Dave living it up as Ed self-destructs.

Learn a lesson, Ed.

[vh rides again]

im sure their life together is nothing like anyone would imagine it.

i doubt seriously they have much in common and i doubt there is much they feel bonded together about.

i doubt these people have any normal relationships with others.

i dont think any normal joe would coexist or be welcome in any of their lives.

i beleive they are all truly fucked up people, probably people none of us would be able to stomach for any length of time.

i doubt any of them would piss on your face if it was on fire, i beleive they dont care about anyone or anything but theirself, truly fucked up people.

if you could actually be in any of their lives for a week you would probably come out of it scarred in some way.

[VanHalener]

As long as my scars come from animal-like, funkadelic, lose twenty pounds type sex with Val...

I'm cool with that.

[Terry]

To hear them tell it over the years in various interviews, Dave and Ed have both said they had very dissimilar lives even back in the heyday of the band, and they weren't particularly friendly - Roth said something about the band initially hiring him because it saved them some money on renting his PA system, that it was cheaper just to get him in the band, and that the strongest bond they had in common was the band and making it a success.

How many times did they even have direct contact after 1985? A period of a few months in 1996, a chance meeting on the street in the early 1990s, a couple of abortive post-Cherone attempts at getting back together. Not exactly great foundations for a lasting friendship. I mean, despite seeing them hug at the press conference announcing the 2007 tour and Ed referring to Dave as his 'other brother', it wouldn't be a shock to find out that they don't have a tremendous amount to say to one another offstage anymore, but I don't think it's really a hate scene, per se. Am not quite cynical enough to think that Roth recommended Ed a cancer specialist back in 2001/2002 simply to protect his future in a hypothetical VH reunion...that there was an amount of personal concern for Ed's well-being for him to do that...

I can't really say as I'd like to spend any time hanging around them, other than to perhaps hang with Ed at 5150, let him get rip-roaring drunk and nick a few guitars after he passes out. Maybe chill with Dave and see if I could swipe whatever concert footage from gigs over the years he had lying around...I mean, they're just people, ya know? They have their problems like everyone else...most people think the universe centers around them, celebrities perhaps to a greater extent than others.

I'd guess that they signed a common contract for the tour through one management company, but Roth has his personal manager(s)/flunkie(s)accompanying him on the tour and the Van Halens have a similar situation, and things tend to get discussed through those channels. I don't KNOW that, but seems a reasonable guess...

As fun as it is to speculate on the behind-the-scenes stuff, in some ways I don't really want to know. It demystifies the band, and the petty bullshit that HAS surfaced over the years really runs counter to the overall feeling of the music, which is (to me) very positive.

[Northern Girl]

Originally posted by vh rides again
i doubt seriously they have much in common and i doubt there is much they feel bonded together about.

i dont think any normal joe would coexist or be welcome in any of their lives.

i beleive they are all truly fucked up people, probably people none of us would be able to stomach for any length of time.

i doubt any of them would piss on your face if it was on fire, i beleive they dont care about anyone or anything but theirself, truly fucked up people.

if you could actually be in any of their lives for a week you would probably come out of it scarred in some way.

They don't have to be "brothers" but if you are in a band, you have to communicate. It might be a good idea to tell the lead singer if you're not showing up for a show. I'm sure Ed's running the whole show and had some flunky tell Dave. Dave deserves more respect than that.

Ed seems to have no conscience. I think the only person he cares about is Wolf, but not enough to straighten up and be a good role model.

After listening to Dave on the radio for 4 months, I think he's a lot more normal than I ever thought before. And I think he's a great guy and does a lot to help others. Of course, he's eccentric and outrageous - that's why we love him. He's a good mix. But no I couldn't live with him. I'll take one night though. :D

[VanHalener]

Everyone would benefit if they were closer, even friend like.

They would be happier...

Their creative spirits would ignite together. Oh, the possibilities mayannnnnn!

Ed's playing would be more soulful...

They may say, "Fuck it, let's call Bass Player and steal him back from Middler!"

[kastco]

The important thing is that they communicate fine in the studio and on stage. It is best that they don't hang since it would mean self destruction within a few days IMO. Listen, even the Beatles didn't hang together. After recording a album they would all go their seperate ways until it was time to record again. I would imagine it is that way in most bands. Shit, other than my kids I can't think of anyone I would want to be around on a constant basis. EVH and Dave keeping their distance probably equals some level of longevity for this newest incarnation of VH.

[vh rides again]

Originally posted by kastco
The important thing is that they communicate fine in the studio and on stage. It is best that they don't hang since it would mean self destruction within a few days IMO. Listen, even the Beatles didn't hang together. After recording a album they would all go their seperate ways until it was time to record again. I would imagine it is that way in most bands. Shit, other than my kids I can't think of anyone I would want to be around on a constant basis. EVH and Dave keeping their distance probably equals some level of longevity for this newest incarnation of VH.

i see what your saying, but i doubt these guys even take the time to say see ya later bro.

any normal person would flip out under the same circumstances.

i just think they are very ungenuine and petty people, fakes from the word go, as far as being likeable people.
i dont know if the limelight made them that way or what, but the level of pomp is unbeleivable.

after watching the video of eddie vanhalen on the stern show, im convinced that he is an idiot, and he couldnt carry on a intelligent conversation even with me and my 9th grade education.

they struck gold in their lives, one in a billion chance that they found something they could actually succeed in at that level. the stars were truly lined up in their favor that day.

[katie]

Originally posted by vh rides again
im sure their life together is nothing like anyone would imagine it.

i doubt seriously they have much in common and i doubt there is much they feel bonded together about.

i doubt these people have any normal relationships with others.

i dont think any normal joe would coexist or be welcome in any of their lives.

i beleive they are all truly fucked up people, probably people none of us would be able to stomach for any length of time.

i doubt any of them would piss on your face if it was on fire, i beleive they dont care about anyone or anything but theirself, truly fucked up people.

if you could actually be in any of their lives for a week you would probably come out of it scarred in some way.

I hear what you are saying but -

As long as they deliver on stage then i coundn't give a flying fuck what they are like.

But Ed is not delivering on stage at the mo, strange as he says that he plays/jams with al every day at 5150 (when not on tour)
If that was the case then his playing shoud be a lot better than it is.

Eddie - get your shit together ya prima donna little fuck wit
Dave - Lose the sailor hat PLEASE!
Wolfie - Lose 80 lbs ya fat fucker and start rocking out
Al - Used to hate you , but you deliver - 5 stars

[bantonelli1]

Originally posted by Northern Girl
They don't have to be "brothers" but if you are in a band, you have to communicate. It might be a good idea to tell the lead singer if you're not showing up for a show. I'm sure Ed's running the whole show and had some flunky tell Dave. Dave deserves more respect than that.

Ed seems to have no conscience. I think the only person he cares about is Wolf, but not enough to straighten up and be a good role model.

After listening to Dave on the radio for 4 months, I think he's a lot more normal than I ever thought before. And I think he's a great guy and does a lot to help others. Of course, he's eccentric and outrageous - that's why we love him. He's a good mix. But no I couldn't live with him. I'll take one night though. :D

A Very Happy Birthday To You, NG!

I like the way you said it all...the radio gig gave us a real in-depth to the persona of David Lee Roth...the interior of "Diamond Dave" and he is so much more down to earth, but yet knows he's a living legend and will still create satire about himself.

[bantonelli]

Our "Presidential Sweet", Diamond Dave deserves respect...he's earned it.

[bueno bob]

Originally posted by Northern Girl
Ed seems to have no conscience. I think the only person he cares about is Wolf, but not enough to straighten up and be a good role model.

That really says it all, and it's the most tragic thing about the whole state of affairs. Wolf obviously knows what his Mom wrote, and knows that his parents relationship with each other was a fucked up mess and that on top of having to go out and do a massive U.S. tour at 17 while his Dad flip-flops between competant and borderline incoherent?

At the end of the day, it's really Wolfgang that's got the weight of the world on his shoulders here. At 17, he's hardly in a position to deal with all of it.

By the way, happy birthday, NG...

[rustoffa]

I'm beginning to think that they don't even travel on the same bus. Maybe they text message each other?

Ed to Wolfie: "where are you?"

Wolfie back to Ed: "U R TSOL"

Ed back to Wolfie: "are you still in the building?"

Wolfie back to Ed: "I M OAA"

Ed back to Wolfie: "U R GOING TO GET FUBAR IF U DONT GET ON THE BUS IN 5!"

Wolfie back to Ed: "ONYD! FUBAR IS ROTFL!!!"

Ed to Dave: "have U seen wollfe NE where?"

Dave's call to Ed: "Ed? Dave. The bus driver just told me that the weird noise my phone's making is some kind of shorthand encoding from you. Why don't you just call me instead of sending that navajo teletype crap?"

Ed: "Sorry man, it's some kinda stuff I'm trying to learn...have you seen Wolfie?"

Dave: "He was walking around near the buses about ten minutes ago...looked like he was playing some tiny hand held video game.....fucking laughing alot."

Ed: "When I find him, I'm gonna kick his fucking ass.....talk to ya later."

Dave: "Hope it helped!!!"

[DlocRoth]

Originally posted by rustoffa
I'm beginning to think that they don't even travel on the same bus. Maybe they text message each other?

Ed to Wolfie: "where are you?"

Wolfie back to Ed: "U R TSOL"

Ed back to Wolfie: "are you still in the building?"

Wolfie back to Ed: "I M OAA"

Ed back to Wolfie: "U R GOING TO GET FUBAR IF U DONT GET ON THE BUS IN 5!"

Wolfie back to Ed: "ONYD! FUBAR IS ROTFL!!!"

Ed to Dave: "have U seen wollfe NE where?"

Dave's call to Ed: "Ed? Dave. The bus driver just told me that the weird noise my phone's making is some kind of shorthand encoding from you. Why don't you just call me instead of sending that navajo teletype crap?"

Ed: "Sorry man, it's some kinda stuff I'm trying to learn...have you seen Wolfie?"

Dave: "He was walking around near the buses about ten minutes ago...looked like he was playing some tiny hand held video game.....fucking laughing alot."

Ed: "When I find him, I'm gonna kick his fucking ass.....talk to ya later."

Dave: "Hope it helped!!!"